Voyager Mobile Finally Open For Business

If you're willing to be a little flexible with your choice of smartphone, you can save a pretty penny by subscribing to an MVNO instead of one of the main four carriers in the US. MVNOs piggyback on their networks but typically offer better deals. One such MVNO is Voyager Mobile, who promised to bring unlimited tariffs to a CDMA network near you without breaking the bank but has suffered some delays. Today Voyager has officially launched with prices that might entice you.

The virtual network is offering several handsets, including the Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch and the HTC Arrive. As always, there's a catch: you have to purchase the device outright, then pay month by month for the smartphone plan. The upside is that you won't be tied into a long term contract, and the numbers work out cheaper in the long run, but you do have to shell out more cash upfront. The Galaxy S II, for example, costs $549 from the online store.

As for tariffs, there are only two: $39 per month nets you unlimited calling, texts, and data. If you don't want data, then there's a cheaper $19 tariff that only features unlimited minutes and texts. As for coverage, Voyager say the service is available in the following areas: Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. The company says that more states will be added in the future.