Virgin Mobile USA has added unlimited streaming from select music platforms to some of its plans. The music partners are iHeartRadio, Pandora, and Slacker Radio. Those services can be streamed data-free on the telecom’s U.S. mobile plans. More music platforms will likely be added in the future.
Several mobile companies have been allowing customers to stream music without it counting against their data limits. T-Mobile was an early leader in that trend, with its Music Freedom program. Some music brands have been pursuing exclusive bundles instead, such as a deal Spotify inked with Canada’s Rogers Communications offering customers a two-year free trial of its premium tier. Any arrangement with a telecom can expose a new audience to these streaming platforms, and may be a way for them to bring in additional cash flow. It’s a big win for the telecom too, since it can potentially dissuade customers from jumping to other providers with the cost saving of unlimited audio streaming.