his was in a separate thread, but i added the info here because it is pertinentVirgin MObile is rolling out Pay As you GO .. data via aircard, buy the aircard at 'Best Buy' stores
ex cert
Armed with the modem, users buy data usage in $10, $20, $40 or $60 increments. But there's a catch: Customers must use the data within a relatively short period of time. For $20, users get 250MB of data that expires after 30 days. The cheapest payment costs $10 for 100MB, but it expires in 10 days. For $60, users get 1GB that they must use in 30 days.
http://www.phonenews.com/virgin-mobile-to-launch-aircard-and-prepaid-data-service-exclusively-via-best-buy-8131/EXCLUSIVE TO 'BEST BUY'
Virgin Mobile will be providing service via the Ovation MC760 USB modem which features zero-CD automatic software install with usage meter, EVDO Rev. A support and a microSDHC expansion slot. Pricing for the service starts at $10 for 100 MB with a 10 day usage cycle all the way up to $60 for 1 GB of data access with a 30 day cycle.
The service will be exclusively available in Best Buy locations later this month with pricing for the modem set at $149.99.
the price per PER MB-GB is higher than compared to 'account contracts'
but many people on this forum have expressed a desired to be able to use an aircard for days or weeks and not pay $720 a year for something only used on weekends or 2 week vacations, this gives them to chance to say spend $20-40-60, a few times a year. compared to a yearly contract