So there you are, at the end of the two-year agreement with your current carrier. You're at fork in the road. On one hand, you could drop a couple hundred bucks for a new phone, sign a new agreement, and start the cycle all over again. On the other, you could spend a couple hundred bucks with Virgin Mobile, nix the contract, and be a free man (or woman, whatevs). So what do you do?

We don't know the answer to that, but here's what we do know: Sprint just announced two new low-end phones for Virgin Mobile with equally low-end pricetags. The two phones are the LG Optimus Slider, a small phone with a slideout keyboard; and the HTC Wildfire S, HTC's first device to land on the Sprint post-paid subsidiary.

Like I said, both of these devices are low-end, so don't expect dual-core processors and geebees of RAM.

LG Optimus Slider

It's tiny. It has a physical keyboard. It's $200. That's about all you really need to know about the LG Optimus Slider, but if you're still interested after hearing the tl;dr version of the specs, here is the full list:

  • 3.2-inch 320x480 display
  • 600MHz processor
  • 512MB RAM
  • 5MP rear shooter
  • microSD card slot
  • Android 2.3.x
  • Slide-out QWERTY

It's far from a beast, but it's probably perfect for your pre-teen (or younger, I'm not judging). Or yourself, if you're not into spending more than a couple bens on a phone and want to frolic through the fields of sans-contract-ness. Again, I'm not judging.

If you want to pencil in a date with the Optimus Slider, it will be available at Best Buy and RadioShack on October 31st, at Target on November 6th, and November 14th at Sprint retail locations.

HTC Wildfire S

Like the idea of a small, non-contract phone for the price that others pay for an on-contact phone, just don't fancy the physical keyboard? The Wildfire S may be the little darling for you. Like the Optimus Slider, it's little-bitty thing, housing very similar specs:

  • 3.2-inch 320x480 display
  • 600MHz processor
  • 512MB RAM
  • 5MP rear shooter
  • Android 2.3.x with HTC Sense

This little guy comes in two different colors -- silver and white -- so you may have to flip a coin if you decide to pick one up.

The Wildfire S will be available at Best Buy and RadioShack for $200 on October 23rd.

LG Optimus Slider Delivers Ease of a Full Keyboard to Popular Virgin Mobile USA Android-Powered Smartphone

WARREN, N.J. (BUSINESS WIRE), September 30, 2011 - Virgin Mobile USA expands its Android™-powered smartphone lineup with the upcoming availability of LG® Optimus™ Slider, providing a new smartphone option with an easy-to-use slide out keyboard. Perfect for the heavy social networker, LG Optimus Slider will be available Oct. 17 at www.virginmobileusa.com for $199.99. The smartphone will be available Oct. 31 in Best Buy and RadioShack stores; Nov. 6 at Target; and Nov. 13 in Sprint Stores.

LG Optimus Slider is the second generation of the popular LG Optimus V™, which launched in early 2011 and is currently available at www.virginmobileusa.com for $149.99. It remains one of the most popular smartphones on Virgin Mobile USA.

“With the new LG Optimus Slider we’re bringing our customers an updated operating system and slide-out keyboard,” said Mark Lederman, Business Line director, Virgin Mobile USA. “According to NPD Group, year-over-year preference for a touchscreen has tripled among prepaid buyers, and 21 percent1 of all customers say that having a QWERTY keyboard is a motivating factor in making a purchase. Coupled with the popularity we’ve seen on the LG Optimus V we’re looking forward to bringing this fresh option to Virgin Mobile.”

“LG Optimus Slider delivers the convenience of a full QWERTY keyboard with the sleek lines of the LG Optimus series,” said Tim O’Brien, vice president of marketing for LG Mobile. “We look forward to providing Virgin Mobile USA consumers the ideal device for on-the-go messaging, emailing and social networking.”

Virgin Mobile USA Beyond Talk plans start at just $35 a month for 300 minutes of voice and include unlimited messaging and data. For those looking for a bit more talk time the $45 plan offers 1,200 minutes of voice, and the $55 plan offers unlimited voice minutes each month. All plans include unlimited messaging and data.

LG Optimus Slider offers users:

  • An easy to use 3.2-inch touchscreen with a slide out QWERTY keyboard and bright screen
  • Enjoy all of the apps in the constantly growing Android Market with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
  • Surf the Web and run apps on the Nationwide 3G Sprint Network
  • MicroSD support (?32GB) and a 3.2MP camera
  • Bluetooth® 3.0

LG Optimus Slider comes preloaded with Virgin Mobile Live 2.0 social networking lifestyle application used to access the Virgin Mobile branded music stream, hosted by DJ Abbey Braden. The app also provides users of Android-powered devices free access to live music performance videos and "check in" features at special events. All status updates made using the app will also sync with Facebook® and Twitter®.

The previously announced decision to reduce throughput speeds when any Beyond Talk customer reaches 2.5GB of data usage within a current monthly cycle has been postponed to 2012.

WARREN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Virgin Mobile USA strengthens its Android™-powered smartphone lineup with the upcoming availability of the HTC Wildfire S™ in Silver at Best Buy® and White at RadioShack® built for consumers looking to express their personal style without a contract. The HTC Wildfire S in Silver is exclusive to Virgin Mobile. Social networkers and app users will enjoy the bright screen of the HTC Wildfire S and access to the Android Market. The HTC Wildfire S will be available Oct. 23 at Best Buy and RadioShack for $199.99.

“It is an attractive, easy-to-use and fast smartphone perfect for both the technically savvy and those looking to make the leap to a smartphone for the first time.”

“The HTC Wildfire S is the first HTC smartphone on Virgin Mobile and we couldn’t be more thrilled to bring the Wildfire S™ to our customers,” said Mark Lederman, Business Line director, Virgin Mobile USA. “It is an attractive, easy-to-use and fast smartphone perfect for both the technically savvy and those looking to make the leap to a smartphone for the first time.”

Martin Fichter, president of HTC Americas, said, “The HTC Wildfire S is a compact and playful smartphone offering a unique silver color exclusive to Virgin Mobile customers. HTC offers intuitive and powerful technology for the smart consumer and that perfectly aligns with Virgin Mobile.”

Virgin Mobile USA Beyond Talk plans start at just $35 a month for 300 minutes of voice and include unlimited messaging and data. For those looking for a bit more talk time the $45 plan offers 1,200 minutes of voice, and the $55 plan offers unlimited voice minutes each month. All plans include unlimited messaging and data.

HTC Wildfire S offers users:

  • Color options of White (RadioShack) or Silver (Best Buy)
  • 3.2-inch HVGA touchscreen
  • 5MP camera with flash
  • 3G and Wi-Fi capability
  • Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
  • 600MHz processor
  • HTC Sense – HTC’s custom-built experience, which puts information most important front and center by providing further customizable widgets and applications.

HTC Wildfire S comes preloaded with the Virgin Mobile Live 2.0 social networking lifestyle application used to access the Virgin Mobile branded music stream, hosted by DJ Abbey Braden. The app also provides users of Android-powered devices free access to live music performance videos and "check in" features at special events. All status updates made using the app will also sync with Facebook® and Twitter®.

The previously announced decision to reduce throughput speeds when any Beyond Talk customer reaches 2.5GB of data usage within a current monthly cycle has been postponed to 2012.

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