Analyst Report ) has reportedly expanded the coverage of its Boost Mobile prepaid subsidiary across all of its wireless network platforms. Boost Mobile will offer its popular $50 monthly unlimited calling plan to all new and existing prepaid subscribers on the carrier’s own branded CDMA wireless network starting Jan 13, 2010. Previously, the company had restricted this service to customers who are on Nextel’s iDEN wireless network. 

Moreover, Sprint has announced that it will sell three new handsets including Research In Motion’s ( RIMM Analyst Report ) BlackBerry Curve 8830, the first smartphone for the Boost prepaid division. The company will sell the Blackberry smartphone for $250 with a $60 monthly unlimited plan. Boost Mobile currently offers prepaid services to 5.7 million customers in the US. 

Leveraging the iDEN network, Boost Mobile launched the $50 per month unlimited plan (voice, text, data) nationwide in early 2009 which fueled the price war in the unlimited prepaid mobile space. This prepaid rate plan is about 50% lower than the comparable unlimited rate plans offered by Sprint’s major rivals Verizon ( VZ Analyst Report ) Tracfone. The prepaid wireless market is expanding at a healthy pace as cash-strapped customers look for less expensive plans in a weak economy. 

Sprint remains significantly challenged by the precipitous decline in subscriber base and revenues. Conversely, its larger peers Verizon and AT&T continue to expand their respective customer bases at a brisk rate. Sprint is losing customers to its bigger rivals due to intense pricing pressure and technical problems associated with integrating its incompatible CDMA and iDEN networks. The company’s

Source: Zacks.com