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22. Dan Schulman, CEO of Virgin Mobile USA
What makes him powerful: Dan Schulman has the distinction of heading up Virgin Mobile USA, one of the first major MVNOs to launch in the U.S. back in 2002 and one of the few MVNOs to survive in today's tumultuous wireless marketplace. While the U.S. market has not been a particularly friendly place for virtual operators, Schulman has managed to keep Virgin Mobile USA alive and growing.
Virgin, which started as a joint venture with Sprint, initially targeted the youth market--a demographic group that Schulman has said was underserved by traditional wireless carriers. That early focus was critical to Virgin's initial success and the reason the MVNO grew so quickly, attaining 3 million-plus customers by early 2005.
Under Schulman's direction, the company also has been an innovative leader in the advertising area. The company launched the Sugar Mama mobile advertising service in 2006. The program gives customers free airtime in return for viewing mobile ads. A year after the program's launch, Virgin said more than 330,000 of its 5 million subscribers had signed onto the plan.
But Virgin has come under increasing pressure since Schulman and his executive team took the company public in the fall of 2007, generating about $412 million for the firm. In fact, during the most recent quarter, Virgin earned just $3.5 million in net income, down from $7.1 million in the same period in 2007. Revenue was down to $317.4 million from 327.6 million and the company lost about 111,000 subscribers bringing its total subscriber base to just under 5 million.
Yet Schulman has ushered in some bright spots for the company. Virgin completed its acquisition of rival MVNO Helio at the end of August. Although Virgin continues to consider the youth demographic its core customer base, the Helio acquisition will increase Virgin's reach to other demographic groups, including Korean-Americans. As part of the Helio deal, Korean wireless player SK Telekom invested $25 million in cash in Virgin, which it badly needed.
Comments
Posted by Anonymous | January 26, 2009 - 1:52pm
This story is very interesting seeing as how There is a petition online to have virgin mobile shut down because of it's policies and horrible phones.
Posted by Anonymous | January 30, 2009 - 12:48pm
My number was 205 834 1116. I apparently tried to top up my phone on line with my cc # instead of going to the store and getting a top up card.
VM said I had to fax in my recent statement ( which I had to wait to get) my cc card and ID which I did. Still my phone does not work. Your operators said they could not find it. It expired on the 14th which I did not even have my recent statement then. Still my account is not credited
my phone does not work.
They collected my money and will not turn my phone back on or credit my account for $98.10.
I am getting no where with them.
Thanks.
Posted by angie tarbill | May 21, 2009 - 9:39pm
DAN SCHULMAN CEO
I WAS CHARGED TWICE BY MISTAKE. MY MONEY IS GONE AND NO SERVICE??????????
payment "A" may 17th Transaction Completed (Unique Transaction ID #4DY78528FL360650W)
(This transaction has been reversed.)
For further details please see transaction !!!!!8KA23311MW6279703!!!!!
Transaction Completed (Unique Transaction ID #4DY78528FL360650W)
This transaction has been reversed.
For further details please see transaction 8KA23311MW6279703
Original Transaction
Date Type Status Details Amount
May 17, 2009 Payment To Virgin Mobile USA, LLC Reversed ... -$67.55 USD
Related Transaction
Date Type Status Details Amount
May 21, 2009 Reversal Completed Details $67.55 USD
Total: $0.00 USD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Business Name:
Virgin Mobile USA, LLC (The recipient of this payment is Verified)
Email:
ourteam@virginmobileusa.com
Billing Agreement ID:
B-73E34682SS805710W
Billing Description:
Top-Up - use your PayPal account to add airtime to your Virgin Mobile phone. Do it at virginmobileusa.com or right from your phone. You can also use your PayPal account to set up Auto Top-Up at virginmobileusa.com
View Billing Agreement Details
Transaction Completed (Unique Transaction ID #4DY78528FL360650W)
This transaction has been reversed.
For further details please see transaction 8KA23311MW6279703
Original Transaction
Date Type Status Details Amount
May 17, 2009 Payment To Virgin Mobile USA, LLC Reversed ... -$67.55 USD
Related Transaction
Date Type Status Details Amount
May 21, 2009 Reversal Completed Details $67.55 USD
Total: $0.00 USD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Business Name:
Virgin Mobile USA, LLC (The recipient of this payment is Verified)
Email:
ourteam@virginmobileusa.com
Billing Agreement ID:
B-73E34682SS805710W
Billing Description:
Top-Up - use your PayPal account to add airtime to your Virgin Mobile phone. Do it at virginmobileusa.com or right from your phone. You can also use your PayPal account to set up Auto Top-Up at virginmobileusa.com
View Billing Agreement Details
May 21st A Reversal (Unique T
Transaction Completed (Unique Transaction ID #4DY78528FL360650W)
This transaction has been reversed.
For further details please see transaction 8KA23311MW6279703
Original Transaction
Date Type Status Details Amount
May 17, 2009 Payment To Virgin Mobile USA, LLC Reversed ... -$67.55 USD
Related Transaction
Date Type Status Details Amount
May 21, 2009 Reversal Completed Details $67.55 USD
Total: $0.00 USD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Business Name:
Virgin Mobile USA, LLC (The recipient of this payment is Verified)
Email:
ourteam@virginmobileusa.com
Billing Agreement ID:
B-73E34682SS805710W
Billing Description:
Top-Up - use your PayPal account to add airtime to your Virgin Mobile phone. Do it at virginmobileusa.com or right from your phone. You can also use your PayPal account to set up Auto Top-Up at virginmobileusa.com
View Billing Agreement Details
ransaction ID #!!!!!!!8KA23311MW6279703)!!!!!!!
In reference to: 4DY78528FL360650W for $67.50
this was also charged may17th
[PAYMENT "B" Transaction Completed (Unique Transaction ID #59S53111XF761854L)$ for 67.50
BILLING AGREEMENT # B-89MOO700A00B4345N
Virgin Mobile USA, LLC !!!!!!!!!(The recipient of this payment is Verified)!!!!!!!! FOR$67.50
THIS PAYMENT ("B" ) HAS NOT BEEN CREDITED TO MY ACCOUNT AND WAS MADE TO VIRGIN MOBILE AS PART OF A MONTHLY AGREEMENT. MY ACCOUNT IS TOLD TO BE SUSPENDED BY VIRGIN MOBILE. BECAUSE I NOT ONLY CONTACTED THERE DE[PAYMENT ON THE MISTAKE OF BEING CHARGED TWICE BUT I ALSO CONTACT THE POLICY HOLDER OF MY CREDIT CARD OUT OF FINANCIAL SAFETY.WHO FILED A UNAUTHORIZED DEBIT TO MY ACCOUNT TO TRY TO RETAIN THE EXTRA PAYMENT. FOR WHICH THEY HAVE. THEY BUT I QUESTION WHY VIRGIN MOBIL STILL HAS THERE PAYMENT AND DO NOT HAVE USAGE?VIRGIN MOBIL HAS RECEIVED PAYMENT BUT HAS NOT HELD UP THERE AGREEMENT .
WHAT IS IT THAT I AM PAYING FOR?
YOUR COMPANY HAS HAD NO AN SEWS THE 4 TIMES I HAVE CONTACTED THEM.
Billing Agreement ID:
B-89M00700A0084345N
Billing Agreement ID:
B-89M00700A0084345N
Item Amount:
$67.55 USD
Shipping:
$0.00 USD
Handling:
$0.00 USD
Quantity:
1
Item Title:
Monthly Charge
Date:
May 17, 2009
Time:
18:26:05 PDT
Status:
Completed
Transaction Completed (Unique Transaction ID #59S53111XF761854L)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Business Name:
Virgin Mobile USA, LLC (The recipient of this payment is Verified)
Email:
ourteam@virginmobileusa.com
Billing Agreement ID:
B-89M00700A0084345N
Item Amount:
$67.55 USD
Shipping:
$0.00 USD
Handling:
$0.00 USD
Quantity:
1
Item Title:
Monthly Charge
Date:
May 17, 2009
Time:
18:26:05 PDT
Status:
Completed
Posted by Mrs. Ruth | December 2, 2009 - 10:34am
Dear Sir,
I really don't know if you receive the emails. I am sure you do not. That is what your assistant is for helping you with: weeding out the crazy people. However, it is going to take me some time to write this letter and I hope that you take the the time to read it. I have Multiple Sclerosis and it is difficult to type. I am not asking for sympathy or pity, just a few moments of your time.
I had a Pink TNT phone and it broke. I called because I was stupid enough to believe that your company would honor the warranty. They sent me a broken Blue TNT. If it had worked, I would not cared if it was green with orange and yellow polka dots. (I hate yellow and orange). So, i called back in. They sent me to tech support, again. They told me the ear piece was broken, and to send both phones back in using the pre-paid self addressed envelope that they had sent me. I did. Now they have both phones. And, they say they don't. Now, after several letters, with many lies, they are threatening to cut off my daughter's and husband's phone. That is okay. I am buying them service someone else.
Do you know why I use these phones? Because I sometimes get confused and get lost because of my lesions on my brain and I have to call someone to help me get home. Or I get lost in a mall, or I fall in a public restroom.
You took my life away. And I paid for a month because my "phone would be there in three days". That's funny. Really funny.
I have been posting all my results to my 14,000 plus blog readers. They want to know how I am treated. You know what they say. They tell two people, and they two people, and on, and on....
Have a wonderful day.
Posted by Jacquelyn Cooper | December 6, 2009 - 10:32am
I and totally out done with virgin mobile. I have been a customer for 2 years until, Friday December 4, 2009. I tried to use my debit card on line to top up. I only wanted to top up 35.00 because I already had 40.00 on my phone. I usually get the unlimited talking and texting. For whatever reason I kept getting the "Opps try again message" tried it a second time, got the same message. I gave up. On my way to work I tried to get a topup card. NO MONEY! Virgin mobile had charged me twice after saying that my card wasn't working. two times 37.50!! I'm new to the city I just moved to which is Baltimore, I'm temping and my money is scarce. ANYWAY i call customer service, I started calling at 6am. They claimed they refunded my money, well It still is not back on my debit card and the money that I have on my phone now is dwindling fast. Customer service was horrific. I spoke to about 4 different people. Refund my money and take the 37.50.. they couldn't do that, they claimed to have refunded the entire amount. Okay..well it has yet to show up on my debit card, we will fax your bank to release the funds, LIE.. it never happened. spoke with a manager, "we can't fax"... spoke with a customer service rep.. "give me the fax number and we will fax" lie some more. See where I'm going with this? they lied. Very misleading, I have no money on my debit card and my minutes are going. ALL DAY I dwelt with their lying. my number is 518-209-6281. I hate your customer service and I need some help.
Posted by Beth | December 26, 2009 - 9:59pm
I have been hassling with Virgin Mobile for the last 3 months. I signed my son up and it started off fine. But his phone had a problem and we thought oh thats okay it's under the 30 day warranty. We returned it and got a new one but that one didn't work either so we called and they said "sorry you have already had the max amount of returned phones". I thought they were joking how is it our fault. We have already called over 20 times and they have put us on hold for hours.. No joke. They have also just decided to hang up on us when we were frustrated. Finally we had enough and on the 15th day with them we returned the phone for a full refund. They would not give it to us even though they said they would multiple times. I finally got the 109 dollars back by having my credit card company deal with it... But what did the people at virgin mobile do?... they decided to cancel my account with all the bonus minutes and top up stuff in it. I was down 300 bonus minutes and over 70 dollars. I was furious. Now I am dealing with them to remove my account wich they have cancelled. So now have this no good phone which I can't use and have lost over 58 hours on the phone with them. Several supervisors said they would call me back but they never did. I am through with virgin... they are a scam artists. Don't get started dealing with them.
Posted by Chris Michaels | December 28, 2009 - 12:34am
In a time of questionable morals/decision making and the "me first " generation. How could you promote a female who wants to find out why her married boss' nick name is big Steve? This implies it is okay to have sex with a married man, or put yourself in a sexual situation that can only end disastrously for one of them. Need I mention Tiger?
Your company is a disgrace to the American fiber.
I suppose your response will not be posted????????
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