Virgin Mobile keeps it simple with Kyocera "Oystr"

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jul 27th 2006 at 4:31PM

Want Virgin Mobile service? Got 30 bucks? Kyocera's got you covered. The 3.5oz back-to-basics Oystr -- no "e" -- offers a color internal display, speakerphone, "Superphonic" ringtones, and that's about it. Some of us might be quickly overcome with a bad case of feature starvation, but at least the pearl white clamshell (hence the name) doesn't look half bad -- and for an honest $30 with no contract, we'll forego the typical grousing about the lack of external display.

[Thanks, Roy]

Filed under: Handsets, Virgin Mobile, Kyocera, MVNOs, CDMA

Tags: basic, clamshell, flip, kyocera, low end, LowEnd, oystr, virgin, virgin mobile, VirginMobile

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Highly Ranked

KC @ Jul 27th 2006 7:10PM

Virgin could have a big hit on their hands here...

$30 for a pre-paid cell phone?

That can work out well for so many people:

All manour of travelers from weekend trippers to tourists from other coutries will be all over this

Drug dealers who change phones frequently

A phone for todlers that can call more then just 4 numbers. Maybe Virgin could start a One Mobile Phone Per Child project here in North America with this thing. Just add some sort of pull string mechanism to rechage the battery and some mesh networking and Virgin could really put the OLTPC project to shame!

And all those people who just want a phone to make and recieve calls

Neutral

Brian @ Jul 27th 2006 9:08PM

Not bad I will check this out next time I go by Best Buy. Just a plain phone and your probably right about the whole drug dealer thing KC.

Neutral

Mobile Reviewer @ Jul 27th 2006 10:43PM

just checked it on pricegrabber, it has lots of positive reviews.

Neutral

flamer's grill @ Jul 27th 2006 10:46PM

Virgin Mobile already has a prepaid phone (the K10) for $19.99, and just a few weeks ago it was on sale for $14.99.

Neutral

Marco @ Jul 28th 2006 10:28AM

A simple yet sophisticated phone for the anyone, especially the older crowd who have virgin mobile and dont want a fancy phone.

I'm glad that VM's launched this phone; and there will be a phone coming out soon called the "Slice" in september!

*and what are u talking about flamer's grill!?*

Neutral

flamer's grill @ Jul 28th 2006 2:32PM

The first commentor seems incredulous that a prepaid phone can be as cheap as $30, when in fact Virgin Mobile has had one for half of that price for a while now.

Phones are cheap.

Neutral

Joseph @ Aug 1st 2006 1:05AM

Virgin Mobile can't be beat I have been a customer almost a year now and can't be happier.
Just got the Oyster took a lil while to get used to the colorful phone.All in all is a perfect basic phone.
If you look at the Virgin site you will see two phone that are essentially free one being the shorty.A phone I had and liked.

Neutral

SilverThorn @ Aug 13th 2006 3:19AM

Ewww, I had the chance to check the model at Best Buy today, this looks like one cheap piece of plastic, sort of like an accessory that came along with my Barbie doll, meant for me.

Neutral

D @ Oct 16th 2006 1:46AM

Best buy has an instant rebate with this phone, making it $20, also, you can get free phone deals with them if you sign up online.

Neutral

Cristian @ Mar 26th 2008 2:48PM

I think that a drug addiction treatment center for mobile shoppers addicted people because sometimes I feel the urge to buy something that i do not really need.

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