After much speculation and a few off-the-mark target dates, Virgin Mobile Canada will launch March 1. At least, that's what a corporate press release said today that promises an appearance by Richard Branson. Virgin says its new service “will change the face of the Canadian mobile phone industry”.
For ex-Bell Mobility president Michael Neumann, who “resigned” yesterday, he will at least have the satisfaction of watching smugly from the sidelines as Virgin tears into the pre-paid market and steals casual wireless users from the Big Three – Bell, Telus Mobility and Rogers Wireless. As much as no one wants to under-estimate Richard Branson, I get the feeling the Big Three may be surprised with how well Virgin Canada fares.