Hip cell phones from MVNO carriers

The acronym MVNO stands for mobile virtual network operator, a cell phone carrier that sells its own phones and services but piggybacks on more traditional networks. MVNOs are usually lifestyle oriented and target a niche demographic. Virgin Mobile and Helio are two such MVNOs, riding the Sprint network. Both target the young, hip crowd with their brand of stylish cell phones. Virgin Mobile's more recent offerings include the Kyocera Oystr, a pearly white basic handset, and the Kyocera Switch Back, formerly known as the Strobe, which features a funky curvy design and a QWERTY keyboard for easier messaging. Helio is quite a hot new MVNO these days, especially with its support for MySpace Mobile on all of its phones. Helio phones are also very well designed, with decent multimedia features, such as the Zen-like Kickflip and the sleek slider Hero handsets. Both of them have 2-megapixel cameras and integrated music players. Not all MVNOs target the young adult demographic, some are specifically designed to serve families with younger children. Disney Mobile, a virtual carrier that rides on the Sprint network, is the most recent carrier to offer family locator and alert services. These services allow parents to keep tabs on their children as well as limit their calling times and restrict whom they can call. Disney Mobile phones such as the Pantech DM-P100 and the LG DM-L200 also have customized menu designs and are capable of downloading Disney-themed wallpapers and screensavers.