Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile now offer 1GB and 2GB Data Packs to keep you from the horrors of 2G

No one likes to be throttled. No one. So customers of Sprint's pre-paid providers Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile are getting an opportunity to add more data to their plans, to keep them from exceeding their data cap. Thanks to the carriers' Data Packs, an extra $5 will tack an additional 1GB of data to your plan, and $10 will buy you twice that much (no surprise there). If you see that you are using more data than planned, even in the middle of the month, purchasing a Data Pack can save you from the horrifying experience of using 2G data.

Boost currently offers unlimited talk, text and data plans. But one you go over the amount of high speed data you've purchased, you are throttled to 2G speeds. For $35 a month, you will have 1GB of 3G/4G data. For $45 a month, your data cap rises to 5GB of 3G/4G data. Spend $10 more each month, and you'll have 10GB of 3G/4G data. As a special offer, those rockin' a 4G-LTE phone and willing to sign up for auto-pay, can receive unlimited talk and text plus 2GB of data for just $30 a month. Streaming video is limited to 3G speeds on all plans.

Over at Virgin Mobile, $35 a month brings you unlimited talk, text and 250MB of 3G/4G data. Or, for the same price you can be limited to 300 minutes of talk, and receive 2.5GB of 3G/4G data. $45 monthly buys you unlimited talk, text and 1GB of 3G/4G data. Additionally, you will be able to send unlimited international texts and use up to 100 minutes for international calls. $55 a month gives you everything from the $45 plan plus 2GB of additional 3G/4G data. Like the Boost plans, if you exceed your data cap you will be throttled to 2G speeds.

How bad can 2G be? Remember using the original Apple iPhone on EDGE (2.5G)? That will seem zippy compared to the experience you will have if you go over your data cap on either pre-paid carrier, which is why the Data Packs can be a godsend. 

source: Boost, Virgin via CNET