Latest news with #wirelessservice
Phone Arena
3 days ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
EchoStar reportedly considers a deal with a Verizon MVNO to keep Boost alive
Having Boost Mobile replace Sprint as the nation's fourth-largest carrier was done to prevent consumers from having to pay higher prices for wireless service. Without that fourth major firm offering service, the remaining three can hike their prices without having that fourth competitor come in with lower prices. This is why the FCC demanded that a replacement for Sprint be chosen before it agreed to allow T-Mobile to close on the $26 billion transaction. It was no secret that Dish Network co-founder and current EchoStar Chairman Charles Ergen had long wanted to own a carrier, and the FCC was giving him an opportunity to make his dream come true. So Dish bought Boost, but customers weren't exactly rushing through the front doors. Dish started with the 9.3 million customers it acquired from Boost Mobile. During the first quarter of 2022, for example, Dish reported a net loss of 363,000 customers, leaving it with 8.5 million subscribers. The carrier's firm rate rose to 5,11% from 4.44% year-over-year. Boost has been criticized for being a prepaid carrier pretending to be a postpaid carrier. | Image credit-Unknown On the last day of 2023, EchoStar acquired Dish Network, and things have continued to go south for Boost Mobile, still owned by Dish, which is now an EchoStar subsidiary. As for Q1 2025, Boost Mobile had 7.2 million customers remaining. That means it had lost 22.6% of its customers since opening its doors for business. This past Friday, a report said that Ergen might be looking to start a turnaround for Boost by combining it with MobileX. That's the business run by CEO Peter Adderton, who was one of the founders of Boost Mobile. The latter was successful and was subsequently sold to Nextel in 2003. At the time, Boost was adding 40,000 net new subscribers each month. Two years later, Sprint acquired Nextel which is how Sprint ended up with Boost Mobile before it sold to Dish Networks on July 1, 2020. FCC Commissioner Brandon Carr has been after EchoStar over two issues. One is whether the 5G build-out requirements that the FCC placed on Dish when it acquired Boost were being met by EchoStar, and the other issue is whether EchoStar is using the 2GHz airwaves that it has. It seems that SpaceX wants that spectrum for its satellite to cellphone service because it is superior to the airwaves that it is currently using. EchoStar avoided a bankruptcy filing by making a $500 million interest payment on Debt near the end of June. Could a combination of MobileX and EchoStar help the latter turn around? The former uses AI to determine how much data a subscriber might need and sells it on a pay-as-you-go basis in many Walmart stores. MobileX is an MVNO that uses Verizon's wireless network. Adderton, the MobileX CEO who helped found Boost has criticized the Boost Mobile purchase by Dish. Wave7 Research principal Jeff Moore told Fierce Wireless, "My largest criticism of Boost is the fact it's a prepaid carrier that is pretending to be a postpaid carrier." He believes that Boost needs to build a postpaid presence, seeing that most of its stores are in areas where they serve prepaid customers. Moore says that Boost needs to promote its postpaid service and build more postpaid stores. Their Boost Infinite Access for iPhone and Infinite Access for Galaxy plans cost $65 a month and give you a new iPhone or Galaxy each year. While $65 per month is the cost for the base iPhone and Galaxy phone each year, you can pay more to select one of the pricier models. The plan also comes with talk, text, and data (including 30GB of premium data), global talk and text, and more. And every year, you get a new iPhone or Galaxy handset. If I ran Boost (and you know where to reach me guys!), I would promote the hell out of the Infinite Access plans. Getting a new iPhone or Galaxy smartphone each year should be a powerful incentive for consumers to become Boost customers.
Android Authority
22-06-2025
- Business
- Android Authority
Trump Mobile promise telehealth and roadside perks, but is it worth the cost?
From businessman to politician, and now to wireless service provider? Coming way out of left field, it seems the Trump Organization is now looking to leverage the Trump name to bring phone service to its fan base. According to the Trump Organization, the company won't directly operate Trump Mobile and is instead licensing the rights to an unnamed third party. Trump Mobile will offer just one plan, dubbed the 47 Plan, as a not-so-subtle nod to Trump's current presidential term. The company will also offer its Trump-themed T1 Phone, though you can also bring your own device — which we'd definitely recommend over buying this thing. The 47 Plan claims to have the same coverage as the big three carriers, as well as unlimited talk, text, and data for $47.45 a month. There's also reportedly around $15 in additional fees beyond that price tag. Of course, several other prepaid carriers offer the same general features for notably less. For example, Visible ranges from $25 to $45 a month with taxes and fees included. In order to stand out, Trump Mobile includes a few less common benefits, which we'll focus on a bit later. Would you consider Trump Mobile? 0 votes Yes, if the telehealth and other extra features proof useful. NaN % No, it's too expensive or gimmicky for me NaN % Undecided/Other (Tell us more in comments) NaN % Marketing gimmicks aside, is Trump Mobile actually a decent alternative to other prepaid providers? Honestly, for most probably not, but let's start by taking a look at what it actually offers. What do you get with Trump Mobile? Andrew Grush / Android Authority Trump Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator, meaning it doesn't run its own towers and instead partners with existing networks. While many prepaid carriers only provide service via one partner, Trump Mobile will reportedly offer coverage via all three major networks. This isn't unheard of by any means; a few independent prepaid providers manage to offer coverage from all three networks, with US Mobile being one of the most well-known examples. In fact, US Mobile even lets you run two networks simultaneously, for an optional fee. It's still unclear how Trump Mobile's multi-network support will function, but based on what I've been able to dig up, it'll likely assign you to the carrier most compatible with your BYOD device or the Trump T1 Phone. You might be able to manually choose a network, though there are no official details yet. Either way, I wouldn't count on being able to easily switch between networks on the fly—or use two simultaneously—as those features would almost certainly be highlighted if they were part of the offering. Trump Mobile's unlimited talk, text, and 20GB data are pretty standard, but it's priced on the high side. I can also reasonably guess that at least the T-Mobile connection will be on low-priority data. This is speculative, of course, but it is worth noting that Google Fi is the only known provider with high-priority access to T-Mobile's network. So it's safe to assume Trump Mobile won't have that perk. As for AT&T and Verizon, they've shown more flexibility in offering higher priority to select partners, so it's possible—but I wouldn't bet on it. Moving past carrier support, Trump Mobile also promises unlimited talk, text, and 20GB of high-speed data. There's no word on what happens when you hit your high-speed data cap, but judging by how similar plans operate, it's very likely there will be a firm speed cap for any data used afterward. For example, Google Fi throttles speeds down to just 256Kbps, barely enough to even load your email. There's also a possibility that Trump Mobile might only lower speeds during times of heavy congestion, similar to basic plans from carriers like Visible, though usually, that's clearly spelled out if that's the case. As you can see, there's really nothing here that looks too different from other prepaid carriers, many of which cost almost half the price of the 47 Plan. That said, there are three fairly unusual perks worth talking about, and then we'll quickly cover international features as well. Three fairly unusual perks: Telehealth, device protection, and roadside assistance Apple While many carriers offer unlimited data and limited international calling features, it's not every day you hear about a mobile phone plan that adds telehealth, free device protection, and roadside assistance to the mix. As you might have guessed, Trump Mobile partners with other companies for these features. Let's start with the most notable of the three features: the included telehealth benefit. Through a partnership with Doctegrity, Trump Mobile promises 24/7/365 access to board-certified providers and behavioral and mental health services — including life coaching, nutrition counseling, and more — all available via video or phone calls. There's also a Pharmacy Rx discount program covering over 100 medications, with some even free after the discount is applied. If you'd use the telehealth, roadside and device protection extras, you could save. From what I gather, you can access most of these services directly from Doctegrity with its $29-a-month subscription, so if this is something you'd already subscribe to, this particular benefit could be worth it. Of course, many health insurance providers (including Medicaid providers in some cases) offer telemedicine at no additional cost already, so I'd recommend doing a bit of research into your existing benefits before jumping at this feature. Moving on from telehealth, Trump Mobile has partnered with Omega Mobilecare for limited device protection. I'll be honest—I'm not particularly familiar with this brand, and while that might raise an eyebrow, I'm not ready to call it a red flag just yet. What is clear from the official website is that this is device protection, not insurance. Of course, it functions similarly to insurance, as all BYOD or purchased devices will include up to $2,000 per year in coverage for: Mechanical or electrical breakdowns Cracked screen replacement due to accidental mishandling Replacement with a device of the 'same kind and quality' if they can't fix it While the full terms and conditions aren't available online yet, this certainly doesn't sound too different from other prepaid insurance programs. Typically, these services can range anywhere from $5 to $15 or more a month, depending on your benefits and how expensive your device is. Last but not least, roadside assistance benefits are powered by Drive America and include a $100 monthly towing allowance, flat tire assistance, battery assistance, and lockout assistance. Are these extras actually a good value? Technically speaking, yes. If you were to sign up separately for roadside assistance, device protection, and telehealth, you could easily spend an additional $40-$50 a month. There's a catch, though: you might already have some of these benefits elsewhere, or you might find that paying separately yields better benefits. The telehealth plan might not be necessary depending on your existing insurance, and even roadside assistance might already be covered through your car insurance or a club membership like AAA, which typically offers better features. The extras are good value, but check you aren't already covered elsewhere. As for insurance or device protection, pricing can vary significantly, but third-party options may provide better coverage. Additionally, manufacturers like Apple and Google offer their own forms of device protection, often with even greater benefits than those provided by Trump Mobile. How do the international features compare to the other prepaid options out there? Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority Typically, prepaid plans priced above $40 are considered premium options. These tend to include perks such as smartwatch connectivity, international roaming, and sometimes even streaming services. For example, Visible Plus Pro retails for $45 a month but includes premium extras like smartwatch service, unlimited calling to 85 countries, and unlimited texting to 200 countries from within the US. You also get free calls, texts, and data within the US and Canada, plus two Global Pass days per month for use in over 200 destinations. Unfortunately, Trump Mobile doesn't include any of these premium international features, which is disappointing at this price point. Of course, that's because the premium here is spent on the three unique features mentioned previously. You might not get international roaming, but the good news is you can call around 100 different destinations for free from within the United States. However, each country has a different maximum cap for minutes per month, ranging from as little as 5 minutes to unlimited. Should you consider Trump's service over the competition? Joe Maring / Android Authority At first glance, Trump Mobile comes across as a heavily branded offering, and that's likely by design. While it does include a few genuinely interesting features, the overall package feels more like a marketing vehicle than a disruptive carrier. Whether it can deliver on its promises — particularly around customer service and ongoing support — remains to be seen. It's also worth noting that similar or better benefits may be available from established prepaid providers like Visible or US Mobile. Visible is considerably cheaper and includes truly unlimited service, while US Mobile offers comparable three-network support with more flexibility when it comes to switching between them. While I won't pass final judgment until Trump Mobile fully launches and the provider releases detailed terms and conditions beyond the current minimalist placeholders, it's safe to say there are other options available that can scratch similar itches more effectively. The fact that Trump Mobile is more a gimmicky licensing agreement than a true prepaid carrier doesn't help it much either.
CNET
18-06-2025
- Business
- CNET
The Trump Phone Will Cost You $499. This Is What You Get and What We Don't Know Yet
The Trump Organization now has a wireless business, including a mobile phone plan and a $499 gold-hued phone. On Monday, Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of US President Donald Trump, announced a new wireless venture centered on a service called Trump Mobile. According to the venture's website, a wireless plan is available for $47.45 a month with unlimited talk, text and data and no long-term contract. The price of the service is a callout to Donald Trump's two terms as president: 47 for his current presidency and 45 for his previous one, from 2017 to 2021. Those interested can use their own phone and number. Trump Mobile is offering that $499 phone, called the T1, for preorder ahead of planned availability in September. It comes with a 6.8-inch AMOLED screen and runs the Android 15 operating system. The Trump family licensed its name to the service. The idea for a wireless service promoted around a celebrity or a brand may be an emerging trend. Just a week before the Trump Organization announcement, the popular SmartLess podcast launched its own service. The podcast is hosted by actors Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes. Will the phone be made in the US or elsewhere? In a statement about the service and new phone, the Trump Organization says it will offer customer support through call centers based in the US. The T1 phone is described as "designed and built in the United States." The statement doesn't offer any additional details about sourcing for the phone's manufacturing, but given supply chain realities, it's likely that at least some components in the phone would come from another country, such as China. The Trump administration has been focused on having more manufacturing take place in the US, including pushing Apple to build iPhones here. Francisco Jeronimo, vice president at International Data Corp., told CNBC on Tuesday that the phone could not be assembled or completely manufactured in the US. "That is completely impossible," he said. Eric Trump, the president's younger son, said on Tuesday that the company will build phones in the US, but not right away. "Eventually, all the phones can be built in the United States of America," he said in an interview cited by Wired magazine. Trump Mobile will offer service through AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. Trump Mobile President Trump has said he will impose a 25% tariff on all smartphones not made in the US, which would seem to include his own family's proposed phone. In addition to voice and data service, the Trump Mobile plan includes 24/7 roadside assistance through Drive America, telehealth and mental health support services, no credit check and free international calling to 100 countries, "including many with American military bases to help honor the families who are bravely serving in our military abroad." The wireless plan Trump Mobile says the service will run using the networks of the three major US wireless carriers: AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. To be more precise, it's powered by Liberty Wireless Mobile, an MVNO -- mobile virtual network operators don't own the infrastructure but instead lease it from the big wireless providers and then resell it in their own packages. As CNET's Patrick Holland and Jeff Carlson point out, there are hundreds of US-based MVNOs for you to choose from, including Liberty Wireless, which offers its own $40-a-month plan. Right now, they say, there are still "too many unknowns" about the Trump Mobile plan to allow for a definitive assessment. Check out their breakdown of how Trump Mobile compares to some of the top alternatives. Some details are confusing CNET senior editor Mike Sorrentino noted that the site for the Trump phone went live with numerous errors and omissions. It doesn't list a processor, even under the headline marked "processor." The storage and memory specs are mixed up, listing the RAM as 12GB of storage and the memory as 256GB of internal storage. The site mentions a "punch-hole AMOLED display," which Sorrentino notes does not exist, using the term to refer to the space for the front-facing camera. Two separate sizes are given for the phone display. The site references a "5,000mAh long life camera," but it appears to mean the battery. The battery-camera confusion has been corrected. Meanwhile, the press release for the phone says it will be released in August, but the website says September. Gulf of Mexico label on the map The Trump Mobile site launched with a map showing its coverage area, but that map was pulled after people online noticed that the map used the name Gulf of Mexico for the body of water Trump calls the Gulf of America. Reuters reviewed the website code and noted that the site seemed to be using T-Mobile's network data for the coverage map, and that company uses the Gulf of Mexico name. The Trump Mobile phone plan is priced at $47.45 a month, because Donald Trump was both the 45th and 47th president. Trump Mobile Trump announced the Gulf of America name change on his Inauguration Day in January. He also changed the name of the Alaskan mountain Denali to Mount McKinley. The Associated Press has said it will not use the Gulf of America name for the body of water. A phone with a telehealth plan? The press release promises the phone plan comes with "telehealth services, including virtual medical care, mental health support, and easy ordering and delivery for prescription medications." Don Hendrickson, a spokesperson for Trump Mobile, confirmed at the launch, saying the telehealth services were all included in the plan. As the New York Times notes, it's not clear how a $47-a-month phone plan could afford to cover remote doctor visits and medication. The Trump Mobile site says the telehealth program will require users to sign up with a third-party provider, Doctegrity. The celebrity phone trend The new offerings from Trump Mobile may receive a lot of publicity due to the president's high profile and social media presence, but one wireless executive said they're unlikely to create a major disruption for other wireless carriers. "The US wireless market is over $300 billion a year, and it is not a zero-sum game. New entrants like Trump Mobile or SmartLess typically operate as mobile virtual network operators using infrastructure from the big three," said US Mobile CEO Ahmed Khattak. Khattak's company has served a million wireless customers and has ranked high among the wireless phone plans CNET has rated. "They might carve out a niche based on branding or audience loyalty, but that doesn't fundamentally change the economics or scale advantages of larger MVNOs or the big three carriers," he says. Khattak doesn't believe the new Trump endeavor is a conflict of interest or presents a regulatory conflict because the president has the authority to appoint FCC commissioners. "The FCC is an independent agency," he says. "Commissioners are appointed by the president but confirmed by the Senate, and the FCC does not get involved in MVNO business agreements or commercial launches." The US Mobile CEO also doesn't believe that the new company represents a new wave of celebrity wireless endorsements. "If anything, that era is behind us," he says. "Mint Mobile is often seen as a Ryan Reynolds story, but the reality is that its parent company, Ultra Mobile, was already the fastest-growing private company in America long before he joined." Khattak added: "Most celebrity MVNOs do not last because wireless is an operationally intense business with tight margins. This is not the next celebrity tequila or podcast trend." From Trump phones to Instant Pots, snow globes The president did not appear for the Monday announcement at New York's Trump Tower; his sons headed up publicity for the unveiling. The Trump Organization is a holding company for the president's business interests. According to Reuters, the president has reported $600 million worth of income from various deals and projects, including crypto coins, a sector of business his administration has been bullish on. Recently, the news site Semafor reported that kitchen appliance company Instant Pot will offer a "45/47 Collaboration," marking items with those numbers and the president's "Make America Great Again" slogan. Semafor also reported that tableware and china company Lenox has proposed a line of Trump-related product, including snow globes and dinnerware with the president's face.
CNET
17-06-2025
- Business
- CNET
The Trump Phone Will Cost You $499. Here's What You Get and What We Don't Know Yet
The Trump Organization now has a wireless business, including a mobile phone plan and a $499 gold-hued phone called the T1. On Monday, Donald Trump Jr., eldest son of US President Donald Trump, announced a new wireless venture centered on a service called Trump Mobile. According to the venture's website, a wireless plan is available for $47.45 a month with unlimited talk, text and data and no long-term contract. The price of the service is a callout to Donald Trump's two terms as president: 47 for his current presidency and 45 for his previous one, from 2017 to 2021. Those interested can use their own phone and number. The Trump family licensed its name to the service. Its phone is only available for Android users, not users of Apple iPhones. Trump Mobile is offering that $499 phone, called the T1, for preorder ahead of planned availability in September. It comes a with a 6.8-inch AMOLED screen and runs the Android 15 operating system. The company says the service will run using the networks of the three major US wireless carriers: AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. The idea for a wireless service promoted around a celebrity or a brand may be an emerging trend. Just a week before the Trump Organization announcement, the popular SmartLess podcast launched its own service. The podcast is hosted by actors Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes. Will phone be made in US or elsewhere? In a press release for the service and new phone, the Trump Organization says it will be offering customer support through call centers based in the US. The T1 phone is described as "designed and built in the United States." The press release doesn't offer any additional details about sourcing for the phone's manufacturing, but given supply chain realities, it's likely that at least some components in the phone would come from another country, such as China. The Trump administration has been focused on having more manufacturing take place in the US, including pushing Apple to build iPhones here. Commentary: Trump Mobile and the T1 Phone Don't Make Any Sense, Even for Trump Fans Francisco Jeronimo, vice president at International Data Corp., told CNBC on Tuesday that the phone could not be assembled or completely manufactured in the US "That is completely impossible," he said. Eric Trump, the president's younger son, said on Tuesday that the company will build phones in the US, but not right away. "Eventually all the phones can be built in the United States of America," he said in an interview cited by Wired magazine. Trump Mobile will offer service through AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. Trump Mobile President Trump has said he will impose a 25% tariff on all smartphones not made in the US, which would seem to include his own family's proposed phone. In addition to voice and data service, the Trump Mobile plan includes 24/7 roadside assistance through Drive America, telehealth and mental health support services, no credit check and free international calling to 100 countries, "including many with American military bases to help honor the families who are bravely serving in our military abroad." Some details are confusing CNET senior editor Mike Sorrentino noted that the site for the Trump phone went live with numerous errors and omissions. It does not list a processor, even under a headline marked "processor." The storage and memory specs are mixed up, listing the RAM as 12GB of storage and the memory as 256GB of internal storage. The site mentions a "punch-hole AMOLED display," which Sorrentino notes does not exist, using the term to refer to the space for the front-facing camera. Two separate sizes are given for the phone display. The site references a "5,000mAh long life camera" but appears to mean the battery. The battery-camera confusion has been corrected. The press release for the phone says it will be released in August, but the website says September. Gulf of Mexico label on map The Trump Mobile site launched with a map showing its coverage area, but that map was pulled after people online noticed that the map used the name Gulf of Mexico for the body of water Trump calls the Gulf of America. A Reuters review of the website's code shows Trump Mobile appears to have used T-Mobile's network data for its coverage map. The telecom operator's coverage map labels the body of water as the Gulf of Mexico. The Trump Mobile phone plan is priced at $47.45 a month, because Donald Trump was both the 45th and 47th president. Trump Mobile Trump announced the Gulf of America name change on his Inauguration Day in January, also changing the name of the Alaskan mountain Denali to Mount McKinley. The Associated Press has said it will not use the Gulf of America name for the body of water. A phone with a telehealth plan? The press release promises the phone plans comes with "telehealth services, including virtual medical care, mental health support, and easy ordering and delivery for prescription medications." Don Hendrickson, a spokesperson for Trump Mobile, confirmed that at the launch, saying the telehealth services were all included in the plan. As The New York Times notes, it's not clear how a $47-a-month phone plan could afford to cover remote doctor visits and medication. The Trump Mobile site says the telehealth program will require users to sign up with third-party provider, Doctegrity. Late to the celebrity phone trend The new offerings from Trump Mobile may receive a lot of publicity due to the president's high profile and social media presence, but one wireless executive said they're unlikely to create a major disruption for other wireless carriers. "The US wireless market is over $300 billion a year, and it is not a zero-sum game. New entrants like Trump Mobile or SmartLess typically operate as Mobile Virtual Network Operators using infrastructure from the big three," said US Mobile CEO Ahmed Khattak. Khattak's company has served a million wireless customers and has ranked high among the wireless phone plans CNET has rated. "They might carve out a niche based on branding or audience loyalty, but that does not fundamentally change the economics or scale advantages of larger MVNOs or the big three carriers," he says. Khattak doesn't believe the new Trump endeavor is a conflict of interest or presents a regulatory conflict because the president has the authority to appoint FCC commissioners. "The FCC is an independent agency," he says. "Commissioners are appointed by the president but confirmed by the Senate, and the FCC does not get involved in MVNO business agreements or commercial launches." The US Mobile CEO also doesn't believe that the new company represents a new wave of celebrity wireless endorsements. "If anything, that era is behind us," he says. "Mint Mobile is often seen as a Ryan Reynolds story, but the reality is that its parent company, Ultra Mobile, was already the fastest-growing private company in America long before he joined." Khattak added: "Most celebrity MVNOs do not last because wireless is an operationally intense business with tight margins. This is not the next celebrity tequila or podcast trend." From Trump phones to Trump Instant Pots, snow globes The president did not appear for the Monday announcement at New York's Trump Tower; his sons headed up publicity for the unveiling. The Trump Organization is a holding company for the president's business interests. According to Reuters, the president has reported $600 million worth of income from various deals and projects, including crypto coins, a sector of business his administration has been bullish on. Recently, the news site Semafor reported that kitchen appliance company Instant Pot will offer a "45/47 Collaboration," marking items with those numbers and the president's "Make America Great Again" slogan. Semafor also reported that tableware and china company Lenox has proposed a line of Trump-related product, including snow glboes and dinnerware with the president's face.
Washington Post
17-06-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
I tried signing up for Trump Mobile service. Here's how it went.
There's a bunch of questions about Trump Mobile, the new wireless service from President Donald Trump's family business. There's the promised $499 'made in America' smartphone, which experts said was probably impossible to make in the United States. There are ethical concerns about another product capitalizing on the president's name brand.
