 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder | David Glickman |
| Headquarters | Costa Mesa, California, U.S. |
Key people |
|
| Services | Prepaid mobile phone plans |
Number of employees | 150 (2017) |
| Parent | T-Mobile US |
| Website | www |
Ultra Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that uses the T-Mobile US network. Customers can choose the number of minutes, text messages, or data that can be used via a prepaid mobile phone plan. [1] [2]
Ultra Mobile was co-founded by CEO David Glickman, who had previously founded TelePacific Communications, Justice Technology, and Primo Connect. [3]
By 2016, Ultra Mobile products were available in over 25,000 retail stores in the US, including Target and 7-Eleven. [3] [4]
In January 2016, the company acquired rights from Univision Communications to manage the Univision Mobile brand, another T-Mobile mobile virtual network operator which specializes in US SIM-based international calling plans for calls to Latin American countries. [5] [6] In May 2017, Ultra Mobile announced that it was closing down the Univision Mobile brand and that it would automatically transfer all Univision Mobile subscribers to Ultra Mobile. [7]
In August 2016, Ultra Mobile launched Mint Mobile, formerly Mint SIM, an online-only MVNO specializing in prepaid mobile plans on the T-Mobile cellular network, which provides discounted pricing based on monthly, quarterly, or yearly terms paid in advance. [8]
In 2017, the company had approximately 150 employees in the US, Europe, and Asia, and had focused on hiring millennials. [9] [10]
In November 2019, the corporate spin-off of Mint Mobile from Ultra Mobile was completed [11] and Ryan Reynolds acquired a 20%-25% ownership stake in Mint Mobile. [12] Reynolds and founder Glickman both served on the board of directors for The Michael J. Fox Foundation and Glickman was impressed with how Reynolds handled marketing for Deadpool . [13]
In March 2023, T-Mobile US agreed to acquire Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile for up to $1.35 billion. [14]
On May 1, 2024, the announcement was published that the planned acquisition was completed as per the agreement. [15]
In 2015, Ultra Mobile was ranked number 1 in Inc. magazine's list of the 5,000 fastest growing private companies in the United States, with a year-over-year growth rate of 100,849% and revenues of US$118 million in 2014, up from less than a million in 2012. [16]
The company was rated 3.0 or 3.5 out of 5 stars by WhistleOut. [17]
Virgin Mobile is a wireless communications brand used by seven independent brand-licensees worldwide. Virgin Mobile branded wireless communications services are available in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Colombia, Chile, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Poland and Mexico. Virgin Mobile branded services used to be offered in Australia, France, Singapore, India, Qatar, South Africa and the United States.
Fido Solutions Inc. is a Canadian mobile network operator owned by Rogers Communications. Since its acquisition by Rogers in 2004, it has operated as a Mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) using the Rogers Wireless network.
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TracFone Wireless, Inc. (TFWI) is an American wireless prepaid service provider. It is a mobile virtual network operator offering prepaid and no-contract services on the Verizon network under multiple brands, including TracFone, Straight Talk Wireless, Total Wireless, Simple Mobile, SafeLink Wireless, Page Plus Cellular, Net10 Wireless, GoSmart Mobile, and Walmart Family Mobile.
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Metro by T-Mobile, formerly known as MetroPCS, and simply known as Metro, is an American prepaid wireless service provider and brand owned by T-Mobile US. It previously operated the fifth largest mobile telecommunications network in the United States using code-division multiple access (CDMA). In 2013, the carrier engaged in a reverse merger with T-Mobile US; post-merger, its services were merged under T-Mobile's UMTS and LTE network. Metro by T-Mobile competes primarily against AT&T's Cricket Wireless, EchoStar's Boost Mobile and Verizon's Visible as part of the wireless service provider brands. Metro by T-Mobile has twenty million subscribers as of 2021.
7-Eleven SpeakOut Wireless is a Canadian mobile virtual network operator brand for prepaid wireless service. The brand was launched in April 2003 by the 7-Eleven convenience store chain in the United States, and expanded to Canada in November 2005. 7-Eleven SpeakOut ceased operating in the United States in 2010.
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Lively is a connected health technology company based in the United States of America.
Virgin Mobile South Africa (VMSA) was a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) which was launched in 2006 as a joint venture between Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Cell C. Based in Johannesburg, the bustling business-hub of South Africa, Virgin Mobile South Africa has established itself as a dynamic and growing brand with stores nationwide. In February 2011, Cell C sold its stake to Virgin Group and Calico Investments, after which Virgin Group assumed a controlling stake. In November 2020 the company went into voluntary business rescue. In September 2021 their customers were informed that services would be stopped by the end of November 2021, but by 17 September 2021 all services were stopped, leaving many customers stranded.
Transatel is a telecom corporation headquartered in Paris, La Défense, and led by the founders Jacques Bonifay (CEO) and Bertrand Salomon. NTT Communications took a majority stake in the company on 28 February 2019, transferred to NTT Ltd. on 1 July 2019.
Kroger Wireless LLC is an American mobile virtual network operator providing domestic telecommunications services via the T-Mobile Network. The brand was launched as i-wireless, a Kroger Co. It was trialed in 130 Kroger stores in 2006, before being rolled out by mid-2008 to over 2,200 locations, including banner stores such as Dillons, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, and Fry's Food and Drug. Unique among US wireless operators, i-wireless created a loyalty offer allowing customers the ability to earn Wireless Rewards on select plans when using their shopper's loyalty card on in-store qualifying purchases. In May 2019, the company announced the name of its prepaid product brand changing from "i-wireless, a Kroger Co." to "Kroger Wireless."
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