 | |
| 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 | UVNV, Inc |
| 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]
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. [15]
The company was rated 3.0 or 3.5 out of 5 stars by WhistleOut. [16]
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 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.
Virgin Mobile USA was a no-contract Mobile Virtual Network Operator. It used Sprint's network for coverage. It licensed the Virgin Mobile brand from United Kingdom-based Virgin Group. Virgin Mobile USA was headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, and provided service to approximately 6 million customers.
TracFone Wireless, Inc. (TFWI) is an American prepaid, no-contract mobile phone provider. TFWI is a subsidiary of Verizon Communications, and offers products and services under several brands. It operates as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), holding agreements with the three largest United States wireless network operators to provide service: AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile US, and Verizon.
Sprint Corporation was an American telecommunications company. Before being acquired by T-Mobile US on April 1, 2020, it was the fourth-largest mobile network operator in the United States, serving 54.3 million customers as of June 30, 2019. The company also offered wireless voice, messaging, and broadband services through its various subsidiaries under the Boost Mobile and Open Mobile brands and wholesale access to its wireless networks to mobile virtual network operators.
7-Eleven SpeakOut Wireless is a 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.
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.
T-Mobile US, Inc. is an American wireless network operator headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, U.S. Its largest shareholder is multinational telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom AG, which as of April 2023, holds a 51.4% majority stake in the company. T-Mobile US is the third-largest wireless carrier in the United States, with 117.9 million subscribers at the end of Q3 2023.
Lycamobile is a British mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) operating in 60 countries. The brand is active in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States. The bulk of Lycamobile revenue is claimed to be generated from its SIM products. Lycatel, also a part of Lyca Group, targets customers within expatriate and ethnic markets that want to make international calls.
h2o Wireless is a United States-based prepaid GSM phone and mobile Internet service, utilizing the AT&T GSM 4G LTE network. It is a brand of mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Locus Telecommunications, a subsidiary of Telrite Holdings, Inc. since 2019. Locus was formerly a subsidiary of KDDI America Corporation, starting in 2010. h2o Wireless is primarily advertised as a non-restrictive phone service for customers to bring or buy unsubsidised / unlocked smartphones, although AT&T contract / locked phones may be accepted as well.
Republic Wireless was an American mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). Republic sold low cost mobile phone service on partner networks. Republic started as a unique company that provided customers with VOIP numbers which relied on WiFi first with cell as a backup.
TruConnect, formally known as TruConnect Mobile, is an American mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that sells mobile hotspots and smartphones, 3G/4G LTE mobile data plans and prepaid cell phone talk & text plans on T-Mobile’s network. TruConnect was the first prepaid broadband provider in the U.S. to offer a pay-as-you-go, portable Wi-Fi service plans. The only Lifeline provider (ETC) headquartered in Los Angeles, CA. TruConnect uses either Sprint or T-Mobile's network depending on location.
Google Fi Wireless, formerly Project Fi and Google Fi, is an American MVNO telecommunications service by Google that provides telephone calls, SMS, and mobile broadband using cellular networks and Wi-Fi. Google Fi uses the T-Mobile network. Google Fi is a service for US residents only, as of late 2019.
Mint Mobile, LLC is a mobile virtual network operator in the United States. It requires the purchase of a physical SIM card or eSIM online and, except for a trial period, prepayment for at least three months of service. In March of 2023, T-Mobile US agreed to acquire Mint Mobile subject to regulatory approval.
Tello Mobile is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) founded in 2016 that uses the T-Mobile network to provide talk, text, and data to its customers. Tello originally used the Sprint network but transitioned to the T-Mobile network after the T-Mobile and Sprint merger. The company has headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.
Visible by Verizon is a prepaid cell phone service owned and operated wholly by Verizon Communications. Visible competes primarily against T-Mobile's Metro by T-Mobile, AT&T's Cricket Wireless and Dish's Boost Mobile as part of the prepaid wireless service provider brands.
Ting Mobile is an American mobile virtual network operator owned by Dish Wireless. Originally established in February 2012 by Tucows, Ting provides cellular service in the United States using the T-Mobile and Verizon networks. The service is sold off-contract with billing that adjusts the cost of service based on actual customer usage.