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]
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