Fairphone, known for its 10/10 repairability-rated phones, has struck its first US carrier partnership with Boost Mobile, an MVNO that leases network access primarily from AT&T. Customers can't yet buy the $650 Fairphone Gen. 6+ directly from Boost; instead they must purchase it via Fairphone's website or Amazon and activate it with a Boost plan. Fairphone's commercial chief Rutger Sneep says this is only phase one of a longer collaboration, with more details on joint marketing plans to come.
wired.com
· 2026-11-12
SpaceX is reportedly negotiating with EchoStar, either to acquire its Boost Mobile prepaid carrier outright or to secure a separate deal for network access, according to The Washington Post. Boost Mobile currently leases network capacity from AT&T and T-Mobile. The talks follow SpaceX's recent $8 billion deal to acquire 800MHz spectrum aimed at improving Starlink Mobile's indoor coverage.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-11-02
Mint Mobile has revised its family plan structure, now charging $30 per month for the first line and $20 for each additional line, with groups of up to five people. Plans are billed quarterly, ranging from $150 per quarter for two lines to $330 per quarter for five lines.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-28
A tech explainer notes that most modern smartphones allow users to remove and replace physical SIM cards while powered on, without requiring a shutdown or airplane mode. The guide outlines the swap process—ejecting the tray, changing the card, and reinserting it—and notes dual-SIM phone owners should confirm which slot they're changing. It also contrasts physical SIM flexibility with eSIM, which uses QR codes or carrier apps for transfers but can only have a few profiles active simultaneously.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-18
CNET's People's Picks survey found readers rated Mint Mobile, a mobile virtual network operator, as their most satisfying carrier with an average score of 4.68 out of 5, outranking the three major network carriers. CNET senior editor Jeff Carlson attributed part of Mint's high marks to its marketing, including actor Ryan Reynolds' past involvement, alongside its affordable pricing plans starting at $15 a month.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-30
After a $113 monthly T-Mobile bill and rising costs, including a pricier upcoming iPhone 18 Pro, the author switched to a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). MVNOs like Mint Mobile, Visible, and US Mobile don't own their own networks—they lease access from AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon—letting customers keep similar coverage while paying less.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-11
Mobile virtual network operators such as Mint Mobile don't own towers or spectrum; instead they lease network capacity from major carriers like T-Mobile and resell it at lower prices. Because they run leaner operations—often prepaid, with no retail stores, no bundled streaming perks, and third-party device financing—MVNOs can undercut the big carriers on cost, though subscribers may face slower speeds during network congestion since direct carrier customers get priority.
engadget.com
· 2026-08-29
A longtime T-Mobile customer who switched to Mint Mobile to save over $100 a month outlines three common tradeoffs of using smaller carriers, starting with data deprioritization in crowded areas. At a packed concert venue, the user experienced noticeably slower uploads compared to customers on premium plans from major carriers, illustrating how MVNO traffic gets lower priority during network congestion.
zdnet.com
· 2026-08-25
GoKawiil