Scratch Wireless is a new MVNO with a new business model. Instead of charging you subscription fees to access the cellular network it gives you voice and SMS over Wi-Fi for free.
The country’s first multilevel marketer in mobile Solavei is building a merchant rewards network for its members. It’s the MVNO’s first step — but not its last — toward expanding its Amway-like business model beyond wireless.
Target will become a T-Mobile MVNO, reselling its voice and data. brightspot goes live on Oct. 6 with two plans: $35 or $50 a month depending on whether you use data.
FreedomPop became a full-service mobile operator today, selling its first smartphone coupled with voice and data service. The difference between FreedomPop and your typical carrier is that its services are entirely IP based.
TextNow today may be an also-ran in the crowded over-the-top communications market, but it plans to set itself apart by becoming a full-fledged carrier. It wants to be the first all-IP carrier in the U.S.
If FreedomPop can get this VoIP service off the ground it could become the first all-IP mobile operator, but the feisty MVNO has promised to launch voice in the past and failed to deliver.
MVNO Karma is trying to seed its social broadband mesh network throughout New York, so it’s starting with food trucks. Thirty mobile restaurants are now offering free Karma Wi-Fi.
Prepaid mobile giant TracFone had a massive quarter, adding 839,000 subscribers and even beating out Verizon Wireless. TracFone didn’t say why, but not coincidentally its Straight Talk brand and partner Walmart began selling the iPhone 5.
Solavei will sell the device for steep price of $700, but unlocked versions of the new iPhone 5 will work with its SIM cards. Solavei resells T-Mo’s service, giving access to its nationwide HSPA+ network, but not LTE.
Truphone just got a £75M boost led by Abramovich’s investment arm Minden. The VoIP provider-turned-MVNO said it will use those funds to staff up and expand to continental Europe and Asia.
