T-Mobile to Acquire Ryan Reynolds' Mint Mobile Brand

[ian87w]

We need a new real carrier to shake things up…..not MVNO or subsidy of another one. Nextel should never been allowed to merge with Sprint, and Sprint should have never been sold off to T-Mobile. Sadly the cost to enter the market is huge, so good luck.

Unfortunately, true wireless carriers require heavy capitals that only either huge companies, foreign investment, or state-owned capitals can play the game. Investments in towers and backbone require a ton of capital. That’s why the growth is only in MVNOs, while the giants keep controlling the backend.

And consolidations are not unexpected. Even in my country, we have consolidated our carriers from historical 7 or so into just 4, with rumors circling that 2 are going to merge as well, resulting in 3 carriers only.

 

[sw1tcher]

We need a new real carrier to shake things up…..not MVNO or subsidy of another one. Nextel should never been allowed to merge with Sprint, and Sprint should have never been sold off to T-Mobile. Sadly the cost to enter the market is huge, so good luck.

Maybe Dish? They've been working on building out their network.

DISH's Smart 5G™ Wireless Network is Now Available to Over 20 Percent of the U.S. Population

More than 120 cities across the country are now connected to the DISH 5G network LITTLETON, Colo., June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As of June 14, DISH is offering 5G broadband service to over 20...

about.dish.com

It's going to take a lot of $$$ but they need to cover 70% of U.S. population by this June 14 or they risk losing the spectrum they spent billions to buy. I doubt they want that to happen.

Maybe Dish and U.S. Cellular (U.S. Cellular runs their own network separate from Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T) can tie the knot to form a stronger 4th carrier.

 

[sw1tcher]

Actually US Mobile is on Verizon network.

Mint has been great the many years I have used it. Ryan was a great spokesman.

I am pretty sure my year of Mint will be up soon.

We will see what happens now.

Att has a great prepaid plan for $300 for a year at 16gb data per month. Was using Mint unlimited which is 30gb/month for $360 a year.

We're both right. US Mobile uses both T-Mobile *and* Verizon

https://www.whistleout.com/CellPhones/Guides/us-mobile-review

On US Mobile, you’ll find fast data speeds, generous mobile hotspot allowances, and an excellent phone selection. US Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that uses Verizon’s and T-Mobile’s networks.

 

[Glideslope]

First he sold his gin company... and now he sold his phone company.

Cha-ching!

💲💲💲

Has to balance the losses from his Soccer Team. 😂😂

 

[grjj]

Does this mean Mint will now be able to support Apple Watch?

 

[macduke]

I guess Ryan is not the renegade he hyped himself up to be and will happily cash out at the first possible opportunity.

Dude has been set for life for a very long time. Everything is an act and marketing when it comes to business. These are not non-profits. He won the game that is capitalism.

 

[Technerd108]

Maybe Dish? They've been working on building out their network.

DISH's Smart 5G™ Wireless Network is Now Available to Over 20 Percent of the U.S. Population

More than 120 cities across the country are now connected to the DISH 5G network LITTLETON, Colo., June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As of June 14, DISH is offering 5G broadband service to over 20...

about.dish.com

It's going to take a lot of $$$ but they need to cover 70% of U.S. population by this June 14 or they risk losing the spectrum they spent billions to buy. I doubt they want that to happen.

Maybe Dish and U.S. Cellular (U.S. Cellular runs their own network separate from Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T) can tie the knot to form a stronger 4th carrier.

Well my experience with Dish as in Boost mobile was pretty horrific. Took almost 3 weeks to port out my number.

I understand they had a attack on their systems but you couldn't even talk to a person during that time.

They didn't give any updates. I simply had to call daily and after almost 3 weeks I got through to someone.

I agree we need another player and maybe Dish will be it. Let's just hope they improve their security and customer service.

 

[Hildy]

I was hoping he would expand Mint North if the border. Canada’s mobile carriers are terrible, and expensive as duck. AT&T has North American unlimited plans which I use rather than feeding the Canadian beast.

It would be nice to see harmony across the Mexico, US, Canada boarders in some form like the EU dropping roaming. Maybe as North America retreats a bit from globalization (Asia) we’ll return to stronger N/S American centric products.

How about dropping roaming across all of the Americas..?

 

[ethanwa79]

The biggest reason for not having a 4th cell carrier isn’t because of money, it’s because of spectrum. There’s only so much bandwidth is the ranges allowed and that are safe. And the big three consolidated it all to have wide-ranging networks nationwide (less blackout spots). A 4th traditional cell carrier adds both upside and downside.

The only other type of competing network is either a wireless+cell hybrid like Charter Spectrum Mobile or satellite, and both of those have major downsides.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

He didn't do it for you. He did it only for himself.

Shades of Walter White.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Switched to Mint from Straight Talk. There seem to be other MVNOs to jump ship to in the event prices are raised, as others have noted.

 

[performa_6400]

Competition is a great thing for the consumer and innovation. Consolidation isn't.

 

[anshuvorty]

I guess Ryan is not the renegade he hyped himself up to be and will happily cash out at the first possible opportunity.

Ryan Reynolds with this Mint sellout and then there was John Krasinski selling Some Good News to the highest bidder as well.

 

[Vref]

Personally VZW or ATT FTW, google fi has its points for extended intl though it’s google which is creepy

But T mobile? Huh

 

[Bawstun]

Such a stupid comment, Ryan is just an investor, the CEO has to take into account their investors interest. Doubt he has over 51% shares. And if so it were the case, so frkin what?

He reportedly owns a 25% stake of the company which would make this sale worth approx. $337.5m to him.

 

[davidjschloss]

mint sponsored (not still doing that sponsorship, this is unsolicited) my YouTube channel and gave me three three months. The 5g speeds are so so so much faster than Verizon everywhere I tried. Like Verizon gives me 5mb/sec while mint was 300. It was crazy.

I'd have switched my family over on the spot for the pricing but mint doesn't do Apple Watch so I didn't even bother looking into it or t mobile.

Now I'm going to look at t mobile plans since I know how fast they are. This will motivate me to get off my butt and check out switching.

 

[jwdsail]

U.S. carrier T-Mobile today announced that it plans to acquire Mint Mobile, the affordable smartphone brand that is promoted by and backed by actor Ryan Reynolds. Reynolds and T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert teamed up for a video letting customers know about the coming acquisition.

The deal is for Ka'ena Corporation, the parent company of Mint Mobile, Ultra Mobile, and Plum, with T-Mobile paying up to $1.35 billion, split into 39 percent cash and 61 percent stock. The final purchase price will be settled later this year after the deal closes.

T-Mobile plans to continue Mint Mobile's $15 per month pricing option, which provides 4GB of high-speed 4G or 5G data along with unlimited text and talk. T-Mobile is purchasing Mint Mobile's sales, marketing, digital, and service operations, and says that it will use the T-Mobile supplier relationships and distribution scale to help Mint Mobile grow.

Mint Mobile's "industry leading" marketing expertise will be incorporated into T-Mobile's portfolio to reach new customer segments and geographies, with Reynolds staying on in his creative role.

T-Mobile's Mint Mobile acquisition will be its second major mobile purchase following its 2020 merger with Sprint.

Article Link: T-Mobile to Acquire Ryan Reynolds' Mint Mobile Brand

Less competition…

That’s awesome /s

SMFH

 

[kingtj1971]

U.S. carrier T-Mobile today announced that it plans to acquire Mint Mobile, the affordable smartphone brand that is promoted by and backed by actor Ryan Reynolds. Reynolds and T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert teamed up for a video letting customers know about the coming acquisition.

The deal is for Ka'ena Corporation, the parent company of Mint Mobile, Ultra Mobile, and Plum, with T-Mobile paying up to $1.35 billion, split into 39 percent cash and 61 percent stock. The final purchase price will be settled later this year after the deal closes.

T-Mobile plans to continue Mint Mobile's $15 per month pricing option, which provides 4GB of high-speed 4G or 5G data along with unlimited text and talk. T-Mobile is purchasing Mint Mobile's sales, marketing, digital, and service operations, and says that it will use the T-Mobile supplier relationships and distribution scale to help Mint Mobile grow.

Mint Mobile's "industry leading" marketing expertise will be incorporated into T-Mobile's portfolio to reach new customer segments and geographies, with Reynolds staying on in his creative role.

T-Mobile's Mint Mobile acquisition will be its second major mobile purchase following its 2020 merger with Sprint.

Article Link: T-Mobile to Acquire Ryan Reynolds' Mint Mobile Brand

I heard rumors this was going to happen a couple months ago. The funny thing is, I had just switched to Mint from a T-Mobile "Connect" plan.

T-Mobile's Connect plan was pretty much the cheapest deal I could get from a major carrier when I only needed one line for myself, and only cared about having a little bit of monthly data on my plan. But Mint really became the better value as long as I was willing to pre-pay for months of service in advance, as opposed to a monthly bill. And my daughter who was on Verizon wanted to switch to something cheaper too -- so added her to Mint and did the "Mint Family" plan.

What seems odd to me is that T-Mobile didn't just offer the same pricing/packages Mint offered, instead of buying a company out that was just reselling their service anyway. It may be it's that combo of getting Plum and Ultra Mobile with it that makes it more attractive for them?

This blurb from T-Mobile is pretty much just P.R. nonsense. Mint Mobile had no "industry leading" marketing expertise involved here. It simply said, "Hey... we can resell T-Mobile lines cheaper than we can resell the lines other major carriers are willing to let us resell. So ok, we'll offer T-Mobile service. And we'll discount below what any of the existing "pay as you go" companies are doing by letting people buy a whole year or at least 3 months of service in advance. Maybe add a couple GB of monthly data in a given plan more than most of the other guys include to sweeten the deal? Mint's concept of adding customers by paying out small referral credits isn't some genius new idea either.

 

[Kar98]

I wonder if this means that Mint Mobile will start being compatible with iPhone. Last I checked, it was NOT compatible.

That’s a big surprise to the many iPhone users on mint, including myself.

 

[Aston441]

If anyone were actually watching out for the consumer, further telecom consolidation should be carefully weighed and more often rejected.

Land of the fee, home of the slave. One Oligopoly to rule them all!

 

[Rich74]

Why does Reynolds have to be a fool in every video he makes? Is it in his contract?

 

[JapanApple]

Why does Reynolds have to be a fool in every video he makes? Is it in his contract?

It’s Worse being part owner of a soccer team. That TV series or documentary seemingly he’s hit bottom. I really wanted to like that series but it was just bad. I enjoy soccer but not the way he portrays it as an owner

 

[Mrjoedot]

were they gonna use the green screen for some CGI or they ran out of budget?

 

[mrr]

I’ve been happy with T-Mobile.

 

[kugino]

i didnʻt like that you had to pre-pay for a whole year to get their cheapest plan...i would move back to mint, however, if they now had apple watch plans, since MVNOs donʻt. and i hate visible...