Trump Mobile: Difference between revisions
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'''Trump Mobile''' is a {{Wplink|Mobile virtual network operator|Mobile Virtual Network Operator}} (MVNO) founded in 2025 by the Trump Organization.<ref name="TTO B">{{Cite web |url=https://www.trump.com/media/trump-mobile-launches-a-bold-new-wireless-service |title=Trump Mobile Launches A Bold New Wireless Service for Americans |date=16 Jun 2025 |website=The Trump Organization |access-date=26 Jun 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250620101923/https://www.trump.com/media/trump-mobile-launches-a-bold-new-wireless-service|archive-date=2025 | '''Trump Mobile''' is a {{Wplink|Mobile virtual network operator|Mobile Virtual Network Operator}} (MVNO) founded in 2025 by the Trump Organization.<ref name="TTO B">{{Cite web |url=https://www.trump.com/media/trump-mobile-launches-a-bold-new-wireless-service |title=Trump Mobile Launches A Bold New Wireless Service for Americans |date=16 Jun 2025 |website=The Trump Organization |access-date=26 Jun 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250620101923/https://www.trump.com/media/trump-mobile-launches-a-bold-new-wireless-service |archive-date=20 Jun 2025}}</ref> The service as stated is offering no contracts, complete device protection, tele-health services, unlimited talk, text, and data, and roadside assistance for $47.45 per month.<ref name="TTO B" /> | ||
==Consumer | ==Consumer impact summary== | ||
{{Ph-C-CIS}} | {{Ph-C-CIS}} | ||
*'''Market control:''' According to the Terms of Use, Trump Mobile operates by using the Liberty Mobile wireless network<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://trumpmobile.com/term-of-use| | *'''Market control:''' According to the Terms of Use, Trump Mobile operates by using the Liberty Mobile wireless network<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Terms of Use |url=https://trumpmobile.com/term-of-use |website=Trump Mobile |date=1 Jun 2025 |access-date=3 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260113181919/https://trumpmobile.com/term-of-use |archive-date=13 Jan 2026}}</ref>, which in return operates on the [[T-Mobile]] network and allegedly "calls a luxury apartment in Trump Tower home after the company was founded in 2018".<ref name="MWL">{{Cite web |last=Robuck |first=Mike |title=Trump Mobile tied to small Florida company |url=https://www.mobileworldlive.com/5g/trump-mobile-tied-to-small-florida-company/ |website=Mobile World Live |date=23 Jun 2025 |access-date=3 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127050202/https://www.mobileworldlive.com/5g/trump-mobile-tied-to-small-florida-company/ |archive-date=27 Nov 2025}}</ref> | ||
==Incidents== | ==Incidents== | ||
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===Unavailability of service (''2025'')=== | ===Unavailability of service (''2025'')=== | ||
When the service was announced, journalists and YouTubers bought into the service to test its functionality as an MVNO. When journalist Shira Ovide signed up for the "47 Plan" (being the only available service package on the website), she noted it was "impossible" to enable the service on her phone, with her credit card being instantly charged.<ref name="WP">{{Cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/06/17/trump-mobile-phone-signup-wireless-service/ | | When the service was announced, journalists and YouTubers bought into the service to test its functionality as an MVNO. When journalist Shira Ovide signed up for the "47 Plan" (being the only available service package on the website), she noted it was "impossible" to enable the service on her phone, with her credit card being instantly charged.<ref name="WP">{{Cite web |last=Ovide |first=Shira |title=I tried signing up for Trump Mobile service. Here’s how it went. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/06/17/trump-mobile-phone-signup-wireless-service/ |website=The Washington Post |date=17 Jun 2025 |access-date=26 June 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250617201221/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/06/17/trump-mobile-phone-signup-wireless-service/ |archive-date=17 June 2025}}</ref> Contributing factors to the lack of functionality included the long wait-time for an activation QR code via e-mail, alongside "coming soon" text being displayed on the number activation screen. | ||
===False advertising (''2025'')=== | ===False advertising (''2025'')=== | ||
Shira Ovide noted in her review that the 47 plan has a "plan telecom tax" of $17.25 a month in addition to the $47.45 in the plan.<ref name="WP" /> When on customer support, YouTuber Stetson Doggett was told Trump Mobile had "no underlying network" and "its own plan", meaning the service did not use networks from [[Verizon]], [[T-Mobile]], or [[AT&T]].<ref>{{Cite web | | Shira Ovide noted in her review that the 47 plan has a "plan telecom tax" of $17.25 a month in addition to the $47.45 in the plan.<ref name="WP" /> When on customer support, YouTuber Stetson Doggett was told Trump Mobile had "no underlying network" and "its own plan", meaning the service did not use networks from [[Verizon]], [[T-Mobile]], or [[AT&T]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doggett |first=Stetson |title=I Signed Up for Trump Mobile So You Don't Have To |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUtSo7dASg0 |website=[[YouTube]] |date=24 Jun 2025 |access-date=19 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=KUtSo7dASg0 |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> This would be proven false later in the video when under Trump Mobile the service utilized T-Mobile cellular data with an {{Wplink|eSim}}. | ||
When the T1 Phone was announced, the product page mentioned the phone having 12GB of storage rather than RAM, the screen being "6. | When the T1 Phone was announced, the product page mentioned the phone having 12GB of storage rather than RAM, the screen being "6.8" (6.78'') Punch-Hole AMOLED", and the phone being advertised as "MADE IN USA". Since then as of 26 June 2025, both claims have been removed or replaced, such as the screen now being a "6.25 inch Punch-Hole AMOLED".<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Eadicicco |first1=Lisa |last2=Gold |first2=Hadas |title=Trump Mobile still claims its phone is ‘Made in the USA.’ But it pulled that language from its site |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/26/tech/trump-t1-phone-made-in-us-website-change |website=CNN |date=26 Jun 2025 |access-date=26 Jun 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250626235739/https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/26/tech/trump-t1-phone-made-in-us-website-change |archive-date=26 Jun 2025}}</ref> | ||
In June, as reported by the ''Financial Times'', Trump Mobile utilized the Liberty Mobile network.<ref name="MWL" /> However, the Liberty Mobile website does not mention the network holding 5G capabilities that the Trump Mobile website claims, despite both websites being updated in 2025. In addition, this conflicts with Trump Mobile's claims that the service "will offer 5G service through all three major cellular carriers"<ref name="TTO B" />, as Liberty Mobile is a T-Mobile-based MVNO. | In June, as reported by the ''Financial Times'', Trump Mobile utilized the Liberty Mobile network.<ref name="MWL" /> However, the Liberty Mobile website does not mention the network holding 5G capabilities that the Trump Mobile website claims, despite both websites being updated in 2025. In addition, this conflicts with Trump Mobile's claims that the service "will offer 5G service through all three major cellular carriers"<ref name="TTO B" />, as Liberty Mobile is a T-Mobile-based MVNO. | ||
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</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
In August, a new image of the T1 Phone was posted on the company's X account that featured a photo-shopped Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/trump-mobile-posts-new-image-of-t1-phone-is-it-just-a-samsung-galaxy-ultra| | In August, a new image of the T1 Phone was posted on the company's [[X]] account that featured a photo-shopped Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kan |first=Michael |title=Trump Mobile Posts New Image of T1 Phone. Is It Just a Samsung Galaxy Ultra? |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/trump-mobile-posts-new-image-of-t1-phone-is-it-just-a-samsung-galaxy-ultra |website=PCMag |date=20 Aug 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250823153319/https://www.pcmag.com/news/trump-mobile-posts-new-image-of-t1-phone-is-it-just-a-samsung-galaxy-ultra |archive-date=23 Aug 2025}}</ref> It was also noted the Spigen logo was still visible on the case, with the company responding to the tweet with "??? bro what".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Preston |first=Dominic |title=Trump Mobile’s fake iPhone is now a fake S25 Ultra |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/764175/trump-mobile-t1-phone-samsung-s25-ultra-spigen |website=The Verge |date=22 Aug 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250822232346/https://www.theverge.com/news/764175/trump-mobile-t1-phone-samsung-s25-ultra-spigen |archive-date=22 Aug 2025}}</ref> | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
File:Trump Mobile X T1 iPhone.jpg|June 2025 | File:Trump Mobile X T1 iPhone.jpg|June 2025 | ||
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==Products== | ==Products== | ||
*T1 Phone (2025): A gold colored phone priced at $499 and claimed "MADE IN USA". Website now states, "American-Proud Design" and "...brought to life right here in the USA." Purism is currently the only U.S. smartphone manufacturer, while the Liberty Phone relies partly on imported components. The $169 Revvl 7 Pro 5G, made in China, has the same screen size, battery capacity and camera setup.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |first1=Lisa | | *T1 Phone (2025): A gold colored phone priced at $499 and claimed "MADE IN USA". Website now states, "American-Proud Design" and "...brought to life right here in the USA." Purism is currently the only U.S. smartphone manufacturer, while the Liberty Phone relies partly on imported components. The $169 Revvl 7 Pro 5G, made in China, has the same screen size, battery capacity and camera setup.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last1=Eadicicco |first1=Lisa |last2=Gold |first2=Hadas |title=Trump’s sons say their new phone will be built in the US. Experts say it looks a lot like a phone from China |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/17/tech/trump-mobile-t1-phone-built-in-us-experts-china |website=CNN |date=17 Jun 2025 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250618000817/https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/17/tech/trump-mobile-t1-phone-built-in-us-experts-china |archive-date=18 Jun 2025}}</ref> | ||
*47 Plan (2025): The first and only data plan for the Trump Mobile service. It has been noted the service is more expensive compared to other MVNOs such as [[Mint Mobile]], Visible and [[US Mobile]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |first1=Patrick | | *47 Plan (2025): The first and only data plan for the Trump Mobile service. It has been noted the service is more expensive compared to other MVNOs such as [[Mint Mobile]], Visible and [[US Mobile]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Holland |first1=Patrick |last2=Carlson |first2=Jeff |title=We Did the Math: Trump Mobile Is a Bad Deal for Consumers |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/we-did-the-math-trump-mobile-is-a-bad-deal-for-consumers/ |website=CNet |date=18 Jun 2025 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250619032707/https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/we-did-the-math-trump-mobile-is-a-bad-deal-for-consumers/ |archive-date=19 Jun 2025}}</ref> | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||