Trump Mobile: Difference between revisions
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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. | 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 (''2025-2026'')=== | ||
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}}. | 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 "6.8" (6.78 | 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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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> | 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> | ||
In February 2026, the T1 was again updated to include a new design.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gsmarena.com/the_t1_phone_from_trump_mobile_is_still_happening_but_specs_and_design_have_changed-news-71457.php|title= | |||
The T1 Phone from Trump Mobile is still happening but specs and design have changed|date=2026-02-07|author=Ro|work=GSMarena|access-date=2026-05-11}}</ref> The website was updated in April to state the phone is "proudly American" and "shaped by American innovation", despite it not being made or fully designed in America like previously claimed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/trump-phone-t1-first-look-report/|title=Trump Phone Looks Different, Has No Launch Date, Isn't Made in America|work=CNET|date=2026-05-10|first=Corinne|last=Reichert|access-date=2026-05-11}}</ref> The website was also updated with the following disclaimer: | |||
{{Quote|Product features and images are for illustration only. Final product appearance and specifications may vary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://enroll.trumpmobile.com/phones|title=Meet the T1™ Phone - Premium American-Made Smartphone for Performance & Privacy|work=Trump Mobile|access-date=2026-05-11}}</ref>}} | |||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
File:Trump Mobile X T1 iPhone.jpg|June 2025 | File:Trump Mobile X T1 iPhone.jpg|June 2025 | ||
File:Trump Mobile X T1 Spigen.jpg|August 2025 | File:Trump Mobile X T1 Spigen.jpg|August 2025 | ||
File:Trump Mobile X T1 May 2026.png|February 2026 | |||
File:Trump Mobile Preview Screenshot 2026-05-11.png|Website title advertising "American-Made" as of May 11, 2026 | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||