Articles by Joe Paonessa
Joe Paonessa
Joe Paonessa is the founder of BestMVNO.com. He started BestMVNO in 2013, because like many of you, he was unhappy with the high price he was paying his wireless provider for cell phone service. After researching how to cut costs on his phone bill, he came across the terms MVNO and prepaid wireless, and learned there was a way he could keep using his favorite network without having to pay a premium price for it.
Through BestMVNO.com, Joe shares his research and experiences with MVNOs and prepaid wireless providers, helping others learn how to save money on their phone bills. Joe's current providers are Total Wireless and MobileX. When he's not working on BestMVNO, you may find Joe playing pickleball or going out for a run. For inquiries use the contact button.
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Through BestMVNO.com, Joe shares his research and experiences with MVNOs and prepaid wireless providers, helping others learn how to save money on their phone bills. Joe's current providers are Total Wireless and MobileX. When he's not working on BestMVNO, you may find Joe playing pickleball or going out for a run. For inquiries use the contact button.
Follow Joe on LinkedIn
Simple Mobile Back On Top Wave7 Research Prepaid Dealer Survey In 2Q24, Ultra Mobile Drops To 3rd
Simple Mobile has won the latest quarterly multi-carrier prepaid dealer survey conducted in 2Q24 by Wave7 Research. The previous poll had been won by Ultra Mobile snapping a 36-quarter win streak by Simple Mobile that started with the survey’s inception in 1Q15. Ultra Mobile fell two spots to third place.
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Lyca Mobile Moves Into Target, Withdraws From CVS, Adds 60GB For $14.75/Month Promo
Lyca Mobile has made some changes to its retail presence, as noted in a report Wave7 Research recently sent to its subscribers. The T-Mobile-based provider recently stopped selling its SIM cards at CVS. However, Lyca Mobile has started offering its SIMs through Target stores where it’s marketing them as including
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Straight Talk Joins Trend Of Wireless Brands Sponsoring NASCAR
Straight Talk Wireless has announced a partnership with NASCAR as detailed in this press release from Verizon and in the latest prepaid report from Wave7 Research. The term length of the sponsorship has not been disclosed other than it is a multi-year deal. The sponsorship also makes Straight Talk an
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Mint Mobile Adds 3GB Canada Roaming To Plans
Mint Mobile has updated its wireless plans to include roaming in Canada. New and current customers will get unlimited talk and text while traveling in Canada plus 3GB of high-speed data to use. The 3GB data allotment is completely separate from each Mint plan’s domestic data allotment. If you’re on
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Total by Verizon Rebrands Back To Total Wireless, New Offers Include 5Y Price Lock
Total by Verizon has relaunched and rebranded today back to Total Wireless complete with a new logo. The name change comes less than two years after Total Wireless was first rebranded to Total by Verizon. According to a video released by Verizon, changes and new points of focus to the
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US Mobile Undercuts Visible With New Prices, Begins AT&T Network Beta Testing
US Mobile has once again made major changes to its platform. The multi-network MVNO has altered its “unlimited plans” to match and undercut Visible by Verizon’s prices. Its two monthly unlimited plans got price haircuts to $25/month and $44/month down from $29/month and $50/month respectively. Each plan also had price
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Google Fi Withdraws From Target And Best Buy Stores
Google Fi has withdrawn from both Best Buy and Target stores as confirmed in the latest prepaid report from Wave7 Research. The firm noted Google Fi displays at Best Buy have been torn down. Checks by Wave7 Research in various markets observed that SIM cards were also no longer found
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Consumer Cellular Offering Two Months Free With Purchase Of Any Phone
Consumer Cellular is offering new customers two months of free service when they purchase any phone and activate an account by July 31, 2024, on approved credit. A heavy dose of advertising is backing the offer. Two new TV ads launched in June to support it; “Best Things In Life,
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Unreal Mobile Has Relaunched With Iggy Azalea As Owner
Unreal Mobile has just been relaunched with the help of rapper and model Iggy Azalea. It’s unclear if the star bought an ownership stake in the brand like Ryan Reynolds did with Mint Mobile, or if she owns all of it. Azalea claims on X that she co-founded the brand.
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Boss Wireless Shutting Down, Effective July 1, 2024
Thanks to a reader tip, BestMVNO has learned that Boss Wireless is shutting down. There’s a banner on the provider’s homepage that reads: We regret to inform you that BOSS Wireless will discontinue operations on July 1st, 2024. All cellular services, including voice, text, and data, will be terminated at
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Total by Verizon Offering 50% Off Unlimited Plans For 12 Months
Total by Verizon is offering bring-your-own phone customers 50% off any truly unlimited plan for at least 12 months. The provider has two unlimited plans normally priced at $50/month and $60/month after application of a $5/month autopay billing discount. The prepaid carrier is also offering $15/month off unlimited service plans
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Mint Mobile Reddit Ad Pits Itself Directly Against Verizon Prepaid
While browsing Reddit I was struck by an ad from Mint Mobile that specifically pits itself against Verizon Prepaid. The ad compares Mint Mobile’s “unlimited plan” to Verizon’s unlimited plan. Mint Mobile’s plan isn’t actually truly unlimited in the same way that Verizon’s unlimited plan is. But the main part
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Boost Mobile Launches Mix & Match Family Plans With Discounts In Dealer Stores
A source confirmed to BestMVNO that the Boost Mobile dealer channel is undergoing some changes. Dealers can now provide customers the ability to mix and match plans on their accounts with discounts on Boost’s flagship store plans. Customers on Boost’s $50 and $60 store plans will receive a $20 discount
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Metro by T-Mobile’s Free Phones For All Offer Is A Deceptive Trick To Lock You Into Paying More
John Freier, the President of T-Mobile’s U.S. Consumer Group, released a video today claiming to be “changing wireless for good” by offering Metro by T-Mobile’s first Un-carrier move. Free phones for all, including existing customers. He also reaffirmed the company’s commitment to “wireless without the gotcha.” But this author couldn’t
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T-Mobile Pulls Fast One On FCC, Extends Metro’s Unlock Policy To 365 Days Post-Mint Mobile Acquisition
On 4/23/24, T-Mobile informed the FCC that if it were allowed to acquire Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile it would immediately change the device unlock policy for each brand to 60 days. On 4/25/24, T-Mobile received approval from the FCC to acquire the brands, and the deal was closed on
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