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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Mint Mobile Verizon Prepaid Reddit Attack Ad

Mint Mobile Reddit Ad Pits Itself Directly Against Verizon Prepaid

By Joe Paonessa • 05/29/24

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...

Boost Mobile On Display At A Local Area Walmart

Boost Mobile Launches Mix & Match Family Plans With Discounts In Dealer Stores

By Joe Paonessa • 05/15/24

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 a...

Metro by T-Mobile Brings Un-carrier To Prepaid

Metro by T-Mobile’s Free Phones For All Offer Is A Deceptive Trick To Lock You Into Paying More

By Joe Paonessa • 05/14/24

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-carri...

Did T-Mobile Just Pull A Fast One On The FCC?

T-Mobile Pulls Fast One On FCC, Extends Metro’s Unlock Policy To 365 Days Post-Mint Mobile Acquisition

By Joe Paonessa • 05/13/24

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...

H2O Wireless Promo: $25/Line Unlimited Plan

H2O Wireless Targets Multi-Line Customers With $25/Line For “Unlimited”

By Joe Paonessa • 05/09/24

H2O Wireless, a sister brand to PureTalk, has launched a new offer targeting prospective multi-line customers. Through 8/31/24, new customers who activate a multi-line plan on...

TextNow’s Free Phone Plan Now Comes With “Essential Data”

By Joe Paonessa • 05/08/24

TextNow has updated its free unlimited talk and text phone plan to include what it is calling “Free Essential Data.” Free Essential Data is free data that can be used with spe...

US Mobile Testing Internal Number Port Network Switching Tool

US Mobile Launches Manual Network Switching Tool

By Joe Paonessa • 05/06/24

US Mobile has launched a new manual network switching tool. The company is tentatively calling it TelePortal. The tool is currently in beta testing, and US Mobile’s founder, A...

Helium Mobile Offering Google Pixel 8 Pro With Free Year Service

Helium Mobile Touts 62k Subs, Adds Group Plans & Pixel Phones With Free Service

By Joe Paonessa • 05/02/24

Helium Mobile, a startup that operates as both an MVNO and a carrier, has experienced a highly productive few months. At the end of April, Helium Foundation board member Arman...

Visible by Verizon Offering Ten Dollars Off Any Unlimited Plan

Visible Launches $10 Off Unlimited Plans For 3-Months, $240 Off Google Pixels

By Joe Paonessa • 04/30/24

Visible by Verizon has some new and recently launched offers. New customers can get their first three months of service on either of Visible by Verizon’s unlimited plans at a...

Boost Mobile Dealer Store In California (Photo Credit Wave7 Research)

DISH Follies Continue, Boost Mobile Stores Face Stiff Penalties For Closing Early

By Joe Paonessa • 04/29/24

According to documents shared with BestMVNO, Boost Mobile dealers operating branded locations will face a chargeback/fine for store closures. Dealers closing a store for an en...

Mint Mobile Will Be A Part Of T-Mobile Effective May 1 2024

T-Mobile’s Acquisition Of Mint Mobile Gains FCC Approval, Deal Closing May 1

By Joe Paonessa • 04/26/24

The FCC stated on 4/25/24 that it approved T-Mobile’s acquisition of the Ka’ena Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile for around $1.35 billi...

Linkup Mobile - New MVNO From SurgePays Inc Coming Soon

SurgePays, Inc. Readies Launch Of Linkup Mobile

By Joe Paonessa • 04/22/24

SurgePays, Inc (SURG), a publicly traded company is set to launch a new wireless MVNO service, Linkup Mobile, according to the latest prepaid report from Wave7 Research sent t...

Boost Mobile $10/Month 3-Month Unlimited Plan Offer

Boost Mobile’s Secret $10/Mo 3-Month Trial Unlimited Plan Is Still Kicking

By Joe Paonessa • 04/20/24

Boost Mobile continues to run a secret new customer trial offer. The promo will give customers an unlimited plan with 35GB of monthly high-speed data for $10/month. An upfront...

Consumer Cellular On Display At A Target Store

Consumer Cellular Announces 2nd Month Free, Signs Fred Couples & 3 Other Golf Legends To Marketing Deals

By Joe Paonessa • 04/19/24

Consumer Cellular has relaunched a second-month free promotion, as noted in the latest edition of Wave7 Research’s prepaid report. BestMVNO reported the same type of offer run...

Multi-Carrier Wireless Dealer Store (Pic via Wave7 Research)

Streak Snapped! Ultra Mobile Wins Wave7 Research Prepaid Dealer Survey

By Joe Paonessa • 04/19/24

For the first time since its inception, the Wave7 Research quarterly prepaid dealer survey has a new winner. Ultra Mobile won the 1Q24 survey, breaking Simple Mobile’s record...