BYO Wireless was an MVNO that had operated for years, and sold service as a T-Mobile and Verizon MVNO. Customers tended to find value in their Verizon based plans that came in at a variety of price points fulfilling various needs.
It had been talked about for a while that the company would be shutting itself down as part of its sale to Budget Mobile ((Budget Mobile offers mobile phone service to low income families and individuals who may be eligible for a free government phone or service)). Today, September 1st, the company formally announced on its website that it no longer offers wireless service. If you're a customer of the MVNO, you've likely received something like the following notice that a BestMVNO.com reader had received in the past several days:
August 28, 2015
Re: BYO Wireless Mobile Number xxx-xxx-xxxx
Dear Valued Customer:
On September 1, 2015, your mobile service provider, BYO Wireless L.L.C. will transfer all existing wireless accounts, which are currently being serviced by BYO, to Selectel Wireless. This means on September 1st, Selectel will be your wireless service provider, will collect your prepaid monthly wireless service payments and assist with all customer service related issues going forward.
BYO shall continue to collect your prepaid monthly wireless service payments, at www.byowireless.com, and through the automatic payment option, up until August 31, 2015. Then starting September 1st, all prepaid wireless service payments should be made payable to Selectel Wireless at www.selectelwireless.com or by calling the customer call center at 866-218-5744 each month.
In addition, you will see changes in the prepaid wireless service plans. To find a plan that is comparable to BYO, visit Selectel Wireless at https://www.selectelwireless.com/wireless-plans/ and choose a plan that fits your wireless needs.
If you have any questions for either your present service provider, BYO Wireless, or your new service provider, Budget Mobile, in regards to your account or the status of your transfer, please contact either provider by using the information below:
Current Wireless Service Provider:
BYO Wireless, L.L.C.
Customer Call Center
1325 Barksdale Blvd.
Bossier City, LA 71111
New Wireless Service Provider:
Selectel Wireless
www.selectelwireless.com
Customer Call Center
Kindest Regards:
BYO Wireless, L.L.C
It seems that which provider you get transferred to is solely based on where you live. For instance, customers in the following states are said to have been transferred over to Budget Mobile:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nevada
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Those living in other states likely received the email quoted above. Your BYO account balance should have transferred over to either Budget or Selectel as well.
If you're in the unfortunate situation where you used Budget as a T-Mobile MVNO and found yourself transferred over to Selectel Wireless, you may be in need of a new phone or MVNO provider as Selectel Wireless is a Verizon MVNO and your current phone is likely incompatible with Selectel.
Sources: BestMVNO.com reader, BYO Wireless, PrepaidPhoneNews