NET10 Wireless appears to be headed to the recycling bin. A visit to the NET10 Wireless website today surprisingly led me to be pitched Simple Mobile service. A new tab on the website says "New Changes Coming," while a banner reads "No contracts, no credit checks, no hidden fees. Make the switch to Simple Mobile." A logo for Simple Mobile is shown, and website visitors are thanked for their interest in NET10 and told a phone plan that offers even better service is available through Simple Mobile.
Both Simple Mobile and NET10 Wireless are Verizon Value Brands that Verizon acquired when it closed on its acquisition of Tracfone from América Móvil in November 2021. Several other brands were also included in the transaction, Straight Talk Wireless, Tracfone, Page Plus Cellular, SafeLink, Total Wireless (now Total by Verizon), Walmart Family Mobile, and Clearway.
When Verizon first agreed to buy Tracfone in September 2020, it already had several other prepaid wireless brands under its ownership including Visible, Verizon Prepaid, and Yahoo Mobile. Verizon sold off Yahoo and closed its associated wireless brand in 2021. Still, that left 11 prepaid brands for Verizon to manage. And with such a large number of brands under its belt, something had to give. NET10 Wireless appears to be the first brand to fall.
Under the ownership of América Móvil, most Tracfone brands were pretty well differentiated with each serving a particular purpose. Straight Talk, for instance, was sold exclusively in Walmart stores (still is) and a majority of customers were placed on the Verizon network. Simple Mobile was sold in several retail stores but used T-Mobile for coverage. It offered international calling and texting and targeted a subscriber base that desired roaming while in Latin America. It's also long been the number one brand sold through independent multi-carrier prepaid dealers.
Tracfone targeted customers who were light users and was regularly featured on QVC and HSN, while Page Plus was primarily a brand sold through dealers and used the Verizon network. NET10 Wireless was also carried in Walmart but did overlap quite a bit with Straight Talk with plans and pricing. Over América Móvil's last few years of ownership, NET10 seemed to get less attention as América Móvil's attempt to differentiate the brand failed. Its availability in stores dwindled. And unlike some of the other brands, it wasn't marketed heavily. According to iSpot, the last NET10 commercial was released in May 2015. Meanwhile, other brands like Simple Mobile, Straight Talk, and Tracfone have continued to air TV and radio ads since then. So NET10 certainly looked like a good candidate to potentially close, although I suspect they won't be the only one moving forward. Verizon still has too many prepaid brands.
Update: Last year, representatives for Verizon Value Brands (formerly Tracfone) told Fierce Wireless that current customers and new would be able to activate and continue service until November 2024, and California customers would get until 2026. A website associated with Verizon's purchase of Tracfone also states that customers will be able to keep their current plans until November 2024. However, NET10's website seems to be at odds with the statement to Fierce Wireless, at least for potential new customers who want to buy directly from NET10 online.
NET10 Wireless did meet the needs of users needing international calling. This is perhaps why the brand is being folded into Simple Mobile instead of Straight Talk Wireless.
Thank you. I have been with Net 10 for …I don’t know how long.. at least ten years. Have been happy with service. Sad to see it being swallowed up.
Yes, the current website leaves one in the dark, regarding this switchover. It still simply has an uninformative link to the “Simple” site. Yeah… it is harder and harder to perform routine transactions there, at this point. A search led me to your article, to at least get an idea of what’s going on.
Been a Net10 customer since 2007. Always great service at great price, although I liked the pay by the minute format better whereby I would refill 300/600/900 minutes at a time. The current flat fee per month, however, costs just about the same for my level of use.
I will miss Net10, but will keep it as long as they offer it, and reserve judgment on its replacement once Verizon tells me I have to move on.
Did you actually talk to anyone at NET10/VZW Value? Or is this all crystal ball speculation?
The Net10 site still lets me chotto start a NET10 line of service.
I ask because I’d like to know how long I’ll have to use up my points or if they will transfer to another VZW Value brand?
At 2k points/mo. for the 2GB plan I still have enough for over 2 years of service.
Did you go to the NET10 website where they are now redirecting new online customers to go to Simple Mobile? Did you see that they no longer show plans to customers? Don’t know how long before current customers are asked to move. But new customers looking to buy online are now directed to Simple Mobile and there’s a link on NET10 homepage that takes you to the Simple Mobile website.
I saw it several days ago (& posted a screenshot on a hobby biard) and put a byod SIM & plan in cart at that time.
Have you spoken to anyone at NET10/Verizon Value?
I have only spoken to a third party rep who confirmed the brand was pulled from stores. Also said as of last year, before NET10 was pulled from stores, the brand was supposed to remain in place for two more years.
Looks like I’ll attempt to ride the train to the last stop.
Would appreciate any solid info. to update the situation / status if you get any.
I’ve updated article with more info. Current customers are supposed to be able to keep their rate plans until November 2024, and 2026 in California. However, how long the brand remains in existence is a different story. The same timeline is/was in place for Total Wireless which is now Total by Verizon.
I have now received a statement from brand affiliate stating that they are indeed “sunsetting” NET10. They are starting to “work through the sunsetting process.” However, no formal date was stated.