Ultra Mobile

Ultra Mobile
Company typePrivate
IndustryTelecommunications
Founded2011; 13 years ago (2011)
FounderDavid Glickman
HeadquartersCosta Mesa, California, U.S.
Key people
  • David Glickman (CEO)
  • Rizwan Kassim (Managing Partner)
ServicesPrepaid mobile phone plans
Number of employees
150 (2017)
ParentT-Mobile US
Websitewww.ultramobile.com

Ultra Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that uses the T-Mobile US network. Customers can choose the number of minutes, text messages, or data that can be used via a prepaid mobile phone plan.[1][2]

History

[edit]

Ultra Mobile was co-founded by CEO David Glickman, who had previously founded TelePacific Communications, Justice Technology, and Primo Connect.[3]

By 2016, Ultra Mobile products were available in over 25,000 retail stores in the US, including Target and 7-Eleven.[3][4]

In January 2016, the company acquired rights from Univision Communications to manage the Univision Mobile brand, another T-Mobile mobile virtual network operator which specializes in US SIM-based international calling plans for calls to Latin American countries.[5][6] In May 2017, Ultra Mobile announced that it was closing down the Univision Mobile brand and that it would automatically transfer all Univision Mobile subscribers to Ultra Mobile.[7]

In August 2016, Ultra Mobile launched Mint Mobile, formerly Mint SIM, an online-only MVNO specializing in prepaid mobile plans on the T-Mobile cellular network, which provides discounted pricing based on monthly, quarterly, or yearly terms paid in advance.[8]

In 2017, the company had approximately 150 employees in the US, Europe, and Asia, and had focused on hiring millennials.[9][10]

In November 2019, the corporate spin-off of Mint Mobile from Ultra Mobile was completed[11] and Ryan Reynolds acquired a 20%-25% ownership stake in Mint Mobile.[12] Reynolds and founder Glickman both served on the board of directors for The Michael J. Fox Foundation and Glickman was impressed with how Reynolds handled marketing for Deadpool.[13]

In March 2023, T-Mobile US agreed to acquire Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile for up to $1.35 billion.[14]

On May 1, 2024, the announcement was published that the planned acquisition was completed as per the agreement.[15]

Awards and recognition

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In 2015, Ultra Mobile was ranked number 1 in Inc. magazine's list of the 5,000 fastest growing private companies in the United States, with a year-over-year growth rate of 100,849% and revenues of US$118 million in 2014, up from less than a million in 2012.[16]

The company was rated 3.0 or 3.5 out of 5 stars by WhistleOut.[17]

References

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  1. ^ "Ultra Mobile's Glickman: Customized International Cell Service". Bloomberg News. December 27, 2016.
  2. ^ Dolcourt, Jessica (July 22, 2013). "Prepaid or postpaid?: The fight for your cell phone dollars (Smartphones Unlocked)". CNET.
  3. ^ a b Kharif, Olga (February 4, 2016). "The Phone Companies People Actually Love". Bloomberg Businessweek.
  4. ^ Blakely, Lindsay (September 2015). "How This Entrepreneur Started America's Fastest-Growing Company (Twice)". Inc.
  5. ^ Martínez, Laura (January 29, 2016). "Univision y T-Mobile ponen fin a su alianza para Univision Mobile". CNET.
  6. ^ "Univision Mobile, Powered by Ultra Mobile, to Offer Customers Unlimited Domestic and International Talk and Text" (Press release). PR Newswire. January 29, 2016.
  7. ^ "Ultra Mobile Introduces Flex Plans, Shuts Down Univision Mobile". BestMVNO. 2017-05-18.
  8. ^ Broida, Rick (November 16, 2016). "Get three months of Mint SIM cell service for $35". CNET.
  9. ^ White, Ronald D. (February 5, 2017). "Ultra Mobile CEO David Glickman finds his calling". Los Angeles Times.
  10. ^ Glickman, David (March 26, 2015). "How I managed millennials to $100 million in sales". CNBC.
  11. ^ HOFFMAN, SUSAN (October 21, 2021). "Employee-centric Mint Mobile in Costa Mesa given accolades for workplace culture". Los Angeles Times.
  12. ^ Gonzalez, Oscar (November 25, 2019). "Ryan Reynolds now owns Mint Mobile". CNET.
  13. ^ "David Glickman". Inc. September 1, 2021 – via PressReader.
  14. ^ "T-Mobile to Acquire and Turbocharge Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile, Brands Will Continue Delivering Value on the Un-carrier's 5G Network" (Press release). Business Wire. March 15, 2023.
  15. ^ https://www.t-mobile.com/news/business/t-mobile-closes-acquisition-mint-and-ultra-mobile
  16. ^ "Ultra Mobile Tops Inc. 5000". Orange County Business Journal. August 13, 2015.
  17. ^ Ilumba, Angelo. "Best Ultra Mobile Plans 2023". WhistleOut.
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