Maurice Klaehne is a research analyst at Counterpoint Technology Market Research, based in Boston, USA. He worked for more than five years as a market analyst and strategy consultant, focusing on emerging markets and discovering new growth opportunities for his clients, including business services, consumer packaged goods, healthcare and life sciences companies. Maurice holds a Master`s degree in International Development and Management from Lund University in Sweden and a Bachelor`s degree in Political Science and International Development from McGill University in Canada. He is a native German speaker and speaks fluent French. Even without Tracfone, there are still excellent MVNOs using Verizon`s network. Acquisitions of this magnitude take some time because they require regulatory approval. With T-Mobile`s purchase of Sprint, it took years to do so. While this is a much larger transaction, it will still take a long time, perhaps years, to bring all of Tracfone`s customers into a new network. Although the agreement has just been announced, many regulatory hurdles still need to be overcome before it can be approved. With the T-Mobile Sprint merger, we have already seen how long large mergers and acquisitions in the telecommunications sector can take. The FCC must be convinced that this decision will truly increase competition and improve the mobile industry as a whole.
More will be added here and we will continue to keep abreast of its evolution. “For more than 25 years, TracFone Wireless, Inc. has been providing wireless solutions to value-conscious consumers,” said Eduardo Diaz Corona, CEO of TracFone Wireless, Inc. “With the power of Verizon, we will be able to bring innovative offerings and better value to market faster, allowing us to advance our goal of providing coverage and access for all.” Originally, the TracFone service was limited to TracFone-branded phones linked to the TracFone service via an internal SIM card. Other GSM phones, even those unlocked by another mobile operator, could not accept a TracFone SIM card because they are linked to a specific handset. However, in 2013, TracFone introduced Bring Your Own Phone and began selling SIM cards that could be used in qualified non-TracFone phones (such as Verizon CDMA phones) to register with TracFone. [9] In 2015, this program was extended to compatible unlocked GSM phones and renamed “Bring Your Own Phone”. Early indications of the purchase could be the elimination of network options for new activations, as well as new plans that better align with Verizon`s overall plans and network. Tracfone provides a strong and cost-effective service to 21 million customers and helps complement Verizon`s wireless offering with its flagship Verizon Wireless brand, which offers premium wireless services, with Tracfone`s brands filling the value segment.
Verizon has already been the provider of some valuable MVNOs such as Visible and US Mobile. Tracfone already has 13 million of its customers using the Verizon network. «Estamos encantados de dar la bienvenida a TracFone y a sus empleados a la familia Verizon y entusiasmados de poder ofrecer nuevos productos y servicios mejorados a este atractivo segmento del mercados. Nuestra nueva base de clientes premium y prepago se beneficiará de las ofertas de la organización combinada, ahora y en el futuro”, dijo Ronan Dunne, director ejecutivo of Verizon Consumer Group. The addition of the TracFone brands firmly establishes Verizon as the preferred provider in the prepaid segment and complements our clear leadership position in the premium segment. “For more than 25 years, TracFone Wireless, Inc. has been providing wireless solutions to consumers who value the control a contracted prepaid plan gives them,” said Eduardo Diaz Corona, CEO of TracFone Wireless, Inc. “With Verizon`s capacity and reach, we will be able to bring innovative and more affordable offerings to market faster. so that we can advance our mission of ensuring coverage and access for all. Simple Mobile Inc. (stylized as SIMPLE Mobile) was founded in November 2009 as the prepaid mobile network operator of T-Mobile US.
[13] Simple Mobile Inc. was acquired by TracFone Wireless in 2012. América Móvil, tfwi`s parent company, acquired Simple Mobile in June 2012 and established it as a subsidiary of TracFone Wireless. [14] Straight Talk Wireless was launched on October 18, 2009 as a contract-free telephone scheduling service. Under an agreement with Walmart, Walmart is the exclusive retailer of Straight Talk. [12] The mobile operator sealed the deal after the Federal Communications Commission issued an order on Monday approving the transaction under certain conditions. “We are very pleased to welcome TracFone and its employees to the Verizon family and look forward to bringing new products and enhanced services to this attractive market segment. Our new premium and value customer base will benefit from the merged company`s offerings, now and in the future,” said Ronan Dunne, CEO of Verizon Consumer Group. “The addition of the TracFone brands firmly establishes Verizon as the provider of choice in the value segment, complementing our clear leadership position in the premium segment,” he added.
Net10 Wireless (NET10 Wireless) is a subsidiary of TracFone Wireless that does not offer contract phone plans. [19] SafeLink Wireless, a subsidiary of Net10, is a Service Supported by Lifeline for low-income consumers with disabilities in the United States. [20] Lifeline is financed by the Universal Service Fund. [21] The acquisition positions Verizon as a leading provider of prepaid, valued and premium mobile services by expanding Verizon`s portfolio and providing new customers with enhanced access to its state-of-the-art wireless network and full suite of mobility products and services. Verizon will continue to offer the Lifeline service with new 5G connectivity options through TracFone and further develop TracFone`s core products, distribution channels and brands. These brands include Straight Talk, whose customers are now majority-owned on the Verizon network, as well as Total Wireless, TracFone and SafeLink. On September 14, 2020, Verizon Wireless announced its intention to acquire TracFone in a cash and stock transaction worth up to $6.9 billion, which is expected to close by the end of 2021. [5] [10] [11] Verizon pagó una contraprestación de cierre de $3,125 millones de dólares en efectivo, sujeto a los ajustes habituales, y 57,596,544 acciones de Verizon.
Sujeto a que TracFone continúe logrando ciertas métricas operativas, Verizon pagará hasta $650 millones de dólares adicionales en efectivo. If you are a Tracfone customer or are considering switching to one of Tracfone`s brands, there are a few things to consider. We have answered some of the most important questions about this purchase. TracFone is the largest wireless reseller in the United States, serving approximately 20 million subscribers through a network of more than 90,000 retail outlets across the country. As a long-time partner of Verizon, more than 13 million TracFone subscribers currently rely on Verizon`s wireless network through an existing wholesale agreement. Coverage always depends on your specific location. Verizon has a strong national network and offers the best coverage in many places or nearby. Still, there are places where AT&T, T-Mobile, or even Sprint`s legacy network can deliver superior performance. If you`re already using Verizon`s network, you may see improvements in coverage as Verizon opens up more roaming options or better data prioritization. .