Articles

By Jon Horovitz – Aug 19, 2022 Consumer Cellular has been one of the greatest success stories in the MVNO space. Founded in 1995 in Portland, Oregon, Consumer Cellular helped to pioneer providing cellular service to the 50-plus-year-old demographic and now boasts over 4 million customers! The company is known for providing a superb customer experience. They have been ranked by J.D. Power as #1 in Customer Service among Wireless Value MVNOs, 13 Times in a Row! Consumer Cellular has … Continue reading “An Interview With Consumer Cellular’s CMO, Craig Lister”

The lazy, hazy and in most spots, non-rainy days of summer have not cooled off wireless sales.  With today being August 5th, is it really only 31 days until Labor Day?  If you’ve been vacationing, here’s what’s going on: Charter Communications (Spectrum Mobile) and Comcast (Xfinity) had tremendous Q2, 2022 wireless sales adding a combined 661,000 net wireless additions for the three months ending June, 30th. That gives them 9 million combined wireless subscribers, up from 8.5 million at the previous … Continue reading “Big Cable Hits 9 Million Wireless Subs, What’s The Key To Their Success & Can Your MVNO Compete?”

It seems that we in the United States are not the only ones with challenges and opportunities with regard to MVNOs.  I was recently introduced to a wonderful new organization, MNVO Nation, in London and attended (virtually) two of their latest events that brought together leaders from the United Kingdom, Europe, and the Middle East to discuss a lot of the same issues that we are trying to tackle here in North America. MVNO Nation was founded by Ewa Campbell and Ela Lewczuk whose … Continue reading “MVNO Nation is Taking Over the World!”

Most small business owners think they know everything, I know I did.  Okay, without this being a history lesson, I have been in the wireless mobility, communications, telecom, cellular or call it whatever you want industry for thirty-one (31+) years.  When some people criticize younger people for walking around with their faces glued to their phones, I jokingly say, “yeah, I’m partly to blame!” But being a small, or for that matter, mid-size or large business owner means being an … Continue reading “Should Your MVNO Use A Consultant?”

Although still struggling with gas pricing, food costs skyrocketing, rents going up and everything else tied into our current inflation issues as well as the pundits talking about a possible recession, most people thought they had figured out their monthly telecom costs. With unlimited talk, text, and data, phone bills stayed fairly consistent unless you were hitting “411” on a regular basis or making a lot of international calls that weren’t included in your plan.  But the Big Three are … Continue reading “What Are These Fees On My Phone Bill And Why Do They Keep Going Up?”

If you’re reading this on your mobile phone, please stop and ask yourself, “why did I buy this particular model?”  Is it an Apple, Samsung, Motorola, Google, TCL, OnePlus, or a lesser-known brand that most of the non-exclusive dealers sell?  Is it new?  Refurbished?  Did you get device protection, or insurance, when you acquired it?  Did it come “kitted” with a charging cord and cube or just the handset?  What about white-labeled products and influencers attaching their name to a … Continue reading “It’s All About the Phones, Or Is It? What Are the Reasons For Purchasing A Specific Model?”

For most of us in the wireless business, it is common knowledge that “the first handheld cellular phone call was made on April 3, 1973, by Motorola engineer Martin Cooper from Sixth Avenue in New York while walking between 53rd and 54th streets. Cooper hoisted the 2 1/2-pound prototype to his ear and called a rival, Joel Engel of Bell Laboratories at AT&T, to declare that his Motorola team had devised a functional portable phone.” What is surprising to many … Continue reading “While MVNOs Were Sleeping, Cable Companies Added 8.5m Wireless Subs”

What value can you assign to “Free?”  This debate has been going on for years and has now found its way into the wireless connectivity world.  The old adage that “if something seems too good to be true, it probably is” has steered most intelligent people away from getting something from nothing.  Even if you are the recipient of a potential windfall of millions of dollars from an African Prince, you still must provide your personal information and a $500-$750 … Continue reading “The Value Of Free, Is It Really Free Phones, And Free Service?”

It’s that time of year again.  Looking at the calendar, it’s almost Trade Show season.  Trade Shows come along at this time every year like taxes and the Academy Awards (but without any slapping).  Sorry…….. too soon? Everyone in our business has most likely been to a trade show for our wireless industry.  I know that I’ve spent many years working a booth at CES, the old CTIA, and many other industry-specific shows, standing on quarter-inch-thick carpeting over concrete, waiting … Continue reading “Should MVNOs Attend Trade Shows?”

A lot of us like to harken back to the good old days when life was simpler, things were clearly defined and it was easy to figure out who did what and where to go for your everyday needs.  The corner drug store was for prescriptions and maybe a chocolate malt.  Three channels gave us all of the entertainment that we needed, and yes, we actually did play outside until the streetlights came on! But the world went from black … Continue reading “The New MVNO Model”