请输入您要查询的百科知识：

　

词条 TracFone Wireless
释义

  1. History

  2. TracFone

     Calling outside the U.S. 

  3. Other brands

     NET10 Wireless  SafeLink Wireless  Straight Talk  Total Wireless  SIMPLE Mobile  Telcel América  Page Plus Cellular  GoSmart Mobile  Walmart Family Mobile 

  4. Class actions

      Misleading "Unlimited" plan claims by Straight Talk, Net10 Wireless, Simple Mobile, And Telcel America - 2015    Roaming and repair issues - 2007  

  5. Networks and coverage

  6. See also

  7. References

  8. External links

{{Short description|Mobile virtual network operator}}{{Use American English|date = March 2019}}{{Redirect|Net10|the indoor American football tournament|Arena Football League}}{{Use mdy dates|date = March 2019}}{{Infobox company
| name = TracFone Wireless, Inc.
| trading_name =
| logo = TracFone Wireless.svg
|logo_alt=
|caption=
| type = Subsidiary
| tra =
| predecessor = Topp Telecom, Inc.
| successor =
| founder =
| defunct =
| fate =
| area_served = United States (incl. Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico)
| key_people =
| industry = Telecommunications
| products =
| production =
| services = Prepaid mobile virtual network operator
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| assets =
| equity =
| owner =
| num_employees = 400+ (2008)
| parent = América Móvil (98.2%)
Others (1.8%)
| divisions =
| subsid =
| footnotes = [1]
| intl =
| foundation = Miami, Florida, United States ({{Start date|1996}})
| location_city = Miami, Florida
| location_country = United States
| locations = 90,000 retail locations
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.tracfone.com/}}
}}

TracFone Wireless, Inc. is a prepaid mobile virtual network operator in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. TracFone Wireless is a subsidiary of Mexico's largest telecommunications company América Móvil, and offers products and services under several other brands. It operates as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), holding agreements with the United States' largest wireless network operators to provide service using their networks, including Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile US, Sprint Corporation, and U.S. Cellular. TracFone Wireless had 25.668 million subscribers in 2015.

History

TracFone was established in 1996 as Topp Telecom Inc., a prepaid mobile phone company, in Miami, Florida. In February 1999, Topp received a major infusion of capital from Teléfonos de México ({{NYSE|TMX}}), a.k.a. TelMex, Mexico's largest telephone company. TelMex paid $57.5 million for a 55 percent controlling interest in the company.

In 2000, TelMex spun off their mobile unit, creating América Móvil, of which Topp Telecom became a subsidiary. In November 2000, Topp Telecom Inc. changed its name to TracFone Wireless Inc.[2]

In 2012, América Móvil acquired rival network Simple Mobile.

In 2013, TracFone unveiled a tweaked logo. Later that year, TracFone also introduced four Android phones, all CDMA.

In May 2013, América Móvil purchased Page Plus Cellular, which had 1.4 million subscribers. On January 6, 2014, regulatory approval was received and Page Plus Cellular began operating as a subsidiary of América Móvil.[3]

TracFone

Originally, TracFone service was limited to TracFone-branded phones, which are locked to the TracFone service using an internal SIM card. Other GSM phones, even those that were unlocked from another carrier, could not accept a TracFone SIM card, because these are bound to a specific handset. However, in 2013, TracFone unveiled Bring Your Own Phone, selling SIM cards that could be inserted into qualifying non-TracFone phones (such as Verizon CDMA phones) to register them with TracFone. In 2015, this program, renamed "Bring Your Own Device", was extended to compatible unlocked GSM phones.

TracFone sells phones by many manufacturers. Each phone contains a TracFone SIM card. TracFone sells phones for several networks; models using the Verizon or Sprint CDMA network have the letter C in the model name, while phones using the AT&T or T-Mobile GSM network have the letter G. The choice of phone thus determines the network used and the quality of service in specific locations. A typical retail display includes a coverage map (or several, one for each relevant network), indicating the parts of the U.S. where the phone can be used.

The customer must also buy a TracFone service card. These are available where the phone is sold, and at many convenience stores and pharmacies. A typical service card carries a specified number of service days and usage units (such as minutes). Each service card contains an "Airtime PIN" beneath a mask that the customer scratches off. The customer can use a website, use TracFone Customer Service, or send a text, to redeem the card. Redemption loads the phone with the resources specified on the card, and prevents the PIN from being reused. The service card has a bar code that is scanned on purchase, so that PINs from stolen service cards never become valid.

Having bought a phone, the customer must register it with TracFone. This process assigns a phone number to the phone and loads the phone with service days and usage units from the initial service card. The assigned phone number has an area code and exchange based on a ZIP code that the customer specifies. This choice of a geographic location does not affect TracFone service or cost, but it lets customers of landlines in that vicinity reach the TracFone as a local call.

The customer must buy and redeem another service card before the service days expire, or TracFone may give the phone number to a different customer. Usage units roll over when the customer redeems a renewal card, but occasional use is required to keep the account active.

  • Non-Android phones have a usage account denominated in units. Each minute of a phone call (initiated or received) is 1.0 unit. Sending or receiving a text is charged as some fraction of a minute (typically 0.3, but 0.5 on some models including the Motorola EX124G). A minute of Web access is 0.5 unit. Earlier TracFone models charged double (2.0 units per minute) for roaming outside the user's home phone area, but all current phones operate independent of location in the U.S.
  • Android phones have separate accounts for phone minutes, texts, and megabytes of data exchanged. Thus, a service card for 60 minutes adds 60 phone minutes, 60 texts, and 60 megabytes.
  • On specific phones with the "triple minutes for life" feature, the same 60-minute card instead adds 180 minutes, 180 texts, and 180 megabytes. The days of service stated on the card do not triple. Newer phones do not feature "triple minutes for life", but TracFone honors the promise on any phone for which it was given. Newer cards, providing only minutes, only texts, or only megabytes without augmenting other aspects of the service, do not triple on any phone.[4]

TracFone occasionally discloses promo codes that will provide additional service units if the customer enters the code when redeeming a service card.[4]

Calling outside the U.S.

TracFone provides several options to let customers communicate outside the U.S.:[5]

  • Any customer can call a designated number in the 800 area code and follow recorded instructions to initiate calls to over fifty countries. In some of these countries, cellphones cannot be reached.
  • By providing the phone number and serial number at TracFone.com, a customer can associate up to ten 800 numbers with designated phone numbers outside the U.S. When the customer dials the 800 number, TracFone identifies the customer's phone and places the call to the associated number. The customer could place the 800 number in the Contact List as the "phone number" of the relevant person, but the contact could not be copied to another phone unless the customer registered with TracFone the same association for the other phone.
  • By providing the phone number and serial number at TracFone.com, a customer can obtain up to three local telephone numbers in any of several Mexican cities. Calls to these numbers are forwarded to the TracFone customer in the United States.

The only charge to the TracFone customer for these services is the deduction of actual connect time from the prepaid minutes on the customer's phone.

There is no roaming program by which a TracFone phone can be used outside the U.S.[5]

Other brands

In addition to its namesake product, TracFone Wireless offers products under the brands NET10 Wireless, Total Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Straight Talk, Telcel América, SIMPLE Mobile, Page Plus Cellular, GoSmart Mobile, and Walmart Family Mobile. These brands differ not only in their logos and prepaid minute rates but their underlying network options:

NET10 Wireless

NET10 Wireless is a similar offering that supports both GSM and CDMA phones which support voicemail and text messaging at a minimum. Some models also offer Bluetooth, camera, hands-free speaker, qwerty keyboard, and wireless web.[6] The "10" in NET10 signifies that each voice minute costs ten cents (five cents for text messages), with no additional fees.

NET10's slogan is No Bills, No Contracts, No Evil. Both airtime cards and auto-pay plans called "Easy Minutes" are available. Time can be added using the phone itself ("Rapid Refill"), at the company's website, or using the Customer Care Center. Minutes from one month carry over to the next, as long as service remains active. NET10 Wireless offers business plans, international calling, and number portability. A $50/month plan provides unlimited domestic calling, SMS, and MMS. A $65/month plan adds unlimited international calling. Additional plans can be banked in a phone's "reserve" and automatically become active when the phone runs out of service days.

In December 2012, NET10 Wireless began offering "Family Plans", discounting by $5 the price of a second, third, and fourth line. They also entered into a title sponsorship agreement with the Arena Football League.

NET10 Wireless sells Android phones by LG and Samsung, and sells SIM cards that can be inserted in unlocked iPhones, and AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, or unlocked GSM phones. The SIM cards do not work with BlackBerry and branded Straight Talk, SafeLink, TracFone, Total Wireless, and NET10 phones.[9]

SafeLink Wireless

SafeLink Wireless provides a free cellphone and a limited number of voice minutes each month for eligible low-income families (one per family) who do not use Lifeline services offered by any other phone or wireless company. It is funded through the Universal Service Fund, but is only operational in certain states.[7][8] It is similar to the Lifeline and LinkUp government-subsidized service for home telephones.[9] Customers apply for service using the SafeLink web page, by fax, or by mail. As of May 2011, Safelink Wireless had almost 4,000,000 subscribers,[10] the largest Lifeline cell phone provider in the United States. The customer can choose one of two service plans: either 350 minutes of talk and unlimited texts, or 500 MB of 4G data.The customer can choose any Tracfone branded handset. Service units can carry over to the next month depending on the plan used[11]; if the customer exceeds the allocation, there is no service until the start of the next month unless the customer buys more units. The customer can use TracFone airtime cards, including promotions for free bonus minutes.

In California, customers receive unlimited talk and text plus a fixed amount of data per month, but can purchase an extended data package.[12]

Straight Talk

Straight Talk is a Mobile Virtual Network operator (MVNO) offering both CDMA and GSM support. The CDMA service uses Verizon's or Sprint's CDMA 1xRTT wireless networks and the GSM service makes use of either T-Mobile's or AT&T's GSM networks.

Straight Talk has a joint-venture agreement with Walmart that makes Walmart its exclusive retailer,[13] though customers can buy phones and service directly from Straight Talk via its website or by telephone.

Straight Talk offers several different rate plans. Depending on price, these deliver limited or unlimited service over a 30-day period. Discounts are available for purchasing multiple months of the unlimited plan. Depending on the price, some number of megabytes are exchanged at 3G speed (or 4G LTE, for customers with LTE handsets), and megabytes in excess are exchanged at 64kbps. Service plans do not include hotspot tethering. Video streams at a resolution of 480p or lower. Straight Talk customers' speeds are prioritized behind customers on the network they are using during times of congestion.[14]

Straight Talk sells several prepaid, no contract, phones, including Straight Talk-branded iPhones,[15] as well as cellphones by Alcatel, LG, Huawei, Samsung and ZTE. Straight Talk lets customers use AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, or unlocked GSM phones (but not branded SafeLink, TracFone, Total Wireless, and NET10 phones) by buying a Straight Talk SIM card or activation kit and air time from the company.[16]

Total Wireless

Total Wireless is a Mobile Virtual Network operator (MVNO) that uses the Verizon network.

Originally, Total Wireless sold and supported only 3G phones. In May 2016, Total Wireless offered phones for Verizon's 4G LTE network, on Walmart's and its own websites.[17] These phones use CDMA for voice, not Verizon's VoLTE; they use LTE only for data exchange.

In early 2017, Total Wireless products became available at additional outlets, such as Target, Dollar General, independent dealers, and TracFone Exclusive Retailers. Service plans start at $25/month. All plans include unlimited talk minutes and texting; a plan costing $35/month adds 5GB of data. Multi-line "family" plans are available as well.

SIMPLE Mobile

{{main|Simple Mobile}}

América Móvil, TracFone's parent company, acquired SIMPLE Mobile in June 2012 and has since been incorporated with its operations alongside TracFone's.

SIMPLE Mobile is a prepaid mobile network operator founded in November 2009 and is headquartered in Irvine, California and functions as an mobile virtual network operator of T-Mobile US. It became a subsidiary of America Móvil (parent of TracFone Wireless Inc.) after it was acquired by them in June 2012. On February 16, 2011, SIMPLE Mobile celebrated their one millionth activation. SIMPLE Mobile has activated more than 2.5 million subscribers since they opened in November 2009.

SIMPLE Mobile’s initial plans offered prepaid month-to-month wireless services including unlimited texting, voice, and capped data. In June 2010, the company began to advertise unlimited data on their prepaid monthly plans.

Telcel América

Telcel América is a wireless service from TracFone that is mainly targeted for Hispanic consumers, primarily members of the Mexican community who are living in the United States. Telcel América offers seven monthly plans, both including unlimited nationwide-minutes, unlimited SMS/MMS messaging, and unlimited data. Telcel América also offers an international calling plan for call to "over 1,000 destinations". Some plans offer roaming in Mexico at no extra charge.

Telcel América's current GSM phones are compatible with Mexico's Telcel wireless network and services. Telcel America also permits customers that have an unlocked GSM or compatible T-Mobile phone to use the Telcel América Network. Telcel América is a brand of TracFone Inc. in the United States, while Telcel in Mexico is a fully owned subsidiary of TracFone's parent company, América Móvil.

Page Plus Cellular

{{main|Page Plus Cellular}}

Page Plus Cellular was established in 1993 by Abdul Yassine as Page Plus Communications, selling pager services in the Toledo, Ohio area. In August 1998, the company was renamed Page Plus Cellular and launched services in Ohio and Michigan, followed by a nationwide launch in 2000. Page Plus was originally headquartered in Holland, Ohio. In May 2013, Mexican telecommunications company América Móvil purchased Page Plus Cellular for an undisclosed amount.[18] As of January 6, 2014, regulatory approval was received and Page Plus Cellular has joined other América Móvil subsidiaries like TracFone. At the time of sale, Page Plus Cellular had 1.4 million subscribers.[19]

Page Plus Cellular offers both pay-as-you-go and no-contract monthly plans.[20] Both monthly and pay-as-you-go customers add voice minutes, data and text messages to their account by purchasing refill cards.

GoSmart Mobile

GoSmart Mobile was previously a T-Mobile US subsidiary that launched in beta on December 7, 2012, and became officially available nationwide on February 19, 2013. GoSmart offers no-contract SIM wireless services. GoSmart Mobile sources its services to dealers who work as independent contractors under their own company name. Such sellers are known as "Authorized Dealers" with either physical or online stores. TracFone Wireless acquired GoSmart along with Walmart Family Mobile from T-Mobile US in September 2016.

Walmart Family Mobile

Walmart Family Mobile offers no-contract prepaid plans. GoSmart, along with Walmart Family Mobile, were purchased by TracFone from T-Mobile in September 2016.[21]

Class actions

Misleading "Unlimited" plan claims by Straight Talk, Net10 Wireless, Simple Mobile, And Telcel America - 2015

The Federal Trade Commission made a lawsuit towards TracFone, saying that they limited their “unlimited” data. This led to $40 million in consumer refunds as a result.

Roaming and repair issues - 2007

On February 9, 2007, a preliminary settlement in a class-action lawsuit against TracFone was carried out by Jeanette Wagner, and approved in the Boone County Circuit Court in Kentucky.[22][23] The complainants alleged that TracFone misled consumers by charging a roaming rate in their home calling area (they were charged for 2 units per minute, not the usual 1 unit per minute), and that it refused to extend their prepaid service time during handset repairs. Tracfone gave each of their customers an extra 20 units of airtime.

Networks and coverage

TracFone Wireless uses the networks of major wireless providers to offer service, the coverage of which varies by the provider for each device. Retail boxes indicate the network with a code printed in the lower right corner on the back of the box.

Network Box code Technology LTE since
AT&T GSM-A GSM September 2013
T-Mobile GSM-T GSM March 2014
Sprint CDMA-S CDMA May 2013
Verizon CDMA-V CDMA December 2014

On phones with SIM cards that use TracFone, the carrier can be identified by interpreting the SIM number.{{citation needed|date=March 2009}}

See also

  • Prepaid mobile service operators in U.S.

References

1. ^{{cite web |title= About Us |url= http://www.tracfone.com/facelift/tour.jsp#a_about |publisher= TracFone Wireless |accessdate= December 27, 2012}}
2. ^{{cite news |url= http://southflorida.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/1999/05/03/focus4.html |title= Miami Company Prepares Prepaid Cell-Phone Invasion |work= South Florida Business Journal |accessdate= December 18, 2009}}
3. ^" FCC approves TracFone acquiring Page Plus Cellular", Prepaid Mobile Phone Reviews, 2014-01-07
4. ^1 {{Cite web|url=https://tracfonereviewer.blogspot.com/2014/08/how-do-minutes-work-on-tracfone-android.html|title=How Do Minutes Work on Tracfone Smartphones?|author=Peter Vanosdall|publisher=TracfoneReviewer (blog)|date=2018-12-18}}
5. ^1 [https://extras.tracfone.com/en/ild TracFone web page on International Long Distance]
6. ^{{cite web |url= http://www.net10.com/phones.jsp |title= Available Phones |publisher= NET10.com |accessdate= December 17, 2009}}
7. ^{{cite news |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS181652+05-Feb-2009+BW20090205 |title= TracFone Wireless Launches SafeLink Wireless to Aid Nearly 500,000 Low-Income Households in Georgia |publisher= Reuters |date= February 5, 2009 |deadurl= yes |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091029184719/http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS181652+05-Feb-2009+BW20090205 |archivedate= October 29, 2009 |df= }}
8. ^{{cite news |url= http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090209005802/en |title= TracFone Wireless Launches SafeLink Wireless to Aid Nearly 585,000 Low-Income Households in Pennsylvania |work= Business Wire |date= February 9, 2009}}
9. ^{{cite web |url= http://www.lifeline.gov/ |title= Information on Subsidized Phone Service |publisher= Federal Communications Commission }}
10. ^{{cite web |url= http://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/assurance-wireless-gaining-on-safelink-wireless |title= Battle Heats Up in Lifeline Mobile Market |publisher= Freegovernmentcellphones.net |date= May 28, 2011 |accessdate= September 23, 2013}}
11. ^https://www.safelinkwireless.com/Enrollment/Safelink/RetrieveDocument/NewPublic/terms_conditions.html
12. ^{{cite web |url= https://www.safelinkwireless.com/Enrollment/Safelink/en/NewPublic/index_ca.html |title= Safelink Wireless CA |publisher= Safelink CA Website |date= January 17, 2019 |accessdate= January 17, 2019}}
13. ^{{cite press release|url=http://walmartstores.com/FactsNews/NewsRoom/9443.aspx |title=Walmart to Launch Straight Talk Exclusively, Nationwide |publisher=Walmart Stores, Inc. |accessdate=December 18, 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102003331/http://walmartstores.com/FactsNews/NewsRoom/9443.aspx |archivedate=January 2, 2010 |df= }}
14. ^" Straight Talk Adds New $55 Plan With 10GB Of High Speed Data", Prepaid Mobile Phone Reviews, 2016-03-11
15. ^{{cite web |url= http://iphone.straighttalk.com/ |title= iPhone Now at Straight Talk Wireless |publisher= Straight Talk |date= |accessdate=September 23, 2013}}
16. ^1 {{cite news |url= http://www.phonenews.com/tracfone-quietly-cancels-lg-optimus-2x-launch-19985/ |title= Tracfone Quietly Cancels LG Optimus 2X Launch |first= Humberto |last= Saabedra |date= March 7, 2012 |work= PhoneNews |accessdate= March 13, 2012}}
17. ^{{cite web | url=https://bestmvno.com/total-wireless/total-wireless-new-plans-feature-4G-LTE-data-5GB-35-dollars/ | title=Verizon MVNO Total Wireless Now Has 4G LTE Data, Ups Data On Its Plans Featuring 5GB For $35 | publisher=bestmvno.com | date=13 May 2016 | accessdate=9 June 2016}}
18. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/tracfone-acquires-verizon-mvno-page-plus-cellular-and-its-14m-customers/2013-05-20 |title=TracFone acquires Verizon MVNO Page Plus Cellular and its 1.4M customers |website=FierceWireless.com |date= |accessdate=2016-08-09}}
19. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.phonenews.com/america-movil-to-buy-page-plus-cellular-parent-start-wireless-group-22952 |title=America Movil to Buy Page Plus Cellular Parent Start Wireless Group |website=PhoneNews.com |date=2013-05-20 |accessdate=2016-08-09}}
20. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.pagepluscellular.com/plans |title=No Contract Prepaid Plans | Cellular Prepaid Plans |publisher=Page Plus Cellular |date=2014-08-26 |accessdate=2016-08-09}}
21. ^" TracFone Acquired GoSmart and Walmart Family Mobile", Prepaid Mobile Phone Reviews, 2016-09-20
22. ^http://news.nky.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070301/NEWS0103/703010331NKY.Com {{Dead link|date=February 2011}}
23. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/settlements/07360/tracfone-settlement.html |title=TracFone Wireless Inc. Roaming Fees Class Action Settlemen |work=Class action news consumers can use |accessdate=February 6, 2011}}

External links

  • {{official website|http://www.tracfonewireless.com/}}
  • TracFone
Family Brands
  • America Móvil
  • NET10 Wireless
  • Page Plus Cellular
  • Safelink Wireless
  • SIMPLE Mobile
  • Straight Talk
  • Telcel América
{{America Movil}}{{US mobile phone companies}}{{Puerto Rico mobile phone companies}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Tracfone Wireless}}

5 : Articles needing additional references from June 2017|Companies based in Miami|Companies established in 1996|Mobile virtual network operators|América Móvil
随便看

　

开放百科全书收录14589846条英语、德语、日语等多语种百科知识，基本涵盖了大多数领域的百科知识，是一部内容自由、开放的电子版国际百科全书。

　

Copyright © 2023 OENC.NET All Rights Reserved
京ICP备2021023879号 更新时间：2024/11/13 18:17:42