Latest news with #T1Phone
American Press
4 hours ago
- Business
- American Press
Trump family's next venture, a mobile phone company
President-elect Donald Trump, center left, takes the oath of office during the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Monday. (Associated Press) The Trump family is licensing its name to a new mobile phone service, the latest in a string of ventures announced while Donald Trump is in the White House despite ethical concerns that the U.S. president could mold public policy for personal gain. Eric Trump, the president's son running The Trump Organization in his absence, announced a new venture Monday called Trump Mobile. The plan is to sell phones that will be built in the U.S., and the phone service will maintain a call center in the country as well. The announcement of the new mobile phone and service, called T1 Mobile, follows several real estate deals for towers and resorts in the Middle East, including a golf development in Qatar announced in April. A $1.5 billion partnership to build golf courses, hotels and real estate projects in Vietnam was approved last month, though the deal was in the works before Trump was elected. Even oversight of such a company, with the Trump name attached, raises ethical concerns. Trump has already used the federal government to reward his allies and punish his enemies. The Federal Communications Commission, the primary regulatory body overseeing mobile phone companies, has already launched investigations of media outlets Trump dislikes and, in some cases, is personally suing. Eric Trump said Monday that consumers deserve a phone that aligns with their values. 'Hard-working Americans deserve a wireless service that's affordable, reflects their values, and delivers reliable quality they can count on,' he said in a statement. The company would also enter a highly competitive market that includes companies that have been directly attacked by Donald Trump. The president criticized Apple last month because it planned to make most of its U.S. iPhones in India, and threatened to slap a 25% tariff on the devices unless the tech giant starts building the phones domestically. The Trump phone deal comes as a mandatory financial disclosure report just filed with the government shows the president has moved fast in the last year to profit off his celebrity, taking in $3 million in revenue from selling 'Save America' coffee table books, $2.8 million from Trump watches and $2.5 million from Trump branded sneakers and fragrances. The Trump Organization on Monday said the new, gold-colored phone available for $499 in August, called the T1 Phone, won't be designed or made by Trump Mobile, but by another company. The Trump Organization did not respond immediately to a request for more details. In the first term, Trump was blasted by conservative and liberal government ethics experts alike for opening his Washington hotel to lobbyists and diplomats and violating his company's pledge to avoid even the appearance of a conflict between his private profit and the public interest. The company is feeling more emboldened now in the second term. The mobile service is partnering with existing cellular carriers with access to a 5G network, raising questions of how they will be treated by federal regulators now that they have partnered with his company. The Trump Organization said those companies are America's three biggest mobile network providers, an apparent reference to Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, the latter with a trademarked name that is very similar to Trump's T1 Mobile. The name given to the monthly service offer, The 47 Plan, and the monthly fee of $47.45 make reference to Trump's two terms, the 45th and the 47th. The service will include unlimited calls, texts and data and free roadside assistance and telehealth services. A mock-up of the planned phone on the company's website shows Trump's slogan 'Make America Great' on the front and an etched American flag on the back. By sticking to licensing, the Trump family is limiting its risk. Still, the new service faces big challenges if it hopes to sell beyond the president's loyal MAGA fans. The Trump company tried to tap into support among the middle class in the first term with two mid-priced hotel chains. Called American Idea and Scion, and unveiled like the phone service Monday under a giant U.S. flag in the Trump Tower atrium, they flopped. Despite taking in millions of dollars each year in various licensing deals and a string of new ventures, the Trump brand has taken a series of hits to its brand over the years. During his first term, the Trump name was stripped off residential buildings and hotels in Toronto, Panama and Manhattan. The Trump International Hotel in Washington, since sold, lost money even though the family opened its doors to businesses and governments trying to shape U.S. policy. The average condo in 11 Trump-branded residential towers around the country underperformed the broader market during and immediately after Trump's first term. More recently, the value of Trump condos in New York City fell in the past two years as similar properties rise in value, according to brokerage CityRealty. The Trump Organization has had more success with some ventures launched in the first few months of his second term. Trump Media & Technology Group, a Florida company that operates the Truth Social media platform, filed plans with security regulators Monday to launch an exchange-traded fund tied to the prices of two popular cryptocurrencies. The ETF is part of the Trump family's rapidly growing crypto empire, which includes a new stablecoin and launching and promoting memecoins. The president's most recent financial disclosure report reveals he made more than $57 million last year from World Liberty Financial, a crypto company he and his sons helped launch in September.
Al Jazeera
5 hours ago
- Business
- Al Jazeera
Trump Organization announces smartphone targeting conservative consumers
A $499 gold phone built entirely in the United States and a mobile plan boasting telehealth services have been announced by the Trump Organization as part of an effort to entice the US president's supporters away from major telecom providers and wireless services. The mobile service is the latest example of the president's family striking business deals off of the Trump name. The eponymous Trump Mobile was announced in a Monday statement issued by the Trump Organization, which is led by President Donald Trump's son Eric. Dubbed the 47 Plan, the service will cost consumers $47.45 a month and will offer '5G service through all three major cellular carriers' – T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T. According to the statement, it will offer telemedicine, unlimited texting plans with 100 counties, and roadside assistance. Some key details about the venture, including those about the family's partner in the business and the financial terms of their licensing deal, were not immediately disclosed. The 'T1 Phone' is advertised as 'proudly designed and built in the United States' and listed with a release date in August, although a tech writer from The Verge questioned the viability of building a phone in the US so quickly. Speaking on Fox Business, Eric Trump said Trump Mobile would have call centres in St Louis, Missouri. The Trump family, long known for its real estate empire, luxury hotels, and golf resorts, has in recent years ventured into newer arenas including digital media and cryptocurrency. President Trump has said he put his business interests in a trust managed by his children to avoid conflicts of interest, but income from such business ventures will eventually enrich Trump, who sits atop the series of Trump family firms. In the president's financial disclosure released on Friday, he reported more than $600m in income from licensing deals, crypto projects, golf clubs and other ventures – though that figure appeared to be only through the end of 2024, before his inauguration. The Trump Mobile announcement coincides with increased tension between the Trump administration and Apple in particular. The White House explicitly called for 25 percent tariffs on Apple products unless they are made in the US. 'It's pointed at Apple, that's a really big downward price pressure on what Apple's trying to do,' Brian Mulberry, client portfolio manager at Zacks Investment Management, told the Reuters news agency. Despite a recent pledge to spend $500bn in the US on manufacturing, research and development – comparable to pledges the Cupertino, California-based tech giant made in the past – the company recently doubled down on moving key parts of its production from China to India. 'There's been kind of an opening for this type of device, if you will, simply because not just Apple, but Samsung devices to a certain extent as well, have really gotten so expensive in the moment in time and we haven't really seen that big of a measurable increase in utility,' Mulberry said. The Trump Organization, which is the main holding entity for most of the US president's business ventures, said ahead of Trump's inauguration that control of the company would be handed to his children, replicating the arrangement from his first term, though concerns about potential conflicts of interest remain. 'No one who has been paying attention could miss that President Trump considers the presidency a vehicle to grow his family's wealth. Maybe this example will help more come to see this undeniable truth,' Lawrence Lessig, a professor at Harvard Law School, told Reuters. While the Trump Organization is privately held, Trump-related stocks have not performed well on the news of the new smartphone and service plan. Trump Media & Technology Group Corp, which is traded under the ticker DJT, is down 1.59 percent for the day as of 11am ET (15:00 GMT). The stock has already been on the downturn. It has tumbled more than 10 percent in the last five trading days. 'I don't see much impact from Trump Mobile across the industry, as half of its addressable market is negated by political parties, and then from there, this industry already has a lot of stickiness to current providers,' David Wagner, head of equities at Aptus Capital Advisors, told Reuters. Major wireless carriers have been having a mixed day on Wall Street. Verizon is down by about 0.1 percent from yesterday's close. AT&T is up 0.2 percent from the market close yesterday. T-Mobile is up 0.5 percent. The new phone announcement has not underpinned Apple in the markets. Apple's stock is up 0.7 percent from the market close yesterday.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Trumps Are Launching *Checks Notes* Gold, Trump-Themed Smartphones, And Unfortunately, You Read This Headline Right
While it may sound like a bad SNL sketch come to life, the news is true — the Trump Organization (revealed via Trump's son, Eric) has announced that they've licensed the presidential family name for smartphones and cellular services, calling it "Trump Mobile." I am personally no expert, but this kinda feels like the Wario to Ryan Reynolds's Mint Mobile, y'know? Here's what we know so far: The cellular service currently appears to have only one plan, titled "The 47 Plan" in reference to Trump's second term making him the 47th president. It's priced at — you guessed it — $47.45. The 45, I'm assuming, is in reference to his first term. For claiming to hate Taylor Swift, Trump's organization surely seems to be taking Easter egg notes from her, don't you think? Nonetheless, here's everything the plan claims to offer: Additionally, they're releasing a "T1 Phone" later this summer, which is described as a "sleek, gold smartphone engineered for performance," and — seemingly — comes adorned with not only a massive T1 on the back, but also, of course, an American flag (because why wouldn't it!). The organization has specified, however, that the $499 phone was not designed or made by Trump Mobile, but by another company entirely. If the gold is a bit too flashy for you, no worries! They've unveiled a second, more subtle option (if, of course, yet another American flag and a massive "Trump" etching in the back is what you consider to be low-key). Trump Mobile / Via Related: "Let Them Eat Teslas": People At The "No Kings" Protests This Weekend Brought Signs That Were So Clever I'm Still Laughing About Them While the press release states that the phone is "proudly designed and built in the United States," in an interview this morning, Eric said that "eventually, all the phones can be built in the United States of America," continuing on about how "we have to bring manufacturing back" to the country. I'm no expert, but to kinda sounds currently not being made in the US, no? Some important context here: All of this comes less than a month after President Trump himself demanded that Apple and Samsung make major shifts to manufacture and build their smartphones in the United States, threatening to put "at least" a 25% tariff on their products if they didn't comply. And now, it seems the Trump family is entering the market themselves. Needless to say, the internet has had a lot to say about all of this: Editor's Note: While we can't endorse what X has become, we can bring you the worthwhile moments that still exist there, curated and free of the surrounding chaos. Related: Well, Well, Well, For The Second Time In 2 Weeks, People Are Letting JD Vance Know EXACTLY How They Feel About Him In Public Twitter: @aintscarylarry Twitter: @duowlingocovers Twitter: @Betches_News Twitter: @maddenifico Twitter: @scottlincicome And, of course, California Governor Gavin Newsom had to log on to the platform formally known as Twitter to comment on his favorite op's newest venture: Twitter: @GavinNewsom Well, I didn't have this on my 2025 bingo card, but it sure as heck feels more than a bit dystopian to me! Tell us what you think in the comments below. Also in In the News: "Honestly Speechless At How Evil This Is": 26 Brutal, Brutal, Brutal Political Tweets Of The Week Also in In the News: This Dem Lawmaker Is Going Viral For His Extremely Shady Question To Secretary Kristi Noem Also in In the News: This Conservative Said He Wears A Fake ICE Uniform For A Really, Really, Really Gross Reason
GSM Arena
5 hours ago
- Business
- GSM Arena
Trump Mobile carrier launches in the US with gold-colored Trump T1 Phone
The Trump Organization, run by US President Donald Trump's sons Donald Jr. and Eric while he's in office, has just announced that it's going to offer wireless service in the US, branded Trump Mobile. It will be an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator), using the actual networks of AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Its plan will cost $47.45 per month, because Donald Trump is the 47th President of the United States and was also the 45th. This is called The 47 Plan, and will include unlimited talk, text, and data, "complete device protection" (whatever that means), 24/7 roadside assistance through Drive America, telehealth services (including virtual medical care, mental health support, and easy ordering and delivery for prescription medications), and free international calling to more than 100 countries. It will involve "no contracts" and "no credit check". Trump Mobile is also hyping up an exclusive smartphone, the T1 Phone, which is going to be gold-colored and will set you back $499. This is coming in August or September (the website mentions both) and is allegedly "proudly designed and built in the United States". The T1 Phone has a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen with 120 Hz refresh rate, a 50 MP main camera, a 2 MP depth sensor, a 2 MP macro camera, a 16 MP selfie snapper, and a 5,000 mAh battery with 20W PD wired charging. There's also a 3.5mm headphone jack, a fingerprint sensor, 12GB of RAM, 256GB of expandable storage, Android 15 on board, and absolutely no information about the chipset that's powering it. You can already pre-order the phone from the Trump Mobile website, and switch to Trump Mobile by bringing your own phone too. The company promises 24/7 live US-based support too, should you need it.
Buzz Feed
5 hours ago
- Business
- Buzz Feed
The Internet Reacts To Trump Mobile Gold Smartphones
While it may sound like a bad SNL sketch come to life, the news is true — the Trump Organization (revealed via Trump's son, Eric) has announced that they've licensed the Presidential family name for smartphones and cellular services, calling it "Trump Mobile." I am personally no expert, but this kinda feels like the Wario to Ryan Reynolds's Mint Mobile, y'know? Here's what we know so far: The cellular service currently appears to have only one plan, titled "The 47 Plan" in reference to Trump's second term making him the 47th President. It's priced at — you guessed it — $47.45. The 45, I'm assuming, is in reference to his first term. For claiming to hate Taylor Swift, Trump's organization surely seems to be taking Easter Egg notes from her, don't you think? Nonetheless, here's everything the plan claims to offer: Additionally, they're releasing a "T1 Phone" later this summer, which is described as a "sleek, gold smartphone engineered for performance," and — seemingly — comes adorned with not only a massive T1 on the back, but also, of course, an American flag, (because why wouldn't it!). The organization has specified, however, that the $499 phone was not designed or made by Trump Mobile, but by another company entirely. While the press release states that the phone is "proudly designed and built in the United States," in an interview this morning, Eric said that "eventually, all the phones can be built in the United States of America," continuing on about how "we have to bring manufacturing back" to the country. I'm no expert, but to kinda sounds currently not being made in the US, no? Some important context here: all of this comes less than a month after President Trump himself demanded that Apple and Samsung make major shifts to manufacture and build their smartphones in the United States, threatening to put "at least" a 25% tariff on their products if they didn't comply. And now, it seems the Trump family is entering the market themselves. Needless to say, the internet has had a lot to say about all of this: Well, I didn't have this on my 2025 bingo card, but it sure as heck feels more than a bit dystopian to me! Tell us what you think in the comments below.
