Latest news with #USMobile
Phone Arena
4 days ago
- Phone Arena
This budget carrier now supports Android smartwatches, but only if you use this watch
Receive the latest Android news By subscribing you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy Comment byu/VisibleCM from discussion inVisible One Reddit user pointed out a possible reason why Pixel Watches were prioritized. Citing a comment from the US Mobile CEO, they noted that "Google actually put in a lot of the legwork themselves to get the Pixel watch working on Verizon MVNOs like US Mobile and Visible." That might explain why Samsung support is still unavailable. It's also worth noting that Google's Pixel devices are often sold unlocked directly from Google, making them more common on MVNOs like Visible. In contrast, Samsung wearables are often sold through the big three carriers. Right now, only Pixel Watch 2 and newer LTE models are supported. It's a limited start, but one that signals Visible is finally expanding its Android offerings beyond phones. For now, Samsung Galaxy Watch users will need to wait, but given the popularity of those devices, it seems likely that broader support is on the way. One Reddit user pointed out a possible reason why Pixel Watches were prioritized. Citing a comment from the US Mobile CEO, they noted that "Google actually put in a lot of the legwork themselves to get the Pixel watch working onMVNOs like US Mobile and Visible." That might explain why Samsung support is still unavailable. It's also worth noting that Google's Pixel devices are often sold unlocked directly from Google, making them more common on MVNOs like Visible. In contrast, Samsung wearables are often sold through the big three now, onlyand newer LTE models are supported. It's a limited start, but one that signals Visible is finally expanding its Android offerings beyond phones. For now, Samsung Galaxy Watch users will need to wait, but given the popularity of those devices, it seems likely that broader support is on the way. Visible, the Verizon -owned budget carrier, has rolled out support for Android smartwatches — but only for a small group of users. If you own a Google Pixel Watch 2 or newer with LTE, you can now connect your wearable to Visible's smartwatch is a welcome update for Android users, who have been waiting for the same level of support Apple Watch users have had on Visible for some time. According to the company, the new feature allows Pixel Watch users to link their devices for an extra $10 per month on the basic Visible and Visible+ plans. If you're on the top-tier Visible+ Pro plan, the smartwatch feature is included at no additional get started, users need to pair their Pixel Watch with their Android phone , then open the Pixel Watch app. From there, go to Watch Settings > Mobile Network. When prompted, sign in to your Visible account and follow the on-screen instructions to complete setup. At this time, Visible is not selling any compatible smartwatches directly, so users must bring their own the update is a step forward, some users were quick to notice what's missing. There's currently no support for Samsung Galaxy smartwatches, which are among the most widely used Wear OS devices. Many in the community hope Galaxy Watch support will be added soon.
Android Authority
4 days ago
- Business
- Android Authority
Pixel Watch fans can now activate their cellular watches on Visible's prepaid network
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR Visible is finally adding support for the cellular version of the Pixel Watch 2 or newer. The carrier will not sell the watch directly, but you will be able to easily bring your own. Watch support requires Visible Plus Pro, or a $10 add-on for Basic and Plus subscribers. US consumers were previously fairly limited if they were a fan of the Google Pixel Watch and preferred a cellular model. While all three major postpaid carriers fully supported it, only a few prepaid brands did, including US Mobile and Google Fi. Now you can add one more to the list, as Visible has officially announced support for the Pixel Watch 2 or newer. Visible has long supported the Apple Watch, so this change is welcome news for Pixel Watch fans seeking additional prepaid choices. In fact, Visible frequently ranks as my top recommendation among all carriers. o use your Google Pixel Watch with Visible, you'll need to subscribe to Visible Plus Pro for $40 per month or pay an additional $10 per month to add smartwatch support to either Visible Plus or Basic plans. While Visible doesn't sell the Google Pixel Watch directly, it makes it easy to bring your own device. While it's great that Visible has expanded beyond Apple Watch compatibility, I am curious why the Samsung Galaxy Watch family wasn't included. After all, both are popular Android-based options that could help attract a wider customer base. Nonetheless, Visible's ongoing expansion of device compatibility is a positive step, and hopefully, its smartwatch support will eventually match the extensive range available directly from Verizon. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
6 days ago
- Business
- Android Authority
For a limited time, US Mobile is giving you two annual plans for the price of one
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR US Mobile is offering a limited-time deal where new customers get two annual plans for the price of one. To qualify, you must be a new customer, port in your number. You must also activate on the Dark Star (AT&T) network with either an Unlimited Premium or Unlimited Starter annual plan. US Mobile is one of the most popular prepaid carriers in the country, as evidenced by its recent recognition as the best carrier in the US by Consumer Reports. To celebrate this achievement — and the company's tenth anniversary — US Mobile is offering a new promotion that gives you two annual plans for the price of one! The new promo features a countdown timer on the US Mobile website, which currently reads about 4 days and 10 hours at the time of this writing. In other words, you have until the end of the week to take advantage of this deal. To qualify for the promotion, you'll need to: Be a new customer with a valid number that you can port. Activate your new plans on the Dark Star network. Purchase either an annual Unlimited Premium plan ($384 per year) or an annual Unlimited Starter plan ($228 per year). As long as you meet these requirements, you'll receive a free annual plan of equal value to the one you sign up for. While this is certainly an excellent deal, it's important to make sure you live in an area with strong Dark Star (AT&T) coverage, as it can be hit or miss depending on your region. If AT&T has a strong presence where you live, this promotion is a great opportunity. It's also unclear whether you need to remain on the Dark Star network for the entire year or just during the initial activation window. I've reached out to US Mobile for clarification and will update this post if and when I hear back. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Phone Arena
7 days ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
The best prepaid MVNO announces its best plan deals, but with a caveat
Arguably the best prepaid MVNO in the United States, US Mobile, has just announced an incredible offer for those who don't mind paying for their plans on a yearly basis. Starting today, all customers who port in a number and purchase one of US Mobile's annual plans will get a second annual line completely free. The biggest downside of this offer is that it's only available on the Dark Star network. Another caveat would be the fact that if you get the most expensive Unlimited Premium plan, your second annual line, which is free, is going to be the Unlimited Starter plan. Also, customers who choose the Unlimited Starter plan will get a second annual line for free on Unlimited Flex, the carrier's cheapest plan. Buy Annual Unlimited Premium ($348/year or $29/month) – Get a Free Annual Unlimited Starter Buy Annual Unlimited Starter ($228/year or $19/month) – Get a Free Annual Unlimited Flex For those unaware, US Mobile offers plans on all three major carriers' networks, as well as add-on plans that allow customers to add up to two extra networks to their devices. This way, you won't have to worry that your favorite carrier doesn't have coverage in a certain area you're visiting. As mentioned earlier, US Mobile's deal is only available on the Dark Star network, which is the MVNO's designated name for AT&T's network. The other two are Warp (Verizon Wireless) and LightSpeed (T-Mobile). US Mobile's plans were very good even before the deal | Screenshot by PhoneArena US Mobile's most expensive plan, Unlimited Premium, typically costs $32.50 per month and offers unlimited priority data, unlimited talk and data, unlimited hotspot, free smartwatch plan, international data in over 90 countries, international calling and texting, free network transfers, and multi-network add-on ($7.5/month value).The Unlimited Stater plan costs $22.50/month and offers only 70GB high-speed data, 20GB hotspot data, smartwatch add-on, $2 per network transfer, and all the other benefits from the Unlimited Premium plan. Last but not least, US Mobile's cheapest plan, Unlimited Flex, costs $17.50/month and offers unlimited data, talk, and text, 10GB high-speed data, 5GB hotspot data, smartwatch add-on, international data add-on, international calling & texting, as well as $2 per network transfer.
Android Authority
06-05-2025
- Business
- Android Authority
Did you know: Xiaomi phones were (kinda) sold in the US for one day
For one short-lived moment in 2016, Xiaomi smartphones were available to buy from a US carrier. Not through some sketchy importer or Amazon listing — we're talking about a real wireless provider, with things like plans and warranties. US Mobile, a small MVNO that runs on T-Mobile's network, briefly added Xiaomi and Meizu phones to its online storefront and declared itself the first legitimate US carrier to sell them. That lasted about a day, followed by some awkward press statements and hasty backpedaling. With both Xiaomi and T-Mobile making dissenting noises, US Mobile was quickly forced to reverse its bold move and yank them offline almost immediately. Wondering how it happened? Here's a simple rundown of how the grand plan quickly went off the rails. Would you like to see Xiaomi phones officially sold in the US? 0 votes Yes, absolutely NaN % Maybe, depends on the pricing NaN % No, there's more than enough choice already NaN % I don't know much about Xiaomi NaN % Why Xiaomi phones are hard to find in the US Robert Triggs / Android Authority Xiaomi is a household name and a major smartphone player in regions like Europe, India, and China. It's built a reputation for selling feature-packed phones at strikingly low prices — think flagship-tier specs for mid-range money. In 2025, that winning formula has helped the brand soar to a consistent third place in quarterly smartphone sales, behind only Apple and Samsung. But in the US, it's a different story. Xiaomi has never officially launched a smartphone here, and if you've walked into a carrier store, you're not going to find one next to the latest iPhone or Galaxy device. Part of the reason comes down to the way phones are sold in the US. The carrier model dominates, with phones typically sold via financing deals, trade-in offers, and sometimes a bit of carrier bloatware baked in. For a manufacturer like Xiaomi, which thrives on tight margins, that level of customization and partnership agreements may not be worth the effort. Many US tech fans see Xiaomi phones as offering excellent value. Then there's the issue of compatibility. Many Xiaomi phones don't support all the 4G and 5G bands used by US networks, especially T-Mobile and Verizon. That can lead to patchy service or limited speeds. Combine that with Xiaomi's MIUI software, which puts a heavy skin over Android and isn't to everyone's taste, and it's easy to see why US carriers might not be eager to jump in. And while Xiaomi hasn't been targeted quite like HUAWEI, the political climate hasn't exactly made things easier for Chinese tech brands trying to expand in the US. Still, that hasn't stopped US buyers from taking an interest. Many US tech fans see Xiaomi phones as offering excellent value, and some have been willing to import them, despite the limited network support and lack of warranty. You'll find plenty of global models listed on Amazon in the States. In that context, US Mobile's brief stunt in 2016 wasn't just bold — it tapped into a real, unmet demand. The one-day sale that wasn't On January 12, 2016, US Mobile launched its new online store, which included several Xiaomi and Meizu phones. It marked the first time a US carrier was offering Xiaomi and Meizu phones to customers, with US Mobile promising support for setting them up on its prepaid plans. Technically, US Mobile wasn't selling the phones directly. Its online marketplace was a platform that allowed third-party vendors to offer devices compatible with US Mobile's network. The company framed this as a way to give customers more choice, even if the phones weren't officially approved by US Mobile or the brands themselves. T-Mobile reportedly asked the MVNO to pull the phones. That nuance wasn't enough to avoid trouble. Within a day, Xiaomi publicly distanced itself from the move, saying in a statement that US Mobile was 'not authorized to sell Xiaomi products in the US.' The company expressed confusion about how the phones were sourced and made it clear it had no partnership with the carrier. To complicate matters further, T-Mobile, whose network US Mobile relies on, reportedly asked the MVNO to pull the phones while they were being tested for network compatibility. US Mobile complied, taking down the listings almost immediately and posting a short blog update that vaguely explained the phones had been removed. It stated, 'We will continue to work with our enabling carriers to try to certify these phones on their network.' That was the end of it. There was no relaunch, no official partnership, and no Xiaomi comeback. US Mobile's experiment was over almost as soon as it started, leaving only a handful of archived news stories and confused tech fans in its wake. Xiaomi still sells plenty of gadgets in the US, but nearly a decade later, you still won't find its phones on any US carrier shelves.
