Latest news with #mobilecarrier
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Australian Billionaire David Teoh's Simba Telecom To Buy Singapore's M1 In Deal Valued At $1.1 Billion
Simba Telecom—a unit of billionaire David Teoh's Australia-listed Tuas Ltd.—is buying M1 in a deal valuing the Singapore-based mobile carrier at S$1.4 billion ($1.1 billion). Keppel has agreed to sell its 83.9% stake in M1 to Singapore-based mobile operator Simba for cash proceeds of close to S$1 billion, the company said in a statement on Monday. Keppel will retain M1's Information and Communications Technology businesses, which complements the conglomerate's connectivity operations such as data centers and subsea cables. While the transaction will result in a S$222 million loss for state-linked Keppel, the deal 'crystalizes value from Keppel's investment in M1 over the years,' the company said. The sale of M1, which Keppel founded in 1994 to compete with telecom giant Singtel, is expected to be completed in a few months subject to regulatory approvals. The divestment unlocks value for Keppel, which plans to use the cash proceeds to fund growth opportunities, lower debt levels and reward shareholders. Keppel said it has identified a portfolio of non-core assets (worth more than S$14 billion) that it plans to sell. 'M1 and Simba are a highly synergistic combination—together, they can scale more efficiently, optimize infrastructure and accelerate 5G and digital investments,' Loh Chin Hua, CEO of Keppel, said in the statement. Simba's parent Tuas reported a first-ever net profit of S$3 million in its first half ended January as revenue jumped 34% to S$73.2 million. Tuas expects to remain profitable for the rest of the fiscal year. Simba had 1.2 million mobile subscribers and over 14,000 broadband customers as of January. Tuas, which was spun off as a separate listed entity after its parent TPG Telecom merged with Vodafone Australia in March 2020. Teoh, 69, an Australian citizen of Malaysian descent, is the founder and former executive chairman of TPG Telecom. He has a real-time net worth of $2.1 billion, according to Forbes.
Phone Arena
a day ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
When perks disappear, should your carrier lose your loyalty too?
For many long-time customers, loyalty to a service provider feels like it should be a two-way street. Yet in practice, it often seems that the only way to get noticed or to secure a better deal is to walk away. I learned this lesson firsthand. After months of asking my ISP for a home internet discount and being turned down every time, I finally canceled my service. Within a day, I was flooded with offers that had not been available before. It was a clear reminder that, for some companies, customer retention only becomes a priority after you have left. Recent developments at Verizon have shown that this pattern extends beyond internet providers and into the mobile carrier space. This week we learned that Verizon sent out emails informing many customers that their loyalty discounts, which ranged from $10 to $25 off per line, would be ending on September 1, 2025. These discounts had been an important incentive for people to stay, especially for those on older plans that were otherwise more expensive than newer offers. The message from Verizon positioned the change as a move toward transparency, encouraging customers to explore newer "myPlan" options. However, many subscribers viewed the move as a breach of trust rather than an upgrade. Some took to online forums to say the loyalty discount was the only reason they stayed, and losing it meant they were ready to switch. Data suggests the backlash may already be having an impact, as Verizon reportedly lost about 51,000 postpaid customers earlier this year, while rivals have seen gains. In response to the public frustration, Verizon appears to be backtracking slightly. Some customers have reported that using the My Verizon app to generate a "Transfer PIN" (a code needed to move your number to another carrier) can trigger a one-time offer to restore a $20-per-line discount for 12 months. There are also rumors that a new, percentage-based loyalty program offering 10 to 25 percent off an account could launch later this month. Is it time to check if the grass is greener on the other side? | Image credit — Phonearena Still, for many, the damage is already done. The reaction online has been blunt: customers feel that their loyalty was taken for granted, and that only the threat of leaving can produce any meaningful savings. This mirrors the experience many have with cable and internet providers, where new customers get the best rates and existing customers have to push hard or cancel to see similar offers. Adding to the frustration is the fact that Verizon 's move comes alongside other changes that feel like cutbacks. In recent months, the company has increased certain fees, such as activation and administrative charges, and has also removed free bundles for services like Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass from some plans. For customers, the combined effect is higher bills and fewer benefits. This raises an important question: why do companies wait until after a customer cancels to offer better terms? The short answer may be that it is a calculated business decision. Discounts aimed at customer retention are often more targeted and limited, designed to win back high-value accounts that are at risk of leaving, rather than to reward every loyal customer equally. But this approach can backfire, eroding trust and prompting more people to consider alternatives. The lesson for consumers is twofold. First, it is always worth reviewing your plan and seeing if newer options or competitor deals can save you money. Second, as frustrating as it is, sometimes the best way to get a better offer from your carrier is to be ready to walk away. In the end, the situation with Verizon is just the latest example of an industry-wide trend: loyalty perks are rarely permanent, and often only appear when you are already out the door. As my own experience with my ISP showed, sometimes the strongest negotiating tactic is the cancellation notice, though it is unfortunate that it has to come to that.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Verizon confirms bad news for millions of customers via email
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Verizon customers aren't having the best week. First, we heard the carrier was planning to increase fees, and now it appears that Verizon is raising fees and removing discounts from some plans, leaving customers forced to spend extra money. This is likely to upset some people and potentially lead them to switch to one of the other top phone carriers, such as T-Mobile, AT&T, or any of the popular MVNOs, which can be significantly more affordable. The gigantic mobile carrier is pulling loyalty discounts from customer accounts on September 1, at least that's what emails posted on Reddit claim. "We are writing to let you know that a discount on your account will soon end. This discount will be removed no sooner than September 1, 2025. It is important to us to be upfront and transparent when changes are made to your account," reads the alleged email. Of course, Verizon reminds impacted customers that it continues "to invest in offering the very best experience and most value for your money in the industry," but that may not be good enough for some users who are frustrated by this change. One Reddit user said, "They're ending loyalty discounts, which was the only thing keeping me with Verizon. Guess I'm gonna port out." It appears Verizon wants to get customers on older plans to switch, and this could be another attempt to persuade them. In the email, the company even says, "We want to ensure you get the best value and experience from Verizon and encourage you to check out our myPlan options for the plan that works best for you." It's a bold move from Verizon, as it could lead customers to port their numbers out instead of switching to myPlan. Perhaps people on the older plans with loyalty discounts aren't as profitable, and Verizon figures it's better to take the risk of losing them by moving them to more lucrative plans. But that's speculation. In the meantime, read why we recently updated our top pick for best phone carrier from Verizon to T-Mobile. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. More from Tom's Guide Best phone carriers of 2025: Our top picks This killer new iPhone feature extends your battery life — but it's only available on these models More people are ditching Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile according to new data — here's where they're going Solve the daily Crossword
Android Authority
10-07-2025
- Business
- Android Authority
Have a unused BOGO offer or another promo? This carrier will let you gift it to someone else
US Mobile is known for many things, including its great multi-line features and its active communication with customers on Reddit and beyond. The carrier is also never afraid to think outside the box when it comes to setting itself apart from the competition. Its latest feature doesn't have an official name yet, but US Mobile has now made it easy to share extra lines and other promos with your friends and family. For those who don't know, US Mobile recently rolled out a new promotion that gave a free line to select customers on its Dark Star (AT&T) network . In addition, it sometimes offers extra perks like extended free trials and other line promotions, which are kept in the app as redeemable tiles. Previously, there was no easy way to transfer these features to another account — but that's no longer the case. As US Mobile explains via Reddit , this isn't a referral or a coupon. Instead, almost anything you aren't using can be passed to someone else. This new shareable feature is officially available now, though the exact offers you'll see will vary depending on your plan. US Mobile says you'll be able to share active lines, free trials, multi-network plans, and more. As for how it works, you can send an invite for any existing tiles to a family member, friend, or really anyone. Once you send it over, they take control over the billing and full control of that tile, but you retain control over the rest of your account. Some potential use cases include: Temporarily sharing a line with a family member or friend who's visiting the US from another country and temporarily needs service. When done, they can simply send the tile back your way. As a way to gift free lines to friends and family members if you aren't going to use them yourself. You can even share BOGO offers and more. Is this actually useful? In some situations, it absolutely could be. But let's be honest here, though, this is likely more about increasing its line activations and other stats than anything else. Ever since US Mobile rolled out its new, closer relationship with its Dark Star (AT&T) network, it has been working hard to attract new users. It has regularly offered promotions aimed specifically at Dark Star since then, which is likely down to whatever agreement AT&T and US Mobile reached, as the terms may have included a target for activations or other stipulations. That's just speculation, but it certainly wouldn't be surprising.
Phone Arena
23-06-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
Klarna's latest integration could change how you pay with your phone
Image credit — Klarna Klarna is now live in Google Pay To get started, existing Klarna users must link their accounts to Google Pay, while new users can go through the setup directly within the Google Pay app. Once linked, shoppers can select Klarna as their BNPL provider during checkout and manage transactions via the Google Wallet website. This move rounds out Google Pay's BNPL ecosystem, which already includes Affirm, Zip, and Afterpay. It also comes at a time when Klarna is expanding far beyond payments. Receive the latest Google news Subscribe By subscribing you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy Klarna's ecosystem keeps growing Just days before this integration went live, Klarna made headlines by entering the U.S. mobile carrier market To get started, existing Klarna users must link their accounts to Google Pay, while new users can go through the setup directly within the Google Pay app. Once linked, shoppers can select Klarna as their BNPL provider during checkout and manage transactions via the Google Wallet move rounds out Google Pay's BNPL ecosystem, which already includes Affirm, Zip, and Afterpay. It also comes at a time when Klarna is expanding far beyond days before this integration went live, Klarna made headlines by entering the U.S. mobile carrier market with a new $40/month unlimited 5G plan . The mobile service runs on AT&T 's network, and it promises hassle-free setup with no activation or cancellation fees, as well as eSIM support. All of this is fully managed from the Klarna app. This 5G plan is part of Klarna's strategy to evolve into a broader digital services platform and reflects its desire to simplify and modernize traditionally clunky industries. As we shared in our earlier coverage, the service is built on Gigs' mobile infrastructure and will eventually expand to other countries, including the UK, Germany, and more. Klarna has more than 25 million active U.S. users as of this moment, which makes it well-positioned to cross-sell services across payments and mobile connectivity. Now that Klarna's baked into Google Pay and even selling phone plans, it's clear the company isn't just about splitting payments anymore — it's without a doubt trying to become a one-stop shop for everything from purchases to telecommunication. Grab Surfshark VPN now at more than 50% off and with 3 extra months for free! Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer Google Pay has officially added Klarna to its buy now, pay later (BNPL) roster in the U.S., giving Android users more flexibility when paying for larger purchases. The integration is now live and brings Klarna's Pay in 4 and financing plans to select Android apps and websites that support Google Pay at new integration allows users to split eligible purchases over $35 into four interest-free payments, or opt for long-term financing on more expensive items. Klarna's financing terms start at 0% APR, depending on the user's credit profile and the merchant.
