T-Mobile is raising its Regulatory Programs & Telco Recovery Fee on October 12. Here is what changes, who it hits, and how to explain it to customers.

Reports point to new T-Mobile T-Mix plans with "Picks" acting as credits toward perks and promos. What telecom operators should watch, plus verified pricing.

A leaked T-Mobile iPhone Duo offer shows $1,000 in trade-in credit on a $1,999 foldable. What that means for dealers, repair shops and call centers.

A leak points to Apple Music, YouTube and SiriusXM perks on T-Mobile. Here is what it means for dealers, MVNOs, repair shops and ISPs.

A dealer-focused look at AT&T and Boost Mobile: network, data policy, international features, support and dealer opportunity, plus who fits each brand.

Verizon CEO Dan Schulman says he’s pushing a more disciplined, efficiency-first Verizon—after layoffs and cost-cutting targets—raising the possibility the carrier could reduce or end device subsidies and discounted handsets. If subsidies shrink, the postpaid value equation changes fast, pushing more customers toward prepaid/BYOD. Dealers should prepare with upgrade readiness services, trade-in prep, and a “postpaid vs prepaid” savings audit.

CTIA reports US wireless data usage reached 159.3 trillion MB in 2026—still a record, but the year-over-year growth rate has slowed versus recent years. CTIA forecasts demand could be 4x higher by 2032, with AI traffic growing faster than traditional usage. Dealers should pivot from “more data” hype to “better experience” selling: Wi‑Fi offload, device upgrades, fixed wireless comparisons, and connected-device bundles.

SpaceX CFO Bret Johnsen says Starlink plans to launch “5G-quality” mobile satellite service for smartphones in the first half of 2028, powered by V3 satellites deployed through 2027. He says SpaceX can use midband spectrum bought from EchoStar and already has FCC approval for direct-from-space and terrestrial capability. The Big Three have refused MVNO deals—creating a major dealer opportunity around backup connectivity.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr says the FCC will vote later this month on two items aimed at expanding next-gen connectivity: unlocking more than 1,000 MHz in the 12 GHz and 42 GHz bands for a range of services (including faster satellite broadband), and launching a proposal to modernize ultra-wideband (UWB) rules—its first comprehensive update since 2002. Dealers should prepare for more fixed wireless/satellite competition and new UWB-enabled devices.

Dealer takeaway: iPhone launch day is always a switcher moment, but this year the real wedge isn’t just price—it’s support. T-Mobile is marketing “frictionless” switching and zero down payment messaging to attract new customers for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo. At the same time, CEO Srini Gopalan publicly acknowledged what many customers already feel: 24/7 app help isn’t the same as a human. Dealers can monetize both sides—upgrades and support—by being the human layer. Wh

A dealer-friendly look at Verizon postpaid and Simple Mobile prepaid: coverage, data policy, international calling and which customer fits each brand.

Verizon quietly pulled its 3-year price lock guarantee from myPlan mobile plans around the launch of its Simplicity plan (home internet price lock still remains). Customers who joined on/after June 16, 2026 may no longer have price protection. Dealers should use this moment to run “price-lock proof” audits, document plan terms, and offer a clear “stay vs switch” menu before the next bill surprise.

Assurance Wireless (Lifeline) offers eligible households unlimited talk/text plus 10GB of high-speed data each month on T-Mobile’s 4G/5G network—often with $0 monthly bill and no contract. Dealers can use this as a traffic driver: eligibility checks, device setup, number transfers, and upsells to affordable prepaid/home internet for customers who outgrow 10GB.

T-Mobile named former Shell CFO Jessica Uhl as CFO Designate, with a planned handoff from current CFO Peter Osvaldik in February 2027. For dealers, this signals continued focus on disciplined spending, “digital-first” cost reduction, and pricing/plan changes—so prepare for more bill-audit conversations and retention offers.

As T-Mobile continues layoffs and store closures, more customers say they’re being pushed into digital support, AI chatbots, and the T‑Life app—yet the experience isn’t consistent. Some report waiting 30 minutes or more for a “talk to Customer Care” button to appear, while others say chat waits can run an hour or longer (or never connect). Customers often need urgent help (unlocks, SIM issues), and being told to use the app even in-store is fueling frustration.

A new editorial argues the “classic T‑Mobile” customers loved under John Legere isn’t coming back. The piece points to longtime exec Mike Katz exiting and signaling that T‑Mobile must evolve now that it can’t keep growing by simply contrasting itself with AT&T and Verizon. Readers largely agree: a poll shows 67% believe Katz was hinting the old Un‑Carrier era is over, as T‑Mobile pushes app-first service (T‑Life), layoffs, and retail changes.

New Street Research says Verizon’s “comeback” is showing early traction as CEO Dan Schulman nears his one-year mark. Analyst David Barden notes Verizon’s postpaid phone losses were improving before Schulman, but the pace has picked up since he took over in Oct. 2025. Gross adds are up close to double digits, churn improved in Q2 2026, and cost cuts are boosting EBITDA—though New Street warns Verizon can’t “cut its way to greatness,” and ARPU/ARPA pressure remains.

T-Mobile is reportedly telling district-level employees and higher to spend at least two days working in a retail store or call center—an “optional” requirement that tips say is tied to bonuses/stock grants. The move comes as customers complain about being pushed to use the T‑Life app in-store, plus ongoing issues with app access, promotions, and store policies (like trade-ins being refused despite the app offering in-store drop-off). The goal: give leadership real front-line

Optimum is expanding its MVNO agreement with T-Mobile to add access to T-Mobile’s 5G standalone (SA) core—while still keeping Optimum’s own in-house mobile core. Optimum says the move will unlock a wider device portfolio (phones, wearables, tablets), improved international roaming options, and new product launches starting early next year after platform upgrades. Optimum ended Q2 2026 with 724,000 mobile lines.

T-Mobile is continuing its shift to a digital-first model, with more transactions moving into the T-Life app—and that transition is showing up in retail. In Washington state, the carrier is permanently cutting 77 jobs, closing six retail stores, and shutting a corporate office, according to a LinkedIn post and a WARN notice filing. Layoffs are scheduled between Sept. 21 and Nov. 18, 2026, and include retail mobile experts and corporate roles.