T-Mobile is officially retiring its 2G GSM network on August 3, 2026. Most customers won’t notice—but anyone using very old phones, certain legacy IoT devices, or older international devices without VoLTE could lose service. Dealers should run a quick “network readiness” check, offer low-cost upgrade paths, and position paid setup/data transfer as a simple, same-day fix.

Upper C-Band auction news showing T-Mobile Verizon AT&T wordmarks about FCC July 22 vote and 5G coverage

Apple may release six iPhone models in 2027 as it splits launches into early-year and September events—plus a possible iPhone 20 anniversary lineup.

FCC plans an Upper C-Band auction of 160 MHz (3.98–4.14 GHz) used for ABC/CBS/FOX/NBC distribution, expanding mid-band 5G with deployment starting late 2030.

A new rumor says many T-Mobile third-party authorized retailer (TPR) locations could close as soon as July 1, as the carrier accelerates its “digital native” strategy and pushes customers into the T-Life app. Corporate-owned retail (COR) stores may be spared this round, and one dealer is reportedly closing 100+ locations with financial incentives from T-Mobile. Dealers should prepare for customer confusion, increased foot traffic at remaining stores, and a bigger shift toward

TruConnect can be an easy “affordable + straightforward” sell for customers who want a predictable monthly bill and quick setup. Use this dealer guide to qualify customers in under a minute, recommend the right plan tier, and build a refill base that brings customers back every month.

The FCC says the AWS-3 spectrum auction—the first in four years—wrapped after 72 rounds, generating over $3.5B across 200 licenses. Seventeen bidders participated, including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, EchoStar, and SpaceX. The licenses cover 1695–1710 MHz, 1755–1780 MHz, and 2155–2180 MHz, including major markets like Boston, New York, and Chicago, and are expected to boost 5G capacity. Analysts expect the Big Three to win most licenses, while SpaceX may be positioning for futu

Verizon is being removed from the Dow Jones Industrial Average and replaced by Google parent Alphabet at the opening bell Monday, June 29. Because the Dow is price-weighted, Alphabet’s higher share price gives it more influence, and Dow-tracking funds will sell Verizon and buy Alphabet. For dealers, this isn’t about day-to-day network performance—it’s a headline signal that Wall Street is prioritizing AI, cloud computing, and mobile advertising over legacy telecom in “market

SpaceX is tightening control of the 2 GHz Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) band—the spectrum that makes satellite-to-phone viable—while AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile respond from the back foot. With FCC rules favoring a single operator holding both terrestrial and satellite rights, consolidation could decide who sets the terms for Direct-to-Device service.

Link Up Mobile is an easy “simple + affordable” prepaid sell for customers who want a predictable monthly bill and quick setup. Use this dealer guide to qualify customers in under a minute, recommend the right plan tier, and turn activations into repeat refills and accessory bundles.

A customer says Verizon AI customer service made it hard to reach a human after a $500 billing mistake disconnected service. Dealer save-play inside.

Consumers are pulling back, and smartphones are feeling it. According to new Counterpoint research, Week 20 of 2026 (May 11–May 17) saw the overall smartphone market shrink 8% year-over-year — marking the 9th consecutive week of a sales slump. But there’s a big exception: Apple. Counterpoint says iPhone sales rose 10% YoY in the same period. Huawei was the other standout, with a reported 23% YoY increase (largely driven by its China-focused position). What’s driving the slump

T-Mobile addressed concerns about “AI cameras” in its retail stores, saying it does not use facial recognition, microphone-enabled cameras, or Flock products. The carrier says it’s simply upgrading to modern cameras comparable to consumer doorbell cams as part of standard lifecycle management to improve safety and security. Dealers should be ready with a simple privacy-first explanation and a calm in-store script.

A new report highlights T-Mobile’s 5G advantage, pointing to bandwidth/spectrum strategy that’s delivering much faster downloads—about 485 Mbps vs under 300 Mbps for AT&T and Verizon. A poll tied to the report suggests nearly 40% of respondents are now considering switching to T-Mobile. Dealers should use this as a “speed proof” opener, but still run a location-based coverage check and set expectations that speeds vary by market.

Verizon is rolling out a new Simplicity plan that’s designed to be clear, cheap, and competitive: unlimited talk/text/data with 5G Ultra Wideband, roaming, satellite texting, and 10GB hotspot starting at $30/month with port-in ($45 otherwise). Verizon is also removing activation and upgrade fees if customers join its Loyalty program, plus adding “Verizon Dollars” and new Shine perks to rival T-Mobile Tuesdays.

AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon reportedly won’t strike a Starlink MVNO deal—pushing analysts to suggest SpaceX skip negotiations and buy a facilities-based carrier instead. Wolfe Research argues a Starlink-built network would create a 4-player market and squeeze margins, while an acquisition could be “better for profitability.” Here’s what dealers should watch and how to sell rural connectivity without overpromising.

AT&T Unlimited Day Pass for iPad offers $3 per day on-demand cellular connectivity with first day free

T-Mobile quietly launched a “Magenta Nights” T-Life app promo with an ultra-short window (6pm PT–6am PT) that offered some switchers up to $1,000 via a virtual prepaid Mastercard—often with fewer strings than typical port-in deals. The offer reportedly returns next Sunday (June 21–22) with additional Sunday windows after that. Here’s the dealer play to capture switches without first-bill surprises.

Airvoice Wireless is a clean “simple + affordable” prepaid sell for customers who want a predictable monthly bill and quick setup. Use this dealer guide to qualify customers in under a minute, recommend the right plan tier, and turn activations into repeat refills and accessory bundles.

T-Mobile is reportedly doubling international calling from $0.25 to $0.50 per minute for calls made outside the US starting June 25—right as summer travel ramps up. Dealers can prevent bill shock by running a quick travel check, steering customers to the right International Pass, and setting expectations on which plans include texting/data abroad (and which don’t).