TruConnect
 | |
| Industry |
Wireless Telecommunications |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder | Kevin Hamilton |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, CA |
Area served | Nationwide |
Key people |
Matthew H. Johnson - Co-CEO Nathan R. Johnson - Co-CEO Robert Yap - President Charles Lambert - CIO |
| Products | Phones, Mobile Hotpots, Wireless Plans, Lifeline |
| Website | TruConnect |
TruConnect, formally known as TruConnect Mobile, is an American mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that sells mobile hotspots and smartphones and 3G/4G LTE mobile data plans and prepaid cell phone talk & text plans. TruConnect was the first prepaid broadband provider in the U.S. to offer a pay-as-you-go, portable Wi-Fi service plans. [1] Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, the company is one of the nation’s fastest growing providers of no-contract wireless voice, text, and data service.[2]
The company was founded by Kevin Hamilton in Westlake, CA. TruConnect has been providing wireless, residential and small business telecommunication services for more than 15 years under the Sage Telecom, Telscape Communications and TruConnect Mobile brands. [3]
History
In 2006, Matthew and Nathan Johnson acquire Telscape Communications, rebranding the company as TruConnect. [4]
On August 4, 2014, D-Link and TruConnect partnered to offer internet for mobile users. [5]
On April 29, 2015, Mobetize and TruConnect partnered to offer prepaid card services including bill payment, global prepaid airtime, and money transfers. [6]
On April 29, 2015, TruConnect emerged as one of the fastest-growing wireless companies in the United States according to data from the Universal Service Administrative Company. [7] [8]
On May 11, 2015, EY announced that Matthew Johnson, Co-CEO, and Nathan Johnson, Co-CEO and Chairman, were finalists for the Entrepreneur of the Year 2015 Awards Program in the Greater Los Angeles Area.[9]
On May 21, 2015, TruConnect introduced its Forever DataSM through its Internet On The Go brand at Walmart. [10]
On June 18, 2015, TruConnect and OTT TV service YipTV formed a joint-marketing agreement. [11]
In October 2015, TruConnect announced its four new prepaid wireless plan options as well as new prepaid mobile data hotspot plans. [12]
On March 30, 2016, TruConnect announces that its Chief Legal Counsel and VP of Strategy, Robert A. Yap, has been named the corporation’s new President.[13]
In July 2016, TruConnect begins offering free International Calling with their California Lifeline Plans. [14]
In September 2016, TruConnect Communications, Inc. announces that it has formed TruConnect Technologies, LLC, a new unit that acquired the business, operating assets, and technology of WeFi, Inc.'s network operating activities. The company will be based in Los Angeles with an R&D innovation center in Tel Aviv. [15]
In 2016, TruConnect led a buyout of TSG Capital to acquire Telscape Communications which rebranded to TruConnect. Under their leadership, TruConnect expanded by completing an acquisition of Sage Telecom, Inc. a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) focused on residential and small business consumers.
Wireless
TruConnect offers wireless services that include cell phones, 3G and 4G mobile hotspots, and wireless cell phone or data plans. [16] Their service is aimed at those who need affordable and reliable devices and internet on-the-go .[17][18]
Lifeline
The company is in partnership with the a federal- and state-funded Lifeline program which offers discounted cell phone service.[19] The Lifeline Program (Universal Service Fund) provides reduced-cost or free cell phone services to eligible households in California and Texas.[20]As of May 2016, the company had 195,751 [21]California LifeLine subscribers. The number of California LifeLine subscribers peaked at 322,666[22] in June 2015.
California LifeLine and Texas Lifeline are state and federal government programs that provide Lifeline wireless service and free government phones to low-income consumers. The programs are available to consumers who can provide documentation for eligibility for government phones based on either income level or participation in public assistance programs including SNAP and Medicaid, among others. [23]
The company will be expanding to more areas, including Puerto Rico, in the near future.
Competition
References
- ↑ http://www.prepaid-wireless-guide.com/kevin-hamilton-truconnect-mobile-interview.html
- ↑ http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2015/04/29/8182140.htm
- ↑ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/truconnect-announces-four-new-forever-datasm-prepaid-hot-spot-data-plan-options-300166265.html
- ↑ http://www.sbnonline.com/article/2015-ey-entrepreneur-of-the-year-los-angeles/#TruConnect
- ↑ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/d-link-and-truconnect-partner-to-offer-internet-on-the-go-for-mobile-users-281418291.html
- ↑ http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSnGNX1GgJ3M+1d5+GNW2015042
- ↑ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/truconnect-is-now-one-of-the-fastest-growing-wireless-companies-in-the-united-states-300074197.html
- ↑ http://www.beyond.com/news/truconnect-is-now-one-of-the-fastest-growing-wireless-companies-in-the-united-states-121667689
- ↑ http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/Greater_Los_Angeles_2015_Finalist_Announcement/$FILE/LA_EOY_Finalist_Announcement_2015.pdf
- ↑ http://finance.yahoo.com/news/truconnect-introduces-mobile-data-solution-141300068.html
- ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/truconnect-yiptv-form-innovative-joint-marketing-carmen-tribolet
- ↑ http://www.reuters.com/article/truconnect-phone-plan-idUSnPnSs2LT+53+PRN20151027
- ↑ http://telecommsbriefing.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=325517
- ↑ "TruConnect Adds International Calling to Unlimited Talk & Text Plans". Retrieved 2016-09-28.
- ↑ "TruConnect Forms TruConnect Technologies LLC; Acquires Network Operator Business of WeFi, Inc.". Benzinga. Retrieved 2016-09-28.
- ↑ https://www.truconnect.com/english/shop/wireless/wireless-plans.html
- ↑ http://gigaom.com/2011/09/19/wifi-ipad-meet-truconnects-cheap-pay-as-you-go-mifi/
- ↑ http://gigaom.com/2011/09/19/wifi-ipad-meet-truconnects-cheap-pay-as-you-go-mifi/
- ↑ http://www.freegovernmentlifelinecellphones.com/index.php/lifeline-carriers/
- ↑ http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=60001328932
- ↑ http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/uploadedFiles/CPUC_Public_Website/Content/Utilities_and_Industries/Communications_-_Telecommunications_and_Broadband/Consumer_Programs/California_LifeLine_Program/Copy%20of%202016%20XeroxSubscriberCountsasof%20050616.xls
- ↑ http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/uploadedFiles/CPUC_Public_Website/Content/Utilities_and_Industries/Communications_-_Telecommunications_and_Broadband/Consumer_Programs/California_LifeLine_Program/2015XeroxSubscriberCountsasof010816.xls
- ↑ "Free Government Phone | Apply Lifeline | TruConnect". www.truconnect.com. Retrieved 2016-09-16.