Latest news with #Verizon
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
T-Mobile Might Finally Switch to 36-Month Phone Payment Plans
PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing. If you're a T-Mobile customer, the next time you upgrade your phone you may be asked to keep it for an extra year. New leaks suggest T-Mobile is preparing to introduce 36-month payment plans for the first time. According to The Mobile Report, an internal T-Mobile document shows multiple references to 36-month Equipment Installment Plans (EIP). The carrier currently doesn't have these plans, though rivals AT&T and Verizon moved to a 36-month structure in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Alongside the internal document, T-Mobile briefly changed its website for Galaxy Watch EIPs to show 36-month deals. The website read, 'Starting at $10.56/month for 36 months' on a listing for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 in its 44mm version. It's unclear if anyone managed to sign up. These deals have since been removed, and T-Mobile has moved back to 24-month offers. It's now showing a price of $15.84 a month over a two-year period. Both of these offers come out to $380.16, which is as close as possible to the watch's $379.99 price. If T-Mobile does move to 36-month EIPs, it's likely because the carrier wants to lock customers into services for longer periods rather than increase the amount made from the product loan. Other carriers that have moved to 36 months as the norm have said it's better for customers as the monthly repayment is lower. For some customers, that may be true, but others will be frustrated by the fact they won't be able to upgrade as quickly, or that they won't be able to easily switch wireless providers. We asked T-Mobile for comment, and we'll update this story when we hear more. T-Mobile has stood out compared with AT&T and Verizon by not making this move over the last few years. It could continue that goodwill with customers if it chooses to offer both 24-month and 36-month options for EIPs at the same time. T-Mobile's app was recently updated to record your phone's screen when you're navigating around its T-Life service. The feature was brought in to help the brand 'troubleshoot' issues, but it can be turned off within the settings of the app.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Mobile: Can the smartphone actually be made in the US?
The Trump Organization is entering the smartphone market with "Trump Mobile": a new US-made phone and plan. However, there is uncertainty about whether the phone can actually be manufactured in the US. Yahoo Finance Technology Editor Dan Howley joins Asking for a Trend with Josh Lipton to break down the details. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Asking for a Trend here. President Trump's family's launching a smartphone alongside its own mobile service dubbed Trump Mobile. However, will it follow in Trump's made in America agenda? Yahoo Finance's tech editor Dan Howley joins us now with more. Dan. Yeah, Josh, this is, uh, something that, uh, the Trump family went out and announced yesterday, basically showing off, uh, the idea of this Trump mobile phone plan. Uh, it's basically a virtual mobile network. It's going to ride on what they say is the three major carriers in the US. It includes Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. I've reached out to them. I haven't heard back, uh, yet from any of the carriers on that. Uh, they also announced a new phone that they're calling the T1 phone. This phone, uh, is going to be available for 499, a down payment of $100. They say it'll be available, uh, in September. The big to-do though about this is that it's supposedly made in America. And that would be a big deal because we just don't have very many phone companies that manufacture in America. Uh, in fact, one that I spoke to, uh, is, uh, from Purism. It's the Liberty phone. Uh, it's a specialized phone that's all about security and keeping, uh, separate from big tech, uh, organizations. But that phone sells for $199, uh, sorry, $1,999. Uh, this phone, $4.99, sounds like a great deal. However, a number of experts that I've spoken to have kind of thrown cold water on the idea that it will actually be made in America. In fact, some have pointed out that the phone is eerily similar, uh, to another phone company, uh, their device, the Wingtech Rebel 7, uh, has similar cameras. That phone is a Chinese-made phone. Uh, T-Mobile also sells a version of that called the Rebel 7 under its Metro brand. Uh, that device has a Qualcomm processor. That processor is made in China, so it would take away from that whole made in America thing. Then Eric Trump had actually said during an interview with a conservative YouTube personality, Benny Johnson, that he, uh, eventually all the phones can be built in the United States of America. So, there's kind of mixed signals going on right here. Uh, the one thing that, uh, when I spoke to, uh, the head of Purism, uh, who develops that Liberty phone, said is, it took them 10 years to get to that point, to be able to actually get the phones in the US. And one of the issues was, you know, getting a processor that fits there. They say that all the electronics are built within the US. Uh, the frame for the phone, though, is built in China. Uh, so they make sure to point out that the electronics are all US made and developed. So, you know, something like that, it's taken them years to get to that point. And how much, Dan, did you say he's selling that phone for? $1,999. Their most recent phone. Uh, and so, you know, I think it's one of those things where we're just going to have to wait and see if this phone actually does come out, if it actually is built in the US. Um, right now, you know, you can see what different people are saying online. There's a lot of, uh, you know, show me, you know, rather than, uh, or will this just be vaporware where it's announced and it just never premieres, but they are taking cash for it now as far as those $100 pre-orders. So, we're just going to have to see. But all this again is part of the Trump administration's effort, uh, you know, to push that whole made in America idea. They've said that they're going to place tariffs on Apple or Samsung if they don't start building their phones, uh, in the US. Wow. That's not going to happen. Uh, you know, they'll, I mean, they'll be out of office before they even get facilities up and running. So, it's not something that I think anyone can confidently say would actually happen with Apple and Samsung. I look forward to the Dan Howley review of that phone though. That's what I'm waiting for. Thank you, Dan. Yes, sir.
Phone Arena
4 hours ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
Rumored T-Mobile change will be a double-edged sword for customers
New devices can be expensive, which is why many people finance their purchases through carriers. The downside to that is that customers can't leave their telecom company before paying off their device. For T-Mobile users, the installment plans are usually spread over 24 months but the company may extend the duration in the future. T-Mobile 's 24-month installments are known as "Equipment Installment Plans" or EIPs. AT&T and Verizon both switched to 36-month installment plans around four years back and now, T-Mobile is gearing up to follow suit. Apparently, T-Mobile briefly increased the duration of the installment plan for some Samsung Galaxy watches before reverting the change. T-Mobile was briefly offering longer installment plans. | Image Credit - The Mobile Report Per The Mobile Report , that wasn't a glitch. According to a leaked internal document, T-Mobile is contemplating introducing 36-month EIPs for at least some devices. The longer installment plans may only be for select plans. The new policy may violate the "New in Two" guarantee that some plans offer to make it easy for customers to upgrade every two years. For now, it looks like the change has been delayed. However, given that it went live for a while, we might see it implemented soon. Revising installment plans to stretch over 36 months instead of 24 would allow T-Mobile to retain customers for longer, thereby reducing churn, which is an industry-wide concern. For customers, this would mean being beholden to the company for a year longer. A policy introduced last year already made it less enticing for customers to pay off their devices early and relieve themselves of the obligation to stick with the company for a long time. That said, longer installment terms may not necessarily be viewed as an anti-customer move, as payments will be spread over a longer period. For customers not thinking about leaving in the future, this would mean smaller payments every an average American keeps their smartphone for more than 2.5 months, so a 36-month installment plan might be a better idea. Either way, T-Mobile will once again have to eat its words and go against its statement about giving customers the freedom to upgrade to a new device every two years. Switch to Total 5G+ Unlimited 3-Month plan or Total 5G Unlimited and get a free iPhone. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Android Authority
7 hours ago
- Android Authority
Do you use mobile data while connected to Wi-Fi? It's complicated.
Robert Triggs / Android Authority When it comes to smartphones, the common sentiment is that your Wi-Fi network will always take precedence over your mobile connection. In other words, those with data caps generally don't have to worry about mobile data being consumed during lengthy Wi-Fi sessions. But is this always true? Generally, yes, but the situation is slightly more complicated than you might think. There are indeed a few reasons your phone could end up using mobile data even when connected to Wi-Fi. Were you aware your phone can switch to mobile data while on Wi-Fi? 0 votes Yes, but it's never caused me any issues. NaN % No, I had no idea. NaN % It's likely not a bug, but a feature Recently, I noticed my free Helium line was using data faster than expected, considering I rarely used it and consistently had my Wi-Fi turned on. Upon investigation, I realized my mistake was twofold. First, I'd accidentally set Helium as my primary mobile data line instead of my Verizon account. This explained part of the issue, but not the sudden spike in mobile data usage when connected to my home network. Fortunately, I stumbled upon a well-timed Reddit thread from user Unlucky_Ad_4873. The thread was unrelated to my exact issue, involving a Pixel 7 using excessive data despite a Wi-Fi connection. A Mint Mobile representative incorrectly claimed this happens unless mobile data is explicitly turned off. Interestingly, a US Mobile rep previously made a similar mistaken claim about an iPhone, suggesting this misconception is somewhat widespread. Features like 5G priority or Wi-Fi Assist may result in mobile data usage even if you are technically connected to Wi-Fi. From personal experience (and corroborated by numerous responses), your phone typically won't use mobile data simply because it's turned on. Usually, your device prioritizes Wi-Fi connections. However, exceptions exist — and they're usually intentional. The original thread I stumbled upon eventually revealed a helpful tip: check your Wi-Fi Assist settings. Many modern phones automatically switch to mobile data if they detect your Wi-Fi connection is slow or unstable. This feature has various names, such as Intelligent Wi-Fi on my Galaxy S24. When I checked this setting, it turned out to be precisely the cause of my data spike. Further digging revealed intermittent issues with my Spectrum Wi-Fi network at the same time as the increased data usage. Consequently, my Helium line rapidly consumed all its available data. My problem was fairly straightforward, but, in addition to a Wi-Fi Assist/Intelligent WiFi feature, the iPhone and select Android devices also have a few other data settings that could cause similar issues. For example, the iPhone lets you give preference to 5G data over other connections, including Wi-Fi. How to turn off Wi-Fi Assist, Intelligence, and other similar features Typically, these features are beneficial, especially since most US consumers have unlimited data plans. However, some plans have usage caps leading to reduced performance after reaching limits, and budget plans often have strict data limits. In these scenarios, disabling such features can be wise. Settings vary slightly depending on your device, but here are key adjustments you might want to consider: iPhone users will want to turn off Wi-Fi Assist and ensure 5G isn't prioritized Wi-Fi Assist is on by default, but to turn it off, simply: Go to Settings > Cellular or Settings > Mobile Data Next, scroll until you find Wi-Fi Assist and tap the slider to disable it. To turn off the 5G prioritization feature on your iPhone: Go to Settings > Cellular , then tap Cellular Data . , then tap . Next, go to Data Mode and then Allow More Data on 5G. Turn the slider off. Pixel users: Turn off automatic Wi-Fi switching The Pixel doesn't give an official name to this feature, but it will automatically switch to Wi-Fi, usually by default. To change this: Go to Wifi > WiFi Preferences > Advanced . . Next, scroll until you see Switch to Mobile data automatically and hit the slider. Galaxy users: Turn off Intelligent Wi-Fi and consider adjusting a few other settings For the Galaxy S25, you perform a fairly similar process: Go to Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi. Next, go to the three-dot menu and select Intelligent Wi-Fi. Here, you'll want to turn off Switch to Mobile data. While in the Intelligent Wi-Fi menu, you'll also note a few other settings like Turn Wi-Fi on/off automatically than you might want to consider disabling as well.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Want $2,000 in Annual Dividends? Invest $11,000 in Each of These 3 Stocks
The three stocks listed here each pay high dividends that yield more than 5%. Their dividend payments look to be safe and sustainable for the foreseeable future. These stocks cover different industries and can provide you with some excellent diversification. 10 stocks we like better than Verizon Communications › Generating high dividend income can be tricky, because you don't want to just load up on stocks with the highest yields. That can result in disappointment later on, because if those high dividend payments aren't safe, they could end up getting cut or suspended entirely. It's important to carefully consider a company's financials and what lies ahead before relying on its dividend. Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS), and Vici Properties (NYSE: VICI) all pay dividends that yield more than 5% today, and they all look fairly safe. By investing $11,000 in each one of these high-yielding stocks, you could generate around $2,000 in dividends over the course of a full year. Here's why these can be excellent income stocks to buy right now. One of the most underrated dividend stocks available today is Verizon. The stock struggles to generate much momentum, even though its payout looks remarkably safe. Over the past 12 months, shares of Verizon are only up around 7%. But when you consider that its 6.4% yield is safer than it looks, it should be attracting a lot more interest from dividend investors. Verizon's payout ratio is a sustainable 64% of its earnings. The company has also increased its dividend for 18 consecutive years. In 10 years, the company's quarterly per-share dividend has gone from $0.55 to $0.6775 -- that's an increase of 23%. By investing $11,000 into this top telecom stock, you'd be generating approximately $704 in annual dividends, based on its current yield, and there's a strong possibility that the payout will rise over time. This year, the company projects to generate free cash flow of at least $17.5 billion, which will be comfortably higher than how much it pays out in dividends over an entire year (around $11.3 billion). At just 10 times its trailing earnings, this can be a terrific dividend stock to add to your portfolio right now. Logistics giant United Parcel Service, better known as UPS, offers a slightly higher yield than Verizon at 6.5%. If you invest $11,000 into the stock, you can also expect to generate a little more in annual dividends -- $715. Share prices of UPS are down by 20% since the start of the year (returns as of June 16), and that has pushed its yield higher, making this an attractive time to load up on the stock. Its payout ratio is around 100%, and it has generated $5.4 billion in free cash flow over the past 12 months, which is about as much as its dividend payments have totaled over that timeframe. Although that seems tight, the company is making efforts to cut costs to improve its bottom line. Earlier this year, it announced plans to lay off 20,000 workers amid challenging macroeconomic conditions and uncertainty. UPS' business has remained fairly stable thus far, however, with revenue through the first three months of the year totaling $21.5 billion, versus $21.7 billion in the prior-year period. The stock trades at around 15 times its trailing earnings, which is a bit cheaper than normal, and gives you some margin of safety in the event that it doesn't perform as well as you might expect. There is some risk here, but with the dividend still sustainable now and cost reductions in place, UPS should be able to continue making dividend payments for the foreseeable future. The lowest-yielding stock on this list is Vici Properties, a real estate investment trust (REIT) that currently pays investors a dividend that yields 5.4%. An $11,000 investment in this stock would produce annual dividend income totaling roughly $594. When you add that to the income you could generate from the other stocks listed above, then your total dividend income from all three of these stocks (when investing $11,000 in each of them) would total around $2,013. For REITs, the key metric to focus on is funds from operations, or FFO. That's an adjusted earnings calculation that helps these companies determine how much they can afford to pay out in dividends. For the first three months of 2025, Vici's FFO per share totaled $0.51. That is higher than its current quarterly dividend of $0.4325, suggesting that the payout is safe. REITs can be safe income-generating investments to own, since they bring in a lot of recurring income from their tenants. Vici's portfolio includes top gaming destinations such as Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and the Venetian Resort. Even if the economy struggles, the REIT's robust portfolio, which centers on some of the biggest resorts in the world, should offer you some safety. Vici is another fairly modestly priced stock to own, as it trades at 13 times its trailing earnings. Before you buy stock in Verizon Communications, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Verizon Communications wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $659,171!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $891,722!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 995% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends United Parcel Service. The Motley Fool recommends Verizon Communications and Vici Properties. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Want $2,000 in Annual Dividends? Invest $11,000 in Each of These 3 Stocks was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
