Latest news with #telemedicine
WIRED
a day ago
- Health
- WIRED
I Tried Hear.com's At-Home Test for New Prescription Hearing Aids. Here's How It Works
You no longer need to leave the house to be fitted with prescription hearing aids. All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. Putting aside their exorbitant cost, the trouble with prescription hearing aids is the prescription. Find a doctor. Get an appointment. Sit in a waiting room. Suffer through an hour of testing before getting the hard sell on a pair of hearing aids. Why, the indignity of it all is even worse than going deaf. Telehealth offers a glimmer of a solution, but as everyone who's tried to show off a concerning mole to a doctor via a smartphone camera knows: Video technology can only get you so far. Audiological testing requires significant one-on-one interaction and plenty of technology to back that up. Every audiogram I've sat for has been inside a sophisticated, soundproof chamber. company that sells prescription hearing aids online and via traditional retail channels —has a workaround. It puts all the technology needed to perform a full-on hearing test in a box and mails it to you along with a set of prescription hearing aids, then walks you through the whole thing with an audiologist via a video call. I've taken virtual hearing test twice—this is what a tele-hearing exam looks like, should you decide to take one. It's All Online The process begins with a simple discussion. If you've never had hearing aids before, this is probably a good first step; veterans will likely skip it, especially if they know what model hearing aids they want (or how much they want to spend). A salesperson will discuss your personal impressions of your hearing loss, any hearing aid devices you have tried, prior audiological testing, and your budget (along with any insurance you have). From there, they will suggest the best hearing aids (from their product line) to meet your needs, though you can also advocate for a specific product if you've already identified one. Next, you'll set a time for your testing and hearing aid fitting, and a few days later, a box will arrive on your doorstep. Open it up, and the collection of hardware and the tangle of wires connecting it all may seem daunting, but rest assured, with even a modicum of technical knowledge, it all goes together quickly, and professionals can guide you through any confusion over the phone. Despite the significant amount of gear inside, the box is about as organized as it can get. On top, you'll find a Microsoft Surface tablet that has been stripped down to do just one thing: serve as the conduit for a video-based audiology session. After plugging the Surface into wall power, you'll find a USB breakout box to connect to the Surface's USB port. Assuming all the other devices are still properly plugged into that USB breakout box (which is far from assured; it's good to check everything is snug), you are effectively good to go. The Surface has no other functionality besides initiating the call with the audiology professional, and at the scheduled time you tap a button on the screen to get the session underway. After greeting you, the audiologist will guide you through a series of tests. First is a physical exam of your ears, which is made possible thanks to the included USB-powered otoscope, which you probably know better as the lighted tool with the black, conical tip a doctor uses to look into your ear canal. There's no doctor to guide the tool by hand, so the audiologist will tell you how to position it in each ear so they can get a good look at your eardrum. And yes, you, too, can see what the doctor sees right on the Surface's screen. Spoiler: There is more wax inside your ear canal than you think. Can You Hear Me Now? Assuming you have no physical damage that would preclude hearing aid use, it's on to the traditional hearing exams. This series of tests will consume the bulk of the appointment time, and most involve wearing a pair of oversize, noise-isolating headsets like professional musicians use. The tests were very familiar to me, starting with tones played at varying frequencies and volume levels in each ear, during which you tap the Surface screen whenever you hear something. The test is then repeated with a bone-conduction appliance that attaches to your forehead with a Velcro band for another look at the way you process sound. Lastly, a third test measures your ability to distinguish various consonant and vowel sounds— sh vs. ch , for example—which is performed by having you repeat the words you think you hear back to the audiologist multiple times. From all of this data, an audiogram is synthesized and presented on the screen of the Surface. Quality-wise, my audiogram was nearly identical to the last professional audiogram I received in 2023 in an office setting. audiogram was even more detailed, because it tested my hearing at nine different frequencies, one more than the in-person visit. After going over the audiogram with me to discuss the particulars of my hearing loss, audiologist moved on to the hearing aid fitting. You'll have purchased the hearing aids you're about to put on already and will find them in the box, inside a charger that notes they are fully charged and ready to use. If for some reason these aids aren't appropriate for the hearing loss measured in the testing, will recommend an alternative at that time, but most customers should have a set in hand that will meet their needs, based on the previous intake call. The aids are programmed remotely and wirelessly via another device connected to the USB breakout box, and I was directed to put the hearing aids on and then put them back in the charging case repeatedly so we could tweak the sound profile to my liking. Again, this is a standard process identical to how things would be done in a doctor's office. The doctor will then train a hearing aid novice on how to insert, charge, and clean the aids and go over any lingering paperwork that needs to be dealt with. sells its own hearing aids under the Horizon brand, which are private-labeled Signia hearing aids in the Signia IX series. There's not an easy way to see exactly which models offers on its website, but they range from the Horizon 1IX ($1,975) to the Horizon 7IX ($4,950), the latter of which is what I was sent to try. Monthly payment plans are available for everything, and all of its hearing aids come with a 45-day money-back guarantee. When the hour-long session is up, you'll be directed to keep all the testing hardware for a while until you are certain the aids work for you. A follow-up call a few weeks later will check on your progress (there's a learning curve with all hearing aids) and, once you're satisfied, you'll be instructed to return the testing equipment via a prepaid shipping label in the box. I'll need to continue testing for longer, but so far, the Horizon hearing aids work great. Even better is the way you go about getting them fitted.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Move Over Hims & Hers Health: This Insurance Business Could Be the Next Monster Healthcare Stock (Hint: It's Not UnitedHealth)
Telemedicine company Hims & Hers Health has been one of the hottest healthcare stocks in recent memory. Changes at UnitedHealth Group have attracted the attention of investors, but a smaller player called Oscar Health is the one to pay attention to. Oscar Health's business model and approach are similar to Hims & Hers, and it seeks to disrupt legacy insurers. 10 stocks we like better than Oscar Health › When it comes to healthcare stocks, many investors pay attention to the usual suspects: Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, CVS Health, or Johnson & Johnson. These companies have built up enormous brand equity thanks to blockbuster drugs and widely recognized pharmacy management services. With the exception of CVS, whose shares have risen 46% so far this year, none of the other companies have generated robust stock price returns so far in 2025. Lilly, Novo, and Johnson & Johnson are seeing share price pressure over concerns that President Donald Trump's administrative actions could impact the pharmaceutical industry -- particularly as it relates to tariffs and medication pricing. One healthcare player that is (so far) outmaneuvering investor trepidation throughout 2025 is telemedicine company (NYSE: HIMS). Its share price is up 138% in 2025 (as of June 17). While buying into Hims and Hers stock to follow the momentum is tempting, I think a different, dirt cheap health insurance stock is positioned for a breakout akin to Hims & Hers Health. And no, I'm not talking about the beaten-down UnitedHealth Group. Rather, I think Oscar Health (NYSE: OSCR) could be the next big multibagger in healthcare stocks. Curious? Read on to learn more about Oscar Health and why I'm so bullish on the stock. When it comes to accessing patient care, consumers have a couple of options. On one hand, they can take time to go to brick-and-mortar retailers like CVS to fulfill a prescription or take the time to schedule an appointment and wait in a busy doctor's office. Alternatively, they can streamline their efforts by using Hims & Hers telemedicine services to gain back some time (and possibly some money) while still accessing necessary health services and medications. This technology-first approach has served Hims well, particularly as it relates to acquiring customers across younger demographics such as Millennials and Gen-Z. This approach is by design as younger patients tend to be more receptive to the idea of accessing critical information (i.e., patient care) online as opposed to the traditional, time-consuming methods that include finding a doctor in your network, making an appointment, and waiting. Oscar is using a similar approach to transform access to health insurance. The company hopes to capture a strategic lead over competitors with a tech-first digital platform. While some legacy insurers have also invested in technology infrastructure, they did so by retrofitting archaic and antiquated manual processes into a technology platform that likely doesn't fit well with their original business models. Another important item to note is that Hims & Hers does not offer as comprehensive a service as going to a traditional doctor. In other words, Hims & Hers currently focuses on a handful of treatments across specific segments like mental health, sexual health, and weight management. Likewise, Oscar has a niche focus on Affordable Care Act (ACA) members and small employers that aren't covered by legacy health insurance providers. While Oscar's upside might appear limited given its niche focus, a look at its metrics suggests it still has some strong growth prospects. Despite an intense competitive landscape in the health insurance market, Oscar has identified pockets that it can dominate, as evidenced by the steepening slope of the revenue line over the last five years, coupled with rising cash flow and liquidity. The biggest risk surrounding Oscar right now has to do with potential changes in the regulatory landscape as it pertains to the ACA. While policy changes could put some pressure on Oscar's core business, the company is working to diversify its revenue stream by expanding into related markets -- just as Hims & Hers has done in recent years by getting into the weight management space, competing with the likes of Lilly and Novo. Data that Oscar Health recently provided to investors shows that its primary market of traditional ACA members totals roughly 21 million. However, by expanding into individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements (ICHRAs) with small and medium-sized businesses (SMB), Oscar could open up its total customer pool to 75 million -- growing its total addressable market (TAM) from $160 billion today to $720 billion. This expansion effort should help keep the company's growth prospects on track. Given that Oscar Health's modest market capitalization of just $4 billion is roughly in line with its cash balance, it would seem that Wall Street isn't placing much value on the company's insurance business. I suspect the market may be pricing in the potential for significant downside from changes to the ACA. It may also have some skepticism about the company's pursuit of ICHRAs with small businesses. This suggests another parallel between what Oscar is trying to achieve and what Hims was building during its early days. At the start, Hims faced some doubts over customer acquisition, subscriber retention, and its ability to truly compete with larger, legacy patient care providers. But look at Hims & Hers' share price gains now. Some of those gains are rooted in a turning-of-the-page bullish narrative from some pockets of the investment community. To be clear, there are potential near-term headwinds at Oscar, but I find the long-term vision is compelling. I'm cautiously optimistic that the company has what it takes to build, grow, and sustain a diversified healthcare platform -- just as Hims & Hers has done -- and that shares will see a sharp rise sooner than some may be anticipating. Before you buy stock in Oscar Health, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Oscar Health 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 $660,821!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $886,880!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 791% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 174% 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 Adam Spatacco has positions in Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Hims & Hers Health. The Motley Fool recommends CVS Health, Johnson & Johnson, Novo Nordisk, and UnitedHealth Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Move Over Hims & Hers Health: This Insurance Business Could Be the Next Monster Healthcare Stock (Hint: It's Not UnitedHealth) was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Doctor uses robot to remotely perform surgery on patient thousands of miles away
A doctor in Florida has used a robot to remotely perform surgery on a cancer patient thousands of miles away in Africa. Vipul Patel, the medical director of the Global Robotic Institute at Orlando's Advent Health, recently performed a prostatectomy, which removes part or all of the prostate, on Fernando da Silva of Angola, ABC News reported in an exclusive story from medical correspondent Dr. Darien Sutton on Tuesday. Da Silva, 67, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in March, and in June, Patel cut out the cancer using transcontinental robotic telesurgery. The surgery was a success, according to ABC News. Prostate cancer is very prevalent in Africa, Patel told the network, adding, 'In the past, they really haven't monitored it well or they haven't had treatments.' The doctor said this surgery was a long time coming. 'We've been working on this really for two years,' Patel said. "We traveled the globe, looking at the right technologies." Da Silva was the first patient in a human clinical trial approved by the Food and Drug Administration to test this technology. Surgeons have used a multimillion-dollar robot to operate on patients using 'enhanced visuals and nimble controls' before, ABC News reported, but they are often near their patients when operating the machine. Patel used fiber optic cables to test the technology at a long distance from his patient. 'There was no perceptible delay in my brain,' the doctor said. His surgical team was in the operating room with Da Silva just in case they had to jump in. "We made sure we had plan A, B, C, and D. I always have my team where the patient is," the doctor said. In case something went awry with the telecommunications, "the team would just take over and finish the case and do it safely,' he said. Reflecting on the surgery, Patel called it 'a small step for a surgeon, but it was huge leap for health care.' He said the 'humanitarian implications are enormous.' "Internationally, obviously, there's so many underserved areas of the world,' the doctor said, adding that rural communities in the U.S. could also benefit from the technology. He continued: "Emergency room physicians will have technology that can be remotely accessible to surgeons, maybe even in the ambulance, where people can get remote interventions if they can't make it to the hospital.' Patel said he will submit the data he collected from the surgery to the FDA with the hopes that he can do more telesurgeries in the future.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights CVS Health, BrightSpring Health Services and GeneDx
Chicago, IL – June 17, 2025 – Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses CVS Health CVS, BrightSpring Health Services, Inc. BTSG and GeneDx Holdings Corp. WGS. Link: The Medical Services sector is experiencing significant transformation fueled by advancements in technology, increased adoption of value-based care and focus on patient-centric solutions and precision medicine. Rising demand for remote treatment is accelerating digital healthcare growth, especially in telemedicine and AI-powered analytics. Providers are using these tools to improve diagnostics, streamline operations, and enhance outcomes, while value-based models promote preventive and personalized care. According to a Precedence Research report, the global healthcare analytics market was valued at $53.1 billion in 2024 and is projected to witness a CAGR of 21.4% from 2025 to 2034, benefiting payers, professionals, and patients with advanced insights and services. Stocks like CVS Health, BrightSpring Health Services, Inc. and GeneDx Holdings Corp. are poised to benefit from this shift. Meanwhile, as the U.S. healthcare system faces post-pandemic pressure, shifting payer mix and labor shortages, demand for skilled nursing professionals is surging. A 2024 Mercer report projects a shortfall of over 100,000 healthcare workers by 2028, including 73,000 nursing assistants. This will elevate labor costs, though tech-driven care models are driving new, specialized roles. The Zacks Medical Services industry comprises third-party service providers and caregivers appointed by core healthcare companies for economies of scale. The industry includes pharmacy benefit managers, contract research organizations, wireless MedTech companies, third-party testing labs, surgical facility providers and healthcare workforce solution providers, among others. Over the years, this industry has strategically moved from volume-based to value-based care. The resurgence in medical tourism is further boosting the sector. This changing pattern of care calls for advanced facilities, thus increasing the need to appoint specialized external service providers. With the growing importance of effective healthcare management, the medical service industry has become an integral part of the modern healthcare system. The adoption of digital platforms within the medical device space is gaining prominence in the United States. A 2024 digital health market report by Statista suggests that this market will witness a 9.2% CAGR from 2024 to 2028. The increasing availability of unstructured health data, advanced analytics and the demand for personalized medical services underscore the growing importance of big data in healthcare. According to a Roots Analysis report, the global big data in healthcare market size is estimated to increase from $78 billion in 2024 to $540 billion by 2035, representing a CAGR of 19.20%. Other reports suggest that companies that adopted artificial intelligence technologies witnessed a 50% reduction in treatment costs and experienced more than 50% improvement in patient outcomes. : The lingering impact of COVID-19 as a global health emergency has driven many frontline workers to exit the field. Added to this, a drastic increase in the aging population in recent times (about 10,000 individuals aged 59-77 are joining Medicare plans daily) has made the healthcare staffing shortage more pronounced. According to McKinsey, while the global economy could generate 40 million new healthcare jobs by 2030, a significant gap remains. WHO projects a shortfall of 9.9 million physicians, nurses, and midwives worldwide over the same period, highlighting the urgent need for workforce expansion in health systems. Needless to say, this supply shortage has led to a significant rise in healthcare wages. Going by an HR for Health report, increased labor costs and staffing challenges have resulted in a rise in hospital expenses. Hospitals have experienced a 15.6% increase in labor expenses per adjusted discharge compared to pre-pandemic levels. : In 2025, the role of nurses continues to evolve with advancements in medical technologies and shifts in healthcare delivery models. Telehealth and remote patient monitoring have expanded nurses' reach beyond traditional hospital settings, enabling them to provide care in rural or underserved areas. Specialized nursing roles, such as nurse practitioners, critical care specialists and geriatric nurses, are in high demand due to the growing complexity of patient needs. Going by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall employment of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners is projected to grow 40% from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 31,900 openings for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners are projected each year, on average, over the decade. The Zacks Medical Services industry falls within the broader Zacks Medical sector. It carries a Zacks Industry Rank #67, which places it in the top 27% of 245 Zacks industries. The group's Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates flourishing near-term prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperforms the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. We will present a few stocks that have the potential to outperform the market based on a strong earnings outlook. But it's worth taking a look at the industry's shareholder returns and current valuation first. The Medical Services Industry has underperformed its sector and the S&P 500 over the past year. The stocks in this industry have collectively lost 13.4% during the said time frame compared with the Medical sector's 12% dip and the S&P 500 composite's surge of 10.6%. On the basis of forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E), which is commonly used for valuing medical stocks, the industry is currently trading at 14.6X compared with the S&P 500's 21.9X and the sector's 19.3X. Over the last five years, the industry has traded as high as 20.12X, as low as 13.4X, and at the median of 14.6X. Below, we present three stocks from the Medical Services industry that have been witnessing positive earnings estimate revisions and carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. GeneDx: This genomics company provides genetic testing services. It primarily offers pediatric and rare disease diagnostics with a focus on whole-exome and genome sequencing, as well as data and information services. The company is also developing an AI-based platform for NGS analysis, interpretation, and clinical reporting for rare disease, hereditary risk, and cancer testing. This Zacks Rank #1 stock's 2025 expected earnings growth rate is 336%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WGS' 2025 revenues indicates a rise of 22.5% from 2024. CVS: It is a pharmacy innovation company with integrated offerings across the entire spectrum of pharmacy care. CVS Health is investing in advanced technological capabilities to cut down costs and improve customer experience. Improved Medicare Advantage star ratings for the 2025 payment year are a positive development for the company. CVS Health's 2025 and 2026 earnings growth rates are pegged at 12.6% and 14.3%, respectively. CVS has a long-term expected earnings growth rate of 11.4%. The stock holds a Zacks Rank #2 currently. BrightSpring: The company operates as a home and community-based healthcare services platform in the United States. BrightSpring is delivering significant improvements in care quality across its diversified service portfolio, boosting stakeholders' and investors' sentiment. In Home Health, over 80% of branches are now rated 4 stars or higher, with the 60-day hospitalization rate continuing to decline. BrightSpring's 2025 expected earnings growth rate is 82.1%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BTSG's 2025 revenues indicates a rise of 9.1% over 2024. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present. Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks? Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year. Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation. See Stocks Free >> Join us on Facebook: Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates. Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@ Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report CVS Health Corporation (CVS) : Free Stock Analysis Report GeneDx Holdings Corp. (WGS) : Free Stock Analysis Report BrightSpring Health Services, Inc. (BTSG) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research 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
CBC
4 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Trump Organization launches mobile service, touting a $499 phone
U.S. President Donald Trump's family business licensed its name to a new mobile service in the United States and a $499 US smartphone on Monday, calling it Trump Mobile, in the latest deal brokered by the president's children to capitalize on his name while he is in office. The new mobile venture, announced at Trump Tower in Manhattan, will operate using the networks of the three major U.S. wireless carriers. Some key details about the venture, including the financial terms of the licensing deal, were not immediately disclosed. "We are going to be introducing an entire package of products where people can come and they can get telemedicine on their phones for one flat monthly fee, roadside assistance on their cars, unlimited texting to 100 countries around the world," said the president's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. The announcement also promoted the launch of a "sleek, gold smartphone" that will be "designed and built in the United States." It is not known which U.S.-based company could deliver a phone at that price, a feat that has eluded the world's largest phone makers, including Apple. Despite the strength of U.S.-based tech brands, there is no significant domestic smartphone production infrastructure, largely due to high labour costs, supply chain complexity, and reliance on overseas component sourcing. Eric Trump on a podcast on Monday suggested that the first delivery of the phones by August might not be made in the United States. "Eventually, all the phones can be built in the United States of America," he said on The Benny Show podcast. There was no immediate word on any availability in Canada. Donald Trump has said he put his business interests in a trust managed by his children to avoid conflicts of interest, but income from such business ventures will eventually enrich the president, who sits atop the series of Trump family firms. In Trump's financial disclosure released on Friday, he reported more than $600 million US in income from licensing deals, crypto projects, golf clubs and other ventures. Those numbers appeared to be through the end of 2024, before he was inaugurated for his second term as president. Since then, the Trump family's crypto projects alone have brought in hundreds of millions of dollars. "No one who has been paying attention could miss that President Trump considers the presidency a vehicle to grow his family's wealth. Maybe this example will help more come to see this undeniable truth," said Lawrence Lessig, a law professor at Harvard Law School. The Trump Organization has had a string of business failures tied to licensing, including Trump Vodka, Trump Steaks, Trump Mattresses, Trump Ice and Trump University. U.S. call centres The mobile service will include call centres based in the U.S., according to the announcement by the Trump Organization, the term the family uses to describe the president's multiple business ventures. Wireless service provider AT&T currently operates call centres in the United States. T1 Mobile uses the "Trump" name under a trademark licence, similar to other Trump-branded ventures. According to the Trump Mobile website, the Trump Organization is not involved in designing the smartphone, manufacturing it, providing or selling the cellular service. It was not immediately clear who is operating T1 Mobile LLC, which was registered in Florida in April under a Palm Beach Gardens address. The company's registered agent, attorney Stuart Kaplan, referred questions to the company's press handlers. Representatives of the Trump organization and T1's PR contact did not reply to requests for comment. The U.S. mobile network market is dominated by three national carriers: Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, which together control over 95 per cent of the wireless market. But mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), which buy network capacity from the major U.S. carriers, are becoming increasingly popular for targeting niche markets. Actor Ryan Reynolds was both an investor and spokesperson for Mint Mobile, a low-cost MVNO aimed at light phone users, which was later acquired by T-Mobile for $1.35 billion US. It can be difficult for such ventures to make money, an analyst said. "MVNOs account for barely three to four per cent of U.S. wireless subscriptions and customer churn tends to be high," said Michael Ashley Schulman, chief investment officer at Running Point Capital Advisors. "Unless Trump Mobile cracks the million-subscriber mark — well above most celebrity MVNOs — the financial impact is de minimis." A website that went live after the announcement said the new Trump-branded smartphone will be available from September. The new network will be available for a subscription price of $47.45 US per month, a reference to Trump, who was the 45th U.S. president in his previous term and is now serving as the 47th. "This latest move raises more questions than answers. As always the devil is in the details, given that it is unclear around the actual commercial relationship with the telecom players and so forth," said Paolo Pescatore, TMT analyst at PP Foresight.
