T-Mobile has finalized its acquisition of Ka’ena Corporation, the parent company of prepaid direct-to-consumer brands Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile, along with wholesale provider Plum. The deal brings these agile, customer-focused brands under T‑Mobile’s umbrella and pairs them with the carrier’s extensive 5G network.
T‑Mobile described the combination as complementary: Mint and Ultra keep their entrepreneurial, customer-first approach while gaining access to T‑Mobile’s scale, network capabilities, and operational resources. Leadership from Ka’ena, including Mint founders David Glickman and Rizwan Kassim, will join T‑Mobile and continue to run the brands with autonomy, while aligning closely with the broader company strategy—an approach similar to T‑Mobile’s integration of MetroPCS in 2013.
“This combination is a win‑win all around – a perfect pairing of highly complementary brands coming together on our industry‑best 5G network to continue shaking things up for the benefit of customers,” said Mike Katz, President of Marketing, Strategy and Products at T‑Mobile. The agreement secures long‑term access to T‑Mobile’s network for Mint and Ultra and enables those brands to leverage T‑Mobile’s relationships and scale. In return, T‑Mobile gains valuable insight from Mint’s direct‑to‑consumer marketing success that can inform other parts of the business.
Ka’ena’s executive team and employees will transition to T‑Mobile. Mint and Ultra will operate as distinct brands with their own customer propositions, but will tap T‑Mobile’s capabilities—network performance, fraud and security tools, and enterprise resources—to enhance service quality and accelerate growth.
David Glickman, who served as CEO of Mint, Ultra, and Plum, emphasized the shared customer focus: “In partnership with T‑Mobile we have delivered the best value in wireless to our customers. From day one, we have been committed to putting the customer first and T‑Mobile deeply shares that commitment.”
Celebrity investor Ryan Reynolds, known for his creative role with Mint, will continue his involvement post‑acquisition. The brands remain focused on affordable prepaid options and streamlined, digital‑first customer experiences.
“I am so proud of the entire Mint Mobile team,” Reynolds said. “We’ve been able to rapidly grow this brand by putting customers and value first while being unafraid to act quickly and take chances. T‑Mobile is the best partner to help us supercharge Mint.”
To welcome Mint and Ultra customers into the T‑Mobile ecosystem, the company announced a series of upgraded perks and benefits designed to preserve value while enhancing service:
- $15 “commit‑mint” plan: Mint will continue offering a $15 per month unlimited plan for both new and existing customers. As an introductory incentive, Mint is extending an offer of three months of unlimited premium service for $15 per month through the end of 2024.
- Scam protection: Mint and Ultra subscribers will gain access to T‑Mobile’s Scam Screener service, which helps identify and flag suspected scam calls to reduce fraud and unwanted interruptions.
- Free Canada roaming: Mint customers will receive unlimited talk and text plus 3GB of high‑speed data while roaming in Canada at no additional cost, supporting travel and cross‑border usage without extra fees.
- Enhanced Mexico roaming: Ultra customers traveling to Mexico will see improved data roaming options in addition to the talk and text already included on most plans, making travel more convenient and affordable.
T‑Mobile said it will continue investing in the customer experience for Mint and Ultra, gradually bringing additional capabilities to those brands while preserving what made them popular in the first place. That includes maintaining their digital‑first sales channels, direct marketing strengths, and pricing strategies that appeal to value‑focused consumers.
Strategically, the acquisition expands T‑Mobile’s presence in the prepaid market by adding strong, well‑recognized direct‑to‑consumer brands to its portfolio. For Mint and Ultra, the transaction delivers scale, network certainty, and access to T‑Mobile’s broader product and security offerings—resources intended to fuel future growth without sacrificing the brands’ independent identities.
(Image Credit: T‑Mobile)
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