What the heck is an MVNO?
If you are using one of the major cellular carriers available in your country, you may be able to save a lot of money by using an MVNO. An MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) is a company that provides mobile phone and data services under its own brand but does not own the physical cellular network infrastructure – essentially a bulk reseller. This has been going on from the beginning of the cell phone industry. Switching to one of these vendors may save you a lot of money.
Which MVNO is right for you depends on the country you’re in, the capabilities of your cell phone, what your data needs are, and whether you are willing to pre-pay your bill. Many people opt to buy their phone from their major carrier, and until that phone is paid off, you generally must stay with that carrier. Many iPhones are carrier-interchangeable, meaning they can connect to any of the major networks, but only if they are unlocked. Look for the notes near the end of this article for details on assessing your iPhone’s status.
One of the ways that these companies make money is by having minimal technical support, whereas major carriers *have* to have decent tech support, and that is a large part of what you pay for. Also, many of these have a pay-as-you-go system (prepaid), which cuts down on accounting expenses for them, too. So let’s break it down by continent….
MVNOs in the United Sates
US Mobile has good customer service reviews and they are the only MVNO left that lets you use any of the three major networks.
Verizon
- Credo Mobile
- Flash Wireless
- Spectrum Mobile
- Lively
- Visible
- Xfinity Mobile
- Page Plus Cellular
- Total Wireless
- Ting Mobile
T-Mobile
AT&T
- Cricket
- Consumer Cellular
- H2O Wireless
- Boost Mobile
- Red Pocket Mobile
- Black Wireless
- FreedomPop
- Pure Talk
MVNOs in Europe
O2
There are currently three significant MVNOs using O2’s network, namely Giffgaff, Sky Mobile, and Tesco Mobile.
Vodafone
How to check if your iPhone is unlocked
You can quickly check your phone’s lock status in the Settings app:
- Go to Settings > General > About.
- Scroll down to Carrier Lock.
- If it says “No SIM restrictions”, your phone is unlocked. If a specific carrier is listed, it is locked to that carrier.
How to get a locked iPhone unlocked
If your iPhone is locked, only the carrier it is locked to can unlock it. In the U.S., major carriers are required to unlock your device if you meet certain criteria, such as having a fully paid-off phone. You must contact your carrier to initiate the unlocking process. Important considerations for compatibility:
While most modern iPhones (6 and newer) are physically compatible with all major U.S. carrier networks, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- eSIM compatibility: The latest U.S. iPhone models use only eSIM technology, which requires carrier support for activation.
- 5G compatibility: International iPhone models may not support all the specific 5G frequency bands used by carriers in the U.S., which could result in limited coverage or slower speeds.
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