Assurance Wireless
{{Short description|American mobile network provider}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2021}}
{{Use American English|date = March 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Assurance Wireless USA, L.P.
| logo = Assurance_Wireless_logo.png
| type = Subsidiary
| industry = Telecommunications
| foundation = {{start date and age|2009|12|31}}
| location_city = Warren Township, New Jersey
| location_country = United States
| area_served = Contiguous United States
| products = {{unbulleted list | Wireless plans, Mobile phones}}
| num_employees = 500 (2009)
| parent = T-Mobile US
| homepage = {{url|assurancewireless.com}}
}}
Assurance Wireless USA, L.P.{{Cite web |title=TABLE OF ADDITIONAL REGISTRANTS |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/101830/000114036122015602/ny20003739x1_s4.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=www.sec.gov}} is a telephone service subsidized by the federal Lifeline Assistance program, a government benefit program supported by the federal Universal Service Fund. The service provides to low-income eligible people a free phone,{{cite web |title=User Guides for Lifeline Phones |url=https://www.assurancewireless.com/help-center/phone-guides |website=AssuranceWireless |access-date=19 January 2021}}{{cite web |title=Unlocking Your Phone |url=https://www.assurancewireless.com/unlock |website=Assurance Wireless |access-date=19 January 2021}} free monthly data, unlimited texting, and free monthly minutes. Assurance Wireless users do not receive a bill, are not required to sign a contract, and do not pay activation fees or recurring fees.{{cite web |title=Assurance Wireless Homepage |url=https://www.assurancewireless.com |website=AssuranceWireless |access-date=16 March 2021}} Founded in 2009, Assurance Wireless has used the T-Mobile network for coverage since 2020.
According to Hotspot Setup, "the two largest providers of free mobile phones are Safelink Wireless and Assurance Wireless, which are available in more states than other providers."{{cite web | title=The 14 Best Free Government Cell Phones 2021 | website=Hotspot Setup | date=2018-07-25 | url=https://www.hotspotsetup.net/the-14-best-free-government-cell-phones-2020/ | access-date=2021-03-16}} Assurance Wireless users may bring their own unlocked device – they are not required to use an Assurance issued wireless phone.{{Cite web |last=Scalzi |first=John |date=2022-07-13 |title=Best Ways To Get Assurance Wireless Government Phone |url=https://tipspec.com/assurance-wireless-government-phone/ |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=Tips Pec }} If a $59.99 replacement phone is purchased from Assurance, the user will have a limited choice of model.
Eligibility
By meeting certain income requirements or by qualifying for certain federal and/or state assistance programs, US citizens are entitled to enroll for the free phone and monthly service. One phone per household is allowed and at least one call or text per 30 day period with the phone is required to maintain service.
{{As of|2024}}, Assurance Wireless service is available to qualifying residents in the Contiguous United States including Washington, D.C.{{Cite web|url=https://www.assurancewireless.com/lifeline-services/check-availability|title = Check the Lifeline Program Availability by State}}
Ownership
Since April 2020, the Assurance Wireless brand has been under the T-Mobile family.{{cite web | title=Lifeline Program | website=T-Mobile | url=https://www.t-mobile.com/offers/lifeline-program | access-date=2021-02-26}} This was the result of the merger of Sprint Corporation and T-Mobile US was officially completed,{{cite web | title=T-Mobile and Sprint's merger is officially complete | website=Tmo News | date=2020-04-01 | url=https://www.tmonews.com/2020/04/t-mobile-sprint-merger-complete/ | access-date=2021-02-26}} and after Virgin Mobile USA was officially shut down and folded into Boost Mobile. An official statement was sent to all customers July 14, 2020 stating that all customers would continue to have the same minutes, data, and service, but now on the T-Mobile network.
In 2019 before the merger, T-Mobile President Mike Sievert said in a statement to USA Today, "The digital divide is real and we want to help eliminate it. We have pledged that the new T-Mobile will maintain the existing T-Mobile and Sprint Lifeline program throughout the country indefinitely, barring fundamental changes to today's program."{{cite web | title=T-Mobile promises to support low-income Lifeline program 'indefinitely' if merger approved | website=USA TODAY | date=2019-03-11 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2019/03/11/t-mobile-well-keep-low-income-offers-indefinitely-merger/3129108002/ | access-date=2021-02-25}}
Pre-installed software
In 2019, it was discovered that cell phones being sold by Assurance Wireless came with unremovable Chinese malware preinstalled.{{Cite web |date=2020-01-10 |title=Virgin's subsidized smartphones come with unremovable Chinese malware |url=https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4D03AQGouqOI55HODA/profile-displayphoto-shrink_200_200/0/1574034326130?e=2147483647&v=beta&t=HqRNbFyQDR7PkelMkdoL-z-jz2Zrx3M8YM5t5wbmJuE |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111010530/https://boingboing.net/2020/01/10/adups-hiddenads.html |archive-date=11 January 2020 |access-date=2020-01-11 |website=Boing Boing |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/unremovable-malware-found-preinstalled-on-low-end-smartphone-sold-in-the-us/|title=Unremovable malware found preinstalled on low-end smartphone sold in the US|last=Cimpanu|first=Catalin|website=ZDNet|language=en|access-date=2020-01-11|archive-date=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111010044/https://www.zdnet.com/article/unremovable-malware-found-preinstalled-on-low-end-smartphone-sold-in-the-us/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/01/us-government-funded-android-phones-come-preinstalled-with-unremovable-malware/|title=US Government-funded Android phones come preinstalled with unremovable malware|last=Goodin|first=Dan|date=2020-01-09|website=Ars Technica|language=en-us|access-date=2020-01-12|archive-date=12 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112213411/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/01/us-government-funded-android-phones-come-preinstalled-with-unremovable-malware/|url-status=live}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Official Website|https://www.assurancewireless.com/}}
{{Deutsche Telekom}}