Boost Mobile (Australia)

Boost Mobile was founded by Peter Adderton in Sydney, Australia in 2000.{{Cite web|last=Stewart|first=Ashley|date=12 June 2018|title=T-Mobile/Sprint merger would be 'catastrophic,' says Boost Mobile founder|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2018/06/12/t-mobile-sprint-merger-boost-mobile-peter-adderton.html|access-date=2020-03-26|website=www.bizjournals.com}} Optus began licensing the Boost Mobile brand that same year.{{Cite web|last=Broughall|first=Nick|date=24 October 2012|title=Optus ends, Telstra begins Boost Mobile partnership|url=https://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/optus-ends-telstra-begins-boost-mobile-partnership-1106675|access-date=2020-03-26|website=TechRadar|language=en}} Paul Keating, former Prime Minister of Australia invested $500,000 for a 29% shareholding.[https://www.afr.com/companies/telecommunications/telstra-snaps-up-boost-mobile-delivering-paul-keating-a-40m-payday-20241202-p5kv3m Telstra snaps up Boost Mobile, delivering Paul Keating a $40m payday] Australian Financial Review 2 December 2024[https://www.9news.com.au/national/former-prime-minister-paul-keating-huge-pay-day-after-telstra-buys-boost-mobile/0574206d-ee65-4efa-9db2-a770c9ea4df0 Paul Keating to pocket $40 million after Telstra buys Boost Mobile] Nine News 3 December 2024

In 2001, a joint venture between Adderton, Craig Cooper, Kirt McMaster and Nextel brought the Boost Mobile brand to the United States.{{cite web |last1=Gramenz |first1=Jack |date=29 July 2019 |title=Boost Founder Peter Adderton Misses Out On US Buyback |url=https://www.channelnews.com.au/boost-founder-peter-adderton-misses-out-on-us-buyback/ |website=channelnews |access-date=9 August 2024}} In 2003, Nextel acquired full ownership of Boost Mobile in the United States, becoming the sole owner of its operations and separating the brand from Boost Mobile Australia.{{Cite web |last=Alleven |first=Monica |date=2020-07-01 |title=Dish closes $1.4B acquisition of Boost, enters wireless retail business {{!}} Fierce Network |url=https://www.fierce-network.com/wireless/dish-closes-1-4b-acquisition-boost-enters-wireless-retail-business |access-date=2024-09-29 |website=www.fierce-network.com |language=en}}

In 2012, Optus ended its business relationship with Boost;{{Cite web|last=McDonald|first=Stephanie|date=24 October 2012|title=Boost Mobile to resell Telstra's Next G network|url=http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/439906/boost_mobile_resell_telstra_next_g_network|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024235705/http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/439906/boost_mobile_resell_telstra_next_g_network/|archive-date=24 October 2012|access-date=2020-03-26|website=Computerworld|language=en}} they subsequently switched resell access to the Telstra network, with Telstra reportedly "looking to chase the youth market".{{Cite web|last=Taylor|first=Josh|title=Boost forced to switch to Telstra as Optus ditches licensed prepaid|url=https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/networking/boost-forced-to-switch-to-telstra-as-optus-ditches-licensed-prepaid/|access-date=2021-12-01|website=ZDNet|language=en}}

In January 2013, all existing Boost customers were converted to Optus customers and continued to receive services on the Optus network.{{cite press release|title=Boost Mobile announcement clarification|url=http://www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/media-centre/announcements/boost-mobile-announcement-clarification.xml|date=2012-10-26|publisher=Telstra}} In March 2013, Boost began to offer products and services under the Boost Pre-paid Mobile brand as an MVNO hosted on the Telstra Next G network.{{cite web|date=2012-10-24|title=Telstra and Boost Mobile enter retail alliance|url=http://telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/media-centre/announcements/telstra-and-boost-mobile-enter-retail-alliance.xml|access-date=2012-10-24|publisher=Telstra}} It is the only Telstra MVNO with access to the full Telstra mobile network across regional/rural Australia.{{Cite web|last=Wiwatowska|first=Anula|date=2021-06-16|title=Telstra vs. Boost vs. Belong vs. ALDI Mobile coverage and others|url=https://www.whistleout.com.au/MobilePhones/Guides/Telstra-network-coverage-vs-ALDI-Woolworths-Belong-Boost|access-date=2021-09-08|website=WhistleOut|language=en}}

In May 2022, Boost began rolling out 5G service access to all customers with a compatible service and device.{{cite web |last1=Long |first1=Trevor |title=Boost Mobile gets 5G for all plans - Trial rolling out now |url=https://eftm.com/2022/06/boost-mobile-gets-5g-for-all-plans-trial-rolling-out-now-223896 |website=EFTM |access-date=9 August 2024 |language=en-AU |date=1 June 2022}}

In February 2024, Boost began provisioning eSIMs through their mobile applications.{{cite web |last1=Long |first1=Trevor |title=eSIM now available for new Boost Mobile customers - making switching telcos faster |url=https://eftm.com/2024/02/esim-now-available-for-new-boost-mobile-customers-making-switching-telcos-faster-242425 |website=EFTM |access-date=9 August 2024 |language=en-AU |date=12 February 2024}} eSIMs were made available for both existing and new Boost Mobile services on iOS and Android smartphones that support eSIM functionality.

In December 2024, Telstra announced it had agreed to terms to acquire Boost Mobile.{{Cite web |last=Karen |first=Sasha |date=2024-12-01 |title=Telstra to acquire Boost as part of 'multi-brand strategy' |url=https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/3615139/telstra-to-acquire-boost-as-part-of-multi-brand-strategy.html |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=ARN |language=en-US}}

Boost has consistently marketed itself through sponsorship and promotion of sporting events, and lifestyle-oriented marketing primarily through social media. The company has continued to target its brand and products at younger demographics; "Since Boost Mobile began in August 2000, we’ve been focused on keeping Aussie youth connected."{{Cite web|title=Prepaid Plans & SIM Only Mobile Plans - Boost Mobile|url=https://boost.com.au/|access-date=2021-09-09|website=Boost Mobile Australia|language=en}}

In 2018, Boost Mobile formed a partnership with the American-based Stadium Super Trucks to grow the series' presence in Australia.{{cite web|date=6 May 2018|title=Rights deal signed for Super Trucks in Australia|url=https://www.speedcafe.com/2018/05/06/rights-deal-signed-super-trucks-australia/|access-date=6 September 2019|work=Speedcafe |last1=Com |first1=Speedcafe }} The following year, after the series and the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport reached a three-year commercial rights agreement, the series was branded the Boost Mobile Super Trucks for Australian races.{{cite web|last=van Leeuwen|first=Andrew|date=20 August 2019|title=Australian ban on Stadium Super Trucks lifted|url=https://www.motorsport.com/v8supercars/news/australian-ban-stadium-super-trucks/4515919/|access-date=6 September 2019|publisher=Motorsport.com}}{{cite web|last=O'Brien|first=Connor|date=27 August 2019|title=Early return for Stadium Super Trucks|url=https://www.supercars.com/news/more-action/early-return-for-stadium-super-trucks/|access-date=6 September 2019|publisher=Supercars Championship}}

In 2019, Boost Mobile was the naming rights sponsor of Garry Rogers Motorsport in the Australian Supercars Championship.{{cite news|title=GRM showcases Boost Mobile Racing Commodores|publisher=Speedcafe|url=https://www.speedcafe.com/2019/02/27/grm-showcases-boost-mobile-racing-commodores/|access-date=27 February 2019}} In 2020 and 2021, Boost Mobile sponsored James Courtney in a Tickford Racing Ford Mustang. In 2021 it also sponsored Brodie Kostecki in an Erebus Motorsport Holden Commodore ZB.[https://autoaction.com.au/2021/02/22/boost-back-kostecki Boost back Kostecki] Auto Action 22 February 2021

In 2022, Boost Mobile became the naming rights sponsor of both Erebus Motorsport Commodores.{{Cite web|last=Pavey|first=James|date=2021-12-03|title=Boost Mobile to become the naming-rights sponsor for Erebus Motorsport|url=https://www.supercars.com/news/championship/boost-mobile-to-back-both-erebus-entries-in-2022/|website=Supercars Championship}} That sponsorship lasted only one season.

In June 2010, Boost Mobile launched a viral marketing campaign that purported to identify text messaging disorders in order to bring attention to Boost Mobile's offer of 100 texts for one dollar. Australian television programme Media Watch criticized both the campaign itself and certain Australian media outlets that had failed to uncover the underlying marketing campaign, reporting the disorders as straight news.{{cite web|date=12 July 2010|title=Diagnosis: Gullible|url=http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s2951428.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130101013157/http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s2951428.htm|archive-date=2013-01-01|access-date=2010-07-16|work=Media Watch}} The Age was one of the few publications to recognise that the campaign was a "ruse ... to get the company's name mentioned in the media."{{cite web|date=1 July 2010|title=Teenagers text the love|url=https://www.theage.com.au/technology/teenagers-text-the-love-20100701-zpwv.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510021310/https://www.theage.com.au/technology/teenagers-text-the-love-20100701-zpwv.html?js-chunk-not-found-refresh=true|archive-date=10 May 2019|work=The Age}} As part of the campaign Boost Mobile cited an academic paper co-authored by Dr. Shari Walsh of the Queensland University of Technology. However, Dr. Walsh stated that her paper did not identify any texting disorders and that Boost Mobile was not accurately representing her research.{{cite web|last=Walsh|first=Dr. Shari|date=2 July 2010|title=Dr Shari Walsh replies to Media Watch|url=http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/1023_walsh.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316113446/http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/1023_walsh.pdf|archive-date=16 March 2017|work=Media Watch}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.boost.com.au}}

{{Australian mobile phone companies}}

{{Stadium Super Trucks}}

Category:Telecommunications companies established in 2000

Category:Retail companies established in 2000

Category:Australian companies established in 2000

Category:Mobile phone companies of Australia

Category:Mobile virtual network operators

Category:Companies based in Sydney

Category:Telstra