Boost Tel Pty Ltd, trading as Boost Mobile, is an Australian mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) which offers wireless services on the Telstra network.
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Wireless telecommunications |
| Founded | 1 August 2000 |
| Founder | Peter Adderton |
| Headquarters | , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
| Website | www |
History
editBoost Mobile was founded by Peter Adderton in Sydney, Australia in 2000.[1] Optus began licensing the Boost Mobile brand that same year.[2]
In 2001, a joint venture between Adderton, Craig Cooper, Kirt McMaster and Nextel brought the Boost Mobile brand to the United States.[3] 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.[4]
In 2012, Optus ended its business relationship with Boost;[2][5] they subsequently switched resell access to the Telstra network,[5] with Telstra reportedly "looking to chase the youth market".[6]
In January 2013, all existing Boost customers were converted to Optus customers and continued to receive services on the Optus network.[7] 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.[8] It is the only Telstra MVNO with access to the full Telstra mobile network across regional/rural Australia.[9]
On 30 May 2022, Boost began rolling out 5G service access to all customers with a compatible service and device.[10]
In February 2024, Boost began provisioning eSIMs through their mobile applications.[11] eSIMs were made available for both existing and new Boost Mobile services on iOS and Android smartphones that support eSIM functionality.
Boost Broadband
editOn 21 March 2024, founder Peter Adderton announced Boost Broadband, a retail ISP that will deliver National Broadband Network services.[12]
Marketing
editBoost 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."[13]
In 2018, Boost Mobile formed a partnership with the American-based Stadium Super Trucks to grow the series' presence in Australia.[14] 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.[15][16]
In 2019, Boost Mobile was the naming-rights sponsor of Garry Rogers Motorsport in the Australian Supercars Championship.[17] 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.[18]
In 2022, Boost Mobile will become the naming-rights sponsor of both Erebus Motorsport Commodores.[19] That sponsorship lasted only one season.
Criticism
editIn 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.[20] 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."[21] 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.[22]
References
edit- ^ Stewart, Ashley (12 June 2018). "T-Mobile/Sprint merger would be 'catastrophic,' says Boost Mobile founder". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ a b Broughall, Nick (24 October 2012). "Optus ends, Telstra begins Boost Mobile partnership". TechRadar. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ Gramenz, Jack (29 July 2019). "Boost Founder Peter Adderton Misses Out On US Buyback". channelnews. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ Alleven, Monica (1 July 2020). "Dish closes $1.4B acquisition of Boost, enters wireless retail business | Fierce Network". www.fierce-network.com. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ a b McDonald, Stephanie (24 October 2012). "Boost Mobile to resell Telstra's Next G network". Computerworld. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ Taylor, Josh. "Boost forced to switch to Telstra as Optus ditches licensed prepaid". ZDNet. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- ^ "Boost Mobile announcement clarification" (Press release). Telstra. 26 October 2012.
- ^ "Telstra and Boost Mobile enter retail alliance". Telstra. 24 October 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
- ^ Wiwatowska, Anula (16 June 2021). "Telstra vs. Boost vs. Belong vs. ALDI Mobile coverage and others". WhistleOut. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ Long, Trevor (1 June 2022). "Boost Mobile gets 5G for all plans - Trial rolling out now". EFTM. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ Long, Trevor (12 February 2024). "eSIM now available for new Boost Mobile customers - making switching telcos faster". EFTM. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ Long, Trevor (21 March 2024). "Boost Mobile gets into NBN (finally) - launching Boost Broadband". EFTM. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ "Prepaid Plans & SIM Only Mobile Plans - Boost Mobile". Boost Mobile Australia. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Rights deal signed for Super Trucks in Australia". Speedcafe. 6 May 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
- ^ van Leeuwen, Andrew (20 August 2019). "Australian ban on Stadium Super Trucks lifted". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
- ^ O'Brien, Connor (27 August 2019). "Early return for Stadium Super Trucks". Supercars Championship. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
- ^ "GRM showcases Boost Mobile Racing Commodores". Speedcafe.com. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- ^ Boost back Kostecki Auto Action 22 February 2021
- ^ Pavey, James (3 December 2021). "Boost Mobile to become the naming-rights sponsor for Erebus Motorsport". Supercars Championship.
- ^ "Diagnosis: Gullible". Media Watch. 12 July 2010. Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
- ^ "Teenagers text the love". The Age. 1 July 2010. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019.
- ^ Walsh, Dr. Shari (2 July 2010). "Dr Shari Walsh replies to Media Watch" (PDF). Media Watch. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 March 2017.