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T-Mobile completed its acquisition of Ka’ena Corporation, including Mint Mobile, Ultra Mobile and Plum, on May 1, 2024. The closing announcement promised a $15-per-month Mint plan, a temporary three-month $15 promotion for new customers, Scam Screener and new roaming benefits. But these perks did not all launch at the same time—and the promotional pricing was not a permanent guarantee.
For readers assessing the deal today, the clearest documented ongoing improvement was free Canada roaming for Mint customers: unlimited talk and text plus 3GB of high-speed data per month, rolled out across all Mint plans on July 11, 2024. Current plan and roaming terms should be checked before switching.
What T-Mobile acquired
The transaction covered Ka’ena Corporation and its brands and businesses:
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- Mint Mobile: a direct-to-consumer prepaid wireless brand.
- Ultra Mobile: a value-focused brand known in part for international calling options.
- Plum: a wholesale wireless-solutions provider.
Mint and Ultra continued as distinct brands rather than becoming ordinary T-Mobile postpaid plans. Before the acquisition, both brands already operated as mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs, using T-Mobile’s network. The ownership change brought them under T-Mobile’s corporate umbrella and gave them access to T-Mobile’s scale, network resources and marketing capabilities; it was not a sudden network switch for every customer on May 1.
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- WHAT YOU GET: Three (3) months of unlimited talk, text, and data delivered on the nation's largest 5G network. Data speeds may slow after 50GB when network is busy but data is unlimited. Videos stream at 480p.
- OH, YOU GET THIS TOO: 5G for Free + free mobile hotspot + Wi-Fi calling and text + free international calls to Mexico and Canada
- HOW YOU GET IT: The SIM Kit comes with a 3-in-1 SIM card that includes standard/micro/nano sizes, insert the SIM into your device, and activate on the Mint Mobile website or app. You can activate service on your own unlocked device with our Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) program. Check your coverage and phone compatibility on the Mint Mobile website.
- WHO SHOULD GET IT: Anyone who hates their phone bill
- WHY YOU SHOULD GET IT: Mint Mobile took what’s wrong with wireless and made it right. We re-imagined the wireless shopping experience and made it easy and online.
The timeline matters
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| March 15, 2023 | T-Mobile announced its planned acquisition of Mint and Ultra from Ka’ena. |
| May 1, 2024 | T-Mobile announced that the acquisition had closed and described the customer benefits. |
| July 11, 2024 | T-Mobile confirmed that free Canada roaming was available across all Mint plans. |
| December 31, 2024 | The announced end point for the three-month, $15-per-month new-customer promotion. |
The distinction between announcement and rollout is important. The closing release used “coming soon” and “over the next few months” language for some benefits, so customers should not assume every feature was active on the acquisition date.
What customers were promised
| Benefit | Brand | What was announced | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15 plan availability | Mint | T-Mobile said a $15-per-month plan would remain available to new and existing customers. | This was an availability commitment, not a promise that every customer would receive identical data or terms. |
| Three-month introductory offer | Mint | New customers could receive three months of unlimited premium wireless at $15 per month through the end of 2024. | It was a time-limited promotion, not a permanent price guarantee. |
| Scam Screener | Mint and Ultra | Suspicious calls could be labeled “Scam Likely.” | It screens and labels calls; it does not detect or block every scam. |
| Canada roaming | Mint | Unlimited talk and text plus 3GB of high-speed data per month in Canada. | Only the data allowance was capped at high speed. |
| Mexico roaming | Ultra | An enhanced data-roaming option, alongside talk and text already included on most plans. | The announcement did not specify one allowance or identical eligibility across all Ultra plans. |
The $15 Mint promise was two different things
T-Mobile’s announcement combined two separate pricing messages.
A continuing plan commitment
The company said Mint would continue making a $15-per-month plan available to new and existing customers. “Available” does not mean that all Mint plans cost $15, nor that all customers receive the same allotment of high-speed data. Existing customers may also have grandfathered terms that differ from newer plans.
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- We recently increased high-speed data allotments on every plan (but kept the same low pricing)! You may see a 5GB sticker on the front of your 6GB SIM Kit, rest assured your plan will have all 6GB of data loaded each month.
- WHAT YOU GET: Three (3) months of unlimited talk and text + 6GB of 5G-4G LTE data each month delivered on the nation's largest 5G network.
- OH, YOU GET THIS TOO: 5G for Free + free mobile hotspot + Wi-Fi calling and text + free international calls to Mexico and Canada
- HOW YOU GET IT: The SIM Kit comes with a 3-in-1 SIM card that includes standard/micro/nano sizes, insert the SIM into your device, and activate on the Mint Mobile website or app. You can activate service on your own unlocked device with our Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) program. Check your coverage and phone compatibility on the Mint Mobile website.
- WHO SHOULD GET IT: Anyone who hates their phone bill
Mint has traditionally advertised monthly-equivalent prices while billing customers for multiple months upfront. A $15 monthly equivalent can therefore require a larger payment at checkout. Before enrolling, compare the full amount charged, renewal period, taxes and fees with the monthly figure shown in advertising. Check Mint’s current plans page rather than treating the 2024 announcement as a current price list.
A temporary new-customer promotion
The separate promotion offered three months at $15 per month to new customers and was promised through the end of 2024. That offer should not be described as a current August 2026 deal unless current checkout terms confirm it. A later promotion may have different eligibility rules, plan requirements or pricing.
Scam Screener: useful warning, not complete protection
Scam Screener identifies suspicious calls in caller ID with a “Scam Likely” warning. T-Mobile later said the feature had rolled out for Mint and Ultra customers, and Mint provides additional information on its Scam Screener help page.
Rank #3
- We recently increased high-speed data allotments on every plan (but kept the same low pricing)! You may see a 15GB sticker on the front of your 17GB SIM Kit, rest assured your plan will have all 17GB of data loaded each month.
- WHAT YOU GET: Three (3) months of unlimited talk and text + 17GB of 5G-4G LTE data each month delivered on the nation's largest 5G network.
- OH, YOU GET THIS TOO: 5G for Free + free mobile hotspot + Wi-Fi calling and text + free international calls to Mexico and Canada
- HOW YOU GET IT: The SIM Kit comes with a 3-in-1 SIM card that includes standard/micro/nano sizes, insert the SIM into your device, and activate on the Mint Mobile website or app. You can activate service on your own unlocked device with our Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) program. Check your coverage and phone compatibility on the Mint Mobile website.
- WHO SHOULD GET IT: Anyone who hates their phone bill
The label is a risk signal, not proof that a call is fraudulent—and the absence of a label does not prove that a caller is legitimate. False positives and false negatives are possible. Customers should still avoid sharing one-time passcodes, passwords or financial information with unexpected callers.
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The most concrete roaming improvement was for Mint customers traveling in Canada. The benefit consists of:
- Unlimited talk;
- Unlimited text; and
- 3GB of high-speed data per month.
T-Mobile confirmed on July 11, 2024 that the benefit had rolled out across all Mint plans. “Free Canada roaming” does not mean unlimited high-speed data: after 3GB, the applicable terms may impose reduced speeds or other restrictions. Network availability, account status, hotspot rules, calling destinations and fair-use conditions can also matter.
Rank #4
- We recently increased high-speed data allotments on every plan (but kept the same low pricing)! You may see a 20GB sticker on the front of your 23GB SIM Kit, rest assured your plan will have all 23GB of data loaded each month.
- WHAT YOU GET: Three (3) months of unlimited talk and text + 23GB of 5G-4G LTE data each month delivered on the nation's largest 5G network.
- OH, YOU GET THIS TOO: 5G for Free + free mobile hotspot + Wi-Fi calling and text + free international calls to Mexico and Canada
- HOW YOU GET IT: The SIM Kit comes with a 3-in-1 SIM card that includes standard/micro/nano sizes, insert the SIM into your device, and activate on the Mint Mobile website or app. You can activate service on your own unlocked device with our Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) program. Check your coverage and phone compatibility on the Mint Mobile website.
- WHO SHOULD GET IT: Anyone who hates their phone bill
Travelers should check Mint’s current roaming terms before departure and should not assume that the Canada benefit applies in Mexico, another country or every border-area situation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What changed for Ultra customers in Mexico?
T-Mobile said Ultra customers would receive an enhanced data-roaming option when traveling in Mexico, in addition to talk and text already included on most Ultra plans. The announcement did not establish a single data allowance or confirm that the benefit applied identically to every plan.
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It is therefore not responsible to state a universal Ultra Mexico data limit, speed, hotspot policy or activation requirement based only on the acquisition announcement. Customers should review the terms for their exact plan at Ultra Mobile before traveling.
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- STAY CONNECTED WORLDWIDE: Unlimited calling from the U.S. to 90+ international destinations including India, Mexico, Canada, China, the U.K. and more.
- RELIABLE NATIONWIDE COVERAGE: Enjoy 8GB of high-speed 5G/4G LTE data on the T-Mobile 5G Network.
- TRAVEL ACROSS NORTH AMERICA: Unlimited talk and text in Mexico and Canada plus international roaming credit.
- BRING YOUR OWN PHONE: Activate your compatible unlocked phone with the included 3-in-1 SIM card or eSIM. Keep your number or get a new one.
- NO CONTRACTS: Prepaid wireless with no annual contracts, no credit checks, and no hidden fees.
What the acquisition did not mean
- Mint customers did not automatically become T-Mobile postpaid subscribers.
- The deal did not lower every existing customer’s bill.
- Every perk was not necessarily active on May 1, 2024.
- The $15 promotional offer was not an indefinite price guarantee.
- Canada’s 3GB allowance was not unlimited high-speed data.
- Mint’s and Ultra’s benefits were not interchangeable.
MVNO customers can also have different priority, roaming, hotspot, device-compatibility and support terms from customers on T-Mobile-branded postpaid service.
Who benefited most?
- Mint customers visiting Canada: The roaming allowance was the clearest practical improvement.
- Price-sensitive prepaid users: The $15 plan commitment supported Mint’s low-price positioning, although the current price must be verified.
- Customers receiving suspicious calls: Scam Screener added a network-level warning.
- Ultra customers visiting Mexico: The enhanced roaming option may help, but its value depends on the customer’s specific plan.
Before switching, compare the total prepaid cost, renewal schedule, domestic data allowance, hotspot terms, roaming limits and customer-support options. A low monthly-equivalent price may be less attractive if paying several months upfront does not fit your budget.
If a roaming benefit does not work
- Confirm that the account is active and paid.
- Check the exact plan and its current roaming eligibility.
- Restart the phone and enable data roaming when the carrier’s instructions require it.
- Confirm that the device is unlocked and supports the destination network bands.
- Review the carrier’s current support documentation for caps, activation steps and reduced-speed conditions.
- Contact Mint or Ultra support if the account still does not receive the advertised feature.
What readers should verify in 2026
The acquisition announcement is a historical record, not a substitute for current terms. Before signing up or traveling, verify the live Mint or Ultra plan page, the full amount due, renewal conditions, taxes and fees, roaming allowances, hotspot rules, device compatibility and promotion expiration dates. The 2024 $15 promotion should be treated as expired unless a current offer explicitly reinstates it.
For the original announcements and rollout details, see T-Mobile’s acquisition announcement, closing announcement and Canada roaming update.
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