Ting Inc.

Ting is an American mobile virtual network operator owned by Dish Network. Originally established in February 2012 by Tucows, Ting provides cellular service in the United States using the T-Mobile network; the service is sold off-contract, and with usage-based billing that adjusts the cost of service within tiers based on actual usage of the services.[3]

Ting Inc.
Subsidiary
IndustryWireless communications
FoundedFebruary 2, 2012 (2012-02-02)
Headquarters
ParentDish Network
Websiteting.com

In August 2020, Ting's wireless assets were acquired by Dish Network. As part of the agreement, Tucows will serve as the provider of backend services for Dish Network's wireless businesses. The sale the Ting Internet-branded fiber optic internet services, which remain a part of Tucows.

Ting Mobile

Ting's cellular business model does not subsidize phone sales or require contracts beyond month-to-month. Pricing is in separate tiers for voice minutes, text messages, and data, which is adjusted month-to-month to match actual usage.[4]

Ting supports devices that run on Sprint (CDMA), T-Mobile (GSM) and Verizon's (CDMA) cellular networks depending on the frequencies of the device. Devices can be purchased through Ting's website (some devices listed redirect to Apple or Motorola) or other sellers. The customer then enters the device's electronic serial number on Ting's website to activate the device. Ting provides a device checker to advise what level of compatibility the device will have on their CDMA and GSM networks.

The company first announced support for devices that functioned on Sprint or its subsidiaries.[5] A public beta was then launched on December 6, offering official support for seven Sprint-branded smartphones; the announcement also included links to a substantial list of other compatible devices and a new discussion area for users attempting to activate them.[6]

On December 9, 2014, Ting announced GSM services going live in February 2015 using "a major US network provider", being the T-Mobile US network. Ting customers can have phones on either network within the same account.[7] The GSM service allows the majority of US cellphones to be brought to Ting. On February 24, 2015, Ting offered public beta access to their GSM network[8] with the official product launched a few months later. As of March 2017, the service has approximately 250,000 subscribers.[9]

On July 10, 2019, Ting announced that it will not renew its network agreement with T-Mobile after December 19, 2019, citing uncertainties over its proposed merger with Sprint and will partner with Verizon. Ting has renewed its network agreement with Sprint for an additional year until September 2020.[10] Ting also later announced that they had reached an agreement that would allow them to continue to offer T-Mobile service for at least three years after December 2019.[11]

On August 3, 2020, Ting was acquired by Dish Network Corporation, which is in the process of launching a national wireless carrier using prepaid assets (including Boost Mobile) sold by Sprint as a condition of their 2020 merger with T-Mobile (which also includes an agreement for use of their network for seven years). As part of the agreement, Dish will also subcontract backend services (including provision and billing) for its wireless business to Tucows.[12] The sale does not include the Ting branding or Ting Internet division; Dish will receive a two-year transitional license to the Ting branding, but will have the option to acquire it at a later date.[13]

Ting Internet

On December 15, 2014, Ting announced it was buying ISP Blue Ridge InternetWorks of Charlottesville, Virginia, which was already building fiber Internet.[14] They began offering symmetrical gigabit fiber internet without bandwidth caps. Since expanding the existing fiber network in Charlottesville, Ting has also launched a similar service in 5 other markets: Westminster, Maryland, Holly Springs, North Carolina, Sandpoint, Idaho, Centennial, Colorado and Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina.

In May 2016, Ting Internet launched the Bring Your Own Router option, allowing customers to use Ting's optical network terminal (ONT) at no additional cost, while pairing it with their own 3rd party router.

Early termination fee reimbursement

On January 16, 2013, Ting announced that it would reimburse the early termination fee of new customers during the month of February, up to $350 per line. The reimbursement came in the form of a non-expiring account credit equal to the customer's termination fee. Ting specified a maximum payout of $100,000.[15] The promotion ended within hours on the first day it was offered.

In September 2013 Ting restarted the ETF reimbursement program, paying 25% of the fee up to a limit of $75.[16] Ting stated the new program is not a one-time campaign, but a new feature intended to remain permanently.

In December 2014, Ting doubled the ETF offer paying 50% of the fee up to a limit of $150 for a short time.[17]

See also

References
  1. Gary Ng (August 2, 2013). "Toronto-based Ting Successful in US, But Can't Buy Network from 'Big 3′ in Canada". Ting. Retrieved Aug 29, 2013.
  2. TRUSTe (November 23, 2011). "Ting Privacy Policy". Ting. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  3. "Tucows Launches Contract-Free Mobile Provider Ting". PCMAG. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  4. Needleman, Rafe. "Coming next year: Ting, the less-evil mobile carrier". CNET. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  5. "Tucows launches Ting, a contract-free mobile service on Sprint's network". Engadget. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  6. "Bring a Sprint device to Ting. You know you wanna". Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  7. "Ting to Add Service on a GSM Network". tucows.com.
  8. "Ting on a GSM network: Open beta is, well, open. - Ting.com". ting.com.
  9. "Tucows emerges from decade-long slumber in deepening effort to win disgruntled U.S. mobile customers". Financial Post. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  10. "MVNO Ting Mobile ends pact with T-Mobile in favor of Verizon, citing merger uncertainty". FierceWireless. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
  11. "Tucows Q3 2019 Q&A Transcript" (PDF). Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  12. Kastrenakes, Jacob (2020-08-03). "Dish's next step into wireless service is buying another small provider". The Verge. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  13. "Tucows sells Ting Mobile assets to DISH, changes mobile strategy". Domain Name Wire. 2020-08-03. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  14. Reardon, Marguerite (2014-12-16). "Ting Mobile follows Google into gigabit-broadband biz". CNET. Retrieved 2016-06-23.
  15. "The Ting $100,000 ETF Payout". Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  16. "Ting pays out ETFs up to $75 per line". Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  17. "Get contract free and stay that way. We'll help with your ETF". Retrieved 2 December 2014.
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