The History of the Tracfone Company
Tracfone, which is now one of the top 10 cellular providers in the US [as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands], has had an interesting history, as companies go. The company first made their mark in 1996, under the name Topp Telecom, Inc. Within a few years, they found themselves being supported by Mexican company Telmex, who bought a controlling interest [55%] in the company. By 2000, the company was split from Telmex, and began to grow exponentially, after taking on the name Tracfone. The company expanded its market share and began to bring in more business as the days went by.
Tracfone is now one of the biggest prepaid wireless companies in the United States. Because they enable users to buy prepaid minutes on a wide variety of phones [including hot brands such as LG, Motorola, Nokia, and Kyocera] they have become an excellent option for people who do not want to deal with the hassles of credit checks and long-term contracts with phone companies. This accounts for much of Tracfone’s success.
Unlike some prepaid cellular services – especially those in the past – Tracfone enables people to use some of the most popular phones and have all the options that a cell phone user with a standard-issue binding contract would have. As such, the company has built its stellar reputation on this. Nobody wants an inferior phone simply because they chose to use pre-paid services rather than be tied to a contract for anywhere from 12-24 months – or more.
In addition to being popular in the United States market, Tracfone dominates Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Further, they are the most popular cellular provider in Latin America. With nearly 10 million customers and an always-growing, eager customer base, it is no surprise that the company has enjoyed so much success and continues to grow every year.
Tracfone actually provides two services – Tracfone and Net10. The two services are provided by the same company, with the same quality, though Net10 only offers GSM and CDMA services as of now. The company is expanding both of these services, as well as their TDMA service, despite most customers migrating to the former two.
Depending on the service that a Tracfone user chooses, as well as the specific phone they purchase, there are different deals that can be obtained by Tracfone customers. Some people who buy a plan with Tracfone will enjoy free text messaging, while others will pay a few cents per text. It is important to look at the fine details and choose a phone and plan that will work best for your needs. If you frequently text people, those few cents per text could add up, and it would be in your best interest to invest in a phone that enables you to text for free.
As you can see, Tracfone is a company that many people have come to rely on, and it is also a company with flexible options. It is the perfect choice for someone who wants a cell phone, but isn’t ready to commit a huge amount of money or time to a specific company, as Tracfone’s pre-paid plans do not require a contract. People can buy minutes for the phone based on both days of service as well as increments of time. This flexibility allows people to choose what sort of plan will best suit them and their specific needs as a customer. This is definitely part of what attracts people to Tracfone, and why the company has so many loyal customers. Their innovative way of dealing with cellular users by giving them many options is an excellent way for them to continue to grow and profit as a company.