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Celebrities behind popular podcast launch new MVNO backed by T-Mobile

SmartLess Mobile was founded by the celebrities behind the popular podcast with the same name.

By Cosmin Vasile

Published: Jun 11, 2025, 2:48 AM

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T-Mobile

SmartLess Mobile was founder by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett | Image credit: SmartLess Mobile

Following Ryan Reynolds (former Mint Mobile owner) example, three famous actors who are behind the popular SmartLess podcast, Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett, launched their own MVNO called SmartLess Mobile.

The new mobile virtual network operator works on T-Mobile’s network and promises to provide customers a new kind of service: “direct-to-consumer, data-sane, and refreshingly BS-free.”

SmartLess’s business models draws inspiration from another MVNO that offers the same type of service, MobileX. In order for this to work, you’ll have to download the SmartLess app on your Android or iOS device, so that the MVNO can check your data usage and tailor a plan just for you.

This way you’ll only be paying for the data you use every month. The business model is based on the premise that many of us are using a Wi-Fi connection for our daily needs, so we don’t really need a plan that include “unlimited” data, which typically are more expensive than what SmartLess offers.

It's time for something to cost less. You're paying for way more data than you use, and we're pretty sure that Big Wireless isn't going to let you know that your phone isn't using their network the vast majority of the time. So, we'll say it: If you're using less, you should be spending less.

– Will Arnett, June 2025.

The main investor in SmartLess is Thomvest Asset Management, which is a part of a group of investment companies that makes investments on behalf of Canadian billionaire Peter J. Thompson and his family.

SmartLess Mobile's plans are quite competitive | Screenshot by PhoneArena

SmartLess’s cheapest plan starts at $15 per month and includes 5GB high-speed data, 5GB mobile hotspot data, unlimited talk & text, unlimited global text, and no-charge international calling to 200+ countries. Next in line, the $20/month includes 10GB of high-speed data and everything else from the $15/month plan.

The $25/month and $30/month plans offer 15GB and 30GB high-speed data, respectively, as well as 10GB hotspot data, plus all the other benefits from the cheaper plans.

You’ll have to bring your own device if you want to use SmartLess’s service. Also, the MVNO only operates online, so you won’t have to visit any retail stores to start using its service.

Is SmartLess going to be as successful as Mint Mobile? That’s a tough question to answer considering the MVNO has just been launched, but there’s certainly room for this type of business model. Just for reference, Ryan Reynolds bought Mint Mobile six years ago and sold it to T-Mobile for $1.35 billion in 2024.

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Cosmin, a tech journalist with a career spanning over a decade, brings a wealth of experience to PhoneArena. His expertise lies in brands like Samsung and Nokia, and he has a keen interest in innovative technologies. After a brief stint in PR, Cosmin returned to tech journalism in 2016, committed to delivering clear and objective news. When he's not writing or appearing as a guest on TV and radio shows, Cosmin enjoys playing RPGs, watching Netflix, and nurturing his passion for history and travel.

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