Total Wireless subscribers might now have a reason to visit its retail stores
Partnership with old-line company could prove profitable for Total Wireless
Total Wireless announces partnership | Image by Total Wireless
Total Wireless, a pre-paid Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), is part of the Verizon Value portfolio of prepaid brands. You are probably familiar with many of the providers in the portfolio, which includes Straight Talk, Visible, Tracfone, Simple Mobile, SafeLink, Walmart Family Mobile, and Verizon Prepaid.
Total Wireless uses the Verizon network exclusively
Total Wireless, along with Visible, and Verizon Prepaid rely exclusively on the Verizon network. However, Straight Talk, Tracfone, and Simple Mobile also use the AT&T and T-Mobile networks besides Verizon's. Since acquiring the latter three MVNOs, Verizon has been trying to get the subscribers to migrate to its own networks, but some lines are still using AT&T or T-Mobile's services.
Western Union teams up with Total Wireless
On Tuesday, Total Wireless announced a unique partnership with an old-line US company called Western Union. From 1860 through 1950, Americans used Western Union to send telegrams, which were the preferred method of communicating long distance before the advent of telephone lines, fax machines, and the internet made Western Union telegrams obsolete.
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Before telegrams started to disappear after World War II, they were used to announce births, deaths, and weddings. Western Union entered the money transferring "by wire" busness in 1871. Even with today's shift to digital money transfers, Western Union is still the global leader in money transfers thanks to more than 500,000 agent locations in more than 200 countries and territories.
Total Wireless stores that participate will offer financial services to their communities
The partnership between Total Wireless and Western Union brings the latter's financial services to Total's retail network. These financial services will be offered in select Total Wireless locations immediately and will expand to more Total Wireless locations throughout the US by the end of this year. Participating stores will be helping the communities they serve by offering money transfers, bill pay, and money orders.
Our stores are gathering places in the communities we serve. By adding Western Union to the retail experience, we’re expanding access to everyday financial services for everyone. Whether customers need to send money, pay bills, or purchase money orders, they can now do it at Total Wireless, right alongside getting the reliable 5G connectivity they count on. That’s what it means to put community first.
David Kim, President of Verizon Value
Total Wireless is teaming up with Western Union. | Image by Total Wireless
Total became the first US wireless carrier to offer monthly money transfers at no additional cost this past June. Eligible Total Wireless customers on MAX 5G BYO, MAX 5G and ALL ACCESS plans will continue to receive one fee-free Western Union money transfer each month. This transaction can take place at participating Total Wireless stores, or through Western Union’s website (westernunion.com) or mobile app.
All Total Wireless subscribers will be able to use bill pay, money order, and money transfer services at standard Western Union rates. Money can be received or sent to more than 200 countries and territories through Western Union’s network of more than 360,000 payout locations worldwide.
It's the combination of an old-line business with modern digital technology
It's the perfect combination of an old-line business and a modern digital business that sounded like science fiction back in the days when Western Union's business was at its peak. This is a great way to bring traffic into Total Wireless stores in certain communities where bills are paid with a money order instead of a check, or online.
For example, Jesse Mory, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Western Union, said, "By bringing our services to Total Wireless stores, we’re meeting more customers where they already shop and expanding access to reliable, convenient financial services." Mory also pointed out that the partnership with Total Wireless will strengthen Western Union in communities where the customers of the financial services company live and work.
Total Wireless has plans ranging from $35 a month for a single line with Auto Pay, to $60 a month for a single line with Auto Pay. The base plan (Total Starter) includes unlimited Verizon 5G nationwide data (its slower 5G service), 10GB of hotspot per month, and unlimited calling to and from Mexico. Typical download speed is 20 Mbps to 148 Mbps. Typical upload speed is 2 Mbps to 15 Mbps.
The top Total All Access plan features Unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband, the carrier's faster 5G service with typical download speed of 163 Mbps to 622 Mbps. Typical upload speed is 9 Mbps to 48 Mbps. Subscribers get unlimited hotspot at 10 Mbps, Disney+ Premium on Us, and Western Union Money Transfer included on Us. Unlimited calling to and from Mexico, and unlimited calling and texting to 200+ countries
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