Boost Mobile (Australia)
 | The neutrality of this article is disputed. |
Boost Mobile is an Irvine, CA brand of mobile phone launched in Australia (Over Optus) in 2000 and in New Zealand (Over Telecom New Zealand) in 2001. The Boost brand is primarily marketed to the teenager and young adult demographic. Nextel Communications (now Sprint Nextel) brought the brand to the United States in 2002 and owns 100% of the American division of Boost Mobile. Prior to launching Boost Mobile, Nextel primarily focused on the business market. Following the closure of the Sprint Corporation and Nextel Communications merger in August, 2005 Boost Mobile announced that they currently have 2.8 million customers in 2007, a reduction from the 3.1 million claimed subscriber base in 2006.
Boost Mobile's latest American advertising campaign features Fat Joe, Eve, Travis Barker, Kanye West, Ludacris, Richard "Rip" Hamilton, Nick Cannon, Master Shake, and The Game and uses the slogan "Where you at?"
Technical Info
In the US, Boost Mobile uses Sprint Nextel's iDEN network with special Motorola iDEN phones that are unique to Boost. Like its contract-based cousin, the main feature of Boost Mobile is the walkie talkie feature ("push-to-talk" or "PTT") that the iDEN network is built around.
Since Boost Mobile USA runs on iDEN, it uses a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card (incompatible with GSM or other wireless technologies) to store user information. Thus it is possible to use Boost Mobile with a Nextel handset simply by inserting the Boost SIM card into the handset. However, inserting a Boost SIM card into a Nextel handset will cause the user to lose some services (such as text messaging, web, and downloading ability) and will eventually cause the SIM card to stop working completely. Users who have their Boost SIM card in a Nextel handset will not be able to receive technical support from Boost Customer Care. The converse (inserting a Nextel contract SIM into a Boost Mobile handset) is not possible, however, unless the Boost Mobile handset is first unlocked using a data cable and the appropriate software (note that modifying the handset's Master Subsidy Lock (MSL) is now legal due to a ruling by the U.S. Copyright Office in November 2006).
Boost will be adding postpaid options next year, which may threaten to put it in almost direct competition with Nextel. Second, hybrid iDEN/CDMA devices launched on March 27, 2007 and is currently only available in Texas and California. However the reception has been lousy, and there are has also been rumors that boost mobile is tapped by the government. On top of that there are also rumors that smartphone-type devices will be offered.[1].
Boost Mobile in New Zealand piggy-backs off of Telecom New Zealand's nationwide CDMA 1xRTT and CDMA EVDO network.
Trivia
- Boost Mobile's "Boost Premium Prepaid" service is modeled after the competing GoPhone service from Cingular Wireless.
- On the evening of December 12, 2005, Boost Mobile did a promotion with Cartoon Network's "Adult Swim" block of programming, particularly during Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and was the main focus in that night's episode.
Sponsorships
Boost Mobile sponsors a professional surfing event, the Boost Mobile Pro of Surf. (See ASP World Tour.) In addition, Boost Mobile sponsored a professional skateboard event, the Boost Mobile Pro of Skateboarding, as well as logo-labeled skateboards and accessories. They also sponsor a number of skateboarders, including Terry Kennedy, Geoff Rowley, Tosh Townend,Tony Trujillo, and Colin Gabauer.
Starting in 2005, Boost Mobile has also sponsored the national volunteer efforts of RockCorps to form Boost Mobile RockCorps. The organization encourages youth to volunteer in their communities for four hours by rewarding them with a ticket to an exclusive concert.