User:Richestzebra/sandbox/List of United States mobile virtual network operators

Voice and data service operators
In general, the types of phones and other devices supported by the MVNOs are in line with the technologies used by the underlying major and regional cellular network provider(s):


 * AT&T-hosted MVNOs: GSM, 3G UMTS / HSPA+, 4G LTE / LTE Advanced, 5G NR
 * Sprint's Former Network (Owned by T-Mobile US)-hosted MVNOs: CDMA, 3G 1xRTT / 1xAdvanced / EVDO / eHRPD, 4G LTE / LTE Advanced, 5G NR
 * T-Mobile-hosted MVNOs: 2G GSM / GPRS / EDGE, 3G UMTS / HSPA+, 4G LTE / LTE Advanced, 5G NR
 * U.S. Cellular–hosted MVNOs: CDMA, 3G 1xRTT / EVDO, 4G LTE
 * Verizon-hosted MVNOs: 4G LTE / LTE Advanced, 5G NR

However, many MVNOs tend to sell somewhat older phone models (e.g. ones discontinued by the host networks), which can affect whether all technologies supported by the carrier network are usable by MVNO customers. The acronym BYOD means "Bring Your Own Device", indicating that a customer can port a cellphone or other cellular device they already own to the MVNO, rather than having to buy/rent a new device from them (assuming it's compatible with the host network, has not been reported stolen, is not still locked into a contract, etc.). Again, however, MVNOs often restrict the list of BYOD devices they'll support to a smaller subset than the host networks. MVNOs will often push/favor a specific model phone because it's locked into the host carrier "preferred network" that gives that MVNO the best deal/rates.

Providers supporting multiple host networks use only one of them for each device, depending on the specific phone model and/or SIM card used (except for Google Fi, which switches automatically between the different listed host networks based on factors such as relative signal strength).

Different companies target different markets: typically a subset of business, lifeline, and personal. Lifeline refers to the Universal Service Fund's Lifeline low-income phone program. In the case of providers with both Lifeline and non-Lifeline offerings, but different options for each (as opposed to the same options, but different costs), the Lifeline offerings have been put on a separate row with "[Lifeline]" in the "Company" field. Note that though the Lifeline program is a Federal one, each state is responsible for implementing its own version, so details beyond the basic requirements of the program can differ significantly from state to state (starting with the set of provider companies available). As of this writing, Lifeline provider info has mostly only been filled in for California and Minnesota.

Most of the MVNOs in this table provide voice, text, and data services to mobile phones ("Yes" in Phone service column; note that this column does not indicate whether the provider sells phones – all providers offering phone service sell phones unless the "BYOD" column contains "Yes, BYOD-only"). Some MVNOs also have data-only offerings, which can be intended for tablets ("Tablet plans available" in Notes column), or can require the purchase (or BYOD) of a dedicated mobile broadband modem, usually in the form of a Wi-Fi Hotspot device ("Yes" in Modem service column; not to be confused with the Tethering / phone hotspot column, which refers to the ability to use a phone or tablet to share data as a Wi-Fi hotspot or via Bluetooth or USB. There are also MVNOs who provide only data service to mobile hotspot devices (mobile broadband providers).

Native Wi-Fi calling refers to the ability of mobile phones on the service to seamlessly use Wi-Fi rather than the cellular network to connect normally dialed calls, when enabled. It does not refer to the ability to use third-party programs to make calls over Wi-Fi networks, which is generally always supported on smartphones.