Alisa Viejo, Calif. — Amp’d Mobile, the bankrupt MVNO (mobile virtual network operator), will likely become the latest MVNO to go out of business on Tuesday, July 24, when it’s expected to shut off service.
Late last year, MVNO Mobile ESPN pulled the plug on its MVNO service less than a year after launch, but the ESPN division later began offering an ESPN application for phones through Verizon Wireless.
On its Web site, Amp’d said it is “is potentially suspending U.S. operations on July 24” and that “customer service will not be available after July 23.” The site also said “Amp’d is currently in discussions with several parties” to revive service and claimed that subscribers can activate their phones on other carrier’s CDMA networks. Amp’d resold Verizon Wireless CDMA 1x EV-DO airtime through retail outlets, including Best Buy, and through direct sales to consumers.
The announcement followed a request by Verizon Wireless to a bankruptcy court judge to close Amp’d down because it had ample time to get debtor-in-possession financing.
Amp’d launched in 2005 with a focus on the 18- to 35-year-olds with converged cellular/entertainment devices, but in recent years, many carriers have begun offering mobile audio and video entertainment.
