Cell Phones

Samsung Corporate Office

Lee Byung-chul founded Samsung as a small trading company in 1938 in Seoul, South Korea.

Throughout the next thirty years, Samsung diversified into several different areas, including retail, securities, insurance, textiles, and food processing.

In the late 1960s, it entered the electronics industry and ten years later the shipbuilding industry. These last two industries would prove to be its largest growth industries.

Samsung started to globalize in the 1990s and electronics have become its principal income source.

Samsung now has several large subsidiaries, most notably Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest information technology company, Samsung Heavy Industries, which is the world’s second-largest shipbuilder, and Samsung Engineering, which is the world’s 13th largest construction company.

Samsung had $170.65 billion in revenue in 2015, as well as employing almost 400,000 people.

The company has recently experienced severe problems with their Galaxy Note 7 mobile phones. Numerous complaints about the phone catching fire while recharging the battery caused the company to issue replacement phones. However, in early October of 2016, the company announced that it had not only stopped sending replacement phones due to continued fire issues but that they have stopped production of this popular model altogether until they resolve the issue.

No comment from the company as to when the issue might be resolved or what they plan to do with the millions of phones already sold.

The company has also received thousands of complaints regarding ice maker and freezer problems with a variety of refrigerator models. There is currently a class-action lawsuit over this matter since Samsung has been unresponsive.

Samsung headquarters in the US are located in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey.

Samsung

Lee Byung-chul founded Samsung as a small trading company in 1938 in Seoul, South Korea.

Throughout the next thirty years, Samsung diversified into several different areas, including retail, securities, insurance, textiles, and food processing.

History

In the late 1960s, it entered the electronics industry and ten years later the shipbuilding industry. These last two industries would prove to be its largest growth industries.

Samsung started to globalize in the 1990s and electronics have become its principal income source.

Samsung had $170.65 billion in revenue in 2015, as well as employing almost 400,000 people.

No comment from the company as to when the issue might be resolved or what they plan to do with the millions of phones already sold.

Samsung headquarters in the US are located in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey.

T-Mobile Corporate Office

T-Mobile began in 1994 as VoiceStream Wireless PCS, a subsidiary of Western Wireless.

In 1999, Western spun off VoiceStream as an independent company.

In 2002, VoiceStream changed its name to T-Mobile USA. This company is the US operation of T-Mobile International AG, a subsidary of Deutsche Telekom.

In 2011, AT&T announced plans to merge with Deutsche Telekom. This merger faced a lot of regulatory pressure from the US government and AT&T eventually withdrew their bid.

In 2013, T-Mobile merged with MetroPCS Communications to form T-Mobile US, a publicly traded company.

The company has had problems in 2016 with LTE data lines going out for long periods of time. Representatives blame the problems on “upgrades”, but insist the problems are minimal.

In mid-2016, the company announced that it would be introducing 5G, with amazing speeds of 12 gigabits per second. This would be three times faster than what Verizon can offer. However, 5G has an estimated start date of “sometime” in 2018.

The company offered a free iPhone 7 (preorder) for those trading in an iPhone 6 during the month of September in 2016. Customers need to sign up for an unlimited data plan and a 2-year service agreement.

T-Mobile expanded its service of providing verified caller ID service in March 2019 to help customers avoid scams and robocalls.

In September 2020, T-Mobile and the University of Kansas began testing the new 5G system and how it worked for online learning.

Also in September 2020, due to the coronavirus crisis, T-Mobile created a plan to give free internet service to 10 million students for home studies.

Today, T-Mobile US operates the 3rd and 4th largest wireless providers in the US. Together, they provide service to over 63 million customers. As of December 31, 2017, T-Mobile operated approximately 2,200 T-Mobile and MetroPCS retail locations, including stores and kiosks.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile began in 1994 as VoiceStream Wireless PCS, a subsidiary of Western Wireless.

In 1999, Western spun off VoiceStream as an independent company.

History

In 2002, VoiceStream changed its name to T-Mobile USA. This company is the US operation of T-Mobile International AG, a subsidary of Deutsche Telekom.

In 2011, AT&T announced plans to merge with Deutsche Telekom. This merger faced a lot of regulatory pressure from the US government and AT&T eventually withdrew their bid.

In 2013, T-Mobile merged with MetroPCS Communications to form T-Mobile US, a publicly traded company.

The company has had problems in 2016 with LTE data lines going out for long periods of time. Representatives blame the problems on “upgrades”, but insist the problems are minimal.

T-Mobile expanded its service of providing verified caller ID service in March 2019 to help customers avoid scams and robocalls.

In September 2020, T-Mobile and the University of Kansas began testing the new 5G system and how it worked for online learning.

Also in September 2020, due to the coronavirus crisis, T-Mobile created a plan to give free internet service to 10 million students for home studies.

Apple Corporate Office

Apple Computers was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. They originally sold personal computer kits you could assemble yourself.

The company incorporated the following year without Wayne who got nervous and was bought out by Jobs and Wozniak for $800.

The Apple II was introduced in 1977 and the company began to take off. The company went public in 1980 in the largest IPO since Ford Motor Company.

In 1984, the Macintosh was released with the famous Ridley Scott directed Superbowl commercial.

In 1985, Steve Jobs resigned from Apple after a power struggle with CEO John Sculley.

The company floundered for the next decade with products like the Newton and Lisa.

In 1997, Jobs returned as interim CEO.

In 1998, the iMac was released. In 2001, they opened their first Apple Retail Store.

In 2007, the iPhone was released and became an instant global success. The iPad was released in 2010.

Forbes lists Apple as being worth twice as much as any other brand on the planet.

Steve Jobs died in October 2011. Tim Cook took over as CEO.

Tim Cook apologized in August 2019 for allowing contractors to listen to the commands that consumers gave to their Siri devices. He promised that the company would change things to improve privacy rights.

The company has plans to release the iPhone 11 sometime in 2019.

In November 2019, Apple was looking to increase sales and customer’s using it’s Apple credit card.

The Apple corporate office is located in Cupertino, California.

Apple

Apple Computers was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. They originally sold personal computer kits you could assemble yourself.

The company incorporated the following year without Wayne who got nervous and was bought out by Jobs and Wozniak for $800.

History

The Apple II was introduced in 1977 and the company began to take off. The company went public in 1980 in the largest IPO since Ford Motor Company.

In 1984, the Macintosh was released with the famous Ridley Scott directed Superbowl commercial.

In 1985, Steve Jobs resigned from Apple after a power struggle with CEO John Sculley.

The company floundered for the next decade with products like the Newton and Lisa.

In 1997, Jobs returned as interim CEO.

In 1998, the iMac was released. In 2001, they opened their first Apple Retail Store.

In 2007, the iPhone was released and became an instant global success. The iPad was released in 2010.

Forbes lists Apple as being worth twice as much as any other brand on the planet.

Steve Jobs died in October 2011. Tim Cook took over as CEO.

The company has plans to release the iPhone 11 sometime in 2019.

In November 2019, Apple was looking to increase sales and customer’s using it’s Apple credit card.

The Apple corporate office is located in Cupertino, California.

Metro PCS Corporate Office

Metro PCS began in 1994 as General Wireless, Inc. The company was founded by current CEO, Roger Linquist, and Malcolm Lorang, both of whom were executives with PageMart.

MetroPCS provides nationwide talk, text, and data depending on the plan services using GSM, HSPA, HSPA+ and 4G LTE networks. MetroPCS previously operated the sixth largest mobile telecommunications network in the United States using CDMA technology.

In 1998, MetroPCS filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy and emerged from bankruptcy in 1998.

In 2004, MetroPCS Communications began a subsidiary of Metro PCS as part of their restructuring.

At a time when most cell phone companies were charging high fees for data usage and international texting, MetroPCS was offering a flat $50 a month fee with unlimited texting and data, along with a $5 monthly plan which allowed for unlimited international texting, as well as calls to landline phones.

In 2009, a 3G network was launched. This was followed by the launch of an LTE network in 2010.

MetroPCS was the 6th largest wireless network in the US with 9.5 million subscribers. Although the company is a Delaware corporation, the Metro PCS corporate office is located in Richardson, Texas.

In April of 2013, Metro PCS was acquired by T-Mobile, USA. Although executives at T-Mobile had stated at the time of the acquisition that all locations would be rebranded into T-Mobile locations, this has yet to occur.

T-Mobile is now considering a merger with Sprint. If this is approved, it might mean higher prices for MetroPCS customers.

After the merger with Sprint, Metro PCS is being rebranded to Metro by T-Mobile.

MetroPCS/T-Mobile

Metro PCS began in 1994 as General Wireless, Inc. The company was founded by current CEO, Roger Linquist, and Malcolm Lorang, both of whom were executives with PageMart.

History

In 1998, MetroPCS filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy and emerged from bankruptcy in 1998.

In 2004, MetroPCS Communications began a subsidiary of Metro PCS as part of their restructuring.

In 2009, a 3G network was launched. This was followed by the launch of an LTE network in 2010.

MetroPCS was the 6th largest wireless network in the US with 9.5 million subscribers. Although the company is a Delaware corporation, the Metro PCS corporate office is located in Richardson, Texas.

T-Mobile is now considering a merger with Sprint. If this is approved, it might mean higher prices for MetroPCS customers.

After the merger with Sprint, Metro PCS is being rebranded to Metro by T-Mobile.