Donald Trump May Set Up His Own Phone Carrier

Donald Trump May Set Up His Own Phone Carrier

There may be a new competitor to AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and other wireless carriers. According to trademark filings, US President Donald Trump may be looking to launch a new telecom service provider under his name.

The documents show trademarks on behalf of President Trump, filed for by a management company called DTTM Operations LLC, with his brand of “Trump” cited. It may also be called “T1,” according to the documents spotted by trademark lawyer Josh Gerben and reported on by Bloomberg.

Trademark applications aren’t a guarantee that a new business will happen. However, Gerben notes in his blog post that this is filed under an “intent-to-use” basis which often means the company has serious intent to provide these services.

According to the documentation, the business plans to also set up retail locations under the Trump brand to sell both devices and services. It’s unclear if that would be a Trump-branded phone, selling third-party devices, or a combination of both.

The documents show the company also wants to sell phone cases and accessories, including chargers. It may be that we will see a Trump phone in the future, or it may be the company would focus on telecom services and Trump-branded phone cases for iPhones and Android devices that are sold directly in “T1” stores.

Gerben notes in his blog post that T-Mobile may have a problem with the application, given the name of “T1.”

Recommended by Our Editors

Gerben says, “It would seem unlikely that T-Mobile could sit back and let the ‘T1’ trademark proceed without a fight. This is because allowing another “T”-formative mark in the mobile phone space would almost undoubtedly dilute the company’s rights in the T-Mobile mark.”

If T1 does happen, it will mark the Trump brand’s first step into the world of tech. Trump’s business has traditionally focused on hospitality and real estate.

Get Our Best Stories!


Newsletter Icon


A Smart, Bold Take on the Wireless World

Sign up for the Fully Mobilized newsletter to get our top mobile tech stories delivered right to your inbox.

By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Thanks for signing up!

Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!

About James Peckham

Reporter

James Peckham

I’ve written tech news for over a decade, and as a Reporter at PCMag, I cover the latest developments across the gadgets and services you use every day. Previously, I worked for Android Police, TechRadar, and more.

Read James’s full bio

Read the latest from James Peckham

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *