Tequila is Out, Telecom is In — Hollywood Stars Launch Budget Wireless Service!
Move over, tequila brands — the latest celebrity business trend is tapping into telecom.
Sean Hayes, Will Arnett, and Jason Bateman, the iconic trio behind the hit "SmartLess" podcast, are dialing into the wireless industry with the launch of their own mobile service, boldly taking on heavyweights like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T.
Their new company, aptly named SmartLess Mobile, was sparked by a simple yet powerful realization: despite being glued to their phones, most people barely use mobile data. That's because nearly 90% of the time, they're connected to Wi-Fi.
“Most Americans are riding on Wi-Fi almost all day. Their phones rarely touch the actual wireless network,” said Paul McAleese, telecom veteran and SmartLess Mobile CEO, who co-founded the company with the stars.
Backing this up, research from OpenSignal last year showed that mobile users spend 77% to 88% of their time on Wi-Fi, not cellular data.
SmartLess Mobile is flipping the script with affordable wireless plans: starting at $15/month for 5GB of high-speed data, and scaling to $30/month for 30GB. Compare that to the $35-$65 starter unlimited plans the major carriers push — and it’s clear who’s winning the value game.
The idea clicked when Arnett bought a phone for his teenage son and got slapped with a $70/month unlimited plan. McAleese recalled telling him, “Your kid lives under Wi-Fi — home, school… he’s never on the network. Why pay for what he won’t use?”
Joining a rising wave of celebrity-backed carriers, SmartLess Mobile follows in the footsteps of Ryan Reynolds’ Mint Mobile (snatched up by T-Mobile in 2023) and Ted Danson’s Consumer Cellular. These brands operate as MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators), leasing 5G coverage from giants like T-Mobile — allowing them to skip the massive costs of running physical infrastructure.
As eSIM technology becomes standard and Wi-Fi hotspots pop up everywhere (from subways to sandwich shops), switching carriers is easier than ever — and data needs are shrinking for many.
Still, MVNOs face challenges. If the network they lease goes down, customers often blame them. Plus, limited data isn’t ideal for everyone — think ride-share drivers or on-the-go couriers, who depend on constant mobile access.
But the real battle? Standing out in a saturated market. According to Jeffrey Moore of Wave7 Research, unless you have unbeatable offers or clever marketing, the giants will crush you with their deals — like “free” phones that lock users in.
That’s where the SmartLess crew’s star power shines. With a top 20 Apple podcast and over 2 million Instagram followers, they’re not starting from zero. And their brand? It’s all in the name: SmartLess — a perfect combo of “smart” savings and “less” cost.
Soon, they’ll begin promoting SmartLess Mobile on the podcast — but this isn’t just another celebrity endorsement. Hayes, Arnett, and Bateman turned down other endorsement deals and are deeply involved in financing, strategy, and marketing.
“This isn’t just a side hustle,” McAleese emphasized. “They live in the podcast world. It’s how their audience consumes their content. These guys are storytelling pros, and their brand has a reputation for authenticity. It’s a perfect match.”
Description:
"Hollywood stars Sean Hayes, Will Arnett, and Jason Bateman are shaking up the telecom world with SmartLess Mobile — a low-cost wireless service designed for users who live on Wi-Fi. Discover how this celebrity-backed MVNO is challenging major carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile by offering smarter, cheaper data plans starting at just $15/month."