Christine Torralba

T-Mobile was the throughline this week, and it wasn't a flattering one.

This week's mobile story kept circling back to a question the industry can't seem to settle: what actually earns a customer's loyalty, a store or an app?

This week, the clearest thread running through the news was who actually controls the network — and how hard everyone else is fighting to get in.

This week in U.S. mobile, the story running underneath the headlines was about the physical stuff wireless service depends on. 

SpaceX made it official this week: Starlink Mobile isn't just a satellite side project. It's gunning for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile customers directly, and Wall Street noticed.

T-Mobile customers have now dealt with two separate network outages in less than a week, and the carrier still hasn't explained what caused either one.

If you've been holding out for a new foldable, the wait is over: Samsung's latest generation is now available to order through Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, alongside unlocked options direct from Samsung. This release cycle brings a notable change to the lineup.

Verizon is making another big shift, and this one touches both its stores and its corporate offices. The carrier says it is selling 274 company-owned retail stores and cutting around 500 corporate jobs, part of a broader restructuring under new CEO Dan Schulman.

This week in the U.S. mobile industry, the clearest theme was simplification — at least on the surface. Verizon rolled out a more consumer-friendly strategy built around fewer fees, easier bundles, and a new value story, while T-Mobile leaned on a big switcher promotion to keep competitive pressure high.