The Trump family has reportedly licensed its name to a mobile service and smartphone.<\/p>\n
Trump Mobile<\/a>, which includes a phone that sells for $499, marks the latest deal forged by the president\u2019s family to capitalize on his name while in office, Reuters reported<\/a> Monday (June 16).<\/p>\n According to the report, the new venture will operate in conjunction with one of the three main U.S. wireless companies. Key details about the operation, such as the family\u2019s partner in the business and financial terms of their licensing deal, were not disclosed, Reuters added.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are going to be introducing an entire package of products where people can come and they can get telemedicine<\/a> on their phones for one flat monthly fee, roadside assistance on their cars, unlimited texting to 100 countries around the world,\u201d said Donald Trump Jr.<\/p>\n The announcement also promised the launch of a \u201csleek, gold smartphone\u201d that will be \u201cdesigned and built in the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n The report noted that it is not clear which U.S.-based company could provide a phone selling for $499, something not even Apple has been able to accomplish.<\/p>\n While American tech brands are strong, Reuters points out, there is no significant domestic smartphone production infrastructure, mainly due to steep labor costs, supply chain complexity and dependence on foreign components.<\/p>\n The announcement comes as demand for smartphones<\/a> in the U.S. is cooling somewhat, according to findings released by market intelligence firm International Data Corporation (IDC) late last month.<\/p>\n The company lowered its forecast for worldwide smartphone shipments in 2025 from the 2.3% year-over-year growth it projected in February to 0.6% in the wake of the tariffs<\/a> imposed by the Trump White House.<\/p>\n \u201cSince April 2nd, the smartphone industry has faced a whirlwind of uncertainty<\/a>,\u201d Nabila Popal<\/a>, senior research director with IDC\u2019s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, said in the release. \u201cWhile current exemptions on smartphones have offered temporary relief, the looming possibility of broader tariffs presents a serious risk.\u201d<\/p>\n However, despite trade tensions between China and the U.S., those countries are forecast to fuel this year\u2019s growth, IDC said.<\/p>\n