The Trump Organization launched a self-branded mobile service and a US$499 (HK$3,892.2) smartphone on Monday, dubbed Trump Mobile, signaling a new effort to court conservative consumers with a wireless service positioned as an alternative to major telecom providers.

The new mobile venture will include call centers based in the United States and phones made in America, the organization said.

"We are going to be introducing an entire package of products where people can come and they can get telemedicine on their phones for one flat monthly fee, roadside assistance on their cars, unlimited texting to 100 countries around the world," said the president's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., announcing the product at Trump Tower in New York.

The Trump family, long known for its real estate empire, luxury hotels, and golf resorts, has in recent years ventured into newer arenas including digital media and cryptocurrency.

The Trump Organization, which is the main holding entity for most of the US president's business ventures, said ahead of Trump's inauguration that control of the company would be handed to his children, replicating the arrangement from his first term, though concerns about potential conflicts of interest remain.

A website that went live after the announcement included details of the new Trump-branded smartphone that will be available from September, and a US$47.45 a month subscription plan to the new network.

DTTM Operations — the entity managing US President Donald Trump's trademarks — has filed applications to use his name and the term "T1" for telecom-related services.

The filings, submitted Thursday to the US Patent and Trademark Office, cover mobile phones, accessories like cases and chargers, wireless telephone services, and possibly even retail stores.

The smartphone industry in the United States is among the most saturated and competitive in the world, with leading global players Apple and Samsung dominating the market.

More than 60 million smartphones are purchased annually by American consumers, but nearly all of these devices are manufactured abroad — primarily in China, South Korea, and increasingly in India and Vietnam.

Despite the strength of US-based tech brands, there is no significant domestic smartphone production infrastructure, largely due to high labor costs, supply chain complexity, and reliance on overseas component sourcing.

The US mobile network market is dominated by three national carriers: Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, which together control over 95 percent of the wireless market. These companies operate massive, capital-intensive infrastructures and offer bundled services to tens of millions of subscribers.

REUTERS

Trump Organization enters phone market with US$499 Trump Mobile device