Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes (yep, the SmartLess podcast guys) just started their own phone service. It’s called SmartLess Mobile, and it’s actually a real thing. The idea is pretty simple: if you're mostly on Wi-Fi and don’t use tons of mobile data, then why pay for an expensive unlimited plan?
They teamed up with T-Mobile to make this happen, so it's not just a random side project. It runs on T-Mobile’s network, which already covers a lot of people in the U.S., so the service itself is pretty reliable. The main selling point here is affordability—plans start at just $15 a month. There's no contract, no extra junk. It’s kind of a “you get what you need, not what you don’t” situation.
SmartLess Mobile: Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes Get Into the Telecom Business https://t.co/WwQDNG0Qby
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) June 10, 2025
Why They Did This and What They're Saying
If you’ve listened to the SmartLess podcast, you know how the hosts vibe—they’re funny, smart, and surprisingly thoughtful. That’s exactly how this whole phone service thing feels too. Sean Hayes explained it pretty well: he said a lot of people are basically on Wi-Fi all the time, whether at work or home, and yet they’re paying for unlimited data they never use. And honestly, he’s right. A lot of us just pay whatever our carrier tells us without thinking about whether we actually need it.
Jason Bateman also mentioned that since most of their fans already listen to the podcast on their phones, creating a mobile service was just a logical next step. And Will Arnett, being super direct as usual, said something like, “If you’re using less, you should be paying less.” And that’s the whole idea behind SmartLess Mobile. It’s not about having the fanciest plan—it’s about not overpaying for stuff you don’t even use.
What You Get with SmartLess Mobile
Here’s the basic breakdown of what SmartLess Mobile is offering:
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Plans start at $15/month, and go up depending on how much data you want.
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You’re using T-Mobile’s 5G network, which covers most of the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
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There’s a lifetime price-lock, so your plan won’t suddenly get more expensive later.
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It’s contract-free, so if you want to leave, you can.
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And it’s designed mostly for folks who use Wi-Fi more than mobile data.
If you’re someone who’s barely ever off Wi-Fi—maybe you work from home, or you’re just always connected—this kind of plan might actually make sense. Instead of throwing money at an unlimited plan you don’t even fully use, this helps cut the extra cost.
Of course, this isn’t for everyone. If you’re always streaming or gaming on the go, or using tons of mobile data, you might be better off with a different provider. But for a lot of regular people, it could save quite a bit every month.
Not Everyone’s Sold on the Idea
Some folks online are saying it feels a little too much like a celebrity cash grab. Others feel like it’s just one more brand trying to sell a “simpler” solution that may not actually change much. And sure, that might be true for some people.
But what’s different here is that these three aren’t just slapping their names on the box. They’re promoting it, talking about it, and actually explaining why they wanted to do it. It doesn’t feel fake. And honestly, if a celeb-backed phone service is cheaper and does the job, does it really matter who’s behind it?
It kind of reminds people of what Ryan Reynolds did with Mint Mobile. And that turned out to be a pretty smart move. So who knows? This could work out in a similar way.
