Technologies
Google Fi, Mint Mobile, Xfinity Mobile, Visible: Which Wireless Networks Do Smaller Providers Use?
Smaller wireless carriers often use more popular networks.

When it comes to picking a wireless provider, there are plenty of options beyond AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. Your cable provider — particularly if you have Optimum, Comcast’s Xfinity or Charter’s Spectrum — has likely tried to get you to move to their mobile service over the last year. You also have smaller players like Mint Mobile, Visible, Boost Mobile and others.
Here’s the not-so-secret twist: These providers don’t actually run their own cellular networks, for the most part. Instead, most are what’s called MVNOs, which stands for mobile virtual network operators. They partner with the larger carriers and piggyback on their networks. Let’s break down who is partnered with whom and if features like 5G are included.
Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile


Ryan Reynolds’ cell carrier is actually using T-Mobile’s service for its network.
Is 5G included? Mint has access to T-Mobile’s 5G network and like T-Mobile, Mint also includes 5G access with all plans so long as you have a 5G phone.
Google Fi uses T-Mobile


Google’s mobile phone service uses an amalgamation of different networks to provide service. Post T-Mobile’s merger with Sprint, the group of three networks dropped to just T-Mobile and US Cellular. Now the carrier seems set to drop US Cellular and will rely mainly on T-Mobile for service.
Is 5G included? 5G is included with all Fi plans, but you will need to make sure your phone works with T-Mobile’s 5G network. At the moment that list includes a variety of Android phones, namely recent Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices as well as some Motorola phones. Google Fi still does not allow the iPhone to access 5G on its network.
Visible uses Verizon


Visible is a sub-brand of Verizon and, as such, runs on its network.
Is 5G included? Visible plans include access to Verizon’s 5G network. This includes Verizon’s low-band nationwide network as well as its fastest millimeter-wave service that is available in parts of certain cities. Speeds, even when on the faster flavor of 5G, are capped at 200Mbps.
Boost Mobile uses AT&T, T-Mobile and Dish


Boost Mobile, which was spun off to Dish by Sprint as part of the T-Mobile/Sprint merger, runs on AT&T’s and T-Mobile’s networks. Dish is in the process of building out its own 5G network and will begin transitioning users in those areas to its service as it becomes available.
The first city, Las Vegas, is now live, and last May the company listed 100 additional cities that it planned to expand to. As part of the merger, Dish was granted the ability to continue using T-Mobile’s network for seven years as it builds out its own network.
While T-Mobile was expected to be the roaming network, in 2021 Dish announced a new deal with AT&T that will let it roam on the latter’s wireless network for 10 years. Although it will still be able to tap into T-Mobile for part of this time, expect to use a combination AT&T, T-Mobile and Dish’s own network going forward.
Is 5G included? Boost does not charge extra for accessing 5G.
US Mobile uses T-Mobile and Verizon


US Mobile, a newer player in the wireless game, uses a combination of T-Mobile and Verizon.
Is 5G included? US Mobile includes 5G with all of its plans, though whether you are connecting to Verizon or T-Mobile isn’t as simple as an option like Google Fi. Whereas that service will automatically switch you to whichever network has the best coverage, US Mobile actually has two different SIM cards: the black SIM card is for Verizon (what the company calls Warp 5G), while the white SIM card is for T-Mobile (which the company calls GSM).
The Warp 5G network the carrier is pushing uses Verizon’s network.
Spectrum Mobile uses Verizon


Charter’s Spectrum Mobile uses Verizon’s network for its coverage.
Is 5G included? Spectrum Mobile includes access to Verizon’s 5G networks. Data speeds aren’t capped but, per the company’s disclosures, your data may be slowed in busy areas with a lot of network congestion. The company states once the congestion «lessens,» however, «your speed will return to normal.»
Xfinity Mobile uses Verizon


Comcast’s Xfinity Mobile uses Verizon’s network for its coverage.
Is 5G included? Like Spectrum Mobile, Comcast’s offering has access to Verizon’s 5G networks. As with that service, data speeds aren’t capped but Comcast notes in its disclosure that in busy areas where Verizon’s network may be congested, Xfinity Mobile customers may see their data slowed until the congestion clears.
Optimum Mobile (formerly Altice) uses T-Mobile


Optimum Mobile (once known as Altice Mobile), which is offered to Optimum and Suddenlink users, uses T-Mobile’s network.
Is 5G included? Optimum Mobile includes 5G with all of its plans, though if you go over your monthly data limit for its 1GB or 3GB plans you will be «reduced to 2G speeds» for the remainder of your billing cycle. If you have the company’s «Unlimited» or «Unlimited Max» plans your data will slow to «3G speeds» after 20GB or 50GB is used, respectively.
Technologies
Today’s Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for July 5, #1477
Here are hints and the answer for today’s Wordle for July 5, No. 1,477.

Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today’s Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.
Today’s Wordle puzzle is a pretty tough one. I grew up on a farm, so I know the word, but I didn’t put it together right away, even though the letters are common ones. If you need a new starter word, check out our list of which letters show up the most in English words. If you need hints and the answer, read on.
Today’s Wordle hints
Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.
Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats
Today’s Wordle answer has no repeated letters.
Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels
There is are two vowels in today’s Wordle answer.
Wordle hint No. 3: First letter
Today’s Wordle answer begins with the letter B.
Wordle hint No. 4: Down on the farm
Today’s Wordle answer describes a piece of farm equipment.
Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning
Today’s Wordle answer refers to a machine for making paper, hay, or cotton into bales.
TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER
Today’s Wordle answer is BALER.
Yesterday’s Wordle answer
Yesterday’s Wordle answer, July 4, No. 1476 was CURVE.
Recent Wordle answers
June 30, No. 1472: BLINK
July 1, No. 1473: MOLDY
July 2, No. 1474: INCUR
July 3, No. 1475: POPPY
Technologies
Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for July 5, #489
Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for July 5, No. 489.

Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
The theme of today’s NYT Strands puzzle isn’t terribly tough, but at least one of the words is unusual and really, really long to unscramble. If you need hints and answers, read on.
I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far
Hint for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s Strands theme is: Every second counts.
If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Does anybody really know what time it is?
Clue words to unlock in-game hints
Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:
- DIAL, SOLE, MOLE, MOLES, SHAKE, CHEEP, ROLE, HOME, LOCK, MEAT, TAME, TAMES, ROLES, ROON, TRON
Answers for today’s Strands puzzle
These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:
- CLOCK, WATCH, SUNDIAL, HOURGLASS, CHRONOMETER
Today’s Strands spangram
Today’s Strands spangram is TIMEKEEPERS. To find it, look for the T that’s four letters down on the far left, and wind across.
Technologies
Microsoft Is Eliminating Passwords in August: Here’s What You Need to Do to Prepare
Microsoft Authenticator has already stopped autofilling passwords, but the biggest change comes next month.

In June, Microsoft Authenticator stopped letting users create new passwords. In July, it turned off the autofill password function. And in August, the login app will stop supporting passwords entirely, moving to more secure passkeys, such as a PIN, fingerprint or facial recognition.
Attila Tomaschek, CNET’s software senior writer and digital security expert, says that passkeys are a safer alternative to the risky password habits practiced by 49% of US adults, according to a recent survey by CNET.
«Passwords can be cracked, whereas passkeys need both the public and the locally stored private key to authenticate users, which can help mitigate risks like falling victim to phishing and brute-force or credential-stuffing attacks,» Tomaschek said.
Using the same password for several accounts or adding personal hints can be a convenient way to remember your login. But that puts you at a big risk for scammers, identity theft and fraud. Here’s more on Microsoft’s plan for eliminating passwords and how to make the switch to passkeys before August.
When will Microsoft Authenticator stop supporting passwords?
Microsoft Authenticator houses your passwords and lets you sign into all your Microsoft accounts using a PIN, facial recognition like Windows Hello, or other biometric data like a fingerprint. Authenticator can be used in other ways, such as verifying you’re logging in if you forgot your password, or using two-factor authentication as an extra layer of security for your accounts. In June, the company stopped letting users add passwords to Authenticator, but here’s a timeline of other changes you can expect from Microsoft.
- July 2025: You won’t be able to use the autofill password function.
- August 2025: You’ll no longer be able to use saved passwords.
If you still want to use passwords instead of passkeys, you can store them in Microsoft Edge. However, CNET experts recommend adopting passkeys during this transition. «Passkeys use public key cryptography to authenticate users, rather than relying on users themselves creating their own (often weak or reused) passwords to access their online accounts,» Tomaschek said.
Why are passkeys a better alternative to passwords?
So what exactly is a passkey? It’s a credential created by the Fast Identity Online Alliance that uses biometric data or a PIN to verify your identity and access your account. Think about using your fingerprint or Face ID to log into your account. That’s generally safer than using a password that is easy to guess or susceptible to a phishing attack.
Passkeys aren’t stored on servers like passwords. Instead, they’re stored only on your personal device. More conveniently, this takes the guesswork out of remembering your passwords and the need for a password manager.
How to set up a passkey in Microsoft Authenticator
Microsoft said in a May 1 blog post that it will automatically detect the best passkey to set up and make that your default sign-in option. «If you have a password and ‘one-time code’ set up on your account, we’ll prompt you to sign in with your one-time code instead of your password. After you’re signed in, you’ll be prompted to enroll a passkey. Then the next time you sign in, you’ll be prompted to sign in with your passkey,» according to the blog post.
To set up a new passkey, open your Authenticator app on your phone. Tap on your account and select «Set up a passkey.» You’ll be prompted to log in with your existing credentials. After you’re logged in, you can set up the passkey.
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