These phones are a business venture. Absolutely nothing to do with the government.
Nothing.

How on earth would that delay an August roll-out?

will be more mobile than he is.

...rubes putting one of these "patriot phones" in their pocket thinking that every last bit of their data isn't going straight to Ka$h and B0ndi?



The shutdown probably delayed the installation of all the monitoring software the Administration is installing.

Sure, sign up you complete [REDACTED].

Just the phone.
That means they're buying time from AT&T, Verizon, or Cricket (who buys from Verizon IIRC).
All the data goes straight to to the government no matter whose phone you choose.
But the trumpies MIGHT have a slightly better claim to said data if they "own" it first.
It will be interesting to see what their user terms and conditions, privacy statement, and confidentiality agreements contain.
I wouldn't advocate buying any phone without reading all three of those.

The ecosystem of the phone is what determines everything you can do and everything they can capture.

Speculation is that it will be an Android-based device running Android 15. That will give them a lot of latitude to develop their own required apps that do whatever they please in the background.

And one thing we do know: everything they do is a grift. User data is valuable, and you can bet they will be selling it to the government for way more than it would ordinarily be worth until that all ends with a new administration when they will sell it to corporations.

Just do a bulk order from a little known Asian phone maker, specify it says 'T1: Made in the USA', and is gold painted, import at around $100 each, add $100 tariff, sell for $500, and profit.

Fairly standard process, happens all the time.

Think your lawn mower, refrigerator, washing machine with a familiar brand on it is actually locally made?

Oh, you gullible fool!