Helium Mobile CEO calls early adopters 'parasites' after ending free plan

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Mobile<br>Helium Mobile CEO calls early adopters 'parasites' after ending free plan<br>The comments have since been edited/deleted, with the CEO clarifying that they didn't "mean it quite so broadly there."

By Aamir Siddiqui

4 hours ago

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Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

TL;DR

Helium Mobile ended its free Zero plan for existing subscribers, forcing them onto the paid Air plan. The move directly contradicted the company’s previous statements, which asserted that existing users would not be affected.

On the MVNO’s official Discord server, CEO Amir Haleem called early adopters “parasites” and exclaimed, “good riddance.”

The comments have since been edited and deleted, with the CEO noting that they didn’t “mean it quite so broadly there.”

Helium Mobile caught everyone’s attention with its Zero Plan, a phone plan that offered 3GB of data, 300 texts, and 100 minutes of phone calls for absolutely nothing — no hidden fees or monthly plans. Late last month, the MVNO ended the plan for new subscribers, noting that current subscribers are not affected — but ended up impacting them last week too. If you haven’t already considered your options, you should do so soon, especially given what the company’s CEO thinks its customers are.

On Helium Mobile’s official Discord server, a member shared feedback with the team, saying the company was throwing its members “to the curb” by ending the free plan.

Helium Mobile Official Discordvia The Mobile Report

To this, Helium Mobile CEO Amir Haleem commented that the “‘OG’ members are only around because they want free or near free stuff. good riddance”

Helium Mobile Official Discordvia The Mobile Report

This comment has now been deleted, but not before the original commenter reminded the company that support from its original users gave it momentum.

Helium Mobile Official Discord

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To this, Mr. Haleem equated Helium Mobile’s early adopters to “parasites.”

Helium Mobile Official Discordvia The Mobile Report

The comment has since been edited to “it came off wrong!”

Helium Mobile Official Discord

In a later comment, Mr. Haleem tried to clarify their words, noting that it was “annoying when people characterize things as something nefarious when they change.”

Helium Mobile Official Discord

However, it’s worth pointing out that the comment that triggered the reaction was not characterizing Helium Mobile or its Zero plan as nefarious, so the reaction was misplaced at the very least. On the “parasite” remark, Mr. Haleem notes that they didn’t mean the term “quite so broadly” when referring to a part of their customer base.

Helium Mobile’s statement on the end of the Zero plan noted that “Existing Zero plan subscribers are not impacted.” This was contrary to user reports at the time, which claimed they would be moved to the Air plan in the next billing cycle unless they canceled. Helium Mobile ultimately took this route a month later, contradicting its own statement.

Given the company’s complete U-turn in its own statements and the CEO’s now-edited views on its original subscribers, it’s difficult to advise subscribers to place their trust in the company, nefarious intentions or not.

News<br>Helium Mobile

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