Phreeli, a privacy-by-design mobile carrier, recently launched in the United States as an MVNO on the T-Mobile network. It markets itself by collecting minimal personal data, pledging never to sell call or location data. Activation is reported to be possible with just a ZIP code, marking a radical departure from typical sign-up requirements.
Central to Phreeli’s offering is an innovative encryption framework dubbed Double-Blind Armadillo, which uses zero-knowledge cryptography to separate identity information, billing details and phone-number assignments into distinct, isolated systems. The goal is to ensure that no single database can link a user’s identity to their communications.
Phreeli also isolates billing from number assignment through cryptographic tokens. While conventional payment methods are supported, the company notes some cryptocurrency options, aiming to prevent the billing platform from knowing which number is being paid for.
Founded in 2019 by Nicholas Merrill, a privacy advocate whose experience challenging a Patriot Act gag order at Calyx helped shape the company’s philosophy, Phreeli emphasizes that “If you don’t provide data, it can’t be lost or sold.” Merrill has argued privacy can be improved at the front end rather than relying solely on later controls.
Phreeli acknowledges potential for abuse but says it will address risks through rate limiting, fraud detection, and account suspension. The founders say the aim is not to enable illicit activity, but to offer privacy-conscious users a sense of security while continuing to live their everyday lives.
