Xavier Niel Teases: Free Mobile to Launch Stunning New Device!

At the start of the month, Free hosted a “Community Day” event where subscribers were given a sneak peek into upcoming innovations for both the internet service provider and mobile operator. While specifics were sparse, a series of commitments were made, including the introduction of a new TV set-top box. More intriguingly, Xavier Niel announced the future release of a “revolutionary hardware product” not intended for Freebox users but rather designed for Free Mobile subscribers. According to Univers Freebox, further details are scarce and the launch isn’t imminent.

What could a mobile operator possibly develop if it’s not a smartphone? Could Free Mobile be planning to enter the generative AI field with a device that continuously connects to its cellular network and interacts with a chatbot like Mistral Chat, which it already offers to certain subscribers? This move would certainly be bold, and it’s unclear what unique contributions Free could make in this area. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.

While we await more information on this device, the CEO of Free also revealed updates to mVPN, the free VPN service integrated into Free Mobile that was launched last month. He first noted that the initial version was developed internally, a project that kicked off just before summer and was primarily designed for ease of use. Additional features are expected to be rolled out, including the ability to select the country where the VPN server is located and an expanded choice of countries. Currently, the service automatically selects between Italy or the Netherlands.

Looking for more teasers from Free? Nicolas Thomas, the CEO of Free, hinted during the event that we can expect “several new products” before the end of 2025. Even more exciting, the following year should see an even greater surge in activity, as the company plans to “significantly accelerate with major launches.” No further details were provided.