Active duty military, reserves and veterans are eligible for military and veteran discounts from many of the major wireless service providers. See our list of major wireless carriers that offer wireless military and veteran cell phone discounts.
AT & T Military & Veteran Discount
Welcome to the National Registry of Cellular Numbers. NRCN is the leading cell phone directory and provider of online cell phone lookups. Our powerful cell phone directory tool searches the largest database of Landline, Mobile and Unlisted Phone Numbers to bring you the most up-to-date and accurate data. T-Mobile, Kajeet, Tag Mobile, Telrite and Global Connection Public Notice: 4/10/2012 Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on petitions for designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier filed by T-Mobile, kajeet, Inc., TAG Mobile, Telrite Corp., and Global Connection, Inc. Patriot Mobile is an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) founded in 2012 and headquartered in Texas. An MVNO is a smaller wireless carrier that rents space on one or more of the big four networks and sells it to you, typically at a discounted rate. Panasonic Smart Phones, a leading smartphone brand in India believes in providing top quality devices with its one of a kind mission: to make technology available to every individual. Panasonic India’s history of connecting people came into existence with the launch of in-car phones in the year 1971.
Eligible: Active Duty, Reserves, National Guard, Retired Military, Spouses (including spouses of deceased military), Families, & Veterans
25% discount on qualified monthly wireless plans including the AT&T Unlimited Starter Plan, AT&T Unlimited Extra, and AT&T Unlimited Elite.
Sign up online or in store with a .mil email address or verify eligibility with a Veterans designated driver’s license, DD214, retired military ID, AMVETS card, VHIC card or VetRewards Card from Veterans Advantage.
Additionally, use the VetRewards Card to get a DirecTV military discount on new service.
To receive the ATT military discount visit a local store bring valid proof of service (DD form 214, Veterans or Military ID) and mention FAN code 4085530.
Other FAN codes include:
- Air Force FAN/Code: 2421652
- Army – 2421660
- Navy – 2421954
- Marines – 2421958
- Coast Guard – 2422480
- Veteran – 4085530
Shop AT&T’s Military Discount Program.
Boost Mobile (combined with Virgin Mobile)
Boost mobile allows service men and women to suspend their service while deployed overseas.
Shop Boost Mobile Deals that are offered.
Cricket Wireless Mobile Military Discount
Cricket wireless does not offer a military discount although they have in the past.
Shop Cricket Wireless Mobile Deals that are offered including promotional discounts, auto pay credits, refer a friend and group save discounts.
Sprint Active Duty, Reserve and Veteran Discounts
National Mobile Phones Verizon
Sprint is now T-Mobile and all T-Mobile discounts apply to new wireless customers. Existing customers on Sprint service can still receive their discounts. However, all promotions of Sprint service are no longer valid and were expired on 8/1/2020.
Shop T-Mobile’s Military Discount Program.
T-Mobile Military Phone Plan – Active Duty, Reserves, Retired Military & Veteran Discount
Eligible: Active Duty, Reserves, National Guard, Retired Military & Veterans, Gold Star Families
The T-Mobile Magenta and Magenta Plus Military plans provides $25 to $35 off each line on up to 4 phone lines. The Magenta and Magenta Plus Military plans include the following:
- Unlimited talk, text, and smartphone data
- 5G access at no extra cost
- Best in-wireless scan protection
- 20GB of 4 LTE mobile hotspot data
- 2x data speed & texting abroad
- 5GB of 4G data in Mexico & Canada
- Unlimited Inflight Wi-Fi
- Free mobile hotspot data
- SD Streaming
- Taxes & fees included
- Texting & data abroad to over 140 countries
- Netflix Standard to watch on your TV, smartphone, table or other device
- Free stuff weekly
National Mobile Phones App
Shop T-Mobile’s Military Discount Program.
U.S. Cellular Active Duty Military Discount
Eligible: Active Duty, veterans
Customers can receive 15% off calling plan fees on individual single line and/or Family plans.
This plan includes all branches of the military that are on active duty or veterans.
- Air Force
- Army
- Coast Guard
- Marine Corps
- Navy
- Space Force
- National Guard
- Reserves
Shop U.S. Cellular to get your 15% discount.
Verizon Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard & Veteran Discount
Eligible: Active Duty, Reserves, National Guard, Retired Military & Veterans, Gold Star Families, Veterans.
Verizon Wireless Military Discount
Verizon wireless provides a 15% discount on monthly plans and a 25% discount on accessories is also available. All government employees including active duty, reserves, and national guard are eligible. This discount is also extended to retired military, veterans and their families through Veterans Advantage.
Military families can also take advantage of the following deals:
- $15 off one line
- $25 off two lines
- $40 off three or more lines
Verizon FIOS Military Discount
The Verizon Connections plan get exclusive military discounts when you order new FIO service online including:
- Monthly plan savings
- Free Disney + for 12 months
- Savings on Unlimited Wireless
More Discount Programs with Verizon
Discount Programs are also available for First responders, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, emergency medical services and state and local law enforcement, students, nurses and teachers, corporate employee discounts (for companies with corporate agreements in place).
Shop all deals and discounts at Verizon.
Metro by T-Mobile (formerly Metro PCS)
Currently there are no Metro military discounts available.
Shop Metro by T-Mobile Deals that are offered.
A few things to keep in mind…
1. Most wireless carriers provide a 15% discount to the primary phone number and varying discounts for each additional number.
2. If you current have a cellular service plan without the discount most wireless carriers will apply the discount to your account on a go forward basis.
3. Typically a two year service agreement must be established or an existing service agreement must be renewed for an additional two years to qualify for the discount.
4. Ask for a manager if the customer service representative is unaware of any discount.
5. If you don’t see your desired wireless carrier on this list call the carrier and ask if they offer a military or veteran discount.
6. Be sure to compare the carrier’s. The best discount may not mean it’s the best priced plan for your needs or that it’s a suitable carrier in your area.
7. Most wireless military discounts are part of the Department of Defense Handheld Wireless Enterprise Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) Sponsorship Program which is available to all Federal Government employees for service plans and to purchase wireless devices and accessories for personal use.
8. Proof of military service is required. Bring your military ID, veteran ID or DD214 paperwork. See How to Get a Veterans ID or Military ID if you do not currently have one.
Phone Device and Accessories Military Discounts
Apple
The Apple Veterans and Military Store is available to current Military personnel and Veterans of the U.S. Military, National Guard and Reserve. and for their immediate family members who live in the same household. Veterans and Military personnel receive a 10% discount on Apple products and accessories as a thank you for your service.
Elegant Case
Active Duty, Veterans & Dependents get 20% off element phone cases.
Motorola
All active, veteran, retired, and reservist personnel are eligible to take 10% off Motorola products.
Samsung
Receive discounts to the electronic products upon verification with your .mil email address. Use the link to sign-up for this discount.
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| How to Get a Veterans ID | Veterans Drivers License ID Designation by State |
The mobile phone industry in the United States is covered in this article. Mobile phones are commonly referred to as smartphones or cell phones.
Wireless service providers[edit]
National operators[edit]
There are three major operators in the United States that offer nationwide wireless services - Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile; All three operate networks using the LTE standard for their 4G and also offer 5G services.
- Verizon Wireless
- Verizon Wireless, headquartered in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, is a subsidiary of Verizon Communications.
- AT&T Mobility
- AT&T Mobility, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, subsidiary of AT&T Inc..
- T-Mobile US
- T-Mobile US, headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, is a subsidiary of German telecommunications company T-Mobile International AG (with Deutsche Telekom as its majority stakeholder).
Regional operators[edit]
National Mobile Phones For Seniors
Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs)[edit]
- Boost Mobile
- A subsidiary of Dish Network, Boost Mobile provides prepaid wireless service using T-Mobile US's CDMA and 4G LTE network.
- BLU
- A service brand of BLU Telecommunication Inc. BLU Mobile provides services using AT&T's GSM, HSPA+, and LTE network. Provide global sim in US and Mexico, known for M2M and static IP services.
- Cricket Wireless
- A subsidiary of AT&T Inc., Cricket Wireless provides service using AT&T's GSM, HSPA+, and LTE network.
- H2O Wireless
- A service brand of Locus Telecommunications LLC, H2O Wireless provides service using AT&T's GSM, HSPA+, and LTE network.
- Metro by T-Mobile
- Wireless service of T-Mobile US, Metro currently provides service using GSM, HSPA+, and LTE network.
- Ting Inc.
- Provides service in the United States through a no-contract tiered pricing model using CDMA, 4G LTE, and HSPA+ on T-Mobile US's network.
- TracFone Wireless
- MVNO using Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and U.S. Cellular. Subsidiary of Mexican telecommunications operator América Móvil, TracFone Wireless provides nationwide prepaid wireless service under the TracFone, NET10 Wireless, Straight Talk, Telcel America, Total Wireless, SafeLink Wireless, SIMPLE Mobile and PagePlus Cellular brands. TracFone provides service using GSM, CDMA, HSPA+, and LTE on one of the top five U.S. networks (dependent on phone programming or SIM card).
Mobile phone industry[edit]
The Federal Communications Commission is the main regulator of the mobile phone industry in the United States. Qualcomm is the inventor of and main contributor to cdmaOne and CDMA2000 mobile phone standards.
Mobile phone production[edit]
U.S. based producers:
International producers:
- Alcatel (Nokia)
- Microsoft Mobile (Previously part of Nokia)
- NEC Casio (G'zOne)
Mobile phone vs. cell phone[edit]
While it is 'mobile phone' in British English, it is 'cell phone' in American English. The term 'cell phone', short for 'cellular phone' came into the day-to-day American English vocabulary during the 1980s when the mobile phone companies had to distinguish their mobile phone that can be carried from one cell to another, each controlled by a land-based antenna, from the earlier Improved Mobile Telephone Service phones. In Wikipedia, 'mobile phone' is more often used because it can be used across various technologies.
See also[edit]
References[edit]