If you or an immediate family member is a US veteran or on active duty, there’s now a wireless carrier offering low-cost wireless service and mobile apps just for you. Defense Mobile has partnered with AT&T, Sprint and Verizon to offer nationwide no-contract plans for calling, texting, and 4G LTE wireless data. The Connecticut based company says it’s also close to enlisting T-Mobile as well.
With a current promotion of 25% off all plans for the first three months, the plans start at just $22.50 (normally $30). For that, you get 300 minutes, 300 texts, and 300MB of 4G data. There’s also a mid-range plan for unlimited talk and text plus 1GB of 4G data for just $30 (normally $40). You can up that plan to 3GB of data for $37 (normally $50) or 10GB for $60 (normally $80). The company also offers family plans starting at $71 (regularly $95) for two lines. Keep in mind that after the three month promo, you’ll pay the regular plan price.
Defense Mobile sells many of the latest popular phones at competitive prices including the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S5 (it doesn’t yet have the new S6), the latest Motorola Moto G, and Moto E. It also has a few older phones at discounts or for free with a plan. Although the selection of new phones is small, you can bring your own phone and pop the company’s SIM card into it.
Defense Mobile vs. other carriers
Although Defense Mobile’s prices aren’t always cheaper than other mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) like Ting, Cricket, Straight Talk, Boost Mobile, or Virgin, the company has a big advantage in network coverage. While other MVNOs rely on just one operator’s network, Defense Mobile has coverage from all three (and possibly four) of the country’s top carriers. That means that if you’re out of coverage range with one network, you’ll be automatically connected to another.
And though Defense Mobile is not a nonprofit, the company touts that its customer service center is 100% veteran-staffed, and it donates ten percent of its net profits to support military families in need. There are currently more than 20 million veterans in the US and more than 2.1 million on active duty, including the US Coast Guard.
Defense Mobile’s last selling point is that it offers its users a number of free applications and services aimed at helping service members and veteran families. The company especially touts its miliSource app, which aims to help veterans, active duty service members and their families discover and apply for more federal, state, and local benefits and services. Defense Mobile says the average family that collects benefits from the Veterans Administration today gets $13,300 annually, but the VA estimates that families leave an average of $8,400 of untapped benefits on the table each year.
Defense Mobile users also get an email account that identifies their branch of service and comes with 25GB of free storage, as well as miliCash, a mobile wallet app and prepaid MasterCard that offers cash back rewards from merchants nationwide.
Who runs Defense Mobile?
Defense Mobile was founded by high-profile business leaders and brothers Brendan and Andrew Reilly (pictured at right), who serve as CEO and CFO / Head of Strategy, respectively. The company is also guided by several high-ranking military veterans, including a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (retired USMC general Peter Pace), two of the longest serving Navy SEALS, five FLAG Officers, a former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, a White House Fellow and a Special Assistant to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
The company’s Board of Directors is chaired by co-founder Mr. Peter Lurie, who previously co-founded Virgin Mobile USA. Other directors are longtime energy executive Ray Bartoszek, and well-known venture capitalists Fred Warren and Charles Lax.
You can find company bios, wireless plans, and phones on the company’s website.
