Have you ever heard of Defense Mobile?

TSgt Scott Hurley — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 17:20:53 -0400

I was just in Radio Shack today when I saw a sign out front talking about "Military Mobile." At this time they have no brochures on it which is odd. I did ask the sales employee about it. And he informed me that even they are somewhat in the dark about it. But that it is supposed to roll out on November 1st.

I asked what this program does, and supposedly it will allow you to use a phone on any of the existing carrier networks. Even if you have a phone with say Verizon, you can use it on AT&T network and vice versa. Like Even if you have an existing phone you can use the system too. I do not know if the carriers are involved in this, but I do know that both the Samsung Galaxy and the iPhone will be able to use it. The question remains to be seen as to what functions it will be able to do.

Also, it can be military specific for each branch of service. So if you see a sign in front of your local Radio Shack, go in and ask questions. Also, go in to any store that may have a sign that talks about "Military Mobile."

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2014 6:45 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 18:45:02 -0400

I was always under the impression that GSM and CDMA don't play well with one another. But, if this is true, then it is awesome.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2014 6:57 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 18:57:20 -0400

I agree, SFC Private RallyPoint Member. Guess we'll find out on November 1st. Or ... I think I may have found the scoop on this. Check this out:

http://media.radioshackcorporation.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=242236&p=irol-newsArticle_Print&ID=1961844

Response by LTC Chris Norton made Oct 24 at 2014 8:39 AM

LTC Chris Norton — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 08:39:34 -0400

TSgt Scott Hurley -I can't tell you how cool it is for me to see this in here.

I'm one of the guys launching the firm.

We have not done a LOT of advertising yet, as since you learned at RadioShack we are just about to launch it, but more is coming out on ARMYmobile, MARINESmobile, NAVYmobile, AIRFORCEmobile, and COASTGUARDmobile.

Here's the net.

We looked at USAA and said, "That's a REAL GOOD BUSINESS MODEL...how come no one else is doing that?". So we did.

Every single member of ours has to have served honorably or be in uniform now. Once you've passed that check, we modeled after DEERS and allow you to sponsor other accounts for spouses, family members, etc...

We are a Commerce for a Cause Corporation-We by design set aside 10% of our profit to go back to the Military Community via the VSOs, non-profits, etc...that take care of us as a community. We're expecting that to look something like ~$50M a year we're giving back by the end of 2017.

We then approached the carriers with this operating concept, since we needed a network....and walked away with the "three largest networks" powering us. Other than Sprint, the other two have not said we can publicly announce their names yet.

Suffice to say it's a real large GSM carrier (see my prior employer) and an even large competing CDMA carrier. In all cases we run over their 4G and LTE networks.

Like the rep at RS noted, you can bring a device as well as get one through us.

We have platform that allows us to move you from one carrier network to the other as needed to ensure you have the best possible coverage-on the device you have. No ETF, frequently no need for a new phone. real useful when you PCS.

We're in most cases cheaper than the other carriers, or at least competitive. That's really not what we're designed to do though. If all you want is "the cheapest", you can go to Walmart for that.

Besides the giveback, we then designed and built a solution to the mess that is benefits. We said to ourselves..."how can we make this easier using technology" and built an app that for all intents and purposes works like TurboTax: It builds a profile on you based on your particular service elements, and then suggests and leads you to the federal, state, and local (example-Fishing Licenses) benefits and resources available to you.

There's more we're overlaying against it-Lifetime branch-specific email (I have been annoyed to say the least at the loss of my AKO mail), a mobile wallet/deals and offers platform with linked mastercard that connects the veteran segment to the "10% off" type deals a lot of us do now, and some other things we're working on for post-launch.

Chief Montgomery found the press release covering our Radioshack partnership...as a logistician I LOVE the retail footprint they give us; but we've got a number of other things coming as well.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/10/prweb12274022.htm

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/10/prweb12264266.htm

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/10/prweb12256035.htm (Note-These guys do the assisted sale at most of the Exchanges)

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/10/prweb12247028.htm

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/10/prweb12231962.htm

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/09/prweb12204716.htm

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/09/prweb12137610.htm

The Nov 1 Date may actually get moved up. The best way to stay tuned in there is to follow us on Social Media-Each Branch Brand, as well as the parent company, have active Facebook and Twitter handles.

Looking forward to getting this off the ground, and

Defense Mobile Announces Distinguished Roster for its New Advisory Board

Westport, CT (PRWEB) October 23, 2014 -- Defense Mobile announces an impressive ten-person advisory board comprised of high-ranking former and retired United States military service members.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2014 10:48 AM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 10:48:19 -0400

I'm totally intrigued by this but am not totally clear, is the purpose to give AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, etc. a run for their money or just purchasing the phone? The Radio Shack press release eludes to more unless I misunderstood.

Response by Maj Wayne Dahlke made Oct 24 at 2014 12:54 PM

Maj Wayne Dahlke — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 12:54:56 -0400

PV2 Wilcox, I met with LTC Norton at AUSA (he had the booth next to mine), and it is more of a specific military benefit. You are using the same networks, but with Defense Mobile, it does not matter what kind of phone you have (GSM or CDMA) because they will have deals with all of the major carriers. Think of this like old school USAA for insurance and banking...you have to either be in the service or have served to be eligible to use the service. They put the icing on the cake by putting together a mobile app that will help you take advantage of the benefits you are entitled to. And they give back to the military community by donating 10% of their profit to charities and organizations that support military members, veterans and their families.

I am still stuck in a Verizon contract (14 more months) or I would be doing this for my family on launch day.

Cheers

Wayne

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Oct 24 at 2014 2:02 PM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:02:44 -0400

I personally have had to change carriers twice with PCS moves due to "WHO" had the best service in remote out of the way Army post! Lets just say being in Tennessee and Texas is not like living in LA (lower Alabama). Even today with all the coverage advertised, seems most carriers cannot deliver as promised. I like this proposal.

Response by Cpl Brett Wagner made Oct 24 at 2014 2:35 PM

Cpl Brett Wagner — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:35:42 -0400

This is indeed very interesting. My questions would be can the big carriers make it hard enough on Defense Mobile so that they cannot operate? The big cable companies still have a lock on their market, why I don't know. Judge Green put to rest all that crap about AT&T building all the infrastructure therefore they own it and no one else can use it. In the early days of the Internet (common population using it) anybody could put up a T1 and segment it out to anyone else who paid them.

Response by LTC Chris Norton made Nov 6 at 2014 3:31 PM

LTC Chris Norton — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 15:31:31 -0500

Following up on this...as of today, we're in Radio Shack and available.

Response by LTC Chris Norton made Dec 30 at 2014 3:55 PM

LTC Chris Norton — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 15:55:57 -0500

Just going to drop this here. Hit me a note if you want to get in on this. Happy New Year to all.

Response by LTC Chris Norton made Mar 20 at 2015 4:10 PM

LTC Chris Norton — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 16:10:24 -0400

this, BTW, is the type of thing that you support by using us as a carrier (Heck, you need a phone, we're the same signal, and we cost less).

http://bit.ly/1Fe4zgx

We re-tooled our e-commerce site recently in light of the RadioShack challenges, so there's a lot more you can do there in terms of order and fulfillment.

Thanks for helping us give back

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2015 6:56 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 18:56:10 -0400

If I didn't have a grandfathered Verizon unlimited data plan this would sound great.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2015 7:12 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 19:12:29 -0400

Sounds pretty cool!

Response by LTC Chris Norton made Mar 24 at 2015 9:27 PM

LTC Chris Norton — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 21:27:31 -0400

For those following, VFW and American Legion members get 10% off monthly service, for life. Good reason to join either one...that savings alone will more than pay your dues several times over.

Response by MSgt Stephanie McCalister made Apr 22 at 2015 11:32 AM

MSgt Stephanie McCalister — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 11:32:17 -0400

It's legit, I saw them advertised via ID.me back in January & signed up for an account just as they were first rolling out. I received a smartphone from DefenseMobile, with the AirForceMobile option, very reasonable monthly rates with unlimited calls/texts, & they have different data options on different plans.

Not every Radio Shack had the information on them at the time, so it was a bit of a juggle to get activated, but now I have a great little phone & the service coverage area is decent, even in the mountains! Recently they even sent me a free t-shirt!

Their staff are all veterans, & 10% of their profits are fed back to veterans & families in need via 4 different non-profits. They also offer MiliSource to find out more about Military & Veteran benefits, & MiliCash, a debit card option.

I highly recommend Defense Mobile.

Response by LTC Chris Norton made Sep 25 at 2015 8:06 AM

LTC Chris Norton — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 08:06:25 -0400

Round Deux:

So, with Radio Shack's issues in the last year, we ended up shifting to an e-comm only model for a few months. As of yesterday, we entered retail in the exchange system.

We're currently at the following locations and should be adding more soon:

New River MCAS Main Exchange
Lackland AFB Main Exchange
Fort Bliss Main Exchange
San Diego Naval Base Main Exchange
Camp Pendleton Mainside Main Exchange
Joint Base Lewis McChord Main Exchange
Pearl Harbor Main Exchange

Response by LTC Chris Norton made Nov 20 at 2015 10:16 AM

LTC Chris Norton — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 10:16:01 -0500

ALCON-We added Verizon officially yesterday. #justsaying.

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Nov 20 at 2015 10:53 AM

SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 10:53:39 -0500

My wife and I use Defense Mobile. It's a great cell phone service for SM's and Veterans.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 6 at 2019 11:22 AM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 11:22:28 -0400

No, I have not!

Response by SPC Jae Taylor made Aug 27 at 2019 12:06 PM

SPC Jae Taylor — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 12:06:31 -0400

It looks like I missed out:
http://www.defensemobile.com/defense-mobile-faqs/

Seems like it was a good service.

Defense Mobile FAQs – Defense Mobile

Yes, you can. Total Wireless is offering assistance to Defense Mobile members to to transfer their mobile service. For more information, please call 855-848-8866 and a Total Wireless agent will help you transfer your number(s) and select a comparable rate plan.