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How Milfams Can Save Real Cash on Cell Phones & Service

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This blog post is part of a paid Megan Media and AT&T/Kyocera blogging program for #DuraForce4MyMilitaryFamily. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own.

It’s hard to believe that we ever lived without cell phones. As a military girlfriend, then fiancé, then spouse, it was my lifeline to my boyfriend-turned-fiancé- turned-husband. Sometimes, I find myself wondering how, even ten years ago, military families were able to function without them.

Just think about that for a moment.

It’s hard to imagine military life without smartphones. In fact, I’ve never known military life without one.

Cell phones have been integral to John and my love story. We spent hours talking on the phone, sharing our hopes and dreams, laughing… and often falling asleep on the line.

We sent texts and pictures. We left silly (and sometimes romantic) voicemails. During deployment, my cell kept us connected, even though John was only able to call me a few times and didn’t have a phone himself. (After I missed the first phone call in five months, I cried at work in front of some guy I had never met before. If you’ve been there, you totally know that sinking, awful feeling when the missed call message pops up.) During our married life, phones have kept up with crazy watch schedules, ridiculous commutes and long nights.

I know a lot of spouses who rely on their cell phones for shreds of information, the long- awaited “I’m okay” text— or a tired voice on the other end of the line. Most of us would give up luxuries before we’d give up our cell phones ─ because we don’t see them as luxuries. We see our phone as a necessary tool in our relationships and families — they make our worlds spin. They keep anxiety at bay. They let us feel closer to the people we love.

Still, it’s always nice when things cost a little bit less, especially when it helps a stressed military family budget. (I know in our family, military discounts help us stretch dollars just a little further!) If you’re in the market for a phone or phone service that respects the sacrifice your family has made, listen up!

AT&T has a discount program known as the Military IRU program. Right off the bat, this program means that all members of the military (including all branches, National Guard and Reserves) and family members who live at the same address receive 15% off1 AT&T’s affordable  plan pricing. For new customers, switching to AT&T grants up to $650 per line in credits for smartphone trade-ins with the purchase of a new one on AT&T Next®.**

And if you need a phone for your guy or gal going out into the field (or wherever the military takes them)? Check out the Kyocera DuraForce PRO — a phone made for virtually anything the military (or a military family) throws at it. It has 810G protection, which means it stands up to DoD-level equipment scrutiny. It’s got military-grade protection against shock, vibration, temperature and humidity; is certified for use in hazardous locations; and is water, dust and shock-resistant based on dust and water ratings. It can be thrown into water (up to 6 1/2 feet of it) for up to 30 minutes… and still work. And it can take video and stills while it’s underwater. It also includes a fingerprint sensor for login, so no one’s getting into your phone except you.

Let me catch my breath for a moment.

Okay. AND it comes with a two-year warranty. Although, with specs like that, I don’t think you’ll need it.

Check out more information about the Kyocera DuraForce PRO and AT&T’s discount  here and let me know how you keep in contact with your far-away loved ones in the comment section below!

*15% Service Discount: Avail. to (a) qual. gov’t employees providing valid gov’t employee ID card or current paystub; (b) qual. military veterans providing either a Dept. of Defense Form DD214 indicating an honorable discharge or a valid retired military ID or current AMVETS membership card; and (c) qual. spouses of active duty or deceased military service personnel providing a valid Dept. of Defense sponsorship card. Offer requires eligible verification in AT&T & authorized retailer stores & is subject to change or discontinuation w/out notice. Eligible indv. must take personal liability for his/her account. Discount applies only to recurring monthly svc. charge of qual. voice & data plans, not overages. Not avail. w/unlimited voice plans. For all Mobile Share plans, applies only to the mo. plan charge of plans w/more than 300MB, not to add’l mo. device access charges. Add’l restr’s apply. May take up to 2 bill cycles after eligibility is confirmed & won’t apply to prior charges. Applied after application of any avail. credit. May not be combined w/other svc. discounts. Visit a store for details.

**$650 Offer: Limited time. Port from elig. carrier on their term agmt or device plan, buy smartphone on AT&T Next or AT&T Next Every Year installment agmt w/elig. svc & remain active & in good standing for 45 days. Credits may not equal total switch costs. Trade-in: Must be in good working condition w/min. $10 trade-in value, on line ported in, & meet program reqmts. Get instant credit/promo card (in 3 wks) for use only to buy AT&T products/svc. Final Bill: W/in 60 days must go to att.com/helpyouswitch & upload/mail final bill w/ETF or device balance (incl. lease purch.) on port. Credit = device balance/ETF (exclusions apply) up to $650 minus trade-in. Get AT&T Promotion Visa Prepaid Card w/in 4 wks after meet all elig. reqmts (add’l terms apply). Promo & Prepaid Cards: valid for 5 mths & not valid for cash. Subj. to Wireless Customer Agmt. Deposit, fees, charges, usage & other restr’s apply. Coverage not avail. everywhere. Subj. to change. See att.com/switch for offer details. Each line reqs elig. service & qual. trade-in. $650 = trade-in credit (may be AT&T/store promo card) + prepaid card (w/in 90 days) for device balance/early termination fee amount less trade-in.

 


One Response

  1. I worked for Kyocera for four years and while I can’t sit here and tell you the phones are the picture of perfection, they are most definitely rugged and take a beating – mine sure did. I am glad to see them letting the military community know about their features.

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