$19 sounds too cheap to be good. What's the catch?

There's no catch. But we do things a little differently. Here’s what we mean.

A) We add low-cost Wi-Fi to standard cellular.
B) Our store is online and support starts there.  
C) We believe in you.

Let us explain…

Wi-Fi+ cell = awesome

When you’re on Wi-Fi, you’re on the Internet… and you can connect as well or better than the cell network. We’ll let you in on a secret: calls, texts and data over Wi-Fi cost very little. We figure what doesn’t cost us much shouldn’t cost you a lot either.

We added Wi-Fi Hybrid Calling technology to Motorola’s DEFY™ XT Android smartphone. Now the phone can do everything a regular smartphone can do (using the Sprint network), and connect you through millions of Wi-Fi hotspots you already use every day.  So, you can make calls from that place in your house, or your office, or your city where cell coverage is…shall we say, less than awesome.

Doing more online saves everyone money

The Republic Wireless store is online, so we don’t have to pay to heat it—and neither do you. And technical support is (you guessed it) online.  That means we’re not spending millions of your dollars building stores or funding call centers around the globe. And that’s another reason Republic is so incredibly affordable. Smart, right?

For some of our members, not having an 800 number takes some getting used to. But not to worry, dedicated Republic experts actively participate in our online support community, and are in contact with members by email and phone whenever needed. We just ask that you start with the online community. It is filled with smart and helpful members.

The average mobile user (non-Republic) calls support once per year, and usually about their bill. But with Republic Wireless, the bill is simple (like $19 per month)... no frustrating overages or unexpected fees to call about. So why should you pay for something you aren't using?

The difference is you.

The biggest difference is you, the members of Republic Wireless. Republic is really a community of customers who want a smarter smartphone. People who think smartphones should empower, not impoverish. Sure, with our unlimited data plan, you can hike the South Dakota Badlands all day streaming Netflix movies over the cell network. But when you use Wi-Fi, and when you get (or give) help in our online community, you are saving money for everyone. Republic Wireless believes that when people understand what is good for everyone, they look out for each other. Even without a contract. Maybe we’re weird, but that just seems like the way it should be.

So… is this just a “Wi-Fi” phone? What if there’s no Wi-Fi available?

Absolutely not. This is a Wi-Fi and cellular smartphone. Republic Wireless offers a smartphone that is like any other in all the important ways. When you don’t have access to Wi-Fi, everything still works great over the Sprint network. In fact, there is nothing different from Republic’s Motorola DEFY XT and the one you would buy through another carrier—except that our smartphone is optimized to use the Wi-Fi all around you. For example, when you’re on Wi-Fi, just dial, and your call is connected through the Internet – fast, clear, and low cost. No app downloads or extra steps.

Alright, but it doesn't work that well. Right?

Republic is fairly new to the mobile phone business, and we’re not perfect. Here’s an example: MMS (texting pictures and videos) is not available yet on Republic (you can send them over mobile email or through apps like Snapchat or Facebook). But come on and kick our tires. Consider: Republic is the creation of Bandwidth, a major provider of Internet voice services behind Google Voice, Skype, Pinger, and many other companies. That experience makes us able to provide outstanding reliability and call quality.

What if I have issues or questions?

Resolving member issues and questions is a top priority for us. It’s also one of the things we do differently to keep costs down. In the Republic, we rely on our active member community to help each other out when issues arise. That means we don’t have to spend millions staffing elaborate call centers or opening retail stores in every strip mall.  We do offer support from our own Republic staff through email, an online support request system and Twitter but we encourage members to try the community first. If you want to see how it works, visit our community before you join. 

Who uses Republic Wireless?

We invite you to read the enthusiastic customer reviews online and in our member community.  And remember, there’s no contract, so you can switch whenever you like. But wait, there’s more! If you try Republic and change your mind within 30 days, we’ll give you a full refund. We’re betting you’ll like it here.