Mobile Phones
There are two mobile phone service options in the United States: pre-paid service or contract-based service. It is recommended that students/scholars/dependents do some research before choosing a service type, selecting a carrier, and signing a contract.
Pre-Paid Service
With pre-paid service, the customer buys a phone and add minutes to their account. This may be a more expensive option, but it gives the customer more flexibility because pre-paid service doesn't require a social security number (SSN) or a US credit history, and it allows for short-term cell phone use.
Contract-Based Service
Contract-based service is sometimes less expensive than pre-paid service, but typically requires a one or two year commitment. Also, most companies will make the customer pay a security deposit (usually several hundred dollars) if they do not have a social security number (SSN). Even if a student/scholar has a social security number, they might still have to pay a deposit if they haven't been in the US long enough to establish a US credit history.
Carriers
Find a store: