SFone Wireless used to be a nationwide wireless provider that offered wireless plans with unlimited data, talk, and text, no contracts or activation fees, high-speed data, and nationwide coverage. The company offered Lifeline discounts to eligible low-income residents of Maine, Maryland, Arkansas, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. By partnering with its affiliate company Cintex Wireless, the company offered SFone Wireless free government phones and services through Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program. However, SFone Wireless was recently taken over by AirVoice Wireless, therefore, the company’s offer has now changed. So, let’s figure out if it’s still possible to get an SFone Wireless free government phone.
What Happened to SFone Wireless?
Well, no one really knows. SFone Wireless’s social media accounts went silent in 2022. The last post on the company’s Facebook page was published on October 26, 2022. Moreover, the company’s official website sfonewireless.com now redirects you to airvoicewireless.com, which is the official website of AirVoice Wireless, which is another wireless company that existed before SFone disappeared. As such, we can only assume that SFone went out of business and AirVoice Wireless purchased or otherwise took over the company. Therefore, we will from now on talk about AirVoice Wireless instead of SFone, as AirVoice seems to have taken over.
Types of Services That the New SFone Wireless Offers
AirVoice Wireless, which can be thought of as the ‘new SFone Wireless’, as it seems to have taken over SFone’s business, is a wireless company that offers affordable prepaid plans for all budgets. The company offers low-cost monthly service and mobile devices without contracts and with the option to cancel service within 7 days of activation and receive a full refund. The company is based in Houston and runs on T-Mobile and AT&T’s nationwide networks.
The company’s plan prices range from $15 a month to $30, with the most affordable plan offering unlimited talk and text, nationwide coverage, and 6GB of data, while the priciest plan comes with unlimited talk and text, nationwide coverage, and unlimited monthly data. These are promotional prices for the first 3 months. After this period, the 6GB plan costs $30 without AutoPay and $25 with AutoPay, while the unlimited plan costs $60 without AutoPay and $45 with AutoPay. There is also the extremely affordable no-data plan that only costs $7 without AutoPay and $5 a month with AutoPay.
Nonetheless, AirVoice doesn’t participate in any government assistance programs, such as Lifeline or the Affordable Connectivity Program, therefore, it doesn’t offer additional discounts for low-income customers.
Is it Still Possible to Get an SFone Wireless Free Government Phone?
As the former SFone Wireless offered Lifeline discounts and even partnered with Cintex Wireless to offer customers ACP benefits, the company did offer free government phones. But is this still an option now that SFone’s business was taken over by AirVoice Wireless – a company that doesn’t offer free government phones or other benefits through Lifeline or ACP?
Well, the answer is yes, but indirectly. Let me explain.
AirVoice Wireless is an FCC-licensed Eligible Telecommunication Carrier (ETC) and it powers certain other wireless companies, including AirTalk Wireless and Cintex Wireless. Through these companies, AirVoice offers Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). As such, while low-income customers cannot receive an SFone Wireless free government phone directly through AirVoice (the company that took over SFone’s business), it is possible to get a free government phone from one of AirVoice’s subsidiaries, such as AirTalk Wireless or Cintex Wireless.
The name of the company doesn’t really matter. I bet that you don’t care if you get an SFone Wireless free government phone or an AirTalk/Cintex Wireless free government phone. What matters is that you can in fact receive a free government phone from a Lifeline/ACP provider. Therefore, we’ll explain the exact process and steps in the following sections.
Process to Get an SFone Wireless Free Government Phone
As we have established above, the closest thing to receiving an SFone Wireless free government phone is a free government phone from AirTalk Wireless or Cintex Wireless, both of which are subsidiaries of AirVoice Wireless, the company that took over SFone Wireless.
Now, to receive a free government phone from AirTalk or Cintex Wireless, you must follow these simple yet crucial steps:
- You must see whether or not you qualify for the AirTalk or Cintex’s Lifeline and/or ACP program.
- You must make sure you can prove your Lifeline/ACP eligibility.
- You must apply for the Lifeline/ACP program.
- If approved, you can enjoy the benefits. Let’s break it down below.
Do I Qualify for an SFone Wireless Free Government Phone?
Let’s first see if you can qualify for an SFone Wireless free government phone, which will actually be provided by AirTalk or Cintex Wireless.
To qualify, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old or an emancipated minor.
- Be a resident of one of the states where AirTalk or Cintex Wireless operate.
- Meet the Lifeline or the Affordable Connectivity Program FCC-determined eligibility criteria but preferably both, as qualifying for both will give the most benefits and the most advanced free phone.
- To qualify for Lifeline, you must either have an annual household income at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines or participate in another qualifying government assistance program, such as Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, FPHA, Veterans Pension, or a Tribal program.
- To qualify for ACP, you must either have an annual household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines or participate in another qualifying government assistance program, such as Lifeline, any of the Lifeline-qualifying programs listed above, WIC, Free or Reduced-Price School Lunch/Breakfast Program, or if your household received the Federal Pell Grant in the current award year.
How to Show My SFone Wireless Free Government Phone Eligibility?
During the application process, you will be required to provide certain personal information and documentation in order to prove your eligibility to receive a free government phone. As you cannot submit original documents, make sure to prepare clear copies of valid documentation.
- Required Information:
- Your complete legal name
- Date of birth
- Physical address
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- Contact details
- Required Documentation:
- Proof of income-based eligibility (if applicable):
- Copy of an official document showing your full name and income, such as last year’s tax return, paycheck stubs, current income statement from your employer, Unemployment benefits verification, etc.
- Proof of program participation-based eligibility (if applicable):
- Copy of an official document displaying your full name, the name of the assistance program, the issuing institution’s name, and a valid name to confirm your participation in the program. This could be an approval letter, benefit award letter, benefit verification letter, statement of benefits, etc.
- Proof of identity and age:
- Copy of an official document including your full name and date of birth, like a valid ID, birth certificate, passport, etc. In the case of being an emancipated minor, you’ll need to provide a copy of an emancipation certificate or a court document.
- Proof of address:
- Copy of an official document that states your full name and address, such as a valid ID, driver’s license, utility bill, mortgage or lease statement, etc.
- Proof of income-based eligibility (if applicable):
How to Apply for an SFone Wireless Free Government Phone?
Securing a government phone at no cost involves a straightforward application process.
- First, you must choose the provider. As SFone no longer operates independently, you can select to apply through AirTalk or Cintex Wireless, which are SFone’s affiliate companies. Alternatively, you can select any other provider that offers free government phones.
- Choose by visiting both airtalkwireless.com and cintexwireless.com, pressing Apply, entering your ZIP code to see if the company operates in your area in the first place, and then reviewing each company’s offer in your area.
- Once you’ve reached a decision, select which plan you wish to sign up for. In most areas, you will be able to choose from a Lifeline Only, ACP Only, and Lifeline & ACP Combo Plan. If possible, select the latter, as it offers the most benefits.
- You will then be redirected to the company’s enrollment form. You must complete it by providing all the required personal information, household details, eligibility proof, etc.
- Submit the application and await for the company to contact you after they’ve reached a decision.
What Other Benefits Can I Get From AirTalk or Cintex Wireless In Addition to an SFone Wireless Free Government Phone?
If your application gets approved, you will also receive a free monthly plan with free monthly talk minutes, text messages, high-speed data, access to a nationwide network, and other perks. As an ACP subscriber, you may even get a chance to purchase a tablet with a huge discount.
The phone model that you can expect to receive depends on the plan you select, however, these companies offer advanced devices from top brands, including Samsung, Motorola, Apple, LG, Google, etc.
What to Do If I Cannot Get an SFone Wireless Free Government Phone?
In case you cannot receive an SFone Wireless free government phone from one of the company’s affiliates, you may consider getting a free government phone from another unrelated Lifeline/ACP provider. There are many providers that offer free government phones, including:
- Access Wireless
- Assurance Wireless
- Easy Wireless
- enTouch Wireless
- Life Wireless
- NewPhone Wireless
- Q Link Wireless
- SafeLink Wireless
- StandUp Wireless
- TruConnect
If you are unable to get a free phone from any Lifeline/ACP provider (perhaps you don’t qualify for the program), you may also get a free device through a carrier’s promo deal, a charity or non-profit organization, by becoming a reviewer, survey participant, or marketing agent, or through an online giveaway.
What to Do If I Have Other Questions About SFone Wireless?
In case you have any other questions about SFone Wireless and what exactly happened to the company, you should visit its former website sfonewireless.com, which will redirect you to AirVoice’s website. There, you should visit the Contact page at airvoicewireless.com/contact, select a way to contact the company, and get in touch with a support team representative to inquire about SFone Wireless.