Clarification: Cellular Service Options for UC Berkeley Faculty and Staff

Dear Colleagues,

We are writing to provide important information regarding cellular service options available to the UC Berkeley community following the recent announcement about the Bears Mobile (T-Mobile) program.

We want to clarify that Bears Mobile is an optional employee discount program intended strictly for personal use. This service is not managed or supported by the University, and it is not intended for official campus business.

Choosing the Right Service for Your Needs

To ensure you have the best experience, please review the two distinct ways you can access cellular services at UC Berkeley:

1. Official Campus-Managed Services (For Business Use)

If your role requires a mobile device for University business, our department provides fully managed services through AT&T and Verizon. Choosing a campus-managed plan offers several professional advantages:

• Direct Campus Support: Our dedicated team provides end-to-end support for device procurement, billing, and troubleshooting.
• FirstNet via AT&T: For our campus first responders and essential personnel, we offer FirstNet. This provides a dedicated, highly secure network that gives public safety professionals priority and preemption, ensuring your communication works even during times of high network congestion.
• Verizon Business Solutions: Benefit from Verizon’s expansive 5G network and robust coverage tailored for the demanding needs of a research university environment.
• Centralized Billing: Business lines are billed directly to your department, simplifying expense management.

2. Personal Discount Programs (For Personal Use)

The Bears Mobile program via T-Mobile (bearmobile.com) is a partnership between Cal Athletics and T-Mobile. It is a wonderful way for fans and employees to support the university personally, as a portion of the proceeds benefit the Cal Athletics Fund and student scholarships.

• Please Note: Because this is a personal consumer service, it does not include campus technical support, and the University cannot assist with billing or service issues related to these accounts.

Which should I use?

• Use Campus-Managed (AT&T/Verizon): For any devices paid for by university funds or used for mission-critical campus operations.
• Use Bears Mobile (T-Mobile): For your personal or family phone plans if you wish to take advantage of the discount and support Cal Athletics.

For more information on setting up a business line or to learn more about the benefits of FirstNet, please visit the IT Service Hub or contact our support team.

Thank you for everything you do to keep our campus connected.

Best regards,

Berkeley IT Telecommunications