Following in the footsteps of AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, American phone carrier US Cellular isdiscontinuing its participation inGoogle’sPlay Storecarrier billing initiative. This policy change is effective as of August 17, 2025, though existing users can continue to leverage carrier billing up until a cutoff date of June 20, 2025.
While no official press release has been made by either US Cellular orGoogle, the latter company’sPlay Store Help portalhas been updated with confirmation of this development.
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Google isn’t only a smartphone maker, it also provides it’s own cellular network that works with Android phones and iPhones.
Google’s Play Storecarrierbilling program was pitched as a streamlined method for making digital purchases within the company’sAndroidapp storefront. The idea is that customers can select their cellular carrier as an accepted method of payment, and have their purchases billed through their carrier at the end of every month.
Over the past couple of years, US carriershave been opting to bow out ofGoogle’s Play Store billing program altogether. US Cellular stood as the final hold-out carrier still participating in the initiative – its discontinuation as a supported payment method marks the end of US carrier-based billing on the whole.
Google Play Store
Google Play has the most comprehensive app and game selection on Android phones, with over 3.5 million options to choose from.
Google’s Play Store carrier billing program bites the dust
The carrier billing era has come to an end, but there are other payment options available to choose from
Thankfully, there are plenty of alternative methods available for purchasing digital content from the Google Play Store. If you own an Android phone and have access to an activeGoogle Account, you can link your credit card for fast-tracked single-time and subscription-based payments.
Alternatively, you can set up your Play Store purchases to be billed throughPayPalorCash App, and pre-paid Google Play gift cards are readily available for purchase in most big-box retail settings.
For more details on available Play Store payment options, Google provides an in-depth support documenton its official Help page.
Google is advising US Cellular customers to switch from carrier billing to an alternative method of payment in advance of the July 16, 2025 cutoff date, in order to ensure a hitch-free transitional period.
It’s unfortunate to see carrier-based Play Store billing being phased out in the US, as more payment options are generally a good thing. That being said, the program still exists outside of America – for the time being, Canadian carrier Telus remains an active participant in Google’s mobile phone billing initiative.
How to install the Google Play Store on an Amazon Fire tablet
Amazon uses their own app store, but Fire tablets are Android at their core, and can just as easily work with the Play Store.
