Consumer Cellular is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator, founded by John Marick and Greg Pryor in October 1995. Based in Tigard, Oregon, in the Portland metropolitan area, the company started out with an emphasis on the Pacific Northwest market, but when AT&T and Cingular merged in 2005, Marick renegotiated Consumer Cellular's contract with AT&T to obtain a national footprint. They now use AT&T's network, and coverage includes all 50 US states.

Consumer Cellular specializes in no-contract cell phone plans for the mature market. The company was profiled in The Oregonian's (2009) Silicon Forest blog as #15 on a list of the largest 25 tech companies in northwest Oregon. They have also been an Inc 5000 company for three years in a row (2009 -2011).

In 2005, Consumer Cellular began a relationship with the AARP, making the company the first cell phone provider to market to retirees. The partnership became exclusive in 2008. As result of this partnership, more than 85% of Consumer Cellular's current customers are older than 50. The plans are relatively simple compared to other carriers, and have been advocated by such senior publications as the Senior Journal.