A sponsor compensates an entity, such as a wireless service provider or an intermediary, in exchange for allowing the sponsor to advertise on a card, such as a phone card. The card, which is available for purchase by consumers, is used to purchase a wireless service. In some embodiments, the compensation paid by the sponsor to the entity subsidizes the cost of the wireless service for the consumer. In use, the card is coupled to an advertising-enabled wireless terminal. The advertising that appears on the card is visible to the user through the back cover of the wireless terminal. The sponsor card must remain coupled to wireless terminal for the consumer to use the service that was purchased via the sponsor card.