Cingular screws over AT&T Free2Go customers after merger

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Archived from groups: misc.consumers,alt.cellular,alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

"Joseph" <JoeOfSeattle@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:9eps81pe24snn4f6mh2k7ch1uk6ngsqhcv@4ax.com...
> On 20 May 2005 02:23:36 -0700, "David L" <davlindi@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >I'll have to check out number availbilty in the SF bay area for Beyond
> >wireless.
>
> They don't have any California numbers.

Doesn't really matter. They will issue a number where they do have them, and
since it's free long distance it doesn't matter. Actually it can be better
to have an out of state number since intra-LATA rates are higher than
inter-LATA rates.

 

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Archived from groups: misc.consumers,alt.cellular,alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

"Steven M. Scharf" wrote:
> "Joseph" <JoeOfSeattle@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > On 20 May 2005 02:23:36 -0700, "David L" <davlindi@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > >I'll have to check out number availbilty in the SF bay area for Beyond
> > >wireless.
> >
> > They don't have any California numbers.
>
> Doesn't really matter. They will issue a number where they do have them, and
> since it's free long distance it doesn't matter.

It matters to the people who call you. I wish I'd bothered to make sure that
the number assigned to me was a local call for my local friends and relatives.

> Actually it can be better
> to have an out of state number since intra-LATA rates are higher than
> inter-LATA rates.

--
Cheers,
Bev
*********************************************************
Warning: Objects in mirror appear smarter than they are.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: misc.consumers,alt.cellular,alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

David L wrote:
> Yes things change, but it's going to take a miracle to outfit all those
> mom&pop cellco analog towers in the middle of nowhere. And even if they
> do... what's that going to do for all the local farmer/rancher/ country
> types, who really depend on getting a signal from those towers that
> were built out expressly for 3watt/ 1/2 watt analog coverage? I think
> there's a snowballs chance that there will be fill in towers built,
> since that's a _huge_ cost burden for small carriers.

If they do go digital, it will almost certainly be to CDMA, since you
need a lot less CDMA cells than GSM cells to cover a given area.

But there really is no reason for them to go digital. They are not
required to turn off AMPS in 2007, they are merely permitted to do so. I
visited Alaska two years ago. No GSM at all, mostly TDMA and AMPS, with
CDMA in moderate size cities. AMPS coverage was excellent, even far from
cities. They were still selling new Motorola 3W AMPS phones, though now
they're down to refurbished ones, see
"http://www.acsalaska.com/shoponline/PhoneDetail.aspx?intEquipId=14204"

I roam onto AMPS a lot, even in California. Just drive to Yosemite from
San Francisco. On the outskirts of Oakdale you switch to Golden State
Cellular on CDMA. In the park, you can get Golden State Cellular AMPS.
There is no GSM or TDMA coverage.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: misc.consumers,alt.cellular,alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

The Real Bev wrote:

> "Steven M. Scharf" wrote:
>
>>"Joseph" <JoeOfSeattle@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>>On 20 May 2005 02:23:36 -0700, "David L" <davlindi@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>I'll have to check out number availbilty in the SF bay area for Beyond
>>>>wireless.
>>>
>>>They don't have any California numbers.
>>
>>Doesn't really matter. They will issue a number where they do have them, and
>>since it's free long distance it doesn't matter.
>
>
> It matters to the people who call you. I wish I'd bothered to make sure that
> the number assigned to me was a local call for my local friends and relatives.

It often matters less than you think.

For example, for relatives that live 35 miles away from us (San Jose-San
Bruno), if they call a San Jose number from their landline, it will cost
6 cents per minute. If they call an out-of-state number, using a good
long distance service it will cost about 4 cents per minute. Or they can
use something like OneSuite, and all the calls will be 2.5 cents per
minute. I realize that in some areas, the local calling area is much
larger than what it is where I live, so YMMV.

The other thing you can do is to tell your friends and relatives to call
you, and you won't answer, but you'll call them back (as long as they
don't have Caller-ID blocking). Or they can send you a text message to
call them, since on BW, incoming messages are free.

Since prepaid users are frugal, they keep the number of minutes to a
minimum, and the caller paying for a few LD minutes isn't a big deal.

 

[Joseph]

Archived from groups: misc.consumers,alt.cellular,alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

On Sat, 21 May 2005 01:03:44 GMT, "Steven M. Scharf"
<scharf.steven@linkearth.net> wrote:

>Joseph wrote:
>
>> Please name them.
>
>See earlier post.
>
> > T-Mobile does not and as far as I know cingular
>> does not either. How many GSM is many considering that there are only
>> two GSM national operators at present T-Mobile and cingular. And how
>> do you suppose setting the fee high does not mean that they couldn't
>> get screwed?
>
>Because they know the rates that other operators charge, and they set
>their own rates high enough to avoid losing money. There are many, many
>GSM carriers throughout the country, in areas that are not large enough
>for the national carriers to serve, but that you can roam on if your
>plan allows roaming.

Steve, it doesn't matter if they charge $5 a minute. They won't do it
and they don't do it for reasons I've stated previously. Prepaid GSM
does not allow for off network roaming in the US. I asked you to
provide an answer on which GSM network allows roaming with prepaid and
you never answered. By your non answer we can assume that it
doesn't exist in the US.

>> You evidently don't really know and are only
>> conjecturing,
>
>No offense, but I know far more about this subject than you are ever
>likely to know.

OK why should anyone believe this? Do you have a degree in prepaid
cellphone policy?

>You don't realize that Cingular sells time on their network to other
>prepaid operators, such as Net10, 7-11, and Locus. These virtual
>carriers are free to set their own rates, and their own policies on
>roaming.

None of the MVNOs allow off network roaming.


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[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

Within the next two years, I think.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: misc.consumers,alt.cellular,alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

"Joseph" <JoeOfSeattle@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news😛tiu8110jnd19c2nkvu92t76r39gqf8qtr@4ax.com...

> Steve, it doesn't matter if they charge $5 a minute. They won't do it
> and they don't do it for reasons I've stated previously.

As has been explained to you, with references, is the fact that they do do
it. What you stated previously is incorrect. No one will think badly of you
if you simply acknowledge your error, rather than continue to state what is
not so.

> Prepaid GSM
> does not allow for off network roaming in the US. I asked you to
> provide an answer on which GSM network allows roaming with prepaid and
> you never answered. By your non answer we can assume that it
> doesn't exist in the US.

Do not use "we" in your responses. It is perfectly clear that you are the
only person that is unable to comprehend the facts. Using "we" implies that
there are other individuals that are as obstinate, as yourself.

Both Marcio and I explained to you which prepaid plans offered roaming on
GSM and CDMA prepaid. Not sure what your comprehension problem is.

There are links to all of the plans at http://prepaiduswireless.com, and you
can see that all of the GSM plans, except those offered directly by Cingular
and T-Mobile, allow roaming on prepaid, at an extra charge (or in the case
of Net10, at no extra charge). I also added a section that explictly stated
which plans do, and do not, allow roaming, for GSM, CDMA, TDMA, and iDEN.

>>No offense, but I know far more about this subject than you are ever
likely to know.

>OK why should anyone believe this?

All they have to do is to go to the websites of each GSM provider. Each one
explicitly states whether roaming is allowed or not, and if it is allowed,
what it costs.

Steve
http://prepaiduswireless.com

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

Anybody have any experience buying the older AT&T Free2go $10 cards on
eBay? I just want to make sure that they are indeed accepted by
Cingular and still expire in 90 days before buying them. I've had two
pre-paid Nokia 5160i's for 4 years now, so I've seen all the AT&T
sheenanigans. The latest Cingular $15/30 day expiration is the final
straw.

Also, is it true that the electronic cards have no expiration date?
I've seen some that expire at the end of 2005 and then I've seen some
that say there is no expiration for activating the card. What's the
scoop?


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[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

I just loaded two $10 AT&T prepaid cards (that I bought off eBay) to two
Nokia phones with no problem and the expiration was still 90 days. Take
that Cingular! 😛 I already bought 4 more cards which will take me
through the end of the year. After that I'll decide what to do.

I was a little worried that the older AT&T cards wouldn't work because
the display on my phone changed from AT&T to Cingular. Well it still
worked and I couldn't be happier knowing that I'm still only paying
$3.33 a month versus $8.


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Archived from groups: misc.consumers,alt.cellular,alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

On 5/6/05 11:42 AM, in article d5g6qh$5b9$1@jik.kamens.brookline.ma.us,
"Jonathan Kamens" <jik@kamens.brookline.ma.us> wrote:

> Before Cingular merged with AT&T wireless, subscribers to the
> AT&T wireless "Free2Go" prepaid calling plan could keep a
> prepaid account active by paying only $10 every 90 days.
> This was perfect for my wife, who rarely uses her cell phone
> but occasionally finds it useful to have one.
>
> After the merger, I can't add $10 to the account at all, $15
> expires in 30 days rather than 90 days, and I have to add at
> least $25 to the account to keep it active for 90 days.
>
> In short, after the merger the prepaid account costs 150% more
> than it did before the merger.
>
> I see other postings about this, but I don't see anything
> which makes it perfectly clear just how badly they've screwed
> over occasional users with this change. Outrageous!
>
> Yes, sir, these mega-mergers sure do benefit the consumer! If
> you believe that, I've got some nice land in Florida I'd like
> to sell you.

Maybe one of these would be better:

http://www.wirelessflatrate.com/


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