AT&T vs Cingular

"Tropical Haven" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:%i0Kf.5839$Tf3.2336@dukeread09...
>
> The cold hard truth is that AT&T Wireless couldn't stay in business. They
> weren't making it. I think it's a pretty safe bet that Cingular didn't
> want to adopt practices that would make it bankrupt and end up on the
> auction block itself...
>
>>

But Cingular could have grandfathered our rate plans and kept us--albeit at
a less-profitable level--rather than drive us away altogether.

Now they are advertising, not to acquire NEW customers, but to REPLACE the
millions of us that they dissed.

Their strategy backfired. And I'm glad, because it will serve as a lesson
to other wireless providers that try to coerce their customers. Cingular
could have acted differently, but they were greedy.

"Little pigs get fed, big pigs get slaughtered."

---

› See More: AT&T vs Cingular

I have been a cellular user since Cellular One in 1985. It eventually became ATTWS, but my phone stayed the same. My wife and I are currently on a minimalist two-phone TDMA plan that costs about $29-$35 per month, depending on useage.

I recently shut off my 10 year-old 3-watt AMPS phone and switched to a four year-old Moto TDMA phone that I had lying around.

The guy at the Cingular store tried to get me in a new (GSM) plan, but the best he could do for a two-phone plan was $59.99, plus tax/etc. He touted the 450 anytime minutes and blah-blah-blah, but I don't care. To me, that's like 7-Eleven offering a 5-gallon Slurpee. There's no way we'd use that much.

Cingular *could* offer a few minimalist/security plans in GSM to old ATT customers, but they choose not to.

I'm holding out until they shut off the last TDMA cell. Then I'll shop around for something else.

"esvanr" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I have been a cellular user since Cellular One in 1985. It eventually
> became ATTWS, but my phone stayed the same. My wife and I are
> currently on a minimalist two-phone TDMA plan that costs about $29-$35
> per month, depending on useage.
>
> I recently shut off my 10 year-old 3-watt AMPS phone and switched to a
> four year-old Moto TDMA phone that I had lying around.
>
> The guy at the Cingular store tried to get me in a new (GSM) plan, but
> the best he could do for a two-phone plan was $59.99, plus tax/etc. He
> touted the 450 anytime minutes and blah-blah-blah, but I don't care.
> To me, that's like 7-Eleven offering a 5-gallon Slurpee. There's no
> way we'd use that much.
>
> Cingular *could* offer a few minimalist/security plans in GSM to old
> ATT customers, but they choose not to.
>
> I'm holding out until they shut off the last TDMA cell. Then I'll shop
> around for something else.
>

That was my plan, too. I failed to take into account that Cingular would
keep decommissioning TDMA on many of their towers, and lately it took
several attempts to connect a call, many calls dropped, it took at least 2-3
minutes for the phone to even find a signal after I turned it on, and my
phone would automatically shut off whenever I left my home-rate area. I was
pretty-much forced out of TDMA.

Another carrier with whom I had a business relationship for other phone
service solicited my business, I switched a couple of weeks ago, and I
couldn't be happier.

One suggestion: check the web sites of carriers for online deals before you
set up replacement service in the stores. Sprint, for example, is offering
free phones, free shipping to your home or office, and no activation fees on
as many as 5 lines for new customers. You can save a few bucks by shopping
online.

After you get your phones and you check to see that service is satisfactory,
you can call their Customer Service reps and they can port over your former
ATTWS numbers if you want. Cingular will bill you right up to the end of
the billing cycle, so don't expect a pro rata credit for the unused portion
of the month.

If you're out of contract, that'll be the last few bucks that they'll get
from you. The way I see it, let 'em choke on it . . .

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <ZN1Kf.20203$6f2.11347@trnddc02> on Sun, 19 Feb 2006 17:20:57 GMT, "Jeremy"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>"Tropical Haven" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:%i0Kf.5839$Tf3.2336@dukeread09...
>>
>> The cold hard truth is that AT&T Wireless couldn't stay in business. They
>> weren't making it. I think it's a pretty safe bet that Cingular didn't
>> want to adopt practices that would make it bankrupt and end up on the
>> auction block itself...
>
>But Cingular could have grandfathered our rate plans and kept us--albeit at
>a less-profitable level--rather than drive us away altogether.

It didn't drive you away -- you could (1) keep your old plan (for the time
being), (2) switch to a new GSM plan, or (3) discontinue service. You picked
the last option. That was your choice, not any sort of coercion. Cingular
respects your right to run your life as you see fit -- why can't you respect
Cingular's right to run its business as it sees fit?

>Now they are advertising, not to acquire NEW customers, but to REPLACE the
>millions of us that they dissed.

They haven't dissed millions.

>Their strategy backfired.

In fact Cingular has been quite successful in keeping and migrating "blue"
customers -- churn is *down*, not up.

>And I'm glad, because it will serve as a lesson
>to other wireless providers that try to coerce their customers.

Why would you care? Stop whining, and move on with your life! If's just
cell service. Sheesh.

>Cingular
>could have acted differently, but they were greedy.

Cingular is actually doing what makes good business sense.

>"Little pigs get fed, big pigs get slaughtered."

How childish.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <h9lKf.5187$HU.4158@trnddc04> on Mon, 20 Feb 2006 15:22:53 GMT, "Jeremy"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>That was my plan, too. I failed to take into account that Cingular would
>keep decommissioning TDMA on many of their towers, and lately it took
>several attempts to connect a call, many calls dropped, it took at least 2-3
>minutes for the phone to even find a signal after I turned it on, and my
>phone would automatically shut off whenever I left my home-rate area. I was
>pretty-much forced out of TDMA.

By a defective phone that you choose to keep.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>