Very confused about Cingular data plans

I have several questions about Cingular's data plans that I hope someone
can help me with. I have been searching their web site, but have not
been able to find an (understandable) explanation of the various
features -- a call to customer service didn't help much either.

I wish to tether a Mac to a Sony Ericsson Z520a using Bluetooth so I can
access the internet while traveling in the US.

I know that I can connect to a slow 9600bps CSD (Circuit Switched Data)
connection using Cingular's CSD plan for $3.99/mo, which incidentally
is named "Dial up & Fax" when you sign up for it, but the name changes
to "Data Access CSD" after it is on your account -- are they trying to
hide the feature??

Anyway, I would like to know if anything faster will work with this
phone and Mac.

1) ----

I see an "Unlimited Laptop Connect - Offer" feature for $59.99 which
they describe as:

"Provide secure access to enterprise data and applications with
fallover, customer defined APNs and customer defined requirements with
CCS.

Includes unlimited. Voice $.40 min. within CPN Footprint, $.69 min
outside of CPN footprint. No GPRS Roaming."

Can anyone decode this into english?

What is "enterprise data"?

What is a "customer defined APN" ?

What is "fallover"?

What is a "CPN Footprint"?

Does "No GPRS Roaming" mean that this service _cannot_ be used when one
travels?

And what does a data service have to do with Voice?

2) ------

Then there is an "Unlimited Data Access For PDA" for $39.99 that has no
description at all.

How does this service differ from the "Unlimited Laptop Connect"?

----------

As you can see, I am quite confused by all of this. Cingular offers no
help at all if I don't own a PDA or a PC.

I hope someone can help.

--
-Ernie-

"There are only two kinds of computer users -- those who have
suffered a catastrophic hard drive failure, and those who will."

Have you done your backup today?

---

› See More: Very confused about Cingular data plans

I don't have all of your answers, but I'll take a shot at a couple.

> Includes unlimited. Voice $.40 min. within CPN Footprint, $.69 min
> outside of CPN footprint. No GPRS Roaming."

The above statement refers to voice use. I believe CPN stands for
Cingular Provider Network (CPN footprint is the area actually covered
by Cingular). If you are in Cingular's signal area and connected via
Cingular, you can make unlimited voice calls at $.40/min.. If you are
out of range with Cingular but can access a T-Mobile signal, it would
cost you $.69/min. to make a call. You cannot use GPRS features
outside of Cingular (for instance via T-Mobile). GPRS is generally
used for phone internet access I believe. The reason Cingular includes
voice with a data package is that some people might only get a PC data
card to connect to the internet. If they needed to make a voice call
using this card, they could (with a hands-free headset), but it would
cost them. This is designed for limited use, obviously.

APN could stand for one of several things, ie: "Access Point Name",
"Access Point Number", "Actual Private Network". I am unsure of
Cingular's exact meaning here, but I believe they are using it in the
sense of being able to access a Corporate Network (generally over VPN
[Virtual Private Network]. Enterprise data means being able to access
files on a Corporate Network. I am unsure of the meaning of Fallover.

In article <[email protected]>,
"GomJabbar" <[email protected]> wrote:

> I don't have all of your answers, but I'll take a shot at a couple.
>
> > Includes unlimited. Voice $.40 min. within CPN Footprint, $.69 min
> > outside of CPN footprint. No GPRS Roaming."
>
> The above statement refers to voice use. I believe CPN stands for
> Cingular Provider Network (CPN footprint is the area actually covered
> by Cingular). If you are in Cingular's signal area and connected via
> Cingular, you can make unlimited voice calls at $.40/min.. If you are
> out of range with Cingular but can access a T-Mobile signal, it would
> cost you $.69/min. to make a call.

Thanks for your answer, but my subject line may have misled you. I
should have said *data features*, not *data plans*. I can understand
voice service being part of a data _plan_ as you describe.

A voice plan, I already have. My main questions are about how to use
the data features that I can add to my voice plan.

It is just curious (to me) why voice is mentioned at _all_ in a
_feature_ that can be added to an already existing _voice_plan.

--
-Ernie-

"There are only two kinds of computer users -- those who have
suffered a catastrophic hard drive failure, and those who will."

Have you done your backup today?

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

In <[email protected]> on 13 Feb 2006
17:39:31 -0800, "GomJabbar" <[email protected]> wrote:

>APN could stand for one of several things, ie: "Access Point Name",
>"Access Point Number", "Actual Private Network". I am unsure of
>Cingular's exact meaning here, but I believe they are using it in the
>sense of being able to access a Corporate Network (generally over VPN
>[Virtual Private Network].

<http://www.cingular.com/business/host_connect>
<http://www.cingular.com/download/ccs_white_paper.pdf>

APN = Access Point Name. The service description and routing for GPRS data for
application use. (Somewhat like a phone number on the PSTN.)

>Enterprise data means being able to access
>files on a Corporate Network. I am unsure of the meaning of Fallover.

Backup.

--
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 <[email protected]> on Mon, 13 Feb 2006
16:01:25 GMT, Ernie Klein <[email protected]> wrote:

>I have several questions about Cingular's data plans that I hope someone
>can help me with. I have been searching their web site, but have not
>been able to find an (understandable) explanation of the various
>features -- a call to customer service didn't help much either.
>
>I wish to tether a Mac to a Sony Ericsson Z520a using Bluetooth so I can
>access the internet while traveling in the US.

Cingular wants you to use a (more expensive) Data Connect package, but a (less
expensive) MEdia Net package will work.

>I know that I can connect to a slow 9600bps CSD (Circuit Switched Data)
>connection using Cingular's CSD plan for $3.99/mo, which incidentally
>is named "Dial up & Fax" when you sign up for it, but the name changes
>to "Data Access CSD" after it is on your account -- are they trying to
>hide the feature??

Yes. Cingular is discouraging CSD in favor of (more efficient)
GPRS/EGPRS(EDGE).

>Anyway, I would like to know if anything faster will work with this
>phone and Mac.

Yes: GPRS/EGPRS(EDGE)/HSDPA

>1) ----
>
>I see an "Unlimited Laptop Connect - Offer" feature for $59.99 which
>they describe as:
>
> "Provide secure access to enterprise data and applications with
>fallover, customer defined APNs and customer defined requirements with
>CCS.
>
> Includes unlimited. Voice $.40 min. within CPN Footprint, $.69 min
>outside of CPN footprint. No GPRS Roaming."
>
>Can anyone decode this into english?
>
>What is "enterprise data"?

Data at your enterprise (company).

>What is a "customer defined APN" ?

Customer GPRS profile.

>What is "fallover"?

Backup.

>What is a "CPN Footprint"?

Cingular Preferred Nation (native Cingular network).

>Does "No GPRS Roaming" mean that this service _cannot_ be used when one
>travels?

It means it cannot be used off the Cingular network.

>And what does a data service have to do with Voice?

Voice charge for use without a voice plan.

>2) ------
>
>Then there is an "Unlimited Data Access For PDA" for $39.99 that has no
>description at all.
>
>How does this service differ from the "Unlimited Laptop Connect"?

For use with a PDA (e.g., Treo 650), rather than a laptop.

>----------
>
>As you can see, I am quite confused by all of this. Cingular offers no
>help at all if I don't own a PDA or a PC.

Think Mac = PC.

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

In article
<[email protected]>,
John Navas <[email protected]> wrote:

> [POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
>
> In <[email protected]> on Mon, 13 Feb 2006
> 16:01:25 GMT, Ernie Klein <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >I have several questions about Cingular's data plans that I hope someone
> >can help me with. I have been searching their web site, but have not
> >been able to find an (understandable) explanation of the various
> >features -- a call to customer service didn't help much either.
> >
> >I wish to tether a Mac to a Sony Ericsson Z520a using Bluetooth so I can
> >access the internet while traveling in the US.
>
> Cingular wants you to use a (more expensive) Data Connect package, but a (less
> expensive) MEdia Net package will work.

As I pointed out in another post -- I should have said "data features",
not "data plans" in the subject line. Like I said I am confused, but
didn't need to confuse this further.

Looking up the features I can add to my existing plan, Unlimited MEdia
isn't one of them. There is only MEdia Basic or MEdia Works (for
$19.95), but that only allows 5MB of data/mo., which doesn't go very
far, then they start charging by the KB.

<snip>
>
> >Anyway, I would like to know if anything faster will work with this
> >phone and Mac.
>
> Yes: GPRS/EGPRS(EDGE)/HSDPA
>
I take it that the "Unlimited Laptop Connect" feature for $59.99 is the
GPRS feature and will support EDGE if it is available and the phone
supports EDGE. Is that correct?

> >Then there is an "Unlimited Data Access For PDA" for $39.99 that has no
> >description at all.
> >
> >How does this service differ from the "Unlimited Laptop Connect"?
>
> For use with a PDA (e.g., Treo 650), rather than a laptop.

My question is: When a phone is tethered to a PC/Mac, will the cheaper
"Unlimited Data Access for PDA" feature work the same as the more
expensive "Unlimited Laptop Connect" feature for $59.99, when one wants
internet access?

Or is the PDA feature something different? -- Cingulars site doesn't
explain it at all.

--
-Ernie-

"There are only two kinds of computer users -- those who have
suffered a catastrophic hard drive failure, and those who will."

Have you done your backup today?

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

In <[email protected]> on Tue, 14 Feb 2006
16:47:21 GMT, Ernie Klein <[email protected]> wrote:

>In article
><[email protected]>,
> John Navas <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> In <[email protected]> on Mon, 13 Feb 2006
>> 16:01:25 GMT, Ernie Klein <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> >I have several questions about Cingular's data plans that I hope someone
>> >can help me with. I have been searching their web site, but have not
>> >been able to find an (understandable) explanation of the various
>> >features -- a call to customer service didn't help much either.
>> >
>> >I wish to tether a Mac to a Sony Ericsson Z520a using Bluetooth so I can
>> >access the internet while traveling in the US.
>>
>> Cingular wants you to use a (more expensive) Data Connect package, but a (less
>> expensive) MEdia Net package will work.
>
>As I pointed out in another post -- I should have said "data features",
>not "data plans" in the subject line. ...

I said "package" -- that's the Cingular term for a "feature" added to a voice
plan.

>Looking up the features I can add to my existing plan, Unlimited MEdia
>isn't one of them. There is only MEdia Basic or MEdia Works (for
>$19.95), but that only allows 5MB of data/mo., which doesn't go very
>far, then they start charging by the KB.

See "MEdia Net Unlimited" at
<https://www.cingular.com/media/media_net_purchase>.

>> >Anyway, I would like to know if anything faster will work with this
>> >phone and Mac.
>>
>> Yes: GPRS/EGPRS(EDGE)/HSDPA
>>
>I take it that the "Unlimited Laptop Connect" feature for $59.99 is the
>GPRS feature

That's one GPRS feature. PDA Connect and MEdia Net are also GPRS "features"
(packages).

>and will support EDGE if it is available and the phone
>supports EDGE. Is that correct?

Or wireless PC Card. Correct.

>> >Then there is an "Unlimited Data Access For PDA" for $39.99 that has no
>> >description at all.
>> >
>> >How does this service differ from the "Unlimited Laptop Connect"?
>>
>> For use with a PDA (e.g., Treo 650), rather than a laptop.
>
>My question is: When a phone is tethered to a PC/Mac, will the cheaper
>"Unlimited Data Access for PDA" feature work the same as the more
>expensive "Unlimited Laptop Connect" feature for $59.99, when one wants
>internet access?

Although you're not supposed to do that, it will work.

>Or is the PDA feature something different? -- Cingulars site doesn't
>explain it at all.

Cingular simply intends that you pay a different price depending on how you
use the data service: $20/mo for a phone only; $40/mo for a PDA only; and
$60/mo for laptop as well. Laptop Data Connect is required for UMTS/HSDPA.

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

John Navas wrote:
>> My question is: When a phone is tethered to a PC/Mac, will the cheaper
>> "Unlimited Data Access for PDA" feature work the same as the more
>> expensive "Unlimited Laptop Connect" feature for $59.99, when one wants
>> internet access?
>
> Although you're not supposed to do that, it will work.

Do you know this for a fact? No, it won't work. We've been trying to
do that just yesterday on someone's Moto V557 phone account using the
Windows' DUN and Cingular Connection Manager.

Add the PDA plan to your phone and you don't even get the traditional
Customer Service call tree...you go straight to PDA Assistance.

In article <[email protected]>,
John Navas <[email protected]> wrote:

> [POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
>
> In <[email protected]> on Tue, 14 Feb
> 2006
> 16:47:21 GMT, Ernie Klein <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
> >As I pointed out in another post -- I should have said "data features",
> >not "data plans" in the subject line. ...
>
> I said "package" -- that's the Cingular term for a "feature" added to a voice
> plan.
>
> See "MEdia Net Unlimited" at
> <https://www.cingular.com/media/media_net_purchase>.

OK. Found it. Thanks John.

> >My question is: When a phone is tethered to a PC/Mac, will the cheaper
> >"Unlimited Data Access for PDA" feature work the same as the more
> >expensive "Unlimited Laptop Connect" feature for $59.99, when one wants
> >internet access?
>
> Although you're not supposed to do that, it will work.

They say your not supposed to tether MEdia either, but you say that will
also work.

> >Or is the PDA feature something different? -- Cingulars site doesn't
> >explain it at all.
>
> Cingular simply intends that you pay a different price depending on how you
> use the data service: $20/mo for a phone only; $40/mo for a PDA only; and
> $60/mo for laptop as well. Laptop Data Connect is required for UMTS/HSDPA.

My present plan has "Internet pay per use". If I sign up for another
data package/feature how do I tell (the system) which feature I want to
use? I am guessing here, but is that done by the APN. User Name &
password?

APN= WAP.CINGULAR, User= [email protected] then service is MEdia
APN= ISP.CINGULAR, User= [email protected] then service is Laptop
connect (or Internet pay per use if no data service has been added).

Am I on the right track, or am I all wet?

If I am close, then what would be used for the PDA access to differ it
from the laptop access?

--
-Ernie-

"There are only two kinds of computer users -- those who have
suffered a catastrophic hard drive failure, and those who will."

Have you done your backup today?

DecaturTxCowboy <[email protected]> wrote:
> John Navas wrote:
> > Although you're not supposed to do that, it will work.

> Do you know this for a fact? No, it won't work. We've been trying to
> do that just yesterday on someone's Moto V557 phone account using the
> Windows' DUN and Cingular Connection Manager.

I just watched a Moto V551 connect via bluetooth, the WAP login, and a
MediaNet Unlimited account.

Watching an ftp download with perfmon, I see a data peak of 7352 bytes/sec,
with a jagged chart between 5.4 and 6.5 KBpS, average 4.73KBpS.

Watching an ftp upload with perfmon, I see a data peak of 7845 bytes/sec,
with a jagged chart between 1.4 and 4 KBpS, average 1.45KBpS.

How busy was your friend's account in the past?

Another thread suggests that heavy users are getting dropped, and if they
call in, they are offered the appropriate $59/month Laptop account.

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

Ernie Klein <[email protected]> wrote:
> Looking up the features I can add to my existing plan, Unlimited MEdia
> isn't one of them. There is only MEdia Basic or MEdia Works (for
> $19.95), but that only allows 5MB of data/mo., which doesn't go very
> far, then they start charging by the KB.

The MediaNet Unlimited isn't offered as an add-on to the personal accounts,
but it can be ordered on the MediaNet page, as John pointed out. I ordered
it via that page, and it was dropped with no notice because of a conflict
with another package that I already had. I would suggest adding it via a
phone call to customer service.

If you use http://www.google.com/glm Google Local on your phone, Google
suggests that you sign up for the unlimited plan because of the amount of
data that it will download.

> My question is: When a phone is tethered to a PC/Mac, will the cheaper
> "Unlimited Data Access for PDA" feature work the same as the more
> expensive "Unlimited Laptop Connect" feature for $59.99, when one wants
> internet access?

The MediaNet certainly has worked for many people in the past. The future
would be at the whim of Cingular, who may be tightening up the availability
of that usage. It is expressly mentioned in vague words.

If I depended on tethering working, I would get the $59 Laptop plan.

I currently have MediaNet Unlimited, but I've been thinking of dropping it.
I only have heavy usage when I go out of town, so I could just call in and
add the service when I needed it, which would get pro-rated onto my bill.

I would never go with the pay-as-you-go rates for tethering. You can use
$59 in a day. One cent per KB adds up very quickly. The 5MB included
could be used in one session.

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]
wrote:

> If I depended on tethering working, I would get the $59 Laptop plan.
>
> I currently have MediaNet Unlimited, but I've been thinking of dropping it.
> I only have heavy usage when I go out of town, so I could just call in and
> add the service when I needed it, which would get pro-rated onto my bill.

I didn't know that I could add and drop at will with no penalty. That
may be the way to go. My need will be much like yours. My wife will be
retiring soon and we plan on taking some 2-4 week motor trips across the
US. During that time, I would need the mobile data service, but the
rest if the year, when at home, I have no need for it at all. I can't
see paying $59/month when it will go unused most of the time. If I can
just add it when we leave and drop it when we return, that may be the
most reliable way to go while keeping the cost manageable at the same
time.

> I would never go with the pay-as-you-go rates for tethering. You can use
> $59 in a day. One cent per KB adds up very quickly. The 5MB included
> could be used in one session.

Exactly. I did the math and that why I am looking for some unlimited
plan for occasional heavy use that keeps the overall cost down. Your
above suggestion might be the way to go.

Thanks for the suggestion.

--
-Ernie-

"There are only two kinds of computer users -- those who have
suffered a catastrophic hard drive failure, and those who will."

Have you done your backup today?

[email protected] wrote:
> DecaturTxCowboy <[email protected]> wrote:
>> John Navas wrote:
>>> Although you're not supposed to do that, it will work.
>
>> Do you know this for a fact? No, it won't work. We've been trying to
>> do that just yesterday on someone's Moto V557 phone account using the
>> Windows' DUN and Cingular Connection Manager.
>
> I just watched a Moto V551 connect via bluetooth, the WAP login, and a
> MediaNet Unlimited account.

Yeah, you can do THAT as you have the MediaNET. What WON'T work is if
you add the PDA connection plan to your voice plan as John Navas said it
was supposed to work....saying its supposed to work is not the same as
actually trying it.

> How busy was your friend's account in the past?
>
> Another thread suggests that heavy users are getting dropped, and if they
> call in, they are offered the appropriate $59/month Laptop account.

That was my post in another thread.

[email protected] wrote:
> it (the MediaNET - ed.) was dropped with no notice because of a conflict
> with another package that I already had. I would suggest adding it via a
> phone call to customer service.

Customer service told me the MediaNET has to be dropped when you add the
data connection plan.

>> My question is: When a phone is tethered to a PC/Mac, will the cheaper
>> "Unlimited Data Access for PDA" feature work the same as the more
>> expensive "Unlimited Laptop Connect" feature for $59.99, when one wants
>> internet access?

We adding the PDA plan...didn't work. Customer Service says it won't
work either. Took it right off and used the $59 data connection plan.

DecaturTxCowboy <[email protected]> wrote:
> Yeah, you can do THAT as you have the MediaNET. What WON'T work is if
> you add the PDA connection plan to your voice plan as John Navas said it
> was supposed to work....saying its supposed to work is not the same as
> actually trying it.

Ah, I never mention "PDA Connect", as I have no experience with it.
What is the login and the "phone number" and APN used for PDA Connect?

> That was my post in another thread.

I saw that, but I wanted to keep the thoughts separate between MediaNet,
PDA Connect and Laptop Connect.

So, blending the threads, you're saying that MediaNet is occasionally
getting dropped now due to high data rates, and PDA connect simply fails to
work for tethering a laptop?

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5