Forced march of all ATTWS to Cingular?

David Trotter <[email protected]> wrote:
> Minor transposition mistake in my earlier note: the phone number Cingular
> asked me to call is 877-201-9521 (select option 3).

Cingular business customer?

> And, I did get an unrequested Nokia 6030 in the mail about the same time the
> letter arrived.

Wow. Still, if it's for a business customer, things might be different.

> I did call Cingular on a different matter, mentioned this situation and was
> routed to a customer service agent who told me I had to select a 2 year
> plan - no options. Still trying to decide whether to escalate this or leave
> for a different carrier.

As long as you have to call them to find out...

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

---

› See More: Forced march of all ATTWS to Cingular?

John Navas wrote:
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>1: "In some cases, you may want to select new equipment and calling plans.
>>But if you're happy with your service as it is, you don't need to do
>>anything." Signed by Stan Sigman, President and CEO of Cingular wireless.
>
> That was in fact honored.
>
> [snip]
>
>>Because they promised us IN WRITING that we would change ONLY IF WE WANTED
>>TO.
>
> Nope. You were only promised that your contract would be honored, which it
> was. There was no promise to give you the same deal forever.

They said in writing, "if you're happy with your service as it is,
you don't need to do anything." Signed by Stan Sigman, President
and CEO of Cingular wireless. They either honored that or they
didn't. There's no mention of a contract in that sentence, only
service.

>>3: "Your service agreement will remain the same. You don't have to change
>>anything unless you'd like to switch to a new Cingular plan that gives you
>>access to all of Cingular's services, including Rollover Minutes."
>
> That was in fact honored.

Yet he had to change phones and service plans. If he didn't have
a contract before (but still had service), he now had to have a
contract. Doesn't seem like they honored that to me. It said,
"unless YOU'D LIKE to switch", not "unless WE WANT YOU to switch".

--
All relevant people are pertinent.
All rude people are impertinent.
Therefore, no rude people are relevant.
-- Solomon W. Golomb

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

In <[email protected]> on Thu, 20 Apr 2006 17:53:49 -0500,
clifto <[email protected]> wrote:

>John Navas wrote:
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>1: "In some cases, you may want to select new equipment and calling plans.
>>>But if you're happy with your service as it is, you don't need to do
>>>anything." Signed by Stan Sigman, President and CEO of Cingular wireless.
>>
>> That was in fact honored.
>>
>> [snip]
>>
>>>Because they promised us IN WRITING that we would change ONLY IF WE WANTED
>>>TO.
>>
>> Nope. You were only promised that your contract would be honored, which it
>> was. There was no promise to give you the same deal forever.
>
>They said in writing, "if you're happy with your service as it is,
>you don't need to do anything." Signed by Stan Sigman, President
>and CEO of Cingular wireless. They either honored that or they
>didn't. There's no mention of a contract in that sentence, only
>service.

Sure, but then it doesn't say "forever" either. The contract for "service"
was honored.

>>>3: "Your service agreement will remain the same. You don't have to change
>>>anything unless you'd like to switch to a new Cingular plan that gives you
>>>access to all of Cingular's services, including Rollover Minutes."
>>
>> That was in fact honored.
>
>Yet he had to change phones and service plans.

Just like everyone else. ATTWS phones and plans are no longer offered, which
really shouldn't be a surprise.

>If he didn't have
>a contract before (but still had service), he now had to have a
>contract.

No, he needed to switch to Cingular, which is a matter of a new rate plan and
contract.

>Doesn't seem like they honored that to me.

Seems like they did to me.

>It said,
>"unless YOU'D LIKE to switch", not "unless WE WANT YOU to switch".

Not forever.

The merger was finalized 18 months ago. How much longer do you think Cingular
had to go to honor what it said?

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

"John Navas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> [POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
>
> In <[email protected]> on Thu, 20 Apr 2006 17:53:49 -0500,
> clifto <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>John Navas wrote:
>>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>1: "In some cases, you may want to select new equipment and calling
>>>>plans.
>>>>But if you're happy with your service as it is, you don't need to do
>>>>anything." Signed by Stan Sigman, President and CEO of Cingular
>>>>wireless.
>>>
>>> That was in fact honored.
>>>
>>> [snip]
>>>
>>>>Because they promised us IN WRITING that we would change ONLY IF WE
>>>>WANTED
>>>>TO.
>>>
>>> Nope. You were only promised that your contract would be honored, which
>>> it
>>> was. There was no promise to give you the same deal forever.
>>
>>They said in writing, "if you're happy with your service as it is,
>>you don't need to do anything." Signed by Stan Sigman, President
>>and CEO of Cingular wireless. They either honored that or they
>>didn't. There's no mention of a contract in that sentence, only
>>service.
>
> Sure, but then it doesn't say "forever" either. The contract for
> "service"
> was honored.

OK, Perry Mason- how long did the above statement refer to?

>
>>>>3: "Your service agreement will remain the same. You don't have to
>>>>change
>>>>anything unless you'd like to switch to a new Cingular plan that gives
>>>>you
>>>>access to all of Cingular's services, including Rollover Minutes."
>>>
>>> That was in fact honored.
>>
>>Yet he had to change phones and service plans.
>
> Just like everyone else. ATTWS phones and plans are no longer offered,
> which
> really shouldn't be a surprise.

The only surpise are the hoops the Company makes its own customers jump
through, the conditions it puts around those hoops and the fees charged to
do it. A non-contract Cingular customer can not opt to enjoy the same
status as a Cingular customer. Please name one other carrier that forces
its non-contract customers back into a contract. With every other carrier,
only the customer initiates a new contract.


>
>>If he didn't have
>>a contract before (but still had service), he now had to have a
>>contract.
>
> No, he needed to switch to Cingular, which is a matter of a new rate plan
> and
> contract.
>
>>Doesn't seem like they honored that to me.
>
> Seems like they did to me.

Yeah, but we know you wouldn't know the truth if it came up and planted a
big, sloppy kiss on you.

>
>>It said,
>>"unless YOU'D LIKE to switch", not "unless WE WANT YOU to switch".
>
> Not forever.

Then how long? And I mean SPECIFICALLY how long? If you say it wasn't
forever, then you should be able to provide an answer to that question,
unless you are clueless again.

>
> The merger was finalized 18 months ago. How much longer do you think
> Cingular
> had to go to honor what it said?
>

Didn't realize there was a time limit. They could have done the right thing
and announced up front what their plans were (Sprint did). Looks like
another poor management decision- it never should have been said in the
first place. Now they should be forced to live with their own stupidity.

Cingular- the next great wannabe.

On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 22:16:52 +0000 (UTC), [email protected] wrote:

>David Trotter <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Minor transposition mistake in my earlier note: the phone number Cingular
>> asked me to call is 877-201-9521 (select option 3).
>
>Cingular business customer?
>
>> And, I did get an unrequested Nokia 6030 in the mail about the same time the
>> letter arrived.
>
>Wow. Still, if it's for a business customer, things might be different.
>
>> I did call Cingular on a different matter, mentioned this situation and was
>> routed to a customer service agent who told me I had to select a 2 year
>> plan - no options. Still trying to decide whether to escalate this or leave
>> for a different carrier.
>
>As long as you have to call them to find out...


Cingular must be doing something right in spite of the whining and mis-info
found here. The first quarter this year they've added 1.7 million new customers
and churn was lowest ever at 1.9 percent where customers switched to other
companies.

Jack Mac

Scott wrote:
> "John Navas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> [POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
>>
>> In <[email protected]> on Thu, 20 Apr 2006 17:53:49
>> -0500, clifto <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> John Navas wrote:
>>>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>> 1: "In some cases, you may want to select new equipment and
>>>>> calling plans.
>>>>> But if you're happy with your service as it is, you don't need to
>>>>> do anything." Signed by Stan Sigman, President and CEO of
>>>>> Cingular wireless.
>>>>
>>>> That was in fact honored.
>>>>
>>>> [snip]
>>>>
>>>>> Because they promised us IN WRITING that we would change ONLY IF
>>>>> WE WANTED
>>>>> TO.
>>>>
>>>> Nope. You were only promised that your contract would be honored,
>>>> which it
>>>> was. There was no promise to give you the same deal forever.
>>>
>>> They said in writing, "if you're happy with your service as it is,
>>> you don't need to do anything." Signed by Stan Sigman, President
>>> and CEO of Cingular wireless. They either honored that or they
>>> didn't. There's no mention of a contract in that sentence, only
>>> service.
>>
>> Sure, but then it doesn't say "forever" either. The contract for
>> "service"
>> was honored.
>
> OK, Perry Mason- how long did the above statement refer to?
>
>>
>>>>> 3: "Your service agreement will remain the same. You don't have
>>>>> to change
>>>>> anything unless you'd like to switch to a new Cingular plan that
>>>>> gives you
>>>>> access to all of Cingular's services, including Rollover Minutes."
>>>>
>>>> That was in fact honored.
>>>
>>> Yet he had to change phones and service plans.
>>
>> Just like everyone else. ATTWS phones and plans are no longer
>> offered, which
>> really shouldn't be a surprise.
>
> The only surpise are the hoops the Company makes its own customers
> jump through, the conditions it puts around those hoops and the fees
> charged to do it. A non-contract Cingular customer can not opt to
> enjoy the same status as a Cingular customer. Please name one other
> carrier that forces its non-contract customers back into a contract.
> With every other carrier, only the customer initiates a new contract.
>
>
>>
>>> If he didn't have
>>> a contract before (but still had service), he now had to have a
>>> contract.
>>
>> No, he needed to switch to Cingular, which is a matter of a new rate
>> plan and
>> contract.
>>
>>> Doesn't seem like they honored that to me.
>>
>> Seems like they did to me.
>
> Yeah, but we know you wouldn't know the truth if it came up and
> planted a big, sloppy kiss on you.
>
>>
>>> It said,
>>> "unless YOU'D LIKE to switch", not "unless WE WANT YOU to switch".
>>
>> Not forever.
>
> Then how long? And I mean SPECIFICALLY how long? If you say it
> wasn't forever, then you should be able to provide an answer to that
> question, unless you are clueless again.
>
>>
>> The merger was finalized 18 months ago. How much longer do you think
>> Cingular
>> had to go to honor what it said?
>>
>
> Didn't realize there was a time limit. They could have done the
> right thing and announced up front what their plans were (Sprint
> did). Looks like another poor management decision- it never should
> have been said in the first place. Now they should be forced to live
> with their own stupidity.
>
> Cingular- the next great wannabe.

Noting that the original poster, David Trotter, is in Charlotte, North
Carolina, I suspect that the part of the reason is the Suncom-Cingular swap
and sale. Didn't Cingular get the Virginia Suncom network, and Suncom got
the North Carolina ATTWS network? Puerto Rico and cash were also exchanged.

The NC Cingular network has been GSM PCS since BellSouth Mobility DCS put it
up. They can't have any TDMA customers without the ATTWS PCS network. Thus
the effort to switch him over.

John C.

"Jack Mac" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 22:16:52 +0000 (UTC), [email protected]
> wrote:
>
>>David Trotter <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> Minor transposition mistake in my earlier note: the phone number
>>> Cingular
>>> asked me to call is 877-201-9521 (select option 3).
>>
>>Cingular business customer?
>>
>>> And, I did get an unrequested Nokia 6030 in the mail about the same time
>>> the
>>> letter arrived.
>>
>>Wow. Still, if it's for a business customer, things might be different.
>>
>>> I did call Cingular on a different matter, mentioned this situation and
>>> was
>>> routed to a customer service agent who told me I had to select a 2 year
>>> plan - no options. Still trying to decide whether to escalate this or
>>> leave
>>> for a different carrier.
>>
>>As long as you have to call them to find out...
>
>
> Cingular must be doing something right in spite of the whining and
> mis-info
> found here. The first quarter this year they've added 1.7 million new
> customers
> and churn was lowest ever at 1.9 percent where customers switched to other
> companies.
>

And if those were the only two numbers, it would look great. But some basic
math shows some not-so-great performance:

- a Net Income of $2.11 per subscriber per month
- gross adds (new customers) declined over previous quarters
- ARPU dropped to $48.48

Having a lot of customers doesn't do you any good if you don't make much
money off them.

David Trotter <[email protected]> wrote:
> The current phone is on a TDMA network, and my account is established in
> Charlotte, NC.
> The exact language of the letter follows:

> "Your contract with Cingular has ended. Unless you take immediate action,
> we will no longer be able to provide you with wireless service for your
> current device and calling plan."

> "To avoid cancellation, you must call us to select a current Cingular Nation
> plan and activate the enclosed complimentary Nokia 6030. If you do not
> select a new calling plan and activate this device, your Cingular services
> will be cancelled by April 30, 2006."

> " Please call 877-210-9521 (select option 3) today to activate your new
> Nokia 6030 and select any Cingular Nation plan with a two-year service
> agreement. To avoid service interruption, we encourage you to charge your
> phone 8-10 hours prior to calling."

> "We apologize for any inconvenience and urge you to call 877-210-9521
> (select option 3) today to avoid service cancellation."

> The Nokia 6030 seems to be a basic phone, and not worth a 2 year service
> agreement.

Great! They've basically offered you what appears to be a bag
of ****e phone to try to see if you're dumb enough to sign for two more
years. The phone is easily had on e-bay for about $20-60 depending on
if it's refurb or not (the $50-60 I saw were not refurb). I'd even go
as far as to guess that the one Cingular sent you might be a refurb
(wouldn't put it past these guys). What does it say about the phone if
you don't "activate" it through them? If it doesn't say anything about
sending it back, you didn't request it nor agree to paying for it, and
the wording says it was "complimentary" so it looks like the phone is
yours either way! You could even unlock it (for free if you use the
www.nokiafree.org tools) and use it with your new phone service provider
if you choose another GSM carrier.

It's nice to see how Cingular doesn't deviate from the poor
treatment of long standing customers. If you weren't a customer you
can actually go find almost top of the line phones "free" for signing
that agreement. In fact, you could get a RAZR V3 from Amazon and MAKE
$100 (with rebates) if you sign up for two years. Cingular is banking
on the fact that people in this situation are ignorant about their
options and will take this cheap ass phone as their "free every two
contract years" option.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...qid=1145602329
(or just search RAZR V3 if this link doesn't work).

If you want to keep your number, PORT IT OUT NOW! Do not wait
until they shut your service off as you won't be able to port an
inactive number. I don't know what your usage pattern is, but you could
even port it out to a T-Mobile To Go prepaid account temporarily while
you shopped new plans and port it out again if you decided to change,
even if that meant you went back to Cingular (at least you'd get a hell
of a lot better "free" phone this time!). You can easily get the To Go
SIMs for about $10 (with shipping) and about 150 minutes usually on e-bay
and should be able to port into one of those or just buy a Nokia 6010
from Walmart/Target/Sams Club for $35.00 (comes with the phone, the
chip, and 60 minutes). T-Mobile ported my sister's number in the very
same day when we walked from Cingular (she was a former AT&T CDMA
customer, way out of contract, they tried to tell he she had to sign a
new 2 year also).

"Jack Mac" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> Cingular must be doing something right in spite of the whining and
> mis-info
> found here. The first quarter this year they've added 1.7 million new
> customers
> and churn was lowest ever at 1.9 percent where customers switched to other
> companies.
>


They have a virtual monopoly on the marketplace, as one of 4 major carriers,
and one of two with the biggest networks. Fact is, customers have few
choices.

They seem to have adopted the approach that customers must remain bound to
them by contract whenever possible. It is a strategy that benefits them.

But none of that has any bearing on the subject under discussion--that of
Cingular's overbearing attitude toward ATTWS customers. And, contrary to
your claim that there is "misinformation" circulating here, the stories that
have been posted are true. And it is the same basic story, over and over
again.

All of Cingular's rosy promises have turned out to be nothing but LIES--lies
to create a sense of complacency on the part of their customer base, while
Cingular pulls one underhanded tactic upon another to take away their
favorable rates and terms--terms that those customers EARNED over the years.

Had Cingular announced their intentions of making ATTWS customers sign up
all over again, and accept higher rates for less minutes, millions of those
customers would have ported over to other carriers on the day of the merger.
Instead we were LIED TO. But millions of us still left, and I for one, am
damned happy I did!

The question I have is: What plans does Cingular have to stick it to their
Orange Network customers when THEIR contracts expire? You can bet that the
knowledge and experience they gained in dealing with ATTWS customers will be
used to exploit YOU too . . .

Just you wait . . .

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

In <Rr42g.12542$sh.6243@trnddc07> on Fri, 21 Apr 2006 12:43:29 GMT, "Jeremy"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>"Jack Mac" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>
>> Cingular must be doing something right in spite of the whining and
>> mis-info
>> found here. The first quarter this year they've added 1.7 million new
>> customers
>> and churn was lowest ever at 1.9 percent where customers switched to other
>> companies.
>
>They have a virtual monopoly on the marketplace, as one of 4 major carriers,
>and one of two with the biggest networks. Fact is, customers have few
>choices.

How silly. There is no monopoly of any kind. Do you have any idea what that
word actually means? And customers have plenty of choices. That Cingular
added so many new subscribers with such low churn simply means that all your
ranting about customers leaving in droves has been dead wrong. You're just
not grown up enough to admit it, and move on. Instead (like a few other
carpers here), you dream up even wilder fantasies in an attempt to cover your
tush.

>They seem to have adopted the approach that customers must remain bound to
>them by contract whenever possible. It is a strategy that benefits them.

Cingular's service agreement policies are in line with other carriers, and are
clearly attractive to customers, as evidenced by how well Cingular has been
doing in the market. You just don't like that, so you're inventing fantasies.

>But none of that has any bearing on the subject under discussion--that of
>Cingular's overbearing attitude toward ATTWS customers.

Another of your fantasies -- there is no such attitude -- former ATTWS
customers are being treated as well as or better than other customers.

>And, contrary to
>your claim that there is "misinformation" circulating here, the stories that
>have been posted are true. And it is the same basic story, over and over
>again.

The real story is how well Cingular has been doing, notwithstanding a very few
apocryphal stories here by you and a few other carpers.

>All of Cingular's rosy promises have turned out to be nothing but LIES--lies
>to create a sense of complacency on the part of their customer base, while
>Cingular pulls one underhanded tactic upon another to take away their
>favorable rates and terms--terms that those customers EARNED over the years.

Utter nonsense, your shrill claims of "LIES" notwithstanding. Cingular more
than honored old ATTWS service agreements, and ATTWS customers hadn't "earned"
or otherwise had any right to expect anything more.

>Had Cingular announced their intentions of making ATTWS customers sign up
>all over again, and accept higher rates for less minutes, millions of those
>customers would have ported over to other carriers on the day of the merger.
>Instead we were LIED TO.

More nonsense.

>But millions of us still left,

That's the real "LIE" here.

>and I for one, am
>damned happy I did!

So move on with your life!

>The question I have is: What plans does Cingular have to stick it to their
>Orange Network customers when THEIR contracts expire? You can bet that the
>knowledge and experience they gained in dealing with ATTWS customers will be
>used to exploit YOU too . . .
>
>Just you wait . . .

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 <[email protected]> on Fri, 21 Apr 2006 07:10:32 +0000 (UTC),
"B. Wright" <[email protected]> wrote:

> It's nice to see how Cingular doesn't deviate from the poor
>treatment of long standing customers. If you weren't a customer you
>can actually go find almost top of the line phones "free" for signing
>that agreement. In fact, you could get a RAZR V3 from Amazon and MAKE
>$100 (with rebates) if you sign up for two years. Cingular is banking
>on the fact that people in this situation are ignorant about their
>options and will take this cheap ass phone as their "free every two
>contract years" option.

Oh good grief! If you don't like the deal, don't take it. If you want a
different phone, ask for it. If you want a one-year contract, ask for it.
There is *no* coercion.

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

John Navas wrote:
> The real story is how well Cingular has been doing, notwithstanding a very few
> apocryphal stories here by you and a few other carpers.

That's the real story for stock holders and the board room - not for
customers.

I work with a former AT&T customer who left because he was told he was
getting an equivalent plan with Cingular, only to discover that the
night and weekend feature had a reduced time frame from his AT&T plan
(started at a later time of day). He left Cingular some time ago and
he certainly did not think much of Cingular. Whether AT&T customers
left in droves, I cannot say, but I have seen enough to know that they
have not been treated well.

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

In <[email protected]> on 21 Apr 2006
08:30:26 -0700, "GomJabbar" <[email protected]> wrote:

>John Navas wrote:
>> The real story is how well Cingular has been doing, notwithstanding a very few
>> apocryphal stories here by you and a few other carpers.
>
>That's the real story for stock holders and the board room - not for
>customers.

On the contrary -- it's clear (as evidenced by churn data) that the great
majority of customers are happy with Cingular.

>I work with a former AT&T customer who left because he was told he was
>getting an equivalent plan with Cingular, only to discover that the
>night and weekend feature had a reduced time frame from his AT&T plan
>(started at a later time of day). He left Cingular some time ago and
>he certainly did not think much of Cingular.

Another apocryphal story still doesn't prove anything. This is simply another
case of someone being unrealistic. There's no reason to expect Cingular to
continue indefinitely the great deal he got from ATTWS, which essentially went
out of business due to mismanagement. Does he also boycott gas stations that
raise prices? Then he must not be driving any more.

>Whether AT&T customers
>left in droves, I cannot say, but I have seen enough to know that they
>have not been treated well.

We'll just have to agree to disagree.

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

"John Cummings" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Scott wrote:
>> "John Navas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>> [POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
>>>
>>> In <[email protected]> on Thu, 20 Apr 2006 17:53:49
>>> -0500, clifto <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>>> John Navas wrote:
>>>>> <[email protected]> wrote:

< A whole lotta nuthin snipped>

> Noting that the original poster, David Trotter, is in Charlotte, North
> Carolina, I suspect that the part of the reason is the Suncom-Cingular
> swap
> and sale. Didn't Cingular get the Virginia Suncom network, and Suncom got
> the North Carolina ATTWS network? Puerto Rico and cash were also
> exchanged.
>
> The NC Cingular network has been GSM PCS since BellSouth Mobility DCS put
> it
> up. They can't have any TDMA customers without the ATTWS PCS network. Thus
> the effort to switch him over.
>
> John C.
>
>
Bravo, John!

Since this is the first mention of this, I think it is the likely reason for
the letter the OP received. The other option would be what Cingular is doing
to others that are using over 50% of their minutes "off network". (as
specified in the contract)

Mark

"John Navas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

>
> Another apocryphal story still doesn't prove anything. This is simply
> another
> case of someone being unrealistic. There's no reason to expect Cingular
> to
> continue indefinitely the great deal he got from ATTWS, which essentially
> went
> out of business due to mismanagement. Does he also boycott gas stations
> that
> raise prices? Then he must not be driving any more.
>


And in typical Novice fashion, you ignore the real sticking point here.
Non-contract customers are not made whole if they decide to go with the
Cingular GSM network. They will not enjoy the same month-to-month service
they current have. And they are the ONLY carrier to trigger a contract of
their own actions- all other carriers require the customer to trigger the
contract. This, in addition to the large fees they charge their own
customers to retain their services show the true greed of the Company and
reflect a less than cooperative attitude when dealing with their own paying
customers. They'll have to show more than one quarter of decent adds before
they can declare themselves anything but a financially mid-tier corporation.