TDMA/AMPS service: bring own phone/no contract possible?

The skinny: My mom needs a phone for a 2 week camping trip in the
boonies of CA. I know for certain two things about the area: GSM
coverage no, AMPS coverage yes. CDMA and TDMA I don't know.

Idea: Get a TDMA/AMPS phone off ebay for cheap and buy a one month
Superhome plan from Cingular. This rather than a Tracfone type setup
and their flat out ridiculous rates.

Questions: I've researched bring your own phone/no contract options
and have found mention that Cingular will do this, ATT no, Verizon no.
But nothing concrete. So some Qs. Will Cingular still activate for
their TDMA/AMPS system? Will they do an own phone/no contract/month
to month deal? I'd of course get only a single month, thinking of the
$30/300 min plan. Will I have to fight through several layers of CS
to do this? Any suggestions on the verbal tactics I'd need to employ
if so? I've read about the hoop jumping sometimes needed to get a
GAIT phone, wondering if this is similar.

Thanks, Doug

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

Cingular does not have TDMA/AMPS service here in CA, only GSM.

Give some thought to AT&T Free2Go Wireless.

In <666flvc7dva4i8irnq2e4m2ublnr26fem2@4ax.com> on Thu, 04 Sep 2003 19:55:04
GMT, Doug <pub-rz@socal.rr.com> wrote:

>The skinny: My mom needs a phone for a 2 week camping trip in the
>boonies of CA. I know for certain two things about the area: GSM
>coverage no, AMPS coverage yes. CDMA and TDMA I don't know.
>
>Idea: Get a TDMA/AMPS phone off ebay for cheap and buy a one month
>Superhome plan from Cingular. This rather than a Tracfone type setup
>and their flat out ridiculous rates.
>
>Questions: I've researched bring your own phone/no contract options
>and have found mention that Cingular will do this, ATT no, Verizon no.
>But nothing concrete. So some Qs. Will Cingular still activate for
>their TDMA/AMPS system? Will they do an own phone/no contract/month
>to month deal? I'd of course get only a single month, thinking of the
>$30/300 min plan. Will I have to fight through several layers of CS
>to do this? Any suggestions on the verbal tactics I'd need to employ
>if so? I've read about the hoop jumping sometimes needed to get a
>GAIT phone, wondering if this is similar.
>
>Thanks, Doug

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

I can't speak to any California specifics, dwelling in the northeast as
I do, but yes, Cingular will sell you a no-commitment plan.

For one month, I doubt it would be cost-effective, as the normal
activation charge would apply. (Currently $36 here, suspect California
is the same.) Prepaid service might well work better-- a Prepaid
Starter Kit runs about $45 here, and includes $30 or time.

The TDMA part will be the kicker. The CIngular network in CA doesn't
include much TDMA (or any, as far as I know), and TDMA service, prepaid
or otherwise, might not be available.

Check out the prepaid offers in your area, and see if any will fit your
needs. I know prepaid phone kits are available in gas stations and
convenience stores here, which makes for great comparison shopping, if
you have no technical questions for the staff.



Doug <pub-rz@socal.rr.com> wrote in article
<666flvc7dva4i8irnq2e4m2ublnr26fem2@4ax.com>:
> The skinny: My mom needs a phone for a 2 week camping trip in the
> boonies of CA. I know for certain two things about the area: GSM
> coverage no, AMPS coverage yes. CDMA and TDMA I don't know.
>
> Idea: Get a TDMA/AMPS phone off ebay for cheap and buy a one month
> Superhome plan from Cingular. This rather than a Tracfone type setup
> and their flat out ridiculous rates.
>
> Questions: I've researched bring your own phone/no contract options
> and have found mention that Cingular will do this, ATT no, Verizon no.
> But nothing concrete. So some Qs. Will Cingular still activate for
> their TDMA/AMPS system? Will they do an own phone/no contract/month
> to month deal? I'd of course get only a single month, thinking of the
> $30/300 min plan. Will I have to fight through several layers of CS
> to do this? Any suggestions on the verbal tactics I'd need to employ
> if so? I've read about the hoop jumping sometimes needed to get a
> GAIT phone, wondering if this is similar.
>
> Thanks, Doug

[posted via phonescoop.com - free web access to the alt.cellular groups]

>Cingular does not have TDMA/AMPS service here in CA, only GSM.
>
>Give some thought to AT&T Free2Go Wireless.

Holy cow. That's a small problem.

Thanks for the headsup on Free 2 Go. I'll check it.

Doug

>For one month, I doubt it would be cost-effective, as the normal
>activation charge would apply. (Currently $36 here, suspect California
>is the same.) Prepaid service might well work better-- a Prepaid
>Starter Kit runs about $45 here, and includes $30 or time.

I completely forgot about the activation charge. Yikes. Complete
reassessment needed. Thanks for the note.

Doug

"Doug" <pub-rz@socal.rr.com> wrote in message
news:666flvc7dva4i8irnq2e4m2ublnr26fem2@4ax.com...
> The skinny: My mom needs a phone for a 2 week camping trip in the
> boonies of CA. I know for certain two things about the area: GSM
> coverage no, AMPS coverage yes. CDMA and TDMA I don't know.
>
Try http://www.pharosint.com/CallPlus_co...cellphone.html

The service is $15 for 100 mins over 3 months. You can then recharge at
25-40cents.

http://www.pharosint.com/CallPlus_pr...cellrates.html


It uses the AT&T TDMA network. I've used it before, and it works well.
Dialing is a little weird, because when you are off the ATT network, you
have to dial the number twice. Check here for a good FAQ:
http://markson.net/cell_nh_callplus_faq.htm

On Thu, 04 Sep 2003 19:55:04 GMT, Doug <pub-rz@socal.rr.com> wrote:

>Questions: I've researched bring your own phone/no contract options
>and have found mention that Cingular will do this, ATT no, Verizon no.
>But nothing concrete. So some Qs. Will Cingular still activate for
>their TDMA/AMPS system?

First of all to activate any plan they're going to charge you the
activation fee unless possibly you commit for a two year contract.

Secondly they would not activate a TDMA/AMPS plan with a California
number as they don't have any native TDMA or AMPS coverage in
California. If you want TDMA/AMPS in California you have to go with
ATTWS.

You could get ATTWS prepaid "Free To Go" service which includes TDMA
and AMPS or you could go with one of the reseller services such as
eCall Plus for a cheaper monthly rate and roaming included.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To send an email reply send to
GSMthemobilestandard ( yahoo.com

Cingular does still activate TDMA/AMPS phones on their Preferred Nation
plans. Even if AT&T has TDMA there, it will work, as AT&T and Cingular
are the largest TDMA roaming partners. AT&T roaming is free to Cingular
customers on Preferred Nation and Cingular Nation plans. The harder
question might be, will Cingular activate *that* phone if it didn't come
from them or one of their old companies? Some companies will activate
certain phone because certain phones are compatible with their services,
but others are not (i.e. maybe Motorola TDMA phones from another carrier
might not properly display caller id, voicemail indicators, etc.)

Doug wrote:
> The skinny: My mom needs a phone for a 2 week camping trip in the
> boonies of CA. I know for certain two things about the area: GSM
> coverage no, AMPS coverage yes. CDMA and TDMA I don't know.
>
> Idea: Get a TDMA/AMPS phone off ebay for cheap and buy a one month
> Superhome plan from Cingular. This rather than a Tracfone type setup
> and their flat out ridiculous rates.
>
> Questions: I've researched bring your own phone/no contract options
> and have found mention that Cingular will do this, ATT no, Verizon no.
> But nothing concrete. So some Qs. Will Cingular still activate for
> their TDMA/AMPS system? Will they do an own phone/no contract/month
> to month deal? I'd of course get only a single month, thinking of the
> $30/300 min plan. Will I have to fight through several layers of CS
> to do this? Any suggestions on the verbal tactics I'd need to employ
> if so? I've read about the hoop jumping sometimes needed to get a
> GAIT phone, wondering if this is similar.
>
> Thanks, Doug