New to cellular, help with plans

Hello,

I am researching to pick a plan with Cingular.

I live outside of the Sherman, Texas area (north of Dallas).

If I order today it is my understanding that I can get the Superhome
FamilyTalk with the second line still being $9.99. Tomorrow it goes up to
$19.99. AFAIK.

I have never had cellular service so I don't know what freedom I have to
change plans or add features or time to my current plan.

If I started with the 600 minute plan and wanted to add minutes.
Does that constitute a change of plans? Or a modification of my current
plan?

Would I be able to add the 5000 mobile to mobile minutes later?
I hear they are changing that on the new plans.

Would I be able to add additional lines to that plan at the $9.99 or would
it be the then current $19.99?

I don't travel a lot but I don't want popped for roaming charges while
travelling within my "Superhome" area. I am looking at the GAIT Nokia
6340i phone. (I am from New Mexico and travel there some. I naively think
that a multi-network phone will help there. I understand roaming charges
would apply in NM.)

Does roaming occur often within the Texas superhome?

Would I be better off with the National plan?

Would I potentially be better off waiting for the new plans, despite the
increase in the additional lines?

I've done all my research online and haven't found the answers to the
above on the Cingular site.

Any insight provided would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Jimmie Houchin

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› See More: New to cellular, help with plans

On Sat, 31 Jan 2004 17:26:19 -0800, Stanley Reynolds wrote:

> "Jimmie Houchin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news[email protected]...
>> Hello,
>>
>> I am researching to pick a plan with Cingular.
>>
>> I live outside of the Sherman, Texas area (north of Dallas).
>>
>> If I order today it is my understanding that I can get the Superhome
>> FamilyTalk with the second line still being $9.99. Tomorrow it goes up to
>> $19.99. AFAIK.
>>
>> I have never had cellular service so I don't know what freedom I have to
>> change plans or add features or time to my current plan.
>>
>> If I started with the 600 minute plan and wanted to add minutes.
>> Does that constitute a change of plans? Or a modification of my current
>> plan?
>>
>> Would I be able to add the 5000 mobile to mobile minutes later?
>> I hear they are changing that on the new plans.
>>
>> Would I be able to add additional lines to that plan at the $9.99 or would
>> it be the then current $19.99?
>>
>> I don't travel a lot but I don't want popped for roaming charges while
>> travelling within my "Superhome" area. I am looking at the GAIT Nokia
>> 6340i phone. (I am from New Mexico and travel there some. I naively think
>> that a multi-network phone will help there. I understand roaming charges
>> would apply in NM.)
>>
>> Does roaming occur often within the Texas superhome?
>>
>> Would I be better off with the National plan?
>>
>> Would I potentially be better off waiting for the new plans, despite the
>> increase in the additional lines?
>>
>> I've done all my research online and haven't found the answers to the
>> above on the Cingular site.
>>
>> Any insight provided would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Jimmie Houchin
>
> You didn't say how many lines you need. At $10 per line each month their is
> a big difference in I may need one extra line sometime next year and I know
> I need 4.

Okay. I am planning to start out with 2 lines. But over time I could
easily max out any family plan. I have 8 children.

Currently the plan is for me and my wife. The future, who knows?

Thanks,

Jimmie Houchin

"Jimmie Houchin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> Hello,
>
> I am researching to pick a plan with Cingular.
>
> I live outside of the Sherman, Texas area (north of Dallas).
>
> If I order today it is my understanding that I can get the Superhome
> FamilyTalk with the second line still being $9.99. Tomorrow it goes up to
> $19.99. AFAIK.
>
> I have never had cellular service so I don't know what freedom I have to
> change plans or add features or time to my current plan.
>
> If I started with the 600 minute plan and wanted to add minutes.
> Does that constitute a change of plans? Or a modification of my current
> plan?
>
> Would I be able to add the 5000 mobile to mobile minutes later?
> I hear they are changing that on the new plans.
>
> Would I be able to add additional lines to that plan at the $9.99 or would
> it be the then current $19.99?
>

OK, in cellular service, the two big "gotchas" are anytime minutes (or LACK
OF) and roaming charges. Night/weekend minutes are nice, but most people
don't use them as much as ANYTIME minutes. Also, mobile to mobile minutes
are nice, IF THEY APPLY TO THE AREA WHERE YOU USE BOTH PHONES. (that's
another "gotcha") It's my understanding (from what I've read) that mobile
to mobile minutes MIGHT be nationwide soon for Cingular NATIONWIDE plans.
(currently, cingular mobile to mobile minutes only apply if both phones are
home, which makes no sense at all)

To avoid roaming charges, you should consider a nationwide plan with no
roaming charges. The cingular nationwide GSM plans are a tad more expensive
than the superhome plans, but a lot cheaper if you ever ROAM. If you live
nowhere near a state border, and all members of your family spend ALL DAY
within (for example) 30 miles of home, then roaming charges might not be an
issue, as it's likely all your calls will be placed in your home calling
area. If either your wife or you travel for business (even 2-3 times per
year), you NEED a nationwide plan. If any of your kids go away to school
anytime soon, and you want them on the family plan, you NEED a nationwide
plan.

As for changing plans and adding features . . . generally, you can change to
a MORE EXPENSIVE plan at any time without invoking a mucho expensive early
termination fee. Also generally, you can ADD FEATURES to a plan at any time
without invoking a mucho expensive early termination fee. In some cases,
the provider might want you to sign a new contract, though. That is, 6
months into a two year commitment, you want to upgrade to more anytime
minutes or add features. You should be able to either or both with no
problem, but Cingular might want your contract to start over, so you would
be on contract for two years from that point.

600 anytime minutes is a good amount to start with if it's just you and your
wife on the plan (two phones). That is, assuming you aren't replacing a
land-line. If so, 600 probably won't be enough. I'd strongly suggest you
look at the nationwide GSM plan. Even if you never use nationwide, it's not
much more expensive, and the potential savings (by avoiding roaming charges)
are significant. -Dave

"Jimmie Houchin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> Hello,
>
> I am researching to pick a plan with Cingular.
>
> I live outside of the Sherman, Texas area (north of Dallas).
>
> If I order today it is my understanding that I can get the Superhome
> FamilyTalk with the second line still being $9.99. Tomorrow it goes up to
> $19.99. AFAIK.
>
> I have never had cellular service so I don't know what freedom I have to
> change plans or add features or time to my current plan.
>
> If I started with the 600 minute plan and wanted to add minutes.
> Does that constitute a change of plans? Or a modification of my current
> plan?
>
> Would I be able to add the 5000 mobile to mobile minutes later?
> I hear they are changing that on the new plans.
>
> Would I be able to add additional lines to that plan at the $9.99 or would
> it be the then current $19.99?
>
> I don't travel a lot but I don't want popped for roaming charges while
> travelling within my "Superhome" area. I am looking at the GAIT Nokia
> 6340i phone. (I am from New Mexico and travel there some. I naively think
> that a multi-network phone will help there. I understand roaming charges
> would apply in NM.)
>
> Does roaming occur often within the Texas superhome?
>
> Would I be better off with the National plan?
>
> Would I potentially be better off waiting for the new plans, despite the
> increase in the additional lines?
>
> I've done all my research online and haven't found the answers to the
> above on the Cingular site.
>
> Any insight provided would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jimmie Houchin

You didn't say how many lines you need. At $10 per line each month their is
a big difference in I may need one extra line sometime next year and I know
I need 4.

I would jump and take the $10 a month, your needs change then you can change
plans.

I travel and visit a lot so the Nation vs Prefered vs Home was eazy I paid
extra for the lack of roaming charges. Here in 35210 they don't allow Nation
and extra lines you pick one or the other. Sounds like you would do better
with the extra line and learn about your roaming, when you pay and when you
don't. The time to learn is before you get the bill, roaming charges are
often several months late.

Good luck and keep your cool.

"Jimmie Houchin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> On Sat, 31 Jan 2004 17:26:19 -0800, Stanley Reynolds wrote:
>
> > "Jimmie Houchin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news[email protected]...
> >> Hello,
> >>
> >> I am researching to pick a plan with Cingular.
> >>
> >> I live outside of the Sherman, Texas area (north of Dallas).
> >>
> >> If I order today it is my understanding that I can get the Superhome
> >> FamilyTalk with the second line still being $9.99. Tomorrow it goes up
to
> >> $19.99. AFAIK.
> >>
> >> I have never had cellular service so I don't know what freedom I have
to
> >> change plans or add features or time to my current plan.
> >>
> >> If I started with the 600 minute plan and wanted to add minutes.
> >> Does that constitute a change of plans? Or a modification of my current
> >> plan?
> >>
> >> Would I be able to add the 5000 mobile to mobile minutes later?
> >> I hear they are changing that on the new plans.
> >>
> >> Would I be able to add additional lines to that plan at the $9.99 or
would
> >> it be the then current $19.99?
> >>
> >> I don't travel a lot but I don't want popped for roaming charges while
> >> travelling within my "Superhome" area. I am looking at the GAIT Nokia
> >> 6340i phone. (I am from New Mexico and travel there some. I naively
think
> >> that a multi-network phone will help there. I understand roaming
charges
> >> would apply in NM.)
> >>
> >> Does roaming occur often within the Texas superhome?
> >>
> >> Would I be better off with the National plan?
> >>
> >> Would I potentially be better off waiting for the new plans, despite
the
> >> increase in the additional lines?
> >>
> >> I've done all my research online and haven't found the answers to the
> >> above on the Cingular site.
> >>
> >> Any insight provided would be greatly appreciated.
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >>
> >> Jimmie Houchin
> >
> > You didn't say how many lines you need. At $10 per line each month their
is
> > a big difference in I may need one extra line sometime next year and I
know
> > I need 4.
>
> Okay. I am planning to start out with 2 lines. But over time I could
> easily max out any family plan. I have 8 children.
>
> Currently the plan is for me and my wife. The future, who knows?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jimmie Houchin
>
>