Going from ATTWS to Cingular

Someone told me that to get rollover minutes, ATTWS customers would have
to buy a new Cingular phone. I would have throught that rollover
minutes would be something controlled in the network (accounting
area)...can someone explain to me why I'd need a new phone to get
rollover minutes?

---

› See More: Going from ATTWS to Cingular

"Me" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Someone told me that to get rollover minutes, ATTWS customers would have
> to buy a new Cingular phone. I would have throught that rollover
> minutes would be something controlled in the network (accounting
> area)...can someone explain to me why I'd need a new phone to get
> rollover minutes?
>

1: Because Cingular wants to switch you into one of their plans, probably
with a 2-year term commitment. That might mean that you will lose a more
favorable ATTWS deal that you now have.

2: Cingular's web site claims that their network has some features not
supported by some ATTWS phones, and they are characterizing this need for a
new phone as an upgrade for ATTWS customers.

3: If you are currently receiving free nights and weekends, and/or free
mobile-to-mobile from ATTWS, I'd think twice about accepting the bait to
"upgrade," just so you can get rollover minutes. You might find that it is
a losing proposition.

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

In <q%[email protected]> on Mon, 01 Nov 2004
19:19:50 GMT, "Jeremy" <[email protected]> wrote:

>"Me" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>>
>> Someone told me that to get rollover minutes, ATTWS customers would have
>> to buy a new Cingular phone. I would have throught that rollover
>> minutes would be something controlled in the network (accounting
>> area)...can someone explain to me why I'd need a new phone to get
>> rollover minutes?
>
>1: Because Cingular wants to switch you into one of their plans, probably
>with a 2-year term commitment. That might mean that you will lose a more
>favorable ATTWS deal that you now have.

Yep. And new phones are locked to Cingular.

>2: Cingular's web site claims that their network has some features not
>supported by some ATTWS phones, and they are characterizing this need for a
>new phone as an upgrade for ATTWS customers.

ATTWS phones are locked to ATTWS, and at least some have modified firmware.
Unlocking those phones, and then locking them to Cingular, would be a support
nightmare.

>3: If you are currently receiving free nights and weekends, and/or free
>mobile-to-mobile from ATTWS, I'd think twice about accepting the bait to
>"upgrade," just so you can get rollover minutes. You might find that it is
>a losing proposition.

Perhaps -- you'd have to look at the total package. I personally got a better
overall plan on Cingular, particularly because of MEdia Works.

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

On Mon, 01 Nov 2004 19:19:50 GMT, "Jeremy" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>2: Cingular's web site claims that their network has some features not
>supported by some ATTWS phones, and they are characterizing this need for a
>new phone as an upgrade for ATTWS customers.

Just because the web site claims it doesn't necessarily mean it's
true. Since both carriers are running GSM it's probably not entirely
true. What is true is that carriers often have the handset
manufacturer hard code data settings so unless you have the handset
flashed with generic firmware you won't be able to plug in your new
carrier's data settings. As far as the phone itself doing phone
things there's absolutely no difference at all.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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

In <[email protected]> on Tue, 02 Nov 2004 09:50:26
-0800, Joseph <[email protected]> wrote:

>On Mon, 01 Nov 2004 19:19:50 GMT, "Jeremy" <[email protected]>
>wrote:
>
>>2: Cingular's web site claims that their network has some features not
>>supported by some ATTWS phones, and they are characterizing this need for a
>>new phone as an upgrade for ATTWS customers.
>
>Just because the web site claims it doesn't necessarily mean it's
>true. Since both carriers are running GSM it's probably not entirely
>true. What is true is that carriers often have the handset
>manufacturer hard code data settings so unless you have the handset
>flashed with generic firmware you won't be able to plug in your new
>carrier's data settings. As far as the phone itself doing phone
>things there's absolutely no difference at all.

Cingular does have special code in phones for such things as OTA (over the
air) programming and special features like AOL IM. That the phones are GSM
doesn't make that any less true. You can use a standard GSM handset on
Cingular (as I do), but then you lose those capabilities (e.g., AOL IM).
Another problem is that ATTWS phones have special ATTWS programming and are
locked to ATTWS. Reflashing and relocking those ATTWS phones would be a
Support nightmare.

--
Best regards,
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/>

"John Navas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> [POSTED TO alt.cellular.attws - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
>
> In <[email protected]> on Tue, 02 Nov 2004
09:50:26
> -0800, Joseph <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >On Mon, 01 Nov 2004 19:19:50 GMT, "Jeremy" <[email protected]>
> >wrote:
> >
> >>2: Cingular's web site claims that their network has some features not
> >>supported by some ATTWS phones, and they are characterizing this need
for a
> >>new phone as an upgrade for ATTWS customers.
> >
> >Just because the web site claims it doesn't necessarily mean it's
> >true. Since both carriers are running GSM it's probably not entirely
> >true. What is true is that carriers often have the handset
> >manufacturer hard code data settings so unless you have the handset
> >flashed with generic firmware you won't be able to plug in your new
> >carrier's data settings. As far as the phone itself doing phone
> >things there's absolutely no difference at all.
>
> Cingular does have special code in phones for such things as OTA (over the
> air) programming and special features like AOL IM. That the phones are
GSM
> doesn't make that any less true. You can use a standard GSM handset on
> Cingular (as I do), but then you lose those capabilities (e.g., AOL IM).
> Another problem is that ATTWS phones have special ATTWS programming and
are
> locked to ATTWS. Reflashing and relocking those ATTWS phones would be a
> Support nightmare.
>
> --
> Best regards,
> John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/>


My v220 has it built in, but I am not an AOL subscriber. I imagine one
needs an AOL account to use AOL IM?

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

In <[email protected]> on Tue, 2 Nov 2004 13:53:37 -0500, "Alan"
<[email protected]> wrote:

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

>> Cingular does have special code in phones for such things as OTA (over the
>> air) programming and special features like AOL IM. That the phones are GSM
>> doesn't make that any less true. You can use a standard GSM handset on
>> Cingular (as I do), but then you lose those capabilities (e.g., AOL IM).
>> Another problem is that ATTWS phones have special ATTWS programming and are
>> locked to ATTWS. Reflashing and relocking those ATTWS phones would be a
>> Support nightmare.

> My v220 has it built in, but I am not an AOL subscriber. I imagine one
>needs an AOL account to use AOL IM?

Sign up for AOL IM is free.

--
Best regards,
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/>

On Mon, 01 Nov 2004 19:40:45 GMT, John Navas
<[email protected]> said in alt.cellular.cingular:

>ATTWS phones are locked to ATTWS, and at least some have modified firmware.
>Unlocking those phones, and then locking them to Cingular, would be a support
>nightmare.

Since unlocking them is totally unnecessary, it's a non-issue.

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

In <[email protected]> on Wed, 03 Nov 2004 05:11:19
GMT, Al Klein <[email protected]> wrote:

>On Mon, 01 Nov 2004 19:40:45 GMT, John Navas
><[email protected]> said in alt.cellular.cingular:
>
>>ATTWS phones are locked to ATTWS, and at least some have modified firmware.
>>Unlocking those phones, and then locking them to Cingular, would be a support
>>nightmare.
>
>Since unlocking them is totally unnecessary, it's a non-issue.

It is an issue in this context.

--
Best regards,
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/>

> > My v220 has it built in, but I am not an AOL subscriber. I imagine one
> >needs an AOL account to use AOL IM?
>
> Sign up for AOL IM is free.
>
>

Thanks. Can it IM to MS IM or are they still not playing together?

On Wed, 03 Nov 2004 06:04:30 GMT, John Navas
<[email protected]> said in alt.cellular.cingular:

>[POSTED TO alt.cellular.attws - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
>
>In <[email protected]> on Wed, 03 Nov 2004 05:11:19
>GMT, Al Klein <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>On Mon, 01 Nov 2004 19:40:45 GMT, John Navas
>><[email protected]> said in alt.cellular.cingular:
>>
>>>ATTWS phones are locked to ATTWS, and at least some have modified firmware.
>>>Unlocking those phones, and then locking them to Cingular, would be a support
>>>nightmare.
>>
>>Since unlocking them is totally unnecessary, it's a non-issue.
>
>It is an issue in this context.

On or about the 17th, AT&T phones (and, I assume Cingular phones) will
get SIM changes to make them fully compatible with the other system.
This will be done at the dealer level, not at the corporate level, so
it's not going to be a nightmare.

On Wed, 3 Nov 2004 14:33:24 -0500, "Alan" <[email protected]> said in
alt.cellular.cingular:

>> > My v220 has it built in, but I am not an AOL subscriber. I imagine one
>> >needs an AOL account to use AOL IM?

>> Sign up for AOL IM is free.

>Thanks. Can it IM to MS IM or are they still not playing together?

I doubt that they ever will, but Trillian can handle more than one
system. (I don't have mine running, so I can't be sure, but I don't
recall seeing MS in there.)

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

In <[email protected]> on Thu, 04 Nov 2004 03:28:35
GMT, Al Klein <[email protected]> wrote:

>On Wed, 03 Nov 2004 06:04:30 GMT, John Navas
><[email protected]> said in alt.cellular.cingular:
>
>>In <[email protected]> on Wed, 03 Nov 2004 05:11:19
>>GMT, Al Klein <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>On Mon, 01 Nov 2004 19:40:45 GMT, John Navas
>>><[email protected]> said in alt.cellular.cingular:
>>>
>>>>ATTWS phones are locked to ATTWS, and at least some have modified firmware.
>>>>Unlocking those phones, and then locking them to Cingular, would be a support
>>>>nightmare.
>>>
>>>Since unlocking them is totally unnecessary, it's a non-issue.
>>
>>It is an issue in this context.
>
>On or about the 17th, AT&T phones (and, I assume Cingular phones) will
>get SIM changes to make them fully compatible with the other system.
>This will be done at the dealer level, not at the corporate level, so
>it's not going to be a nightmare.

There's a big difference between SIM updates (mostly done OTA, not at dealers)
and enabling Cingular-specific features.

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

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

In <[email protected]> on Thu, 04 Nov 2004 03:29:49
GMT, Al Klein <[email protected]> wrote:

>On Wed, 3 Nov 2004 14:33:24 -0500, "Alan" <[email protected]> said in
>alt.cellular.cingular:
>
>>> > My v220 has it built in, but I am not an AOL subscriber. I imagine one
>>> >needs an AOL account to use AOL IM?
>
>>> Sign up for AOL IM is free.
>
>>Thanks. Can it IM to MS IM or are they still not playing together?
>
>I doubt that they ever will, but Trillian can handle more than one
>system. (I don't have mine running, so I can't be sure, but I don't
>recall seeing MS in there.)

Trillian does interoperate with MSN Messenger.

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

"Al Klein" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Wed, 03 Nov 2004 06:04:30 GMT, John Navas
> <[email protected]> said in alt.cellular.cingular:
>
> >[POSTED TO alt.cellular.attws - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
> >
> >In <[email protected]> on Wed, 03 Nov 2004
05:11:19
> >GMT, Al Klein <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >>On Mon, 01 Nov 2004 19:40:45 GMT, John Navas
> >><[email protected]> said in alt.cellular.cingular:
> >>
> >>>ATTWS phones are locked to ATTWS, and at least some have modified
firmware.
> >>>Unlocking those phones, and then locking them to Cingular, would be a
support
> >>>nightmare.
> >>
> >>Since unlocking them is totally unnecessary, it's a non-issue.
> >
> >It is an issue in this context.
>
> On or about the 17th, AT&T phones (and, I assume Cingular phones) will
> get SIM changes to make them fully compatible with the other system.
> This will be done at the dealer level, not at the corporate level, so
> it's not going to be a nightmare.


Where do you keep coming up with this 17th date from?

November 15th, 2004 is "Day One".

Unlocking nor SIM changes will allow MEdia features to work on ATT phones
and vice versa with Mmode and Cingular handsets. It's not just data features
either. Some text and voice features are non-compatible as well.

We had a long talk about this in Cingular Merger Training today. The
reprograming neccessary would not make financial sense.

-------------------
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