How long before Cingular retreats from Feb 13 price increases?

Verizon just lowered the bar to get additional lines at $9.99; while on
Feb. 13 Cingular raised it; while raising the prices for messaging on
Internet connectivity, for which Sprint still charges $15/month.

It's almost as if Cingular was saying: "Verizon is gaining on us to be
the largest Cellular provider again, lets help them by raising our
prices so we wont add customers as fast as we were".

At least according to the web site today, Night still carry over till 7
AM.

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› See More: How long before Cingular retreats from Feb 13 price increases?

Originally Posted by Jack Zwick

Verizon just lowered the bar to get additional lines at $9.99; while on
Feb. 13 Cingular raised it; while raising the prices for messaging on
Internet connectivity, for which Sprint still charges $15/month.

It's almost as if Cingular was saying: "Verizon is gaining on us to be
the largest Cellular provider again, lets help them by raising our
prices so we wont add customers as fast as we were".

At least according to the web site today, Night still carry over till 7
AM.

I don't consider Cingular to have raised their prices overall. They subtracted 50 mins from the 29.99 plan and added them to the 59.99 plan, which is more popular than the 29.99 plan. They added more variety to their text messaging plans. They used to have just 2 SMS plans now they have a lot more variety.

The fact that they changed their nights to 9-6, really isn't a big deal to most customers. Verizon has the same hours.

They added a 69.99 plan which customers have wanted for a while, so Cingular now has more flexible rate plans.

Sure they went made the 9.99 add a line only in effect for 69.99 plans and higher, but the 69.99 plan also includes 1100 minutes. They are also allowing a maximum of 5 lines on a Family Talk Plan instead of the previous maximum of 4

The way I look at it is Cingular is just as competitive as Verizon. Verizon was not closing in on Cinular at all, Cingular has added 2 million customers since Septeber, and continues to lead Verizon by 6 million customers or more.

In article <[email protected]>,
scott14661 <[email protected]> wrote:

> Jack Zwick Wrote:
> > Verizon just lowered the bar to get additional lines at $9.99; while on
> > Feb. 13 Cingular raised it; while raising the prices for messaging on
> > Internet connectivity, for which Sprint still charges $15/month.
> >
> > It's almost as if Cingular was saying: "Verizon is gaining on us to be
> > the largest Cellular provider again, lets help them by raising our
> > prices so we wont add customers as fast as we were".
> >
> > At least according to the web site today, Night still carry over till
> > 7
> > AM.
>
> I don't consider Cingular to have raised their prices overall.

And your relationship to Cingular that you defend them is?


> They
> subtracted 50 mins from the 29.99 plan and added them to the 59.99
> plan, which is more popular than the 29.99 plan.

But it now costs $19.99 rather than $9.99 to add a phone with the $59.99
plan. THAT IS A MAJOR PRICE INCREASE. If someone wants a plan for two
(husband and wife?) they are forced into 1100 minutes at $79.98, when
until yesterday they could have had 850 minutes at $69.98.


>They added more
> variety to their text messaging plans. They used to have just 2 SMS
> plans now they have a lot more variety.
>

Which will cost anyone who wanted internet connectivity substationally
more now.


> The fact that they changed their nights to 9-6, really isn't a big deal
> to most customers. Verizon has the same hours.

Why does the Web still say 7 AM?



>
> They added a 69.99 plan which customers have wanted for a while, so
> Cingular now has more flexible rate plans.
>
> Sure they went made the 9.99 add a line only in effect for 69.99 plans
> and higher, but the 69.99 plan also includes 1100 minutes. They are
> also allowing a maximum of 5 lines on a Family Talk Plan instead of the
> previous maximum of 4
>
> The way I look at it is Cingular is just as competitive as Verizon.
> Verizon was not closing in on Cinular at all, Cingular has added 2
> million customers since Septeber,



1.8 million

> and continues to lead Verizon by 6
> million customers or more.

Not more.

http://telephonyonline.com/mag/telecom_running_start/

says differently:


"That leaves Verizon Wireless the only major carrier aside from T-Mobile
not facing a major integration in 2005. Leaving Verizon with space to
make some competitive gains and focus on 3G."

"And your relationship to Cingular that you defend them is?"

I work for Cingular Wireless. I'll admit that when I first found out about the changes I felt the same way about it as you, but as I did more research I can honestly tell you that I do feel that these new changes will make Cingular better, and that's not the salesman speaking either.

"But it now costs $19.99 rather than $9.99 to add a phone with the $59.99
plan. THAT IS A MAJOR PRICE INCREASE. If someone wants a plan for two
(husband and wife?) they are forced into 1100 minutes at $79.98, when
until yesterday they could have had 850 minutes at $69.98."

In this particular instance I was not talking about Family Talk plans, I was referring to the plan in general. For one line Cingular now gives their customers 900 minutes for 59.99, Verizon's 59.99 plan is only 800 minutes. You're quick to point out what you think is expensive but you never make note of the fact Cingular's 59.99 plan is better than ever.

As a Sales Rep. for Cingular I would prefer it to be add a line for 9.99 on 59.99, that's where we agree. But at the same time I don't think too many customers will be turned away by this. I have found through my sales experience that if a customer needed 850 minutes in the past and was already going to spend 70.00 a month for 2 phones that in most cases they will embrace the fact that there is now a 69.99 plan unlike before. Most customers wanted more minutes than 850, but in the past they had to jump to a 79.99 plan, now they dont have to and even if they do choose the 59.99 plan they get 50 more minutes. 50 minutes may not sound like a lot but it can mean the difference in overage charges.

"Which will cost anyone who wanted internet connectivity substationally
more now."

I don't understand this statement. Cingular used to offer only a 2.99 and 9.99 SMS plan. The 2.99 plan gave customers 100 Messages, and the 9.99 was 750. Those options frankly just sucked, because for most customers the 2.99 plan was too little and the 9.99 plan was too many messages. Customers constantly told me they wanted something in between or something that offered them more than 750 without having to purchase a Media Package. So now customers can get a 2.99, 4.99, 9.99 and 19.99 SMS plan.

"Why does the Web still say 7 AM?"

I'm not the webmaster, I don't know why they haven't changed it. Take a look at any of the brochures that came out today, and they reflect that change.

"1.8 Million"

Close enough, that's still a lot of new customers in that short span. Keep in mind that number is the number of total new customers, not AT&T migrations. Pretty impressive.

"Not more.

http://telephonyonline.com/mag/telecom_running_start/

says differently:


"That leaves Verizon Wireless the only major carrier aside from T-Mobile
not facing a major integration in 2005. Leaving Verizon with space to
make some competitive gains and focus on 3G.""

The fact of the matter is Cingular is now the largest carrier in the USA. With this takeover Cingular is going to experience some growing pains like any but out would be. Some customers are going to leave Cingular because of these pains, but many more will come to replace them. I'm not suggesting every customer is not important, i'm just saying that Cingular's customer increase rate will die off for a short while until all the pains are worked out. Once all the little odds and ends are taken care of Cingular will grow and continue to be the largest carrier in the USA. So, I guess you could say I agree taht Verizon may bridge the gap a little in the meantime, but unless Verizon starts to match Cingular's plans Cingular will be tops.

Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>,
> scott14661 <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>The fact that they changed their nights to 9-6, really isn't a big deal
>>to most customers.
>
>
> Except those of us who have had 7-7 nights, or even 9-7 nights, for a
> long time.
>
7-7-7 is still around as a feature and will stay with the program. I am
unsure if the change from 9-7 to 9-6 will effect everybody, or if the
old plan will be grandfathered in.

In article <[email protected]>,
scott14661 <[email protected]> wrote:

> "And your relationship to Cingular that you defend them is?"
>
> I work for Cingular Wireless.




That was patently obvious. No one else would deny an obvious price
increase.


> I'll admit that when I first found out
> about the changes I felt the same way about it as you, but as I did
> more research I can honestly tell you that I do feel that these new
> changes will make Cingular better, and that's not the salesman speaking
> either.
>
> "But it now costs $19.99 rather than $9.99 to add a phone with the
> $59.99
> plan. THAT IS A MAJOR PRICE INCREASE. If someone wants a plan for two
> (husband and wife?) they are forced into 1100 minutes at $79.98, when
> until yesterday they could have had 850 minutes at $69.98."
>
> In this particular instance I was not talking about Family Talk plans,
> I was referring to the plan in general. For one line Cingular now
> gives their customers 900 minutes for 59.99, Verizon's 59.99 plan is
> only 800 minutes. You're quick to point out what you think is
> expensive but you never make note of the fact Cingular's 59.99 plan is
> better than ever.
>
> As a Sales Rep. for Cingular I would prefer it to be add a line for
> 9.99 on 59.99, that's where we agree. But at the same time I don't
> think too many customers will be turned away by this.

Heck; the $59.99 nearly turned me away. Dream, on, Cingular is pricing
itself above the competition.




> I have found
> through my sales experience that if a customer needed 850 minutes in
> the past and was already going to spend 70.00 a month for 2 phones that
> in most cases they will embrace the fact that there is now a 69.99 plan
> unlike before. Most customers wanted more minutes than 850, but in the
> past they had to jump to a 79.99 plan, now they dont have to and even if
> they do choose the 59.99 plan they get 50 more minutes. 50 minutes may
> not sound like a lot but it can mean the difference in overage charges.
>
>
> "Which will cost anyone who wanted internet connectivity
> substationally
> more now."
>
> I don't understand this statement.

Didnt Cingular include all this in the $20 plan before, and now not in
the $25 Media Works plan???



>Cingular used to offer only a 2.99
> and 9.99 SMS plan. The 2.99 plan gave customers 100 Messages, and the
> 9.99 was 750. Those options frankly just sucked, because for most
> customers the 2.99 plan was too little and the 9.99 plan was too many
> messages. Customers constantly told me they wanted something in
> between or something that offered them more than 750 without having to
> purchase a Media Package. So now customers can get a 2.99, 4.99, 9.99
> and 19.99 SMS plan.
>
> "Why does the Web still say 7 AM?"
>
> I'm not the webmaster, I don't know why they haven't changed it. Take
> a look at any of the brochures that came out today, and they reflect
> that change.
>
> "1.8 Million"

And you exagerated, lied and said two million. A typical shill for
Cingular.


>
> Close enough, that's still a lot of new customers in that short span.
> Keep in mind that number is the number of total new customers, not AT&T
> migrations. Pretty impressive.
>
> "Not more.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/7x6ma
>
> says differently:
>
>
> "That leaves Verizon Wireless the only major carrier aside from
> T-Mobile
> not facing a major integration in 2005. Leaving Verizon with space to
> make some competitive gains and focus on 3G.""
>
> The fact of the matter is Cingular is now the largest carrier in the
> USA. With this takeover Cingular is going to experience some growing
> pains like any but out would be.



Cingular has yet to fully integrate all the pieces that created Cingular
5 years ago, they each have their own call centers and computer systems.
The ATTWS Store conversion of November 15 is still waiting to happen.



> Some customers are going to leave
> Cingular because of these pains, but many more will come to replace
> them. I'm not suggesting every customer is not important, i'm just
> saying that Cingular's customer increase rate will die off for a short
> while until all the pains are worked out.


And with price increases also, Cingular gives Verizon an opening to
overtake it.




> Once all the little odds and
> ends are taken care of Cingular will grow and continue to be the largest
> carrier in the USA. So, I guess you could say I agree taht Verizon may
> bridge the gap a little in the meantime, but unless Verizon starts to
> match Cingular's plans Cingular will be tops.

In article <[email protected]>,
"Elmo P. Shagnasty" <[email protected]> wrote:

> In article <[email protected]>,
> scott14661 <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > The fact that they changed their nights to 9-6, really isn't a big deal
> > to most customers.
>
> Except those of us who have had 7-7 nights, or even 9-7 nights, for a
> long time.

Hopefully they wont change it for existing plans. If they do they've
broken contracts.

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

> Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
> > In article <[email protected]>,
> > scott14661 <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>The fact that they changed their nights to 9-6, really isn't a big deal
> >>to most customers.
> >
> >
> > Except those of us who have had 7-7 nights, or even 9-7 nights, for a
> > long time.
> >
> 7-7-7 is still around as a feature and will stay with the program. I am
> unsure if the change from 9-7 to 9-6 will effect everybody, or if the
> old plan will be grandfathered in.

If they want to break contracts, and see CHURN go up, have at it.

We wont even address the price increases for Cell phone internet surfing
and messaging by Cingular.


Suppose you're a Husband and Wife and want to share 2 phones with 500 to
700 monthly minutes.

Cingular $59.98 for 450 minutes (additional lines $19.99)
Cingular $69.98 for 600 minutes (additional lines $19.99)
Cingular $79.98 for 900 minutes (additional lines $9.99)
(all Cingular plans over $39.99 have rollover)

Verizon $59.99 for 500 minutes (additional lines $9.99)
Verizon $79.99 for 1000 minutes (additional lines $9.99)

SprintPCS $70 for 800 minutes (with "Fair & Flexible" ; 900 minutes
@$75)
(additional lines $10)

T-Mobile $69.99 for 900 minutes (additional lines $10)


And if a Husband, Wife and Mother-in-Law wanted to share 500 minutes,
Verizon is the clear price leader now.

=================
Time will tell. Will Cingular retreat from it's price increase?, or will
the Cingular's price increase give cover for SprintPCS and Verizon to
also raise prices?

Didn't Cingular's shills assure us that their takeover of ATTWS wouldn't
affect the competitvness of the Cellular Market? They were wrong.

I think you will find that Cingular for 59.99 has 9.99 for the additional
phone.

>
>
> Suppose you're a Husband and Wife and want to share 2 phones with 500
to
> 700 monthly minutes.
>
> Cingular $59.98 for 450 minutes (additional lines $19.99)
> Cingular $69.98 for 600 minutes (additional lines $19.99)
> Cingular $79.98 for 900 minutes (additional lines $9.99)
> (all Cingular plans over $39.99 have rollover)
>
> Verizon $59.99 for 500 minutes (additional lines $9.99)
> Verizon $79.99 for 1000 minutes (additional lines $9.99)
>
> SprintPCS $70 for 800 minutes (with "Fair & Flexible" ; 900 minutes
> @$75)
> (additional lines $10)
>
> T-Mobile $69.99 for 900 minutes (additional lines $10)
>
>
> And if a Husband, Wife and Mother-in-Law wanted to share 500 minutes,
> Verizon is the clear price leader now.
>
> =================
> Time will tell. Will Cingular retreat from it's price increase?, or
will
> the Cingular's price increase give cover for SprintPCS and Verizon to
> also raise prices?
>
> Didn't Cingular's shills assure us that their takeover of ATTWS
wouldn't
> affect the competitvness of the Cellular Market? They were wrong.
>

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

> I think you will find that Cingular for 59.99 has 9.99 for the additional
> phone.
>

NOT ANY MORE. THANKS TO THE Feb 13 PRICE INCREASES.


> >
> >
> > Suppose you're a Husband and Wife and want to share 2 phones with 500
> to
> > 700 monthly minutes.
> >
> > Cingular $59.98 for 450 minutes (additional lines $19.99)
> > Cingular $69.98 for 600 minutes (additional lines $19.99)
> > Cingular $79.98 for 900 minutes (additional lines $9.99)
> > (all Cingular plans over $39.99 have rollover)
> >
> > Verizon $59.99 for 500 minutes (additional lines $9.99)
> > Verizon $79.99 for 1000 minutes (additional lines $9.99)
> >
> > SprintPCS $70 for 800 minutes (with "Fair & Flexible" ; 900 minutes
> > @$75)
> > (additional lines $10)
> >
> > T-Mobile $69.99 for 900 minutes (additional lines $10)
> >
> >
> > And if a Husband, Wife and Mother-in-Law wanted to share 500 minutes,
> > Verizon is the clear price leader now.
> >
> > =================
> > Time will tell. Will Cingular retreat from it's price increase?, or
> will
> > the Cingular's price increase give cover for SprintPCS and Verizon to
> > also raise prices?
> >
> > Didn't Cingular's shills assure us that their takeover of ATTWS
> wouldn't
> > affect the competitvness of the Cellular Market? They were wrong.
> >

Jack Zwick <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> In article <[email protected]>,
> Ski <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> I think you will find that Cingular for 59.99 has 9.99 for the
>> additional phone.
>>
>
> NOT ANY MORE. THANKS TO THE Feb 13 PRICE INCREASES.
>
> They are getting as expensive as Sprint
>> >
>> >
>> >

In article <[email protected]>,
Ski @ 4.232.252.214 <[email protected]> wrote:

> Jack Zwick <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
> > In article <[email protected]>,
> > Ski <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >> I think you will find that Cingular for 59.99 has 9.99 for the
> >> additional phone.
> >>
> >
> > NOT ANY MORE. THANKS TO THE Feb 13 PRICE INCREASES.
> >
> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >

How juvenile to forge an extra sentence to make it look like it's from
me:

" They are getting as expensive as Sprint", is not what I posted.


But indeed for some situations, the new rates do make rates
more expensive for a new Cingular customer than SprintPCS.

Cingular still charges more than SprintPCS for 7 PM nights, but my
Rollover (for me) more than makes up for that, and I don't need
to pay for 7 PM nights.

I have many reasons to still prefer Cingular. Here are 14. YMMV

A) I got my Cingular plan before the current increases.

B) I have Rollover (currently over 1500 minutes banked),
so I don't need to pay for 7 PM nights to try and decrease usage.

C) I have Quality phones (a v600 and a T637) that don't overheat in use
and pre-maturally die long before contract is up like plastic
CDMA Sanyo phones do. After 8 months my Cingular phones
look and act like new. Sanyo phones were failing after 3 months,
but would pass sprintPCS "tests"
C2) My Cingular phones have ample memory for ring tones and pictures.
C3) Çomes time to upgrade my phone, I just move my SIM card,
no activation grief, no problems with transferring phone book.
C4) Having phones which are sold in the millions worldwide makes it
much easier to get accessories, and not be subjected to
outrageous accessory prices charged by Carrier.

D) With 850 MHz GSM I have better indoor reception than 1900 MHz CDMA.

E) With GSM I have better coverage in SE Texas.

F) With GSM I have better voice quality than CDMA.

G) I don't have L O N G hold times for Customer service, and I don't
get hung up on or lied to by reps with Handle Time
maximums to worry about.

H) With Cingular I have relatives that are also on Cingular for
free Mobile to Mobile, and free Mobile to Mobile is not an
extra cost or sometime add-on.

I) I kept my Mobile number when I ported to Cingular, and Cingular
credited me for the 3 days it took SprintPCS to release the numbers.

J) Should I go out of the country, I can still use my phone.

K) Dropped calls are flat not an issue anymore.

==============

Jack Zwick wrote:

> Verizon $59.99 for 500 minutes (additional lines $9.99)
> Verizon $79.99 for 1000 minutes (additional lines $9.99)
>
> SprintPCS $70 for 800 minutes (with "Fair & Flexible" ; 900 minutes
> @$75)
> (additional lines $10)

> And if a Husband, Wife and Mother-in-Law wanted to share 500 minutes,
> Verizon is the clear price leader now.


I suppose, IF you wanted to share 500 minutes ($59.99 + 9.99 + 9.99 =
79.97). Yet for 3 cents more, Sprint will give you 800 minutes for the
same three phones ($70 for two phones + $10 for an add-on = $80).

*shrug* I guess if you really want to pinch pennies, yes Verizon is the
cost leader. But I know that if I'm sharing minutes with three phones,
I'll gladly pay the extre three cents for those extra minutes.


> =================
> Time will tell. Will Cingular retreat from it's price increase?, or will
> the Cingular's price increase give cover for SprintPCS and Verizon to
> also raise prices?

As long as Cingular can boast about its "Allover Network" and have
people believe the hype, they probably can. Will tht mean that Spritn
and Verizon with follow suit? Not necessarily.

> Didn't Cingular's shills assure us that their takeover of ATTWS wouldn't
> affect the competitvness of the Cellular Market? They were wrong.

I do disagree in that regard. Cingular never really was competitive in
my book. And AT&T wireless, like its former parent company, was on its
way out anyway.


--
E-mail fudged to thwart spammers.
Transpose the c's and a's in my e-mail address to reply.

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

> Jack Zwick wrote:
>
> > Verizon $59.99 for 500 minutes (additional lines $9.99)
> > Verizon $79.99 for 1000 minutes (additional lines $9.99)
> >
> > SprintPCS $70 for 800 minutes (with "Fair & Flexible" ; 900 minutes
> > @$75)
> > (additional lines $10)
>
> > And if a Husband, Wife and Mother-in-Law wanted to share 500 minutes,
> > Verizon is the clear price leader now.
>
>
> I suppose, IF you wanted to share 500 minutes ($59.99 + 9.99 + 9.99 =
> 79.97). Yet for 3 cents more, Sprint will give you 800 minutes for the
> same three phones ($70 for two phones + $10 for an add-on = $80).



Where did you learn math? Verizon would be $69.98 for three phones,
SprintPCS $80.

>
> *shrug* I guess if you really want to pinch pennies, yes Verizon is the
> cost leader. But I know that if I'm sharing minutes with three phones,
> I'll gladly pay the extre three cents for those extra minutes.