FFMR meaning?

My account's Minutes Used page at cingular.com has, under
the "feature" column, the acronym FFMR which a cingular
employee tells me stands for Federal Financial Management
Requirement. She looked at her "cheat sheet" to find out
what that means and read a paragraph that neither of us
understood, but it included a reference to the Department of
Defense.

There are several FFMR line items of varying numbers of
minutes on the minutes-used page for the recently added
phone and none for the primary phone. All FFMR items are
incoming calls.

Can anyone explain FFMR?

--David

---

› See More: FFMR meaning?

In article <[email protected]>,
J David Ellis <[email protected]> wrote:

> My account's Minutes Used page at cingular.com has, under
> the "feature" column, the acronym FFMR which a cingular
> employee tells me stands for Federal Financial Management
> Requirement. She looked at her "cheat sheet" to find out
> what that means and read a paragraph that neither of us
> understood, but it included a reference to the Department of
> Defense.
>
> There are several FFMR line items of varying numbers of
> minutes on the minutes-used page for the recently added
> phone and none for the primary phone. All FFMR items are
> incoming calls.
>
> Can anyone explain FFMR?

Since changing my plan and upgrading 2 of the phones last month and
playing with data features, I have also been looking at the minutes used
details.

I have been noticing that when one of my phones calls another of my
phones (I have unlimited mobile to mobile) that I see two entries for
the same call with the exact same time:

1) "07:38 PM", "Incoming" (lowercase), "650-xxx-xxxx" (the number of
the *called phone*), "DT", "FFMR", "36"

and

2) "07:38 PM", "INCOMING" (uppercase), "650-xxx-yyyy" (the number of the
*calling phone*), "DT", "M2MCNG", "36"

I also wonder what it means and why 2 entries for the same call.

--
-Ernie-

"There are only two kinds of computer users -- those who have
suffered a catastrophic hard drive failure, and those who will."

Have you done your backup today?

"Ernie Klein" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> J David Ellis <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > My account's Minutes Used page at cingular.com has, under
> > the "feature" column, the acronym FFMR which a cingular
> > employee tells me stands for Federal Financial Management
> > Requirement. She looked at her "cheat sheet" to find out
> > what that means and read a paragraph that neither of us
> > understood, but it included a reference to the Department of
> > Defense.
> >
> > There are several FFMR line items of varying numbers of
> > minutes on the minutes-used page for the recently added
> > phone and none for the primary phone. All FFMR items are
> > incoming calls.
> >
> > Can anyone explain FFMR?
>
> Since changing my plan and upgrading 2 of the phones last month and
> playing with data features, I have also been looking at the minutes used
> details.
>
> I have been noticing that when one of my phones calls another of my
> phones (I have unlimited mobile to mobile) that I see two entries for
> the same call with the exact same time:
>
> 1) "07:38 PM", "Incoming" (lowercase), "650-xxx-xxxx" (the number of
> the *called phone*), "DT", "FFMR", "36"
>
> and
>
> 2) "07:38 PM", "INCOMING" (uppercase), "650-xxx-yyyy" (the number of the
> *calling phone*), "DT", "M2MCNG", "36"
>
> I also wonder what it means and why 2 entries for the same call.
>
> --
> -Ernie-
>
> "There are only two kinds of computer users -- those who have
> suffered a catastrophic hard drive failure, and those who will."
>
> Have you done your backup today?

I believe that the FFMR = free follow me roaming - when you are attached to
another companies tower

In article <[email protected]>,
"Cliff" <[email protected]> wrote:

> "Ernie Klein" <[email protected]> wrote in message


> > I have been noticing that when one of my phones calls another of my
> > phones (I have unlimited mobile to mobile) that I see two entries for
> > the same call with the exact same time:
> >
> > 1) "07:38 PM", "Incoming" (lowercase), "650-xxx-xxxx" (the number of
> > the *called phone*), "DT", "FFMR", "36"
> >
> > and
> >
> > 2) "07:38 PM", "INCOMING" (uppercase), "650-xxx-yyyy" (the number of the
> > *calling phone*), "DT", "M2MCNG", "36"
> >
> > I also wonder what it means and why 2 entries for the same call.


> I believe that the FFMR = free follow me roaming - when you are attached to
> another companies tower

Except, in what I cited above, both of the phones are in my family plan,
both are in the SF Bay Area, both were on the Cingular network at the
time of the call. Roaming is not involved.

What I cited was just one example in the call log between family member
phones. Almost all family to family calls log like that - and there are
many.

--
-Ernie-

"There are only two kinds of computer users -- those who have
suffered a catastrophic hard drive failure, and those who will."

Have you done your backup today?

"Ernie Klein" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> "Cliff" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > "Ernie Klein" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
>
> > > I have been noticing that when one of my phones calls another of my
> > > phones (I have unlimited mobile to mobile) that I see two entries for
> > > the same call with the exact same time:
> > >
> > > 1) "07:38 PM", "Incoming" (lowercase), "650-xxx-xxxx" (the number of
> > > the *called phone*), "DT", "FFMR", "36"
> > >
> > > and
> > >
> > > 2) "07:38 PM", "INCOMING" (uppercase), "650-xxx-yyyy" (the number of
the
> > > *calling phone*), "DT", "M2MCNG", "36"
> > >
> > > I also wonder what it means and why 2 entries for the same call.
>
>
> > I believe that the FFMR = free follow me roaming - when you are attached
to
> > another companies tower
>
> Except, in what I cited above, both of the phones are in my family plan,
> both are in the SF Bay Area, both were on the Cingular network at the
> time of the call. Roaming is not involved.
>
> What I cited was just one example in the call log between family member
> phones. Almost all family to family calls log like that - and there are
> many.
>
> --
> -Ernie-
>
> "There are only two kinds of computer users -- those who have
> suffered a catastrophic hard drive failure, and those who will."
>
> Have you done your backup today?

While you may be at home you are not necessarily not roaming - especially on
a t-mobile tower. And who you are talking to is not important. It is only
an indication of where you are physically connected to the system.

In article <W%[email protected]>,
"Cliff" <[email protected]> wrote:

> "Ernie Klein" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > In article <[email protected]>,
> > "Cliff" <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> > > "Ernie Klein" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >
> >
> > > > I have been noticing that when one of my phones calls another of my
> > > > phones (I have unlimited mobile to mobile) that I see two entries for
> > > > the same call with the exact same time:
> > > >
> > > > 1) "07:38 PM", "Incoming" (lowercase), "650-xxx-xxxx" (the number of
> > > > the *called phone*), "DT", "FFMR", "36"
> > > >
> > > > and
> > > >
> > > > 2) "07:38 PM", "INCOMING" (uppercase), "650-xxx-yyyy" (the number of
> the
> > > > *calling phone*), "DT", "M2MCNG", "36"
> > > >
> > > > I also wonder what it means and why 2 entries for the same call.
> >
> >
> > > I believe that the FFMR = free follow me roaming - when you are attached
> to
> > > another companies tower
> >
> > Except, in what I cited above, both of the phones are in my family plan,
> > both are in the SF Bay Area, both were on the Cingular network at the
> > time of the call. Roaming is not involved.
> >
> > What I cited was just one example in the call log between family member
> > phones. Almost all family to family calls log like that - and there are
> > many.
> >

> While you may be at home you are not necessarily not roaming - especially on
> a t-mobile tower. And who you are talking to is not important. It is only
> an indication of where you are physically connected to the system.

Like I said, my example is only one of many. I have 5 phones on my
account and the billing log is full of calls like that. Almost _all_
family to family calls are billed like that, even when family members
are close to each other. I have _never_ been billed for roaming - ever.

Last night I made a test. I called my wife's phone (in the same room).
This morning I find the same two entries in the billing record for that
call. Roaming cannot be the answer.

--
-Ernie-

"There are only two kinds of computer users -- those who have
suffered a catastrophic hard drive failure, and those who will."

Have you done your backup today?

In article <[email protected]>,
Ernie Klein <[email protected]> wrote:

> In article <W%[email protected]>,
> "Cliff" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > "Ernie Klein" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > In article <[email protected]>,
> > > "Cliff" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > >
> > > > "Ernie Klein" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > >
> > >
> > > > > I have been noticing that when one of my phones calls another of my
> > > > > phones (I have unlimited mobile to mobile) that I see two entries for
> > > > > the same call with the exact same time:
> > > > >
> > > > > 1) "07:38 PM", "Incoming" (lowercase), "650-xxx-xxxx" (the number of
> > > > > the *called phone*), "DT", "FFMR", "36"
> > > > >
> > > > > and
> > > > >
> > > > > 2) "07:38 PM", "INCOMING" (uppercase), "650-xxx-yyyy" (the number of
> > the
> > > > > *calling phone*), "DT", "M2MCNG", "36"
> > > > >
> > > > > I also wonder what it means and why 2 entries for the same call.
> > >
> > >
> > > > I believe that the FFMR = free follow me roaming - when you are attached
> > to
> > > > another companies tower
> > >
> > > Except, in what I cited above, both of the phones are in my family plan,
> > > both are in the SF Bay Area, both were on the Cingular network at the
> > > time of the call. Roaming is not involved.
> > >
> > > What I cited was just one example in the call log between family member
> > > phones. Almost all family to family calls log like that - and there are
> > > many.
> > >
>
> > While you may be at home you are not necessarily not roaming - especially on
> > a t-mobile tower. And who you are talking to is not important. It is only
> > an indication of where you are physically connected to the system.
>
> Like I said, my example is only one of many. I have 5 phones on my
> account and the billing log is full of calls like that. Almost _all_
> family to family calls are billed like that, even when family members
> are close to each other. I have _never_ been billed for roaming - ever.
>
> Last night I made a test. I called my wife's phone (in the same room).
> This morning I find the same two entries in the billing record for that
> call. Roaming cannot be the answer.

I will add to this that the very first double entry with the "FFMR" on
one line and "M2MCNG" showed up on 2/9/2006 at 12:29PM which happens to
be the day and time that I upgraded my previous family plan (600 minutes
- no rollover) to the nationwide family 1400 with rollover; prior to
that all family-family calls were labeled "MOBMOB" and only a one line
billing entry. I am waiting for my paper bill to arrive (any day now)
before calling Cingular for an explanation.

--
-Ernie-

"There are only two kinds of computer users -- those who have
suffered a catastrophic hard drive failure, and those who will."

Have you done your backup today?

"Ernie Klein" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <W%[email protected]>,
> "Cliff" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > "Ernie Klein" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > In article <[email protected]>,
> > > "Cliff" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > >
> > > > "Ernie Klein" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > >
> > >
> > > > > I have been noticing that when one of my phones calls another of
my
> > > > > phones (I have unlimited mobile to mobile) that I see two entries
for
> > > > > the same call with the exact same time:
> > > > >
> > > > > 1) "07:38 PM", "Incoming" (lowercase), "650-xxx-xxxx" (the number
of
> > > > > the *called phone*), "DT", "FFMR", "36"
> > > > >
> > > > > and
> > > > >
> > > > > 2) "07:38 PM", "INCOMING" (uppercase), "650-xxx-yyyy" (the number
of
> > the
> > > > > *calling phone*), "DT", "M2MCNG", "36"
> > > > >
> > > > > I also wonder what it means and why 2 entries for the same call.
> > >
> > >
> > > > I believe that the FFMR = free follow me roaming - when you are
attached
> > to
> > > > another companies tower
> > >
> > > Except, in what I cited above, both of the phones are in my family
plan,
> > > both are in the SF Bay Area, both were on the Cingular network at the
> > > time of the call. Roaming is not involved.
> > >
> > > What I cited was just one example in the call log between family
member
> > > phones. Almost all family to family calls log like that - and there
are
> > > many.
> > >
>
> > While you may be at home you are not necessarily not roaming -
especially on
> > a t-mobile tower. And who you are talking to is not important. It is
only
> > an indication of where you are physically connected to the system.
>
> Like I said, my example is only one of many. I have 5 phones on my
> account and the billing log is full of calls like that. Almost _all_
> family to family calls are billed like that, even when family members
> are close to each other. I have _never_ been billed for roaming - ever.
>
> Last night I made a test. I called my wife's phone (in the same room).
> This morning I find the same two entries in the billing record for that
> call. Roaming cannot be the answer.
>
> --
> -Ernie-
>

Ernie -

You are not grasping what I am saying. With the plan that you are on now it
is possible that you are "roaming" (ie - using another companies towers)
without being charged for it.

I went to the cingular site - did a search and include the information here:

A:
Following Me Roaming (FMR), also known as Automatic Call Delivery (ACD), is
the ability for you to receive incoming calls while traveling outside of
your home area. The call is listed as two line items on the bill.

i
A Follow Me Roaming call is listed as two line items per call on the bill,
detailing when you received an incoming call while traveling outside of your
home area. (The call follows you.)


i
The Follow Me Roaming line of the call is used to display any applicable
toll charge. The Follow Me Roaming line does NOT bill airtime even though
the call is listed on the bill and shows the minutes delivered as Follow Me
Roaming. The toll charge depends on the type of toll package or long
distance on your account.


i
Each Follow Me Roaming call will have another corresponding call listed as
incoming on the bill (usually within one to five minutes) that charges the
applicable airtime.

In article <%[email protected]>,
"Cliff" <[email protected]> wrote:

> "Ernie Klein" <[email protected]> wrote in message

> > Last night I made a test. I called my wife's phone (in the same room).
> > This morning I find the same two entries in the billing record for that
> > call. Roaming cannot be the answer.
> >
>
> Ernie -
>
> You are not grasping what I am saying. With the plan that you are on now it
> is possible that you are "roaming" (ie - using another companies towers)
> without being charged for it.

I hear you Cliff, I'm just not buying it.

The FFMR _only_ shows up against incoming family to family (mobile to
mobile) calls, *never* to incoming (or outgoing) non-mobile calls, even
though the phone is in the same location for both types of calls.

My mobile to mobile calls can't _all_ be using other companies towers,
while landline to mobile or mobile to landline calls _never_ use other
companies towers. Also, I know where the cellsight is that I use from
my home, I can see it out my back window on top of the SBC building
about a mile away.

--
-Ernie-

"There are only two kinds of computer users -- those who have
suffered a catastrophic hard drive failure, and those who will."

Have you done your backup today?