Upgrade Your Smart Phone

Upgrade Your Smart Phone

Owning the latest and greatest can cost you. Here's how to work the
system.

James A. Martin
Thursday, March 23, 2006

Tempting new smart phones are showing up with frustrating frequency.
In the past few months, Cingular began offering Research in Motion's
BlackBerry 8700c and Sprint PCS started selling its Smart Device
PPC-6700. Just after New Year's Day, Verizon Wireless unveiled the
Palm Treo 700w.


Advertisement




Why is this frustrating? Because wireless service providers offer
their best deals to new subscribers. Those of us already locked into a
wireless service plan may be asked to pay full retail price for a new
handset--which can be $500 or more.

This week, I'll explain some ways to save money when you upgrade your
smart phone. Next week, I'll follow up with tips on taking a drastic
step: switching cell phone carriers.

What Are the Options?

Recently, I decided to switch from my Nokia 6230 to a Palm Treo 650
smart phone.

As a Cingular customer, I was only eligible to upgrade to a new device
every 21 months. I was told that I couldn't buy a new device from
Cingular at a discounted price until March 30, 2007.

Call me impatient, but I can't wait that long. So I explored my
options:

1. Pay Cingular's full price of $500 for the Treo 650.
2. Pay $300 for the Treo 650 by adding another line to my existing
Cingular account.
3. Ask for a better deal.
4. Compare prices offered by resellers.

Pay Full Price? I Think Not

Paying the undiscounted $500 price was hardly a compelling option. At
the time, new Cingular subscribers who signed a two-year service
agreement got the Treo 650 for $200 less.

By adding another line to my existing Cingular account, a Cingular
customer service rep explained, I would qualify for the new-subscriber
discount. (A Cingular spokesperson could not confirm that this was a
valid offer available to all Cingular subscribers.) But the extra line
would cost $10 per month. If I didn't need that extra line--and I
didn't--I would be spending $240 over the life of the two-year
contract in order to save $200.

Cutting a Deal

Asking for a better deal sure couldn't hurt. Some wireless service
providers will offer existing customers in good standing a deal on a
new phone; the Cingular rep called this an "exception upgrade."

When I asked for a deal, the rep said that three things qualified me
for an exception upgrade: I had been in my current contract for over
six months; I had no past-due balance on my account; and I had had no
suspensions due to non-payment. Instead of $500, he said, I could get
the Treo 650 for $370 (after a $100 mail-in rebate). The $370 price is
what new customers signing a one-year contract would pay; to get the
$300 price, new customers had to sign a two-year contract.

Cingular's spokesperson later confirmed the validity of the offer. She
added that after 12 months, customers can upgrade to a new device for
the same price that a new customer signing a two-year agreement would
pay. In the case of the Treo 650, that's $300.

Shopping for a Smart Phone

First I headed to eBay, where I discovered I could buy a new,
refurbished, or used Treo 650--for about $400, or more if the phone is
unlocked.

I also learned that some online resellers offer better smart phone
deals for new subscribers than what you'd pay the wireless service
providers directly.

Example: Recently, Everythingtreo was offering a new Treo 650 from
EarthLink Wireless for $99, after a mail-in rebate and with a two-year
service agreement. At the same time, visitors to EarthLink Wireless's
Web site would pay $199 for a new Treo 650.

Next week I'll talk about the option I chose, and give you some tips
on the ultimate option: switching wireless smart phone carriers.

Next Page: Mobile Computing News, Reviews, & Tips

http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article...125002,00.asp#

===
"Work like you don't need the money, Love like you've never been hurt, Dance like nobody's watching..."
-- Richard Leigh
_________________________________________
Usenet Zone Free Binaries Usenet Server
More than 140,000 groups
Unlimited download
http://www.usenetzone.com to open account

---

› See More: Upgrade Your Smart Phone

Here's a copy of an email they sent me back. The author of the
article never mentioned anything about extending the stupid 2 year
contract.

--

Dear x,

Thank you for taking the time to e-mail Cingular Wireless regarding
your
upgrade question. I am happy to help you with your inquiry.

After reviewing the account, we have determined that we cannot
currently
offer your line a standard upgrade at this time. However, we may be
able
to provide an exception to upgrade this number. This exception upgrade
will allow you to upgrade your equipment with a 1 year's discount in
exchange for a new 2 year commitment. To accept this offer and inquire
about current pricing, you would need to contact our telesales
department at 866-CINGULAR to place your order.

I hope that the information provided has been helpful and has resolved
all of your questions. If you need further assistance, feel free to
reply to this e-mail or contact customer service at 1-800-331-0500 or
611 from your Cingular Wireless phone.

I encourage you to visit our web site (www.cingular.com) often to view
current and previous monthly statements, make payments and to shop for
new product and service offerings. Thank you for allowing Cingular
Wireless to serve as your wireless company. We will do our best to
ensure that your wireless experience is a success.


Sincerely,

Charles Walker

Cingular Wireless
Online Customer Care Professional


Help Cingular improve our service to you! Please complete our short
survey about your e-mail Customer Service experience. Click on:
http://support.cingular.com/survey/e...&id=laCharlesW
2379168

The information provided in this e-mail is intended for the view and
use
of the authorized Cingular Wireless subscriber only. Content may not
be
shared or relied upon by third parties. Cingular, at its sole
discretion, reserves the right to amend, modify or replace the written
content of this message to correct or update answers provided to
Subscriber. No term of Subscriber's Customer Service Agreement is
altered, waived, or modified by this message unless expressly agreed
by
an authorized Cingular representative.


Original Message Follows:
------------------------

Additional Information


Q1:Enter the wireless number associated with the account you're
inquiring about
A1:

Q2:What is the make and model of the phone you're asking about?
A2:Cingular 8125 PocketPC

Q3:Please enter your phone question below:
A3:I wish to obtain the Cingular 8125 Pocket PC through a "exception
upgrade". How much would I be able to buy this for if I did qualify?

===
"Work like you don't need the money, Love like you've never been hurt, Dance like nobody's watching..."
-- Richard Leigh
_________________________________________
Usenet Zone Free Binaries Usenet Server
More than 140,000 groups
Unlimited download
http://www.usenetzone.com to open account

Is there a reason you are sending out this unsolicited stuff? Who cares?

Fred

"Ablang" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Here's a copy of an email they sent me back. The author of the
> article never mentioned anything about extending the stupid 2 year
> contract.
>
> --
>
> Dear x,
>
> Thank you for taking the time to e-mail Cingular Wireless regarding
> your
> upgrade question. I am happy to help you with your inquiry.
>
> After reviewing the account, we have determined that we cannot
> currently
> offer your line a standard upgrade at this time. However, we may be
> able
> to provide an exception to upgrade this number. This exception upgrade
> will allow you to upgrade your equipment with a 1 year's discount in
> exchange for a new 2 year commitment. To accept this offer and inquire
> about current pricing, you would need to contact our telesales
> department at 866-CINGULAR to place your order.
>
> I hope that the information provided has been helpful and has resolved
> all of your questions. If you need further assistance, feel free to
> reply to this e-mail or contact customer service at 1-800-331-0500 or
> 611 from your Cingular Wireless phone.
>
> I encourage you to visit our web site (www.cingular.com) often to view
> current and previous monthly statements, make payments and to shop for
> new product and service offerings. Thank you for allowing Cingular
> Wireless to serve as your wireless company. We will do our best to
> ensure that your wireless experience is a success.
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Charles Walker
>
> Cingular Wireless
> Online Customer Care Professional
>
>
> Help Cingular improve our service to you! Please complete our short
> survey about your e-mail Customer Service experience. Click on:
> http://support.cingular.com/survey/e...&id=laCharlesW
> 2379168
>
> The information provided in this e-mail is intended for the view and
> use
> of the authorized Cingular Wireless subscriber only. Content may not
> be
> shared or relied upon by third parties. Cingular, at its sole
> discretion, reserves the right to amend, modify or replace the written
> content of this message to correct or update answers provided to
> Subscriber. No term of Subscriber's Customer Service Agreement is
> altered, waived, or modified by this message unless expressly agreed
> by
> an authorized Cingular representative.
>
>
> Original Message Follows:
> ------------------------
>
> Additional Information
>
>
> Q1:Enter the wireless number associated with the account you're
> inquiring about
> A1:
>
> Q2:What is the make and model of the phone you're asking about?
> A2:Cingular 8125 PocketPC
>
> Q3:Please enter your phone question below:
> A3:I wish to obtain the Cingular 8125 Pocket PC through a "exception
> upgrade". How much would I be able to buy this for if I did qualify?
>
> ===
> "Work like you don't need the money, Love like you've never been hurt,
> Dance like nobody's watching..."
> -- Richard Leigh
> _________________________________________
> Usenet Zone Free Binaries Usenet Server
> More than 140,000 groups
> Unlimited download
> http://www.usenetzone.com to open account