SIM card upgrade?

I received a letter about a month or so ago advising me that I could get a
free SIM card upgrade by going to my nearest Cingular dealer, so I could
take advantage of "enhanced" service. Reading between the lines, it seemed
as though if I didn't get the upgrade, I would have service problems. I went
to the Cingular store and got the new SIM card. Then, about two weeks ago, I
received a text message from Cingular advising me that I needed to get the
SIM card upgrade. Friday, I received a letter from Cingular that contained a
new SIM card this time warning me that if I didn't upgrade I might
experience service interruptions. A friend who has Cingular service received
the first letter also, and he also went to the Cingular store to upgrade (a
few days before I did). He never received a text message from them or a SIM
card in the mail (he has a newer Motorola phone, I have a Nokia 6340I). I'm
wondering why Cingular doesn't think I got the SIM card upgrade already? Is
this another scam to force me to buy a new phone? I ask that becuase when I
still had AT&T the same thing happened - i.e., my original phone
mysteriously stopped working, even though it appeared to be fullly
functional, and I had to buy a new one.

---

› See More: SIM card upgrade?

Scott en Aztlán wrote:
> On Sun, 3 Sep 2006 09:38:44 -0700, "Ron Hinds" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>> I received a letter about a month or so ago advising me that I could get a
>> free SIM card upgrade by going to my nearest Cingular dealer, so I could
>> take advantage of "enhanced" service.
>
> I got the same letter. I ignored it.
>
>> Reading between the lines, it seemed
>> as though if I didn't get the upgrade, I would have service problems. I went
>> to the Cingular store and got the new SIM card. Then, about two weeks ago, I
>> received a text message from Cingular advising me that I needed to get the
>> SIM card upgrade. Friday, I received a letter from Cingular that contained a
>> new SIM card this time warning me that if I didn't upgrade I might
>> experience service interruptions.
>
> I also got a new SIM card in the mail. What a pity that Cingular can't
> enter the New Millennium and allow me to activate this new SIM via
> their web site. Oh, no - I have to either go into a Cingular store
> (and wait while the assholes behind the counter wait on people who
> came into the store AFTER I did) or call their customer service 800
> number "between 12:00 noon and 3:00 pm Pacific time" to have some
> customer service droid activate it.
>
> Sorry, Cingular, but if you want me to upgrade the SIM, then you're
> going to have to make it convenient for me to do so. If you don't want
> to do that, then I'll be happy to switch to another carrier that DOES
> care about providing good customer service.
>
>> I'm wondering why Cingular doesn't think I got the SIM card upgrade already?
>
> It's because they are incompetent ****s.
So, I too ignore the first letter. Get the SIM card and figure WTF,
maybe better access to the former AT&T towers, ?? Following explicit
written instructions I installed the new card and called the activation
number. This is just a CS # as no prompt regarding activation was
presented. After getting a CSR and explaining what I was doing, I was
asked to provide the new SIM card #. Of course this is on the card
itself requiring removal from the phone, getting glasses to read it, ...
Ah, Cingular!

"Scott en Aztlán" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sun, 3 Sep 2006 09:38:44 -0700, "Ron Hinds" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>>I received a letter about a month or so ago advising me that I could get a
>>free SIM card upgrade by going to my nearest Cingular dealer, so I could
>>take advantage of "enhanced" service.
>
> I got the same letter. I ignored it.
>
>>Reading between the lines, it seemed
>>as though if I didn't get the upgrade, I would have service problems. I
>>went
>>to the Cingular store and got the new SIM card. Then, about two weeks ago,
>>I
>>received a text message from Cingular advising me that I needed to get the
>>SIM card upgrade. Friday, I received a letter from Cingular that contained
>>a
>>new SIM card this time warning me that if I didn't upgrade I might
>>experience service interruptions.
>
> I also got a new SIM card in the mail. What a pity that Cingular can't
> enter the New Millennium and allow me to activate this new SIM via
> their web site. Oh, no - I have to either go into a Cingular store
> (and wait while the assholes behind the counter wait on people who
> came into the store AFTER I did) or call their customer service 800
> number "between 12:00 noon and 3:00 pm Pacific time" to have some
> customer service droid activate it.
>
> Sorry, Cingular, but if you want me to upgrade the SIM, then you're
> going to have to make it convenient for me to do so. If you don't want
> to do that, then I'll be happy to switch to another carrier that DOES
> care about providing good customer service.
>
>>I'm wondering why Cingular doesn't think I got the SIM card upgrade
>>already?
>
> It's because they are incompetent ****s.

Now, stop candy-coating it and tell us how you really feel ;-)

Kryos wrote:
> Scott en Aztlán wrote:
>> On Sun, 3 Sep 2006 09:38:44 -0700, "Ron Hinds" <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I received a letter about a month or so ago advising me that I could
>>> get a free SIM card upgrade by going to my nearest Cingular dealer,
>>> so I could take advantage of "enhanced" service.
>>
>> I got the same letter. I ignored it.
>>
>>> Reading between the lines, it seemed as though if I didn't get the
>>> upgrade, I would have service problems. I went to the Cingular store
>>> and got the new SIM card. Then, about two weeks ago, I received a
>>> text message from Cingular advising me that I needed to get the SIM
>>> card upgrade. Friday, I received a letter from Cingular that
>>> contained a new SIM card this time warning me that if I didn't
>>> upgrade I might experience service interruptions.
>>
>> I also got a new SIM card in the mail. What a pity that Cingular can't
>> enter the New Millennium and allow me to activate this new SIM via
>> their web site. Oh, no - I have to either go into a Cingular store
>> (and wait while the assholes behind the counter wait on people who
>> came into the store AFTER I did) or call their customer service 800
>> number "between 12:00 noon and 3:00 pm Pacific time" to have some
>> customer service droid activate it.
>> Sorry, Cingular, but if you want me to upgrade the SIM, then you're
>> going to have to make it convenient for me to do so. If you don't want
>> to do that, then I'll be happy to switch to another carrier that DOES
>> care about providing good customer service.
>>
>>> I'm wondering why Cingular doesn't think I got the SIM card upgrade
>>> already?
>>
>> It's because they are incompetent ****s.
> So, I too ignore the first letter. Get the SIM card and figure WTF,
> maybe better access to the former AT&T towers, ?? Following explicit
> written instructions I installed the new card and called the activation
> number. This is just a CS # as no prompt regarding activation was
> presented. After getting a CSR and explaining what I was doing, I was
> asked to provide the new SIM card #. Of course this is on the card
> itself requiring removal from the phone, getting glasses to read it, ...
> Ah, Cingular!


That's funny, I had the same questions put to me and I just read the
number off the carrier card that contained the SIM, which was still
lying on the desk.

--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

"Jer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
Kryos wrote:
> Scott en Aztlán wrote:
>> On Sun, 3 Sep 2006 09:38:44 -0700, "Ron Hinds" <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I received a letter about a month or so ago advising me that I could get
>>> a free SIM card upgrade by going to my nearest Cingular dealer, so I
>>> could take advantage of "enhanced" service.
>>
>> I got the same letter. I ignored it.
>>
>>> Reading between the lines, it seemed as though if I didn't get the
>>> upgrade, I would have service problems. I went to the Cingular store and
>>> got the new SIM card. Then, about two weeks ago, I received a text
>>> message from Cingular advising me that I needed to get the SIM card
>>> upgrade. Friday, I received a letter from Cingular that contained a new
>>> SIM card this time warning me that if I didn't upgrade I might
>>> experience service interruptions.
>>
>> I also got a new SIM card in the mail. What a pity that Cingular can't
>> enter the New Millennium and allow me to activate this new SIM via
>> their web site. Oh, no - I have to either go into a Cingular store
>> (and wait while the assholes behind the counter wait on people who
>> came into the store AFTER I did) or call their customer service 800
>> number "between 12:00 noon and 3:00 pm Pacific time" to have some
>> customer service droid activate it.
>> Sorry, Cingular, but if you want me to upgrade the SIM, then you're
>> going to have to make it convenient for me to do so. If you don't want
>> to do that, then I'll be happy to switch to another carrier that DOES
>> care about providing good customer service.
>>
>>> I'm wondering why Cingular doesn't think I got the SIM card upgrade
>>> already?
>>
>> It's because they are incompetent ****s.
> So, I too ignore the first letter. Get the SIM card and figure WTF, maybe
> better access to the former AT&T towers, ?? Following explicit written
> instructions I installed the new card and called the activation number.
> This is just a CS # as no prompt regarding activation was presented.
> After getting a CSR and explaining what I was doing, I was asked to
> provide the new SIM card #. Of course this is on the card itself
> requiring removal from the phone, getting glasses to read it, ...
> Ah, Cingular!


That's funny, I had the same questions put to me and I just read the
number off the carrier card that contained the SIM, which was still
lying on the desk.

--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

Yes me too, no problem. By the way, to activate the card they must have the
number to enter in the computer so it will know which card to turn on.
...
bamp

I'm confused about this also. I went into a store early on,
and the rep quickly told me that the new SIM card wouldn't
work on my phone. So I ignored the issue, but it didn't stop
the messages and warning. I've gotten text messages, a
letter in the mail, and even having an automated machine phone
me up twice.

I have a nice phone, Nokia 6230. The letter in the mail said
that if the SIM card doesn't work, they'll replace my phone
with an entry level phone. That's a ripoff. I like my phone,
and I don't want a cheap low end replacement (and the
attitude that I should be grateful for this generosity didn't
endear me to them). The phone isn't even two years old
yet; that's still new in my view. It sounds like forced
obsolescence.

So what happens if I don't go with a cheap phone replacement?
Nothing says "your phone will stop working but we'll continue
to charge you", it just says "interrupted service" or something
vague like that. If it means I can't get access to new service
areas or towers, I can live with that; but if they're tearing down
old towers and replacing them, then I've got to go shopping.

--
Darin Johnson

Do NOT get a new SIM card. The Nokia 6230 will do wierd things with the 64K
3G card in it. Like continuously power off/on or corrupt your phone book.
Your phone will not benefit from the larger card as it has no clue about ENS
or how to even use the extra 32K of memory. If you activate a new card they
will not be able to supply you with an older 32K card and your phone will
become a paperweight.

Jim

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm confused about this also. I went into a store early on,
> and the rep quickly told me that the new SIM card wouldn't
> work on my phone. So I ignored the issue, but it didn't stop
> the messages and warning. I've gotten text messages, a
> letter in the mail, and even having an automated machine phone
> me up twice.
>
> I have a nice phone, Nokia 6230. The letter in the mail said
> that if the SIM card doesn't work, they'll replace my phone
> with an entry level phone. That's a ripoff. I like my phone,
> and I don't want a cheap low end replacement (and the
> attitude that I should be grateful for this generosity didn't
> endear me to them). The phone isn't even two years old
> yet; that's still new in my view. It sounds like forced
> obsolescence.
>
> So what happens if I don't go with a cheap phone replacement?
> Nothing says "your phone will stop working but we'll continue
> to charge you", it just says "interrupted service" or something
> vague like that. If it means I can't get access to new service
> areas or towers, I can live with that; but if they're tearing down
> old towers and replacing them, then I've got to go shopping.
>
> --
> Darin Johnson
>

i'm also loath to get the new sim card although i've received two
letters and two voicemail spams about it. however, i recently started
having serious problems sending {sms|mms]/emails, and tonight it fails
completely, every time. i'm wondering if this is directly related to
some change cingular is making that requires the new card...?

i've got a nokia 6102.

-pie



Jim Lange wrote:
> Do NOT get a new SIM card. The Nokia 6230 will do wierd things with the 64K
> 3G card in it. Like continuously power off/on or corrupt your phone book.
> Your phone will not benefit from the larger card as it has no clue about ENS
> or how to even use the extra 32K of memory. If you activate a new card they
> will not be able to supply you with an older 32K card and your phone will
> become a paperweight.
>
> Jim
>
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I'm confused about this also. I went into a store early on,
> > and the rep quickly told me that the new SIM card wouldn't
> > work on my phone. So I ignored the issue, but it didn't stop
> > the messages and warning. I've gotten text messages, a
> > letter in the mail, and even having an automated machine phone
> > me up twice.
> >
> > I have a nice phone, Nokia 6230. The letter in the mail said
> > that if the SIM card doesn't work, they'll replace my phone
> > with an entry level phone. That's a ripoff. I like my phone,
> > and I don't want a cheap low end replacement (and the
> > attitude that I should be grateful for this generosity didn't
> > endear me to them). The phone isn't even two years old
> > yet; that's still new in my view. It sounds like forced
> > obsolescence.
> >
> > So what happens if I don't go with a cheap phone replacement?
> > Nothing says "your phone will stop working but we'll continue
> > to charge you", it just says "interrupted service" or something
> > vague like that. If it means I can't get access to new service
> > areas or towers, I can live with that; but if they're tearing down
> > old towers and replacing them, then I've got to go shopping.
> >
> > --
> > Darin Johnson
> >

On 11 Oct 2006 21:33:39 -0700, [email protected] wrote in
<[email protected]>:

>i'm also loath to get the new sim card although i've received two
>letters and two voicemail spams about it. however, i recently started
>having serious problems sending {sms|mms]/emails, and tonight it fails
>completely, every time. i'm wondering if this is directly related to
>some change cingular is making that requires the new card...?

Almost certainly not.

--
Best regards, FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS:
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>

In article <[email protected]>,
John Navas <[email protected]> wrote:

> On 11 Oct 2006 21:33:39 -0700, [email protected] wrote in
> <[email protected]>:
>
> >i'm also loath to get the new sim card although i've received two
> >letters and two voicemail spams about it. however, i recently started
> >having serious problems sending {sms|mms]/emails, and tonight it fails
> >completely, every time. i'm wondering if this is directly related to
> >some change cingular is making that requires the new card...?
>
> Almost certainly not.

I have also received several letters saying I need to upgrade the sim in
two of my older Nokia phones.

Yesterday I got a letter marked "Urgent" that had a sim enclosed and
said that if I don't upgrade I may have "service interruptions". (The
letter mentioned the phone numbers of both phones, but they only
enclosed one sim.)

If it doesn't affect the operation of my phones, and so far it hasn't,
they why is Cingular is trying so hard to get me to upgrade?

What's in it for them?

And is there any _downside_ if I do as they want and upgrade the sims?

--
-Ernie-

On Thu, 12 Oct 2006 08:01:58 -0700, Ernie Klein <[email protected]>
wrote in <[email protected]>:

>In article <[email protected]>,
> John Navas <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> On 11 Oct 2006 21:33:39 -0700, [email protected] wrote in
>> <[email protected]>:
>>
>> >i'm also loath to get the new sim card although i've received two
>> >letters and two voicemail spams about it. however, i recently started
>> >having serious problems sending {sms|mms]/emails, and tonight it fails
>> >completely, every time. i'm wondering if this is directly related to
>> >some change cingular is making that requires the new card...?
>>
>> Almost certainly not.
>
>I have also received several letters saying I need to upgrade the sim in
>two of my older Nokia phones.
>
>Yesterday I got a letter marked "Urgent" that had a sim enclosed and
>said that if I don't upgrade I may have "service interruptions". (The
>letter mentioned the phone numbers of both phones, but they only
>enclosed one sim.)
>
>If it doesn't affect the operation of my phones, and so far it hasn't,
>they why is Cingular is trying so hard to get me to upgrade?
>
>What's in it for them?

Better supports the network integration.
More consistent control of mobile devices.

>And is there any _downside_ if I do as they want and upgrade the sims?

No real downside other than some rare compatibility problems.

--
Best regards, FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS:
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>