Phone Upgrade before end of two year contract

Hi,
we are 20 months into our 24 month contract with cingular, we had two
phones, both Motorola t193 (I think that is the model). Anyhow one phone
got wet and died, even the sim card will not work in the other phone. Now
the other phone's battery is nearly dead (not holding it's charge) . My
question is can we upgrade yet or do we need to get to the end of the 24
month contract. When we initially had problems with the phones back in late
February (just outside the phones warranty) the sales guy at the Cingular
Store (Walnut Creek CA) told us that it would be november befroe we could
upgrade and other than that we would need to purchase a new phone straight.
Anyone know about this? Also I am looking at get Nokia phones to replace the
Motorola's (the Motorola's are forever dropping calls, no movement, phone in
exactly the same spot on a handfree kit and the phone will drop the call),
anyone recommend a good priced Nokia to upgrade to?
As mentioned earlier we are in California and it is all GSM locally.
Any advice welcome
Patrick

---

› See More: Phone Upgrade before end of two year contract

On Wed, 15 Oct 2003 05:28:33 GMT, "Patrick" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Hi,
> we are 20 months into our 24 month contract with cingular, we had two
>phones, both Motorola t193 (I think that is the model). Anyhow one phone
>got wet and died, even the sim card will not work in the other phone. Now
>the other phone's battery is nearly dead (not holding it's charge) . My
>question is can we upgrade yet or do we need to get to the end of the 24
>month contract. When we initially had problems with the phones back in late
>February (just outside the phones warranty) the sales guy at the Cingular
>Store (Walnut Creek CA) told us that it would be november befroe we could
>upgrade and other than that we would need to purchase a new phone straight.
>Anyone know about this? Also I am looking at get Nokia phones to replace the
>Motorola's (the Motorola's are forever dropping calls, no movement, phone in
>exactly the same spot on a handfree kit and the phone will drop the call),
>anyone recommend a good priced Nokia to upgrade to?
>As mentioned earlier we are in California and it is all GSM locally.
>Any advice welcome
>Patrick

Why not get a couple second hand unlocked GSM phones on eBay.
Probably wouldn't run you more than $20 or so. It may not be the
latest and greatest, but it will still keep you in a phone til your
November date.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To send an email reply send to
GSMthemobilestandard ( yahoo.com

Well I just talked to Cingular and they authorised early upgrades on the
phones, now my question is, can I buy online? Am I able to get the same
deals on a phone as if I was a new customer?
Or is an upgrade just a slightly reduced price on a phone?
Any help welcome
Patrick
"Patrick" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:5W4jb.133644$%h1.137646@sccrnsc02...
> Hi,
> we are 20 months into our 24 month contract with cingular, we had two
> phones, both Motorola t193 (I think that is the model). Anyhow one phone
> got wet and died, even the sim card will not work in the other phone. Now
> the other phone's battery is nearly dead (not holding it's charge) . My
> question is can we upgrade yet or do we need to get to the end of the 24
> month contract. When we initially had problems with the phones back in
late
> February (just outside the phones warranty) the sales guy at the Cingular
> Store (Walnut Creek CA) told us that it would be november befroe we could
> upgrade and other than that we would need to purchase a new phone
straight.
> Anyone know about this? Also I am looking at get Nokia phones to replace
the
> Motorola's (the Motorola's are forever dropping calls, no movement, phone
in
> exactly the same spot on a handfree kit and the phone will drop the call),
> anyone recommend a good priced Nokia to upgrade to?
> As mentioned earlier we are in California and it is all GSM locally.
> Any advice welcome
> Patrick
>
>

You can upgrade at 22 months without incurung any charges. It must be
within a couple of days of your start up date. Usually this comes with
signing up for another term of service.


"Patrick" <[email protected]> wrote in article
<5W4jb.133644$%h1.137646@sccrnsc02>:
> Hi,
> we are 20 months into our 24 month contract with cingular, we had two
> phones, both Motorola t193 (I think that is the model). Anyhow one phone
> got wet and died, even the sim card will not work in the other phone. Now
> the other phone's battery is nearly dead (not holding it's charge) . My
> question is can we upgrade yet or do we need to get to the end of the 24
> month contract. When we initially had problems with the phones back in late
> February (just outside the phones warranty) the sales guy at the Cingular
> Store (Walnut Creek CA) told us that it would be november befroe we could
> upgrade and other than that we would need to purchase a new phone straight.
> Anyone know about this? Also I am looking at get Nokia phones to replace the
> Motorola's (the Motorola's are forever dropping calls, no movement, phone in
> exactly the same spot on a handfree kit and the phone will drop the call),
> anyone recommend a good priced Nokia to upgrade to?
> As mentioned earlier we are in California and it is all GSM locally.
> Any advice welcome
> Patrick
>
>

[posted via phonescoop.com]

Well I went to one of the local Kiosks where we bought our original cell
phones for cingular and they sold us two Nokia 3595 phones for $29.99 before
taxes, all totalled both phones came to just a little over $82. We are
currently on an old Cingular Home plan, we want to change plans to one with
rollover and some cingular to cingular minutes, can we get this
retroactively changed for this month or should we wait till the next billing
cycle?
Thanks for the help
Patrick
"William Bray" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> You can upgrade at 22 months without incurung any charges. It must be
> within a couple of days of your start up date. Usually this comes with
> signing up for another term of service.
>
>
> "Patrick" <[email protected]> wrote in article
> <5W4jb.133644$%h1.137646@sccrnsc02>:
> > Hi,
> > we are 20 months into our 24 month contract with cingular, we had two
> > phones, both Motorola t193 (I think that is the model). Anyhow one
phone
> > got wet and died, even the sim card will not work in the other phone.
Now
> > the other phone's battery is nearly dead (not holding it's charge) . My
> > question is can we upgrade yet or do we need to get to the end of the 24
> > month contract. When we initially had problems with the phones back in
late
> > February (just outside the phones warranty) the sales guy at the
Cingular
> > Store (Walnut Creek CA) told us that it would be november befroe we
could
> > upgrade and other than that we would need to purchase a new phone
straight.
> > Anyone know about this? Also I am looking at get Nokia phones to replace
the
> > Motorola's (the Motorola's are forever dropping calls, no movement,
phone in
> > exactly the same spot on a handfree kit and the phone will drop the
call),
> > anyone recommend a good priced Nokia to upgrade to?
> > As mentioned earlier we are in California and it is all GSM locally.
> > Any advice welcome
> > Patrick
> >
> >
>
> [posted via phonescoop.com]

On Wed, 15 Oct 2003 05:28:33 GMT, "Patrick" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Hi,
> we are 20 months into our 24 month contract with cingular, we had two
>phones, both Motorola t193 (I think that is the model). Anyhow one phone
>got wet and died, even the sim card will not work in the other phone. Now
>the other phone's battery is nearly dead (not holding it's charge) . My
>question is can we upgrade yet or do we need to get to the end of the 24
>month contract.

yes, 4 months before your contract is up they let you upgrade, thereby
giving you the ultimatum of upgrading and signing another 2 year
contract with the world's greatest, most customer friendly wireless
carrier earth has ever known </sarcasm>


>When we initially had problems with the phones back in late
>February (just outside the phones warranty) the sales guy at the Cingular
>Store (Walnut Creek CA) told us that it would be november befroe we could
>upgrade and other than that we would need to purchase a new phone straight.
>Anyone know about this?

yeah, i had called cingular about upgrading early, they said yes, went
to the store they said no, they called the same people i talked to and
they said no go on the upgrade....i think what they do is tell you
yes, send u to the store then the store jockey tries to sell you a new
phone/extend your contract...snakey? oh yes!

>Also I am looking at get Nokia phones to replace the
>Motorola's (the Motorola's are forever dropping calls, no movement, phone in
>exactly the same spot on a handfree kit and the phone will drop the call),

my nokia did that, i think it's cingular....had the lower model (3360)
on AT&T a year before and it was crystal clear all the time and never
a dropped call...

>anyone recommend a good priced Nokia to upgrade to?

the one with the color screen and retarded buttons, it looks goofy but
cool at the same time.

>As mentioned earlier we are in California and it is all GSM locally.
>Any advice welcome
>Patrick
>

i'd give you some advice but you wouldnt take it so whats the point.

Yes, you can, and it's not routine.

Routine plan changes take effect at start of next billing cycle.

Plan changes with an upgrade take effect immediately, unless requested
otherwise. There is some financial stuff with pro-rating the bill.

If it is near the start of your billing cycle, Customer Care will
sometimes back-date the plan change.

Glad to hear the process is going well for you.


-Jim.


"Patrick" <[email protected]> wrote in article
<GJqjb.570039$cF.246204@rwcrnsc53>:
> Well I went to one of the local Kiosks where we bought our original cell
> phones for cingular and they sold us two Nokia 3595 phones for $29.99 before
> taxes, all totalled both phones came to just a little over $82. We are
> currently on an old Cingular Home plan, we want to change plans to one with
> rollover and some cingular to cingular minutes, can we get this
> retroactively changed for this month or should we wait till the next billing
> cycle?
> Thanks for the help
> Patrick
> "William Bray" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > You can upgrade at 22 months without incurung any charges. It must be
> > within a couple of days of your start up date. Usually this comes with
> > signing up for another term of service.
> >
> >
> > "Patrick" <[email protected]> wrote in article
> > <5W4jb.133644$%h1.137646@sccrnsc02>:
> > > Hi,
> > > we are 20 months into our 24 month contract with cingular, we had two
> > > phones, both Motorola t193 (I think that is the model). Anyhow one
> phone
> > > got wet and died, even the sim card will not work in the other phone.
> Now
> > > the other phone's battery is nearly dead (not holding it's charge) . My
> > > question is can we upgrade yet or do we need to get to the end of the 24
> > > month contract. When we initially had problems with the phones back in
> late
> > > February (just outside the phones warranty) the sales guy at the
> Cingular
> > > Store (Walnut Creek CA) told us that it would be november befroe we
> could
> > > upgrade and other than that we would need to purchase a new phone
> straight.
> > > Anyone know about this? Also I am looking at get Nokia phones to replace
> the
> > > Motorola's (the Motorola's are forever dropping calls, no movement,
> phone in
> > > exactly the same spot on a handfree kit and the phone will drop the
> call),
> > > anyone recommend a good priced Nokia to upgrade to?
> > > As mentioned earlier we are in California and it is all GSM locally.
> > > Any advice welcome
> > > Patrick
> > >
> > >
> >
> > [posted via phonescoop.com]
>
>

[posted via phonescoop.com]

Congratulations. From what I have heard about this cell phone you
picked up one of the best RF phones available. I'm glad the folks there
worked with you.
Before you change plans ask yourself if the old plan or the new plan
will be to your best advantage. Figure out how much time (max) you both
spend on the phones, then get a local shared plan that meets your needs.
National plans can be done with ease- as you need it.

> >
> > [posted via phonescoop.com]
>
>

[posted via phonescoop.com]

Well I just changed plan, our previous plan was Family Home 450 which was
costing $39.99 plus $16.99 per extra line, also 3500 night and weekends and
free long distance. We changed to Super Home 600 which has 600 unlimited
minutes (old plan was 450) 5000 night and weekend and $9.99 per extra line,
I also got web access on one phone line (thinking can download tones etc to
each phone by swapping SIM cards. All in all ends up $3 cheaper than the
last plan.
So I am quite happy about paying less for more service. The only thing I can
see that I am losing is a free itemised bill.
BTW guys, I am originally from Ireland and cell phones have been all GSM for
a long time there, the one killer though in Ireland is that once you sign up
for a plan you cannot change it until your contract is over and none of the
new deals are available until your contract expires and only then can you
get a cheaper contract AND have to fight with them to upgrade your phone. So
I am very happy with Cingular with their flexible plans, it makes the
contracts less soul taking, the only thing that can really suck is poor
coverage, which I am glad to report is better with the new Nokia over the
Motorola T193s we had.
Patrick
"William Bray" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Congratulations. From what I have heard about this cell phone you
> picked up one of the best RF phones available. I'm glad the folks there
> worked with you.
> Before you change plans ask yourself if the old plan or the new plan
> will be to your best advantage. Figure out how much time (max) you both
> spend on the phones, then get a local shared plan that meets your needs.
> National plans can be done with ease- as you need it.
>
> > >
> > > [posted via phonescoop.com]
> >
> >
>
> [posted via phonescoop.com]

> Patrick wrote:

> So I am quite happy about paying less for more service. The only thing I can
> see that I am losing is a free itemised bill.

Turn off the itemized billing ('call details'). Do it on phone with
Cingular. You'll save $2.99 per line. Then register for online account
access at cingular.com. Download your complete bill as PDF from your
online account manager every month (usually available five days or so
after your cycle date and remains available at cingular.com for three
months). All the call details are there as if you had received them in
the mailed bill. Then print the detail pages and staple them to the
bill they actually do send you (or just read them or whatever). Yes,
they want us to do this -- they just would rather charge more if we
insist on having a call itemization delivered in the mail. Not so
important for single lines, but with family talk, it really adds up.

Oh, and Congrats! Sounds like you did okay with your new phones/service.

Correction - there is no charge for detailed billing - you just have to call
cs and ask for it. its provided at no charge to those who request it. check
it our for yourself.

"Forrest" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> > Patrick wrote:
>
> > So I am quite happy about paying less for more service. The only thing I
can
> > see that I am losing is a free itemised bill.
>
> Turn off the itemized billing ('call details'). Do it on phone with
> Cingular. You'll save $2.99 per line. Then register for online account
> access at cingular.com. Download your complete bill as PDF from your
> online account manager every month (usually available five days or so
> after your cycle date and remains available at cingular.com for three
> months). All the call details are there as if you had received them in
> the mailed bill. Then print the detail pages and staple them to the
> bill they actually do send you (or just read them or whatever). Yes,
> they want us to do this -- they just would rather charge more if we
> insist on having a call itemization delivered in the mail. Not so
> important for single lines, but with family talk, it really adds up.
>
> Oh, and Congrats! Sounds like you did okay with your new phones/service.
>
>