NEWS: Motorola V551 launched by Cingular

"Jack Zwick" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> One of Cingulars new techniques for gaining and retaining customers is
> having "exsclusives" on cell phones.

They sure do. They seem to get all the new phones, unlike my carrier,
T-Mobile.

I wish some of the phones on Cingular and ATTW were available on T-Mo. I
don't know that the carried handsets is a good reason to switch carriers
though. I get 1000 anytime minutes, and unlimited weekends on T-Mo for
$39.99 monthly, with free long distance and no roaming charges. Also, free
GPRS.

---

› See More: NEWS: Motorola V551 launched by Cingular

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.attws - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Mon, 08 Nov 2004
03:56:02 GMT, "Compulady" <[email protected]> wrote:

>So if you are an "AT&T" customer you won't be able to upgrade to this phone
>unless you give up your AT&T plan and move to a "Cingular" plan? I really
>hate to do that given the AT&T plans are better in my opinion. Perhaps we
>will find out some more information on the 10th.

You could always "upgrade" to this phone by buying one that's standard and
unlocked. That way you wouldn't be locked into a contract extension. Such
phones are available already.

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.attws - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Mon, 08 Nov 2004
03:56:02 GMT, "Compulady" <[email protected]> wrote:

>So if you are an "AT&T" customer you won't be able to upgrade to this phone
>unless you give up your AT&T plan and move to a "Cingular" plan? I really
>hate to do that given the AT&T plans are better in my opinion. Perhaps we
>will find out some more information on the 10th.

You could always "upgrade" to this phone by buying one that's standard and
unlocked. That way you wouldn't be locked into a contract extension. Such
phones are available already.

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.attws - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Sun, 7 Nov 2004 20:17:40 -0800, "
MS" <[email protected]> wrote:

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

>> One of Cingulars new techniques for gaining and retaining customers is
>> having "exsclusives" on cell phones.
>
>They sure do. They seem to get all the new phones, unlike my carrier,
>T-Mobile.
>
>I wish some of the phones on Cingular and ATTW were available on T-Mo. ...

They effectively are -- just buy them unlocked.

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.attws - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Sun, 7 Nov 2004 20:17:40 -0800, "
MS" <[email protected]> wrote:

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

>> One of Cingulars new techniques for gaining and retaining customers is
>> having "exsclusives" on cell phones.
>
>They sure do. They seem to get all the new phones, unlike my carrier,
>T-Mobile.
>
>I wish some of the phones on Cingular and ATTW were available on T-Mo. ...

They effectively are -- just buy them unlocked.

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

While it is a good idea to buy an unlocked phone, it is an expensive
proposition. I guess we can't have everything!


"John Navas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> [POSTED TO alt.cellular.attws - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
>
> In <[email protected]> on Sun, 7 Nov 2004
20:17:40 -0800, "
> MS" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >"Jack Zwick" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >news:[email protected]...
>
> >> One of Cingulars new techniques for gaining and retaining customers is
> >> having "exsclusives" on cell phones.
> >
> >They sure do. They seem to get all the new phones, unlike my carrier,
> >T-Mobile.
> >
> >I wish some of the phones on Cingular and ATTW were available on T-Mo.
....
>
> They effectively are -- just buy them unlocked.
>
> --
> Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
> John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

While it is a good idea to buy an unlocked phone, it is an expensive
proposition. I guess we can't have everything!


"John Navas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> [POSTED TO alt.cellular.attws - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
>
> In <[email protected]> on Sun, 7 Nov 2004
20:17:40 -0800, "
> MS" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >"Jack Zwick" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >news:[email protected]...
>
> >> One of Cingulars new techniques for gaining and retaining customers is
> >> having "exsclusives" on cell phones.
> >
> >They sure do. They seem to get all the new phones, unlike my carrier,
> >T-Mobile.
> >
> >I wish some of the phones on Cingular and ATTW were available on T-Mo.
....
>
> They effectively are -- just buy them unlocked.
>
> --
> Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
> John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

"John Navas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >
> >I wish some of the phones on Cingular and ATTW were available on T-Mo.
....
>
> They effectively are -- just buy them unlocked.

Yes---but------

A couple of disadvantages to that---

1)Cost--most of the firms that sell unlocked phones sell them for VERY high
prices. Many have no return policies. Ebay is worse--very unreliable, you
don't know what you're getting.

My T-Mobile contract has expired. Therefore, I can get the same price for a
phone as a new customer, MUCH cheaper than buying an unlocked phone.

2) Compatibility--a phone approved for the T-Mobile network has been tested
with all the new T-Mo features, and would be supported by T-Mo tech support.

3) Warranty--T-Mobile has a good one year replacement warranty on phones. If
you call them that something is wrong with yours, they will send a new one
right away, with a postpaid box to return the old one. Obviously that is
only for phones that are on the T-Mobile network

"John Navas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >
> >I wish some of the phones on Cingular and ATTW were available on T-Mo.
....
>
> They effectively are -- just buy them unlocked.

Yes---but------

A couple of disadvantages to that---

1)Cost--most of the firms that sell unlocked phones sell them for VERY high
prices. Many have no return policies. Ebay is worse--very unreliable, you
don't know what you're getting.

My T-Mobile contract has expired. Therefore, I can get the same price for a
phone as a new customer, MUCH cheaper than buying an unlocked phone.

2) Compatibility--a phone approved for the T-Mobile network has been tested
with all the new T-Mo features, and would be supported by T-Mo tech support.

3) Warranty--T-Mobile has a good one year replacement warranty on phones. If
you call them that something is wrong with yours, they will send a new one
right away, with a postpaid box to return the old one. Obviously that is
only for phones that are on the T-Mobile network

In article <[email protected]>, MS <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>"John Navas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> >
>> >I wish some of the phones on Cingular and ATTW were available on T-Mo.
>...
>>
>> They effectively are -- just buy them unlocked.
>
>Yes---but------
>
>A couple of disadvantages to that---
>
>1)Cost--most of the firms that sell unlocked phones sell them for VERY high
>prices. Many have no return policies. Ebay is worse--very unreliable, you
>don't know what you're getting.
>
>My T-Mobile contract has expired. Therefore, I can get the same price for a
>phone as a new customer, MUCH cheaper than buying an unlocked phone.
>
>2) Compatibility--a phone approved for the T-Mobile network has been tested
>with all the new T-Mo features, and would be supported by T-Mo tech support.
>
>3) Warranty--T-Mobile has a good one year replacement warranty on phones. If
>you call them that something is wrong with yours, they will send a new one
>right away, with a postpaid box to return the old one. Obviously that is
>only for phones that are on the T-Mobile network
>
>

Speaking of TMobile -

ATT/Cingular are going GSM (rollout still in progress) and will be the
largest GSM carrier in the US.

TMobile is also GSM in the US, but much smaller. What difference is there
between TMobile and ATT/Cingular? I would suspect TMobile would go under
unless there is something to TMobile I don't know about that
differentiates it enough from ATT/Cingular to remain in business for both
the short and long term.

Please educate me.

Thanks.

Scott

In article <[email protected]>, MS <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>"John Navas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> >
>> >I wish some of the phones on Cingular and ATTW were available on T-Mo.
>...
>>
>> They effectively are -- just buy them unlocked.
>
>Yes---but------
>
>A couple of disadvantages to that---
>
>1)Cost--most of the firms that sell unlocked phones sell them for VERY high
>prices. Many have no return policies. Ebay is worse--very unreliable, you
>don't know what you're getting.
>
>My T-Mobile contract has expired. Therefore, I can get the same price for a
>phone as a new customer, MUCH cheaper than buying an unlocked phone.
>
>2) Compatibility--a phone approved for the T-Mobile network has been tested
>with all the new T-Mo features, and would be supported by T-Mo tech support.
>
>3) Warranty--T-Mobile has a good one year replacement warranty on phones. If
>you call them that something is wrong with yours, they will send a new one
>right away, with a postpaid box to return the old one. Obviously that is
>only for phones that are on the T-Mobile network
>
>

Speaking of TMobile -

ATT/Cingular are going GSM (rollout still in progress) and will be the
largest GSM carrier in the US.

TMobile is also GSM in the US, but much smaller. What difference is there
between TMobile and ATT/Cingular? I would suspect TMobile would go under
unless there is something to TMobile I don't know about that
differentiates it enough from ATT/Cingular to remain in business for both
the short and long term.

Please educate me.

Thanks.

Scott

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.attws - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Tue, 09 Nov 2004
02:35:11 GMT, "Compulady" <[email protected]> wrote:

>While it is a good idea to buy an unlocked phone, it is an expensive
>proposition. I guess we can't have everything!

It may be an expensive proposition in the short run, but not necessarily in
the long run. Having an unlocked phone has made it easy for me to switch
carriers for better rate plans and service features.

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.attws - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Tue, 09 Nov 2004
02:35:11 GMT, "Compulady" <[email protected]> wrote:

>While it is a good idea to buy an unlocked phone, it is an expensive
>proposition. I guess we can't have everything!

It may be an expensive proposition in the short run, but not necessarily in
the long run. Having an unlocked phone has made it easy for me to switch
carriers for better rate plans and service features.

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.attws - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Mon, 8 Nov 2004 18:53:55 -0800, "
MS" <[email protected]> wrote:

>"John Navas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> >
>> >I wish some of the phones on Cingular and ATTW were available on T-Mo.
>...
>>
>> They effectively are -- just buy them unlocked.
>
>Yes---but------
>
>A couple of disadvantages to that---
>
>1)Cost--most of the firms that sell unlocked phones sell them for VERY high
>prices. Many have no return policies.

Fair prices and terms are available, but if nothing else, you can buy it from
Cingular at the un-subsidized price, and have it unlocked. The subsidy is
$50/year, so in the case of a phone that's $150 on a 2-year plan (like the
V551), the un-subsidized price is $250. That doesn't seem unreasonable to me.

>Ebay is worse--very unreliable, you
>don't know what you're getting.

I've bought a number of phones on eBay with no difficulty.

>2) Compatibility--a phone approved for the T-Mobile network has been tested
>with all the new T-Mo features, and would be supported by T-Mo tech support.

There's no real issue on features, but support can be a valid concern.
(I personally don't care about support because I can do a better job on my
own.)

>3) Warranty--T-Mobile has a good one year replacement warranty on phones. If
>you call them that something is wrong with yours, they will send a new one
>right away, with a postpaid box to return the old one. Obviously that is
>only for phones that are on the T-Mobile network

Another valid concern for some. (I personally think of cell phones as
disposable items.)

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.attws - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Mon, 8 Nov 2004 18:53:55 -0800, "
MS" <[email protected]> wrote:

>"John Navas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> >
>> >I wish some of the phones on Cingular and ATTW were available on T-Mo.
>...
>>
>> They effectively are -- just buy them unlocked.
>
>Yes---but------
>
>A couple of disadvantages to that---
>
>1)Cost--most of the firms that sell unlocked phones sell them for VERY high
>prices. Many have no return policies.

Fair prices and terms are available, but if nothing else, you can buy it from
Cingular at the un-subsidized price, and have it unlocked. The subsidy is
$50/year, so in the case of a phone that's $150 on a 2-year plan (like the
V551), the un-subsidized price is $250. That doesn't seem unreasonable to me.

>Ebay is worse--very unreliable, you
>don't know what you're getting.

I've bought a number of phones on eBay with no difficulty.

>2) Compatibility--a phone approved for the T-Mobile network has been tested
>with all the new T-Mo features, and would be supported by T-Mo tech support.

There's no real issue on features, but support can be a valid concern.
(I personally don't care about support because I can do a better job on my
own.)

>3) Warranty--T-Mobile has a good one year replacement warranty on phones. If
>you call them that something is wrong with yours, they will send a new one
>right away, with a postpaid box to return the old one. Obviously that is
>only for phones that are on the T-Mobile network

Another valid concern for some. (I personally think of cell phones as
disposable items.)

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>