What is America Roaming Network?

A weird thing happened earlier today.

An associate had purchased a used Nokia 3588i (earlier service terminated,
ESN clear) and was showing it around before taking it over to a cellular
provider's retail store for activation. Someone happened to notice that the
display showed there was a signal present - so the chap just dialed out a
number to see what happened.

He got connected to the "America Roaming Network" which (as the announcement
said) was going to charge $2.99 a call and $1.99 a minute. You can be sure
that he put down the phone like it was a hot brick!

What is the America Roaming Network? Did my associate get charged for the
call? If so, how? Was it a scam by the seller? He was too confused to take
the phone over for activation after that - and I was quite surprised at what
happened.

Any info would be welcome! Just out of curiosity.

Regards and thanks.

Shiva

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› See More: What is America Roaming Network?

"Shiva" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> A weird thing happened earlier today.
>
> An associate had purchased a used Nokia 3588i (earlier service terminated,
> ESN clear) and was showing it around before taking it over to a cellular
> provider's retail store for activation. Someone happened to notice that
the
> display showed there was a signal present - so the chap just dialed out a
> number to see what happened.
>
> He got connected to the "America Roaming Network" which (as the
announcement
> said) was going to charge $2.99 a call and $1.99 a minute. You can be sure
> that he put down the phone like it was a hot brick!
>
> What is the America Roaming Network?

Way for unactivated phones to make collect or credit card calls.

>Did my associate get charged for the
> call?
Not unless he gave them a credit card, or called home and someone there
approved.

If so, how? Was it a scam by the seller?

No scam in fact for low use this is the cheapest way to use a cell phone.

He was too confused to take
> the phone over for activation after that - and I was quite surprised at
what
> happened.
Maybe he doesn't need a cell phone if high rates makes him confused ;-)
>
> Any info would be welcome! Just out of curiosity.
>
> Regards and thanks.
>
> Shiva
>
>
>

Thanks for the responses. I never knew about them before - in fact none of
us at the workplace did when we almost accidentally got connected to them!

Regards and thanks again.

Shiva



"Shiva" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
:A weird thing happened earlier today.
:
: An associate had purchased a used Nokia 3588i (earlier service terminated,
: ESN clear) and was showing it around before taking it over to a cellular
: provider's retail store for activation. Someone happened to notice that
the
: display showed there was a signal present - so the chap just dialed out a
: number to see what happened.
:
: He got connected to the "America Roaming Network" which (as the
announcement
: said) was going to charge $2.99 a call and $1.99 a minute. You can be sure
: that he put down the phone like it was a hot brick!
:
: What is the America Roaming Network? Did my associate get charged for the
: call? If so, how? Was it a scam by the seller? He was too confused to take
: the phone over for activation after that - and I was quite surprised at
what
: happened.
:
: Any info would be welcome! Just out of curiosity.
:
: Regards and thanks.
:
: Shiva
:
:
:

"Shiva" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> A weird thing happened earlier today.
>
> An associate had purchased a used Nokia 3588i (earlier service
terminated,
> ESN clear) and was showing it around before taking it over to a
cellular
> provider's retail store for activation. Someone happened to notice
that the
> display showed there was a signal present - so the chap just dialed
out a
> number to see what happened.
>
> He got connected to the "America Roaming Network" which (as the
announcement
> said) was going to charge $2.99 a call and $1.99 a minute. You can
be sure
> that he put down the phone like it was a hot brick!
>
> What is the America Roaming Network? Did my associate get charged
for the
> call? If so, how? Was it a scam by the seller? He was too confused
to take
> the phone over for activation after that - and I was quite surprised
at what
> happened.
>
> Any info would be welcome! Just out of curiosity.
>
> Regards and thanks.
>
> Shiva

I used to get connected to them occasionally in the outlying areas
east of Pittsburgh, PA and in rural New Mexico. I traveled all over
the country and they were only 2 places that I encountered them. I had
AT&T TDMA One Rate plan.

Another poster indicated that he thought it was a "good deal" for
someone without service. Let's see, a 10 minute call would cost $2.99
+ $19.90, that's $22.89! Hey I have some nice bridgefront property if
he's interested!

I got slammed that way by AT&T Long Distance calling from a motel
using my AT&T Calling Card. $100+ for 4 phone calls lasting for a
total of less than 10 minutes. They said " Oh, you should have dialed
our special 800 number" (in small print on the backside of my calling
card). They issued me credit after I pitched a *****. AT&T dropped
that program after a short period of time.

Chas.

quote refered to: " low use this is the cheapest way to use a cell phone"

> Another poster indicated that he thought it was a "good deal" for
> someone without service. Let's see, a 10 minute call would cost $2.99
> + $19.90, that's $22.89! Hey I have some nice bridgefront property if
> he's interested!

Very interested in your property but you missed the low use part, for me low
use is one call of 1 min per year 2.99+1.99= $4.98 per year. And if I didn't
need it having it to use cost nothing. 911 is free and 611 works most places
for testing, just ask the person who answers 611 where the nearest store is.
If you wish to set up a phone it works better if the number in the phone is
programed as (123)456-7890 this number will indicate the phone is
unactivated.

"Shiva" <[email protected]> wrote:
that with an unactivated cell phone:
> Someone happened to notice that the
> display showed there was a signal present - so the chap just dialed out a
> number to see what happened.
> He got connected to the "America Roaming Network" which (as the
announcement
> said) was going to charge $2.99 a call and $1.99 a minute.
> What is the America Roaming Network? Was it a scam by the seller?

Just because a cell phone has not been activated does not mean that it
cannot make a call.
With some phones you can make a credit card call as you saw. While this is
expensive, if you only use the phone for emergencies it might be the way to
go.

Also 911 calls can be made for free without cell phone activation such as
with an old used or discarded cell phone. Since 1997 FCC rules require that
cellular phone companies respond to a 911
call, even when it is from an inactivated cell phone. So all you need is a
phone that works. For more about 911 and other calls from an inactivated
cell phone read our
article:
http://www.savvy-discounts.com/V8-020815.htm

--
Rick Doble, Editor
http://www.Savvy-Discounts.com
10 years of frugal advice




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