What about CallPlus, or prepaid TDMA in general

George,
Callplus works well, but www.gobeyondwireless.com is better. The TDMA
network will be around for several years, there are a lot of TDMA customers
there. Yes, I was using the $10 cards for some time, but Callplus raised
the roaming rate to $1.29/min. Beyond has the same 4x roaming multiplier,
but the base rate is around .12/min so roaming is only around .48, and you
only need a call every 60 days. Also, Beyond has local Dallas numbers.

I wouldn't hesitate joining either. They look good for the foreseeable
future.

Bill Radio
Click for Western U.S. Wireless Reviews at:
http://www.mountainwireless.com


"George" <[email protected]> wrote in message
newsadde.2530$iU.1584@lakeread05...
> I know nothing about cellphones, but need to get some kind of basic
> service for very occasional use and emergencies. I've been reading
> up at cellguru.net, and it looks like a prepaid service called
> CallPlus may be the best deal for me. As I understand it, CallPlus
> uses the old AT&T TDMA network, now called Cingular Blue.
>
> I understand that TDMA is an older technology, and I wondered if
> Cingular has said anything about whether it will continue to support
> TDMA. There's no point using CallPlus if if TDMA is not long for
> this world.
>
> And if anybody cares to express an opinion on my choice of CallPlus,
> I need coverage in Tulsa and Dallas, and on the road in between, and
> the maps look pretty good for that. And a $10, 90-day, refill card
> is available, which would put the minimum monthly cost at $3.33, at
> least for now.
>
> And finally, where would I look for a used tri-mode TDMA
> AT&T-branded phone? It seems pointless to buy a new phone for this
> kind of use.
>
>

---

› See More: What about CallPlus, or prepaid TDMA in general

"George" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:t_ede.2545$iU.1671@lakeread05...
>
> > Callplus works well, but www.gobeyondwireless.com is
> > better. The TDMA network will be around for several
> > years, there are a lot of TDMA customers there. Yes, I
> > was using the $10 cards for some time, but Callplus
> > raised the roaming rate to $1.29/min. Beyond has the
> > same 4x roaming multiplier, but the base rate is around
> > .12/min so roaming is only around .48, and you only
> > need a call every 60 days. Also, Beyond has local
> > Dallas numbers.
>
> Yes, I saw that in the comparison table. But it's a Tulsa
> local number that I need, and they don't offer that. Sigh.


TracFone offers TDMA models, depending on the area code.

Beyond Wireless low usage or limited usage (emergencies only) rates are
better than TracFone TDMA.

With Tracfone the local rate is higher, but roaming rate is 2 times local
rate with all their TDMA models.

With TracFone a $20 airtime card (40 minutes) every 60 days is the minimum
required cost. That averages $10 for 20 minutes per month.


JoshIII
[email protected]
Activating a new or refurbed TracFone soon?
Be sure to get a referral (by email) from another
TracFone user and you'll both receive 100 FREE
minutes airtime. TracFone uses Alltel, Verizon,
Cingular, AT&T, and Suncom wireless networks, just
to name a few! I've been a TracFone user for 4 years.

Do you really think so? My gut feeling is that tdma coverage will be
mostly gone by the end of 2006 or sooner.

"George" <[email protected]> wrote in message
newsadde.2530$iU.1584@lakeread05...

> And if anybody cares to express an opinion on my choice of CallPlus,
> I need coverage in Tulsa and Dallas, and on the road in between, and
> the maps look pretty good for that. And a $10, 90-day, refill card
> is available, which would put the minimum monthly cost at $3.33, at
> least for now.

Coverage on TDMA between Tulsa and Dallas is GREAT! You shouldn't have any
problems. Cingular has no published time frame for doing away with TDMA,
however I have noticed in places in the country that there is a degradation
of TDMA service, not all places but some. I would expect SOME TDMA service
for another 5 years.

> And finally, where would I look for a used tri-mode TDMA
> AT&T-branded phone? It seems pointless to buy a new phone for this
> kind of use.

E-Bay, or contact me I have 4 laying here that I was about to carry to a
re-cycle bin someplace. One I just took out of service last week. All 4 work
fine.

*3001#12345# will get you into programming and you can look at the security
code.


"George" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:PSyde.1245$sy6.1207@lakeread04...
> In article <[email protected]
> k.net>, [email protected] says...
>
> >> And finally, where would I look for a used tri-mode
> >> TDMA AT&T-branded phone? It seems pointless to buy a
> >> new phone for this kind of use.
>
> > E-Bay, or contact me I have 4 laying here that I was
> > about to carry to a re-cycle bin someplace. One I just
> > took out of service last week. All 4 work fine.
>
> I went to a local thrift store, and found a tub of old
> cellphones. I finally found a nice AT&T Nokia 6360 with a
> working battery and charger. $2.98. Has a total of 99
> lifetime hours. The only potential problem is the security
> code, which has been changed from the default. Not sure I
> really need that.
>
> Next stop is CallPlus customer service to see if this thing
> will work. I suspect it will.
>
> Thanks for everybody's help.
>
>