Cingular screws over AT&T Free2Go customers after merger

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

> Perhaps, but I have a Motorola v60i that I had moved over to
> Free2Go when I moved the monthly service I was using it for to
> Verizon. I could go back to using the Nokia 3600 that I got FAR
> at 7-11, but the v60 is a much nicer phone. It just seems stupid
> not to be able to use it given that it's already on the Free2Go
> network.

I activated a V60t a few minutes ago, on Beyond Wireless, so they are doing
Motorola, no problem. Not sure what the deal is with Ericsson. Bought the
V60t for $10, today, from someone on Craigslist, and it's in pristine
condition (they foolishly switched to GSM!). Amusingly, just new batteries
for one old Motorola TDMA phone I have, would have cost me $15! Since we
have two V60s's on Verizon, this allows us to use the same chargers, leather
cases, batteries, etc.

Really the only issue with Beyond Wireless, is having to have an
out-of-area, area code. But since LD is free from our cell phones, and even
from a landline, it's only 2.5 cents/minute, it's really not a deal-breaker.

A little weird that when you activate a phone they don't even ask who you
are, or for an address or anything.

---

› See More: Cingular screws over AT&T Free2Go customers after merger

There's another cool thing about Beyond Wireless. Incoming text messages are
free, and can be sent via e-mail. Just type
[email protected] . You can also send free messages to a BeyondWireless
phone via http://www.mymmode.com/messagecenter/init

Outgoing messages cost one unit of time. Too bad the old Nokia's can only
receive messages.

"Steven M. Scharf" wrote:
>
> There's another cool thing about Beyond Wireless. Incoming text messages are
> free, and can be sent via e-mail. Just type
> [email protected] . You can also send free messages to a BeyondWireless
> phone via http://www.mymmode.com/messagecenter/init

That's the standard AT&T TDMA thing. It's great.

Bill

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lena" <[email protected]>
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.cellular,alt.cellular.cingular
Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2005 4:03 AM
Subject: Re: Cingular screws over AT&T Free2Go customers after merger

> I think BW is a better deal than CP if one lives in the area covered by
> BW. The minutes are cheaper, and they never expire, so the minimum
> cost for BW is about 15 cents every two months vs. $3.33 for CP. With
> BW, one can get airtime instantly online, vs. waiting 4 hours or more
> for an email from CP or Pharos.

CallPlus will activate instantly, if you go direct to Locus Mobile, rather
than through Pharos. But Beyond Wireless is a much better deal.

The best comparison of prepaid plans is at http://nordicgroup.us/prepaid/ .
There is a comparison of eighteen different prepaid plans. Beyond Wireless
is the best deal by far. For GSM, if it's only for occasional use, 7-11
Speak Out is the best deal ($25/year minimum).

The worst plans are the ones that don't (or can't) allow roaming off their
own limited networks. These include T-Mobile, Boost Mobile, and Virgin
Mobile (Boost Mobile is iDEN (Nextel)) and has no way to roam, but T-Mobile
and Virgin could allow it if they wanted to).

In alt.cellular.cingular Steven M. Scharf <[email protected]> wrote:
> [snip]
> The best comparison of prepaid plans is at http://nordicgroup.us/prepaid/ .
> There is a comparison of eighteen different prepaid plans. Beyond Wireless
> is the best deal by far. For GSM, if it's only for occasional use, 7-11
> Speak Out is the best deal ($25/year minimum).

Thanks much for this link - at a quick glance, it's much better than the
other prepaid comparison webpages out there.

> The worst plans are the ones that don't (or can't) allow roaming off their
> own limited networks. These include T-Mobile, Boost Mobile, and Virgin
> Mobile (Boost Mobile is iDEN (Nextel)) and has no way to roam, but T-Mobile
> and Virgin could allow it if they wanted to).

Didn't even consider this when thinking of going to Virgin Mobile, but
thanks for bringing it to our attention, you may have saved us some
hassle.... We had to recharge our Free2Go phone at the ridiculous
Cingular rates (we didn't have much choice because of a trip we took and
the timing), but we've now got a little bit of extra time to go through
all the plans with much closer scrutiny now.

brian
--
If you want to reply to this message by mail, you will
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"Brian Beuchaw" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> > The worst plans are the ones that don't (or can't) allow roaming off
their
> > own limited networks. These include T-Mobile, Boost Mobile, and Virgin
> > Mobile (Boost Mobile is iDEN (Nextel)) and has no way to roam, but
T-Mobile
> > and Virgin could allow it if they wanted to).
>
> Didn't even consider this when thinking of going to Virgin Mobile, but
> thanks for bringing it to our attention, you may have saved us some
> hassle.... We had to recharge our Free2Go phone at the ridiculous
> Cingular rates (we didn't have much choice because of a trip we took and
> the timing), but we've now got a little bit of extra time to go through
> all the plans with much closer scrutiny now.

Since Virgin uses Sprint, I don't understand why they won't allow roaming
onto other CDMA and AMPS networks, for a fee of course. Where I live, in
Silicon Valley, Sprint is a joke. They actually allow people to cancel
without the termination fee, if they can't get service at their houses. But
at least with real Sprint service you can roam onto Verizon, and onto AMPS
networks.

You gotta love the statement on the Virgin web site regarding roaming:

"Q. Does Virgin Mobile coverage include roaming?
A. With Virgin Mobile, there is no roaming. No roaming means no roaming
charges."

Steven M. Scharf wrote:
> Stanley Reynolds wrote:
>
>AMPS is a big help in rural areas. I was up on the
> north coast of California and could only get AMPS (if you see call
> boxes, you know that their is AMPS coverage). In Yosemite, you can
often
> pick up an AMPS signal from the outside of the park.

Hi Steven,

I travelled through Yosemite park from one end into Nevada and was
pleased to get intermitent analog service all the way. Sure there were
a lots of stretches of dead spots, but in case of a car
breakdown/emergency, it shouldn't have been too long of a walk/hitch
hike, down the rode, or up a hill to make an analog call.
Same in Lassen Park and many other National parks. Seems they
don't/didn't allow towers to be contruced inside parks, although I
thinks that's changing in the heavily trafficed visitor portions.
Enterprising cellcos are locating towers outside the parks and aiming
into them, to pick up the valuable tourist market. Analog is easy to
pick up on many peaks. If on has GSM or a digital only phone there will
be very little service. Even when the phone detects a digital signal
(especially on mountain tops), the range is often too great for the
digital power limitations.

I can't tell you how many digital/GSM users I've had to explain why
there phone isn't working and mine is, while in the mountains.

-
David

I got a free V60T and fixed the antenna bushing (the antenna part
that's going to break), what a pain. Had to disassemble the entire
phone.
The v60t has terrible reception compared to all my Nokias. I'd never
use it, although it is a pretty phone.
The batteries are pretty cheap and are used in Nextel phones as well.

The Nokia 5165 is the phone to get if you want to send an email
messages and have T9.

The Nokia 5165 is very similar and seems nearly as rugged as the 6160
but has many modern messaging features. Sound quality may not be quite
as good.
All accessories are the same.

-
David

Bev,
try geting an external antenna and perhaps mounting it outside the
house for better cell reception. Sure your tethered but if needed makes
a huge difference.

Sounds like something in your house construction is blocking signal or
placement of the cordless phone base station may not optimum. Make sure
the base station antenna/s are upright and located in a jack nearest
where you want to use it. Near a window may help.

My parents were having problems with their cordless and I found the
base antennas not extended and pointed horizontally. Just setting them
upright cured the limited range problem.

Minimizing large metal objects or objects containing lots of metal,
like refrigeraters/bed springs, foil insultating inside walls, from
between the tower or cordless base station will improve signal betwen
any two wireless devices.

Putting an external antenna outside the house can remove the metallic
structural elements from interfering with a signal.

Also as you mentioned earlier about turning of messaging... receiving
messages from a landline are still free on many prepaid plans.

Turning of messaging is a liablity in emergency communications like
when in the hospital and the phone needs to be turned off. Or where one
doesn't hear the phone and some important call might come in from kids
or family. There are times when being able to leave a message is very
useful.

One can always just choose not to reply, wait till they get home to a
landline or leave the ground rules for callers in the outgoing message.

-
David

So, activations are free on Callplus and Locus. Where are non Pharos
$10 cards?
I usually by my stuff from Pharos. Like to support the little guy. but
now I'm buying cards for a whole bunch of elderly family and
friends...freinds friends and I'd like to make it easy for them start
doing it themselves.

I'll have to check out number availbilty in the SF bay area for Beyond
wireless.
I mostly all Oakland numbers with some 707 with Callplus, which works
OK.

-
David

"Joseph" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Thu, 19 May 2005 18:09:52 GMT, "Steven M. Scharf"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >These include T-Mobile, Boost Mobile, and Virgin
> >Mobile (Boost Mobile is iDEN (Nextel)) and has no way to roam, but
T-Mobile
> >and Virgin could allow it if they wanted to).
>
> The trouble with roaming is that so the carrier doesn't get screwed
> they need a way to have *immediate* billing i.e. debiting from
> customer accounts. When you're relying on a roaming "partner" that's
> not immediate that's why there are no GSM or CDMA prepaids (including
> cingulATT) that allow roaming.

This is not true. Many of the GSM and CDMA prepaid plans allow roaming, and
specify the extra fee in their terms and conditions. They simply set the fee
high enough so they don't get screwed.

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

> That's because of billing. If Virgin had immediate billing from
> Verizon or Sprint PCS roaming might be allowed. Since it does not to
> prevent themselves from being screwed by customers talking huge
> amounts as roamers it's not allowed. The only roaming allowed is with
> the TDMA prepaids and usually for four times the regular rate.

Not true. Many of the CDMA and GSM plans allow roaming. At 39¢ to $1, it
covers the cost.

> >You gotta love the statement on the Virgin web site regarding roaming:
> >
> >"Q. Does Virgin Mobile coverage include roaming?
> >A. With Virgin Mobile, there is no roaming. No roaming means no roaming
> >charges."
>
> Why do you fault that message? The question is asked. The question
> is answered.

Because they try to turn a negative (no roaming) into a positive (no roaming
charges). It's an especially big issue on Virgin Mobile because the Sprint
PCS network is much smaller than the Cingular GSM network.

"David L" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> So, activations are free on Callplus and Locus. Where are non Pharos
> $10 cards?

http://callpluswireless.com/html/cpw..._services.html

> I'll have to check out number availbilty in the SF bay area for Beyond
> wireless.

Local numbers are not available in the SF Bay Area. I've activated two
phones on Beyond Wireless, but got Florida numbers (I am in Silicon Valley).
Not really an issue since long distance from the phone is at no extra cost,
though if someone is calling the cell phone from a local landline, they will
incur LD charges (for my landline, this is 2.5¢ per minute). And for the Bay
Area, an out-of-state number can actually be cheaper to call from a landline
if you are not using something like Onesuite, since Pacific Bell charges a
lot for intra-LATA calls (it costs me 6¢ per minute from Silicon Valley to
San Francisco if I use Pacific Bell). The actual local call range for
Pacific Bell is very small.

"David L" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I got a free V60T and fixed the antenna bushing (the antenna part
> that's going to break), what a pain. Had to disassemble the entire
> phone.
> The v60t has terrible reception compared to all my Nokias. I'd never
> use it, although it is a pretty phone.

I have both a V60T and a Nokia 5160, and the reception is equal.

> The batteries are pretty cheap and are used in Nextel phones as well.
>
> The Nokia 5165 is the phone to get if you want to send an email
> messages and have T9.

So can you send messages on CallPlus with the 5165? Their web site implies
that only receiving messages is possible.

Joseph wrote:

> Please name them for *prepaid.*

You can see them at "http://prepaiduswireless.com"

"http://locusmobile.com"
"http://www.callpluswireless.com/"
"http://www.o2wirelessservice.com/"

"Effective as of 4/18/05 Please note your standard on-network airtime
rates will apply when “Cingular”, “Cingular Extend” or “My Network”
appears in your phone’s display. Other direct dialed calls made
off-network (when “Other Network” appears in your phone’s display or
when “Cingular”, “Cingular Extend” or “My Network” does not appear in
your phone's display) will be charged at 49¢ a minute."


7-11 Speak Out
"http://www.7-eleven.com/products/docs/SpeakOutBrochure_eng.pdf"

"When your phone ’s display reads SpeakOut, 7-Eleven Speak Out
Wireless On-Network rates apply.If your phone display reads EXTEND or
suggests an alternative roaming partner besides Speak Out,Extend service
rates may apply."

"Extended coverage area is charged 39 ¢per minute service and may be
subject to additional charges."


Verion InPulse

"Domestic Roaming Per-Minute Rate 69¢ (airtime & domestic long distance
included)"

> If they want to turn that into a positive what's the problem with
> that?

Because it's a negative. T-Mobile admits no-roaming, but they don't try
to pass it off as a good thing!


Never choose a prepaid carrier that doesn't allow roaming, unless you
are sure that you'll never be outside their home area.