more on Locked In a Cell: How Cell Phone Early Terminati on Fees Hurt Consumers

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: david.e.young () verizon com
Date: October 12, 2005 8:11:47 AM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Re: [IP] more on Locked In a Cell: How Cell Phone Early  
Terminati on Fees Hurt Consumers



Dave,

>
> 3.  Cingular just says, "no free phone."  When you point out you can
> go to another carrier and now take your number with (!), they just
> shrug.
>

FWIW,  Verizon Wireless has a program called "New Every Two" which  
allows existing subscribers to upgrade their phone every two years.   
So you don't necessarily have to switch carriers every two years to  
get the deals.  More info at - http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/ 
splash/upgrade/vision.jsp

-David

--------------------------------
David E. Young
VP, Federal Regulatory Affairs
Verizon Communications
1300 I Street NW, Suite 400W
Washington, DC 20005
+1 202-515-2517  <Office>
+1 202-365-4755  <Mobile>
david.e.young () verizon com

"David Farber" <dave () farber net> wrote on 10/12/2005 05:27:03 AM:

>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: John Shoch <shoch () alloyventures com>
> Date: October 11, 2005 9:09:09 PM EDT
> To: dave () farber net
> Cc: John Shoch <shoch () alloyventures com>
> Subject: RE: [IP] more on Locked In a Cell: How Cell Phone Early
> Terminati on Fees Hurt Consumers
>
>
> Dave,
>
> It is hard to deciper the approach to pricing used by the large
> cellular carriers, and we all have stories of insane behavior.  Some
> of this is a hold-over from the time when your carrier could hold
> your phone number hostage, and not give very good discounts on a
> renewal.  My recent experience:
>
> 1.  Had an old AT&T TDMA phone, which got lost.  Tried to replace it
> at Cingular, but they no longer sell TDMA phones [you can buy a used
> one on eBay].  I could buy a new GSM phone, but that requires a new
> plan.
>
> 2.  So, since I was interested in a new phone, I went on-line and
> found some great specials.  BUT, I was then ineligible for them
> because I was trying to go from a Cingular account to Cingualar, and
> the bargain deals don't apply.  The deals are only provided to the  
re-
> sellers from bringing in a new customer.
>
> 3.  Cingular just says, "no free phone."  When you point out you can
> go to another carrier and now take your number with (!), they just
> shrug.
>
> 4.  But in this process I did discover some great deals on-line:  you
> can actually get a free phone plus a REFUND/REBATE of $100-150
> dollars if you sign up for a new phone and plan on a different  
carrier.
>     http://www.intelenetwireless.com/
>     http://www.cellularchoices.net/carrier/cingular/phones/
>     http://www4.letstalk.com/landing/vsearch2.htm? 
landId=1&mulService=1
>
> 5.  Given this insane behavior, the only thing that makes sense is to
> shift to a new carrier every 2 years, get a new phone, throw out the
> old one, bring your number over, and pocket $100-150 cash each  
time.....
>
> How did we ever end up here?
>
> John Shoch
> Alloy Ventures
>
>

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