Goodbye T-mobile

[mikelan6]

I've been a T-mobile user for many years (since it was Voicestream), but sadly, today I had to change.

A few weeks ago, American Airlines' AAdvantage program initiated a new program awarding new T-mobile customers 7,000 AAdvantage miles with a new contract.

After trying a few times to get the miles, while keeping my same phone number, I gave up. This morning, T-mobile said that I could not even get a new phone number, since I am a T-mobile customer.

I am sad to leave them.

[Charlyee]

Originally Posted by mikelan6

I've been a T-mobile user for many years (since it was Voicestream), but sadly, today I had to change.

A few weeks ago, American Airlines' AAdvantage program initiated a new program awarding new T-mobile customers 7,000 AAdvantage miles with a new contract.

After trying a few times to get the miles, while keeping my same phone number, I gave up. This morning, T-mobile said that I could not even get a new phone number, since I am a T-mobile customer.

I am sad to leave them.

Hello & WELCOME to WA. That's a very interesting reason to leave a provider who must have been very good for you since you have had them for 5+ years.

I have 300,000+ miles for NW and also for United and 70,000+ miles for American and 90% of the time that I have tried to use them, they are usually blackout days or no seats available, so I am not real happy with frequent flier miles.

It would be very rare for an existing customer to get the offers that a new customer gets with any provider, not just T-Mobile and I hope for your sake that you don't regret your decision.

[walkguru]

Wirelessly posted (Walkguru's: Nokia6682/2.0 (3.01.1) SymbianOS/8.0 Series60/2.6 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

So, where you going now?

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by walkguru

Wirelessly posted (Walkguru's: Nokia6682/2.0 (3.01.1) SymbianOS/8.0 Series60/2.6 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

So, where you going now?

I would say it would stand to reason he'd be sticking w/ GSM since he was happy w/ the coverage so he's going to Cingular! PM me Mike if I'm right. I can "refer" you with the cingular referral program and we'd both get $25 Cingular giftcards.

-Jay

[mikelan6]

Thanks for the quick replies.

I am trying to save up for round trip business class seats to Tokyo and or Hong Kong, so I need all the miles I can get :-)

Thanks for the suggestion, but I've chosen to move to Verizon. Wish me luck.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by mikelan6

Thanks for the quick replies.

I am trying to save up for round trip business class seats to Tokyo and or Hong Kong, so I need all the miles I can get :-)

Thanks for the suggestion, but I've chosen to move to Verizon. Wish me luck.

A world traveler and you're not staying w/ GSM? I'm shocked. GSM is everywhere in Asia. Anyway, good luck and have fun on your trip.

-Jay

[Charlyee]

Originally Posted by mikelan6

Thanks for the quick replies.

I am trying to save up for round trip business class seats to Tokyo and or Hong Kong, so I need all the miles I can get :-)

Thanks for the suggestion, but I've chosen to move to Verizon. Wish me luck.

Good luck with your choice but why Verizon? I travel a lot internationally and I would not be without my GSM phone - just curious, I am sure you know what you are doing.

[walkguru]

Originally Posted by Charlyee

Good luck with your choice but why Verizon? I travel a lot internationally and I would not be without my GSM phone - just curious, I am sure you know what you are doing.

he will be back, you just cait beat gsm.

[coalminer]

Originally Posted by Charlyee

Good luck with your choice but why Verizon? I travel a lot internationally and I would not be without my GSM phone - just curious, I am sure you know what you are doing.

If his phone is a world phone and unlocked, all he needs to do is get a sim card from Verizon and he is still good to go, and if there is a CDMA network set up there, and they have a roaming agreement with that carrier, its only 69 cents a minute (plus pass through charges).

I was checking the international roaming rates for all of the carriers, and they are all about the same, certain countries are more expensive, but it is consistant among all the carriers.

I used to think that for anyone who travels internationaly, Verizon was the last choice, but that is not the case anymore, especially if you travel to areas where there are CDMA networks.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by coalminer

If his phone is a world phone and unlocked, all he needs to do is get a sim card from Verizon and he is still good to go, and if there is a CDMA network set up there, and they have a roaming agreement with that carrier, its only 69 cents a minute (plus pass through charges).

I was checking the international roaming rates for all of the carriers, and they are all about the same, certain countries are more expensive, but it is consistant among all the carriers.

I used to think that for anyone who travels internationaly, Verizon was the last choice, but that is not the case anymore, especially if you travel to areas where there are CDMA networks.

Yes, there are CDMA networks in use in Asia, but I would think GSM would be a better choice for international travel. BTW - US model CDMA phones don't use SIM cards.

-Jay

[Yugopro]

I may be mistaken, but aren't those CDMA networks incompatible with North American CDMA networks? I believe most of those CDMA networks are something like 3G.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by Yugopro

I may be mistaken, but aren't those CDMA networks incompatible with North American CDMA networks? I believe most of those CDMA networks are something like 3G.

Not quite sure. Its certainly possible.

-Jay

[Matt]

Originally Posted by mikelan6

I've been a T-mobile user for many years (since it was Voicestream), but sadly, today I had to change.

A few weeks ago, American Airlines' AAdvantage program initiated a new program awarding new T-mobile customers 7,000 AAdvantage miles with a new contract.

After trying a few times to get the miles, while keeping my same phone number, I gave up. This morning, T-mobile said that I could not even get a new phone number, since I am a T-mobile customer.

I am sad to leave them.

These types of offers are generally not available via T-Mobile customer care (meaning they could not give it to you even if they knew how to do it) and also usually have special phone numbers, etc. and a special website, in this case http://www.shop.t-mobile.com/american The only way for existing T-Mobile customers to get this offer is to add a line of service and have an additional phone number and service agreement. At what I think is a standard rate of 2 cents per mile for valuing FF miles, this is a $140 offer, so that's probably why it is limited to new customers, otherwise what would you be giving AA/TM in return for the 7,000 miles? It's similar to offers like DirecTV, etc. where the free hardware and cheaper service plans are only available to new customers.

[ShoresGuy]

Originally Posted by Yugopro

I may be mistaken, but aren't those CDMA networks incompatible with North American CDMA networks? I believe most of those CDMA networks are something like 3G.

Nope, South Korea has CDMA as well which is compatible with CDMA 800 phones from the US:

http://www.cdg.org/worldwide/asia_pacific.swf

The only thing that SKT or the other providers have to do is allow your CDMA phone's ESN onto their network.

[SterlingCO]

So, can you tell me if T-Mobile:
1. has good reception (as opposed to coverage) in Woodland Park, CO? Will I be able to get calls and make calls from around the country? I noticed their coverage map looks much more bare than Cingular in most of the country, though it does cover my immediate area and those areas where most of my calls will be made to. Its very hard to tell from that map what specific cities will be OK to call to and to tell if I will have reliable reception up here on the other side of the front range from Colorado Springs.

2. Is the Nokia 6010 a GSM phone? And if I buy it and I have to switch to Cingular will I be able to use it or will I have to buy new phones?
3. Is it best to buy the phone from a local dealer or just the same to buy online?

[SterlingCO]

Am I correct in assuming, with all the byzantine variations on costs and charges involved, that T Mobile is cheaper for light use than Cingular? T-Mobile does not have the $1 per day charge when the phone is used, right? I want to be able to call another T-Mobile user occasionally in my household but we dont want or need fancy options -perhaps caller id.

Do both Cingular and T-Mobile charge for incoming calls?

[Matt]

Originally Posted by SterlingCO

Am I correct in assuming, with all the byzantine variations on costs and charges involved, that T Mobile is cheaper for light use than Cingular? T-Mobile does not have the $1 per day charge when the phone is used, right? I want to be able to call another T-Mobile user occasionally in my household but we dont want or need fancy options -perhaps caller id.

Do both Cingular and T-Mobile charge for incoming calls?

The $1 per day charge is for prepaid on Cingular, I believe. T-Mobile does not charge that. Both carriers charge for all calls, incoming and outgoing.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by Matt

The $1 per day charge is for prepaid on Cingular, I believe. T-Mobile does not charge that. Both carriers charge for all calls, incoming and outgoing.

But CIngular has 2 types of pay as you go plans. If you pay a higher rate per minute you can delete the $1/day charge. The $1 is only charged on days you use the phone anyway. If you don't use the phone it is not charged.

-Jay

[Charlyee]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

But CIngular has 2 types of pay as you go plans. If you pay a higher rate per minute you can delete the $1/day charge. The $1 is only charged on days you use the phone anyway. If you don't use the phone it is not charged.

-Jay

Yes, I have a Cingular Pepay that is 25c/minute and no $1.00 charge. Also Cingular has something called "Pick Your Plan" which is like post pay with a fixed monthly fee but no contract and also comes with rollovers, unlimited nw, m2m etc.

Cingular GoPhone

[jones]

Originally Posted by coalminer

If his phone is a world phone and unlocked, all he needs to do is get a sim card from Verizon and he is still good to go, and if there is a CDMA network set up there, and they have a roaming agreement with that carrier, its only 69 cents a minute (plus pass through charges).

I was checking the international roaming rates for all of the carriers, and they are all about the same, certain countries are more expensive, but it is consistant among all the carriers.

I used to think that for anyone who travels internationaly, Verizon was the last choice, but that is not the case anymore, especially if you travel to areas where there are CDMA networks.

CDMA Has no global roaming capability.
Better check again
The VZW Global Rent a phone is a GSM Phone.
And remember CDMA is being Shut Down in other Countries.