vB Easy Archive - TyTN/8525: how to keep Grandfathered Media Works (MEW1)???

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TyTN/8525: how to keep Grandfathered Media Works (MEW1)???
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Posted by: tschabo

I am currently with Cingular and have the grandfathered media works plan (MEW1: 1000 text messages, 200 MMS, unlimited internet) that I have been using with my last two PPCs.

Recently, I read on this forum that Cingular agents and reps change the media works plan ($19.99) to the PDA connect plan ($39.99) when you get a new PPC in order to maximize their commission.

Currently, I am planning on upgrading to either the HTC TyTN or the Cingular 8525. I like the fact that there will be more upgrades available for the TyTN (I have been through that with my SX66 vs PDA2k). On the other hand, I like the black color of the 8525 and it's better price.

What I am worried about with the 8525 is that my (grandfathered) media works plan gets changed to the much more expensive PDA connect. Is there any way to get around that? For instance, to buy the 8525 through one of the reps on this forum (once the 8525 is available)?

On the other hand, I am thinking about getting the TyTN since it won't require me to deal with a rep (that potentially could change my plan) other than when I change my current SIM card to the new 3G SIM card.

Any suggestions on how I can get the Cingular 8525/TyTN and keep my Media Works plan?

Posted by: stevOh

If you buy your PDA and get it subsidized through Cingular your looking at paying the $39.99 PDA Connect period. Buy it elsewhere at full price and stick your sim in it, you dont have to worry about these things.

Its not all about maximizing commisions but if I put Media Maxx and sold a customer a PDA Im pretty much guarenteed a write up or termination. We just had an email sent to us a few days ago in reguards to this. Its against buisness rules to do it so we dont.

Posted by: FungFlex

But, If I just so happen to have a login to pos, I can do a simple feature change...

Posted by: robothero

Buy the TyTN and stick your SIM in. The price is much more, but you end up saving on the price for the text messages and the 10$ more you pay for the PDA connect.

Posted by: wierdo

You can easily order the 8525 from telesales without messing with your features. If they ask, just tell them you want to keep the old feature until you receive your new phone and that you'll call in and change it when you get it. Then convienently forget to do it.

Posted by: chnky18

buy the 8525 from cingular and tell them its a gift for someone else. That way they wont mess with your plan.

Posted by: Blue Puma

Every time I walk into a store in Chicago, the associate almost insists on checking my features on my account. I'm sure that if I tried to buy the phone from any of them, they'd change my mew1... better to get it from somewhere where they wouldn't check, e.g. telesales, or get the TyTn alltogether....

I have walked into stores with cash for a hot phone dozens of times, and they will almost always refuse to sell it to me without either new service or contract extension....

Posted by: moddestmike

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Puma

Every time I walk into a store in Chicago, the associate almost insists on checking my features on my account. I'm sure that if I tried to buy the phone from any of them, they'd change my mew1... better to get it from somewhere where they wouldn't check, e.g. telesales, or get the TyTn alltogether....

I have walked into stores with cash for a hot phone dozens of times, and they will almost always refuse to sell it to me without either new service or contract extension....

They take the feature off then add it back on to get comission. If a feature has be present on an account for 3-5 months, they can get paid by taking it off and putting it back on. Had it happened to me and I got hit with prorated feature charges. Pissed me off. I asked a friend why would someone do that and thats the explanation he gave me. Never let them look at your account. I do all of my business online.

Posted by: Omega2008

If you are on Premier you can just do an upgrade, they won't make you change your data plan. I have been using the same 19.99 MEdia Net Unlimited package with 1200 SMS and unlimited MMS since I have been with Cingular. They don't care, as long as you don't teather they don't, and even if you do they still may not care but if they do and you get a huge bill..its still your fault so play your cards wisely. I rather pay the 40 PDA connect and not worry about it if I was teathering daily.

Posted by: cshehan

When I bought my 8125 I was told I had to get the PDA connect plan because Media Net wouldn't work with it. I told them I would take my chances, and it worked flawlessly. I just got a TyTN, slapped my sim in, added the Media Net settings to connections and voila 3G happiness. Don't let them push you into a plan you don't need. With all the nonsense going on with the release of the 8525 and all the problems they are apparently having with the hacked up Cingular rom they are putting on it I would seriously look at the TyTN. From what I've read of people who've played with the latest 8525 preproduction rom on their TyTNs it runs slower than the stock TyTN rom. Yes I know this is a preproduction rom they are using, but it doesn't bode well for the release version as far as I'm concerned.

Posted by: princeasi

Just some info to share

. Back in july, i had found out that a service rep switch my old 19.99 grandfather plan(1500 txt msg, 200mms, unlmtd internet) and placed a 5mb data plan back in march 06 and set it to be effective in may 06! I found out when i happened to call cingy and check up on my bill before making a payment and happened to be informed of $2000.00 worth of overcharges from internet usage. Its now Novemeber and they just finished removing a total of $6000.00 of overcharges from my account because of other data charges pending from cs and managers placing the wrong feature onto my account everytime i called in to resolve the matter and trust me, it wasn't nice, i ended up arguing with every manager and all of them felt stupid at the end of the phone call lol. Of course i went thru the whole hooplah about the overcharges occurred because the media net plan was not compatible with my phone and accessing certain web pages will opens certain portals that will begin charging my account, and that they wouldnt credit me if i was to keep this plan on my phone, then they went to say that they couldnt add the plan back onto my account because it was an expired plan and theres no way they can access the mew1, because their computer wouldnt take it and blah blah blah..... but i guess these idiots are so used to telling this story to customers, and there are alot of people out that dont have a clue! Lucky for me i happened to be a little bit computer savvy, plus no pushover. I mean it just didnt make sense to me when i bought a hw6515 in nov 05 and still had my gf plan, my bill was normal for like 4 months straight until a service rep removed it. With that being my argument, i battled with cingular for months about adding this feature back onto my account, and guess what, they found a way to place this feature back onto my account! This is the 3rd time this has happened to me this year, so i knew that they were able to place this plan back onto my account. The previous 2 times this happened was from an in-store rep removing the plan from my account while i was upgrading my contract and purchasing a phone for my other line on my account. Cingular is not suppose to be forcing people off of these grandfather plan in such a manner. My fight was i signed a contract in which cingular wants me to honor my part, well cingular has to honor there part as well! For those who are going thru this dilemma with cingy, if cingular removed any feature without your consent, then they have to replace it on behalf of their error, make them add the feature back on and make them honor there share of the contract! if they can create these feature then surely they can replace these grandfather plans back onto your account! Just another FYI for those who still has a grandfather plan on their account, whenever you speak to CS about anything regarding your GF data plan, make sure you tell them rightoff "DO NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO MY ACCOUNT WITHOUT MY CONSENT" document there name, time, and date, when you've spoken with'em, and let them know that your documenting this, because sometimes they'll do wrong on your account and they will not document their name into there notes! Try staying away from upgrading your contract for the deal breaker and just buy the phone retail, because (from what i was told) everytime CS inputs an upgrade into their systems, the systems does something like a reset to your account and it will automatically remove your gf plan, and the CS will have to manually place the plan back which they have no access to because its an expired plan! if your a heavy data user, with the pricing of cingy data plans, you'll save alot down the line with the gf plan instead of chasing the upgrade deal! While trying to resolve this matter with cingular, i ran into alot of rude managers and cs, if this happens file a complaint with corporate, but dont ask the manager or the cs how to because all that they'll do is give you an address to send in a letter, but do a google search for cingular headquarters number and file a complaint there! sorry for the long post

Posted by: jlczl

Better yet upgrade via online and don't even mess with CS.

Posted by: tschabo

after a long debate, I decided to get the TyTN just to be on the safe side since I don't want the 8525 to be on my account whatsoever (subsidized or not subsidized).

More reasons for getting the TyTN are:
- higher resale value when compared to the 8525 down the road
- with SMG's price of $689 is it is merely $50 more than a non-contract 8525 after taxes (assuming a $599 price)
- more ROM updates when compared with the 8525

I have ordered mine through SMG and can only recommend him. I also tried to get it through with MMB (almost everyone's favorite on this forum). However, he was a total disappointment: he was rude on the phone and didn't stand behind his words.

Posted by: Cowboyshootist

Quote:

Originally Posted by tschabo

More reasons for getting the TyTN are:
- higher resale value when compared to the 8525 down the road
- with SMG's price of $689 is it is merely $50 more than a non-contract 8525 after taxes (assuming a $599 price)
- more ROM updates when compared with the 8525

Why would there be more ROM updates for the TyTN compared to the 8525? From what I have seen of the 8125 there were lots of patches and updates from the XDM community.

Posted by: MenTLPiRacY

Quote:

Originally Posted by cshehan

When I bought my 8125 I was told I had to get the PDA connect plan because Media Net wouldn't work with it. I told them I would take my chances, and it worked flawlessly. I just got a TyTN, slapped my sim in, added the Media Net settings to connections and voila 3G happiness. Don't let them push you into a plan you don't need. With all the nonsense going on with the release of the 8525 and all the problems they are apparently having with the hacked up Cingular rom they are putting on it I would seriously look at the TyTN. From what I've read of people who've played with the latest 8525 preproduction rom on their TyTNs it runs slower than the stock TyTN rom. Yes I know this is a preproduction rom they are using, but it doesn't bode well for the release version as far as I'm concerned.

That is exacally what they dont want you to do. IMO its cool because like you said your just paying for internet access so why should u have to pay twice as much for a PDA. Youl have to change when they start auditing data on accounts. Which will probably be next year.. but enjoy it for now and take advantage of it as much as possible

Posted by: strikeIII

don't listen to anyone...cingular will not or can not make you change your data plan...just deny it and be on your way...they will always offer it to you and say you need to take advantage of all the features of the PDA yadda, yadda, yadda but just smile and say no thanks just give me the damn phone...they're lucky they get you for another 2 years tell them that...hehe

Posted by: Quatre

exactly. i'm getting my 8525 from cing using upgrade. i have lots of gsm phones, they dont know which i put my sim and going to make me pay more for data. and then what happens when i use my 2 sims in a non pda phone i'm still paying pda connect for data, i dont think so.

i know there are some benefits of pda connect like you get an ip or something and supposedly so its faster as you aren't subject to slow down from high usage/traffic or something. so could be a few minor pluses to it.

but they cant force you to get it and like i said using diff phones and they cant prove which one you putting sim in. i dont tell them wha tphones i have. they may think they know what i have from what i bought from them but no.

and like i said not paying higher for data plan and then when i put sim in non pda phone still paying that no way.

Posted by: Quatre

Quote:

Originally Posted by MenTLPiRacY

auditing data on accounts?

Posted by: MenTLPiRacY

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quatre

auditing data on accounts?

somthing that is quite possible. An audit for very high usage on plans with media net and not PDA plans.

Posted by: kmac1914

Quote:

Originally Posted by MenTLPiRacY

somthing that is quite possible. An audit for very high usage on plans with media net and not PDA plans.

I don't see that really being how they'd do it, seeing as how they're pushing Cingular Video, plus with 3G being deployed in more and more cities, data usage (via regular ol' media net) is undoubtedly go up--so they can't just assume that people that use lots of data have PDA phones. Hell, i average 100+MB of data some months on my phone, even without tethering.

However, if they were to cross-reference by IMEI, or access point (assuming one was inadvertantly using isp.cingular), then it'd be a different story.

Posted by: Cowboyshootist

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmac1914

In another forum this topic was discussed some time ago. Using unscientific methods (basically ancedotal information from posters in the forum) it appeared that Cingular was looking more at URLs than the amount of data. Certain posters were downloading significant email data and had no issues with Cingular. Others were frequently visiting web sites with multimedia content and were being told by Cingular that they would have to upgrade to either a PDA or a more expensive unlimited plan (as I recall it was the $79 unlimited usage for laptops or something like that)

I would think that data utilization would be a bad way to monitor unlimited usage plans regardless of whether they were for phones, PDAs, or computers. If someone from Cingular called me to say I had to upgrade my unlimited usage plan because I was "downloading too much data" I think I'd have a problem with that.

Posted by: strikeIII

now i posted this in another thread, but correct me if i'm wrong....i was under the impression that the PDA plan does not work on 3G so you can't get all the 3G benefits like faster web, cingular video, etc....so, if you get an 8525 which is a 3G phone it only makes sense to get the MediaMax plan and not the PDA plan, right.....

Posted by: skidpalace

Quote:

Originally Posted by strikeIII

now i posted this in another thread, but correct me if i'm wrong....i was under the impression that the PDA plan does not work on 3G so you can't get all the 3G benefits like faster web, cingular video, etc....so, if you get an 8525 which is a 3G phone it only makes sense to get the MediaMax plan and not the PDA plan, right.....

Wrong.
The problem with the PDA & Laptop conect plans is that they are currently incompatible with Cingular Video. It has nothing to do with 3G. If you have mulitple devices, any of which are CV compatible, you can't really use the PDA or Laptop connect packages.
You are really screwed if you NEED the PDA or Laptop packages because you need corporate VPN access. You cannot connect to VPN through the wap.cingular portal that MediaNet allows, only the isp.cingular available with PDA or Laptop only.
Legally, only Laptop Connect at 60 skins a month allows tethering, and even then, regardless of what data plan you have, you are still not allowed to stream video (and perhaps audio) other than cingular video. Ain't that a kick to the stones. Cingular is basically making it IMPOSSIBLE for anyone to NOT break the rules.

Posted by: jsharpe

I recently posted on another thread that Cingular has just in the past week disabled my ability to tether using a grandfathered unlimited medianet plan (Still using the same old v551)

The reason I'm mentioning it here is that although they don't seem to be able or willing to limit access originating from the phone, they have recently enabled the cabability to prevent tethering on the "cheap" plans.

Posted by: Cowboyshootist

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsharpe

I recently posted on another thread that Cingular has just in the past week disabled my ability to tether using a grandfathered unlimited medianet plan (Still using the same old v551)

The reason I'm mentioning it here is that although they don't seem to be able or willing to limit access originating from the phone, they have recently enabled the cabability to prevent tethering on the "cheap" plans.

How did they do this? Does it just not work anymore? How would they know that you are tethered?

Posted by: jsharpe

I don't know the details on what "new" technology they have in place to do it, just that the gentleman said that they didn't used to be able to do it but now they can and that they just turned it on.

Basically tethering worked fine for me through last week and now using the same phone and configuration I always get an error 720. I've since tested on several different laptops and geographical regions with lots of variations in the configurations with no success. One thing I haven't tried is using a different model phone.

Posted by: Cowboyshootist

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsharpe

I don't know the details on what "new" technology they have in place to do it, just that the gentleman said that they didn't used to be able to do it but now they can and that they just turned it on.

Basically tethering worked fine for me through last week and now using the same phone and configuration I always get an error 720. I've since tested on several different laptops and geographical regions with lots of variations in the configurations with no success. One thing I haven't tried is using a different model phone.

When you tether are you accessing web sites, downloading email, VPN into your work? What specifically are you doing while tethered? Can you even make a connection while tethered?

I usually tether to my Palm PDA. I haven't tried it in a while so I have no idea if it still works. I'll have to try that tomorrow.

Posted by: jsharpe

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cowboyshootist

When tethered I accessed web content, pop email (via Thunderbird), even [slowly] synced podcasts through iTunes. I didn't have success connecting via a VPN, but then I didn't try very hard.

Now the connection process works fine up to the point where it is "Registering your computer on the network..." where it displays:

"Error 720: A connection to the remote computer could not be established..."

The CSR stated that a 720 is what is expected to result from their newly established enforcement.

Posted by: strikeIII

Quote:

Originally Posted by skidpalace

okay, so i'm half right if you can't get CV with the PDA plan...also, i'm also able to tether to my laptop with the MediaMax plan, i do it once in a while on my girlfriends laptop cuz she does not have internet at her apt...don't know about VPN cuz i don't use that but do recall in a couple of threads back when the 8125 came out that they were able to find away around to use VPN using the non-PDA plan...now what do you mean by stream video or music cuz i'm also able to go to some websites that have streaming video and I'm able to stream, it think it depends on the site you go to...plus my buddy at work streams SlingBox through his 8125 with a MediaMax plan...

okay, just found the answer for VPN and why it works for some people...
http://www.howardforums.com/showpos...68&postcount=23

Posted by: Cowboyshootist

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsharpe

Interesting. It must have something to do with the query to the "computer". Perhaps when you're tethered the response is coming from your computer not the phone. Or maybe the phone can send a "status" that would indicate that it is being tethered.

I think the real issue here is the cost versus the value of the Cingular network. I would like to have high-speed access anywhere which is the main value of a cellular network (to me). On the other hand I don't want to pay double what I pay for broadband access at home which is much faster to begin with. If Cingular would get an ulimited plan in the $25-35 range regardless of device type I think more people would sign up. As it is I am going to have to rethink both the 8525 and MediaNet. Heck I'd be better off getting a PC card for my laptop and a cheaper phone.

Posted by: KlamshellKing

Or you could do what im doing and have a little bit of patience (im surprised i have any) and wait till it becomes a bit more popular, wait for craiglisters to get it, and then buy it cheap. Thats what im doing. Ill probably get mine for 500-450 by the end of this month

Posted by: wgnzlz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quatre

exactly. i'm getting my 8525 from cing using upgrade. i have lots of gsm phones, they dont know which i put my sim and going to make me pay more for data. and then what happens when i use my 2 sims in a non pda phone i'm still paying pda connect for data, i dont think so.

i know there are some benefits of pda connect like you get an ip or something and supposedly so its faster as you aren't subject to slow down from high usage/traffic or something. so could be a few minor pluses to it.

but they cant force you to get it and like i said using diff phones and they cant prove which one you putting sim in. i dont tell them wha tphones i have. they may think they know what i have from what i bought from them but no.

and like i said not paying higher for data plan and then when i put sim in non pda phone still paying that no way.

I think they can tell now. I bought a 9300 off of ebay and put my sim card from my nokia 6620 into it. Just today I logged in to my account and see that they have a picture off the nokia 9300 beside my phone number and a pic of the 6620 beside my fiancee's phone number (she is now using it, family talk plan). I didn't think they could tell, but it looks like they can.

Posted by: skidpalace

Quote:

Originally Posted by strikeIII

A quick look at the Media Net Terms of Service yields:

Quote:

Permissible Uses: Data Service sessions may be conducted only for the following purposes: (i) Internet browsing; (ii) email; and (iii) corporate intranet access (including access to corporate email, customer relationship management, sales force automation, and field service automation applications). Prohibited uses include, but are not limited to, using Services: (i) with server devices or with host computer applications, including, without limitation, Web camera posts or broadcasts, continuous jpeg file transfers, automatic data feeds, telemetry applications, automated functions or any other ?machine-to-machine applications; (ii) as substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections; (iii) for Voice over IP; (iv) in conjunction with WWAN or other applications or devices which aggregate usage from multiple sources prior to transmission; (V) Using the Services for any activity that adversely affects the ability of other people or systems to use either the Services or other parties' Internet-based resources including, but not limited to excessive consumption of network or system resources (whether intentional or unintentional) and "denial of service" (DoS) attacks against another network host or individual user; or (vi) Interference with or disruption of other network users, network services or network equipment. except for CONTENT formatted in accordance with cingular’s CONTENT standards, Unlimited plans cannot be used for uploading, downloading or streaming of video content (e.g. movies, TV), music or games. Furthermore, unlimited plans (except for DataConnect and Blackberry Tethered) cannot be used for any applications that tether the device (through use of, including without limitation, connection kits, other phone/PDA-to-computer accessories, Bluetooth® or any other wireless technology) to laptops, PCs, or other equipment for any purpose. Service is not intended to provide full-time connections, and the Service may be discontinued after a significant period of inactivity or after sessions of excessive usage. Cingular reserves the right to (i) limit throughput or amount of data transferred, deny Service and/or terminate Service, without notice, to anyone it believes is using the Service in any manner prohibited above or whose usage adversely impacts its network or service levels and (ii) protect its network from harm, which may impact legitimate data flows.

The key language is "the streaming of video content" I think Slingbox and variants like Orb would fall under the prohibited uses column. Also note that VoIP is prohibited as well.
So much for having an "unlimited" plan.
By the way, the TOS can be found here: http://www.cingular.com/cell-phone-.../plan-terms.jsp

Posted by: Cowboyshootist

Quote:

Originally Posted by skidpalace

A quick look at the Media Net Terms of Service yields:

The key language is "the streaming of video content" I think Slingbox and variants like Orb would fall under the prohibited uses column. Also note that VoIP is prohibited as well.
So much for having an "unlimited" plan.
By the way, the TOS can be found here: http://www.cingular.com/cell-phone-.../plan-terms.jsp

Thanks for posting the Ts & Cs. Now, what do you want to bet that your average Cingular sales rep couldn't even begin to give you the highlites of what the Unlimited Service exclusions are?

I am sure there's a future court case somewhere in that language.

Posted by: wierdo

I'm glad those aren't my T&Cs.

Posted by: Quatre

yeah cing is going to shoot themselves in the foot with this. I tether with 3g evdo data on vzw with my Q and laptop. granted it took some reg edits/hack and vzw's software update disabled that from working but I don't really need any of the benefits of the update and even if you do get it you can still use a prog called pdanet to tether which is a one time fee to buy (and its not from vzw so your supporting a better smaller company trying to help ppl and save them money from the huge gredy corporate vzw and others) so its cheaper then monthly charge.

so hopefully there will be some workarounds or at least pdanet will work but if they make it to difficult then I will return the phones within trial period and switch to other carrier for data.

thing is some work arounds/hacks/reg edits might cme up later but if I can't tether in a reasonable way from the beginning I'm not taking the chance to wait for a workaround so will return both the blackjack and 8525.

so cing thinks they are so smart spending time and money blocking/disabling tethering when meanwhile they are losing big time being so behind with phone releases and 3g. they think they will save money blocking tehering but to do this before they even have any 3g smart/ppc phones out they will never get off the ground. I for one will return them and I'm sure others and cing will be dead in the water with 3g smart/ppc phones before they even get started.

let them spend time and money blocking tethering. it will be hacked anyway and in the meantime they will be boycotted and lose more money.

I hate vzw more but cing is getting to be just as bad. I hate how they are the only 3g gsm carrier and I hate how my wife and fam are on vzw so I use that plus annoyingly vzw gets the best phones first and/or exclusive.

I really would like to switch to print and tmob. I mean all these carriers suck and are greedy but I realy hate vzw and I will boycott cing 100% if the block tethering.

Posted by: Quatre

ontop of blocking tethering now they can tell which phone you have your sim in? I still doubt that but if true and they enforce pda connect. I def will be leavin cing. in fact I would love if they terminated me and I would fight it in court.

either way I can tell cingulars days with me and other educated customers are numbered.

they are so busy spending time and money on stuff like tbis when meanwhile they are last in phone selection and releases and still only have 1 or 2 3g phones and no smart or ppc ones. they suck and are not as smart as they think they are.

its all going to backfire and they are going to be dead in the water before they even get going with 3g service and compatible phones.

its like they are already late with it and coverage is not as good as competitors yet they give even more reason not to go with them instead of more.

right now to compete catch up and beat vzw and sprint over a year ahead of them they should be allowing all the tethering and cheaper data plan to gain customers. instead they have thi blocking and restricting eith the already late and inferior service.

I need to seriously consider sprint which has the fastest 3g speeds always according to all speed tests and you can tethr all you want and has more coverage then vzw even and cheapest unlim data plan @ 15/mo compared to cing @ 40/mo and vzw @ 45/mo that's a big diff plus sprint is first with evdo rev.A

sprint will prob get their version of the tytn in the htc 6800 soon and I'm sure a thin qwerty smartphone too. just isn't gsm with sim cards though but if cing is spying and detecting what phone we have our sim in then its no longer worth as much anyway. as it is with the 850 band cing uses and diff umts/hsdpa that makes using imported phones unlocked less feasible/worthwhile so the pros of gsm are becoming less and less anyway.

the doj will prob deny the sbc bell south meger s cing will be screwed and I predict their demise starting with me leaving them and once word spreads of this phone detecting to enforce expensive data plan and tether blocking then others will follow

Posted by: wierdo

Uh, they don't block tethering, and Cingular's new T&C (which only apply to you if you have the evil no notice clause or have received notice of the change) are pretty much the same as Verizon's. Same with Sprint.

Cingular is the only of Sprint, Verizon, and Cingular I know of who has never had a documented instance of taking adverse action against someone for tethering. Sprint's done it, Verizon has done it, Cingular hasn't. In the instances when people have been charged for data usage, it's invariably been the PPU feature finding its way onto an account (or not having been removed in the first place) back when they had a process running to automagically add it to all accounts that didn't have a data plan and they didn't leave out certain old data plans. Everyone who had that happen and asked for a credit got one.

Lots of people talk a lot of crap about using data with Cingular's cheap plans, but it's all unfounded. I'm not the only one who has been tethering, using data cards, or whatever else I like with MEdia Works unlimited and other unlimited data plans for years with no adverse action.

Posted by: jsharpe

Just a quick update on Cingular's recent claim to me that they somehow now can detect tethering and can block it on a grandfathered MediaWorks unlimited.

I just tried tethering with the same phone (and plan obviously) from a yet a different laptop and was able to get it working just fine. So apparently there is some unknown part of the configuration that has changed on my primary machines that's causing the 720 errors rather than a new Cingular policy or capability.

Posted by: Cowboyshootist

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsharpe

Just a quick update on Cingular's recent claim to me that they somehow now can detect tethering and can block it on a grandfathered MediaWorks unlimited.

I just tried tethering with the same phone (and plan obviously) from a yet a different laptop and was able to get it working just fine. So apparently there is some unknown part of the configuration that has changed on my primary machines that's causing the 720 errors rather than a new Cingular policy or capability.

Ah Ha! Well that's good to know. I suppose if they really wanted to put some effort into it detecting tethering could be done, but why waste the resources. Most people aren't going to tether and of those that do what's the real impact to the network? Probably not that much. Plus, they need to build a network than can handle more than just phone data traffic or no one is going to use if for very long.

Smartphones and Blackberrys are all well and good for things like email on the go but they are a poor replacement for a laptop computer when you need to do real work. This all may change with the coming of the smaller tablet PCs that are starting to show up.

Thanks for the update.

Posted by: wierdo

ATTWS used to do something to detect it, but the extra charges ended when the merger happened.

BTW, I get a lot of "real work" done on my E62, but it has a very excellent browser, and beyond that all I usually need is PuTTY. If I could get logmein to work on it, I wouldn't need my laptop for anything.

Posted by: Cowboyshootist

Quote:

Originally Posted by wierdo

ATTWS used to do something to detect it, but the extra charges ended when the merger happened.

BTW, I get a lot of "real work" done on my E62, but it has a very excellent browser, and beyond that all I usually need is PuTTY. If I could get logmein to work on it, I wouldn't need my laptop for anything.

Sorry, didn't to belittle what anyone does as far as their job goes by the "real work" statement. For me I compose lengthy documents, proposals, spreadsheets and presentations on a daily basis. I also use serveral of our partner's web sites to do configurations using their online tools that just won't work with the majority of mobile browsers (at least none of the ones I have tried). My Palm will edit Word and Excel documents and when tethered to a BT phone can download email but it would be painful at best to try and use that all day long.

Personally I have high hopes for the "oragami" portables that are just now coming out. Once the prices gets reasonable that's probably the route I'll take.

Posted by: chain299

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quatre

ontop of blocking tethering now they can tell which phone you have your sim in? I still doubt that but if true and they enforce pda connect. I def will be leavin cing. in fact I would love if they terminated me and I would fight it in court.

either way I can tell cingulars days with me and other educated customers are numbered.

Every time you put your sim in a phone, it registers the imei of the phone on the network. Yes they can see what phone you are using, and here pretty soon they will start enforcing either the data connect (for tethering) or pda connect. Good luck fighting it in court, you will probably spend more money fighting a losing battle than you would pay by just using the right data package on your plan.

Posted by: jlczl

Will they be able to detect my phone (ETen M600+)? I doubt it since it is not one of "their" phones. Even if they can, will they be researching every phone on their network that doesn't show up as Cingular stocked? I seriously doubt it. As a matter of fact, I doubt they will even take the time to look at ANY phone that is already on it. They might look at new activations but even that is stretching it. Plus, even if they did, many of us were sold the Grandfathered Media Works WITH a pda phone. I was specifically targeted with a marketing deal to buy the old MediaWorks with a new Treo 600 when it was first released. They'll have a hard time claiming it can't be used with a pda phone when that is precisely how it was marketed. They won't be taking that to court...................it's a losing argument.

Posted by: chain299

Maybe that's how it was sold back in the day of the treo 600 and the siemens sx66 and older pda phones because they only used gprs for data which we all know is painfully slow. I'm sure if you were using the treo 600, then nobody would have a problem with it, but nobody with cingular anymore will add a media max package with a new pda.

As for seeing your phone if it is not cingular stock, i'm not real sure how that would work, I doubt they will research every phone on the network, just the ones who have the unlimited data plans and high usage, and more than likely accounts that have those grandfathered media works packages. I miss those packages, these media max things are a joke.

Posted by: dday64

Just don't let them do anything except ring you up for the phone. Tell them you'll take your chances and if it doesn't work you'll call up Cingular directly and change the plan. If they touch it in the store raise hell.

As for others saying that they can see what phone you're using - sure. But they can't force you to use a PDA plan when you have MediaWorks. It's your choice if you want to switch or not, they can't do it without your consent.

If Cingular really wanted to get everyone to use the new plans they would make sure newer devices do not get the HSPDA speed with MediaWorks, or just not work at all. And so far that hasn't happened.

Posted by: tschabo

there have been plenty of posts here indicating that the MEW1 was taken away without telling you. Also, as far as I heard, reps are no longer allowed to sell you a PDA phone while leaving your MEW1 on the account

Posted by: chain299

Quote:

Originally Posted by dday64

Just don't let them do anything except ring you up for the phone. Tell them you'll take your chances and if it doesn't work you'll call up Cingular directly and change the plan. If they touch it in the store raise hell.

As for others saying that they can see what phone you're using - sure. But they can't force you to use a PDA plan when you have MediaWorks. It's your choice if you want to switch or not, they can't do it without your consent.

If you refuse to change your plan, they can refuse to sell you the phone. And that's true, reps are not allowed to leave media works packages when selling pda phones.

Posted by: edward40handz

eventually you be forced to change the plan into the proper associated soc. the pda devices are going to be monitored and with the amount of usage that comes from a pda device you will have to add it. here is an idea. upgrade buy the phone add the proper features and then add a fan account for your place of employment. discounts usually are between 10 and 20 percent off of mrc.

Cingular is cracking down on this and will be monitoring peoples usage. with the launch of 3g they are forced to put as many people as possible into a umts handset and proper plans to keep the network running efficiently. bottom of the line you will need to suck it up and pay the extra 15 or so bucks. if you can afford the device you can afford the plan. like having a ferarri and not being able to afford the insurance.

later

Posted by: jlczl

You can rack up a lot of kb's streaming music on non-pda phones. You can also rack up a lot of kb's using mobitv on many different handsets. Point is, if you have a lot of kb's of data uaage, it doesn't automatically mean your using a pda phone.

Posted by: rosullivan04

I didn't have a problem at all buying 2 8125's on my account where I have 2 MEW1's... I just went thru Business care and they fixed me up. I avoid the stores like the plague; last time I bought a phone at a store it took a call to Stan Sigman's office to put MEW1 back on my account - hasn't happened yet with business end care.

Posted by: Cowboyshootist

Quote:

Originally Posted by edward40handz

eventually you be forced to change the plan into the proper associated soc. the pda devices are going to be monitored and with the amount of usage that comes from a pda device you will have to add it. here is an idea. upgrade buy the phone add the proper features and then add a fan account for your place of employment. discounts usually are between 10 and 20 percent off of mrc.

Cingular is cracking down on this and will be monitoring peoples usage. with the launch of 3g they are forced to put as many people as possible into a umts handset and proper plans to keep the network running efficiently. bottom of the line you will need to suck it up and pay the extra 15 or so bucks. if you can afford the device you can afford the plan. like having a ferarri and not being able to afford the insurance.

later

With all due respect this logic doesn't hold water. First unless the provider gets the phone information from the SIM I think it's going to be hard to determine the difference between a phone and a PDA device on the network. And, how will they tell if a PDA is tethered to a phone?

Secondly, what makes you think a PDA will use more network bandwidth than a phone? There are plenty of phones that can download email and provide, limited, web surfing. There's no difference between phone email and PDA email. I may use it more with a PDA but that's my business and that's why I buy an "unlimited" data plan because I know I will use it a lot.

Third, at $15/mo over a 2 year period that's $360 USD. At that price you can easily justify buying the phone on the open market for about $200 over Cingular's 2 year plan price. That's a savings of $160 well worth it IMHO.

If Cingular were the Ferrari of cellular service that would be one thing but they are more like the Ford Taurus. Mostly dependable, affordable and with some of the bells and whistles.

My prediction is that Cingular will have to modify the plans to be competitive especially when Sprint and Verizon come out with EVDO-RevA next year.

Posted by: edward40handz

Actually the only phone(device) you are allowed to tether with is the BlackBerry Devices.. All other tethering is not for any other device. See the thing is that phones do not pull the same amount of bandwidth. Thats why Cingular developed the PDA connect plans. Being that I work for Cingular I can pretty much tell you how this is going to work. I KNOW for a fact that Cingular can and will be able to tell what phone is attached to your account and they are able to see how much bandwidth you use. If you have and unlimited data soc on your account for 19.99 or a media max bundle you will most likely not use the same amount as someone that has a PC Card or Smart phone device. They are looking to cut down on people like yourself that abuse the unlimited data plan for PDA usage. You may be able to get away with it now and To tell you the truth I really dont care.. Im just letting people know that they are watching behind the scenes...

DUde and Ford Taurus.. Get a clue... You have no Idea what Cingular Is even about.. We are #1 and will stay that way... Just wait.. We pull close to 1mbps download speeds on our UMTS network.. NO ONE else has that speeds...as for now ... we operate on the EDGE network which is about 125kbps and that is our fallback... Our competitors operate on about 400kbps and then fall back to 32kbps.. so Who is the Ferarri.??? Your a joke.. Know what you are talking about before you open your mouth... thanks..

Posted by: unsigned

Quote:

Originally Posted by edward40handz

Actually the only phone(device) you are allowed to tether with is the BlackBerry Devices.. All other tethering is not for any other device.

That is the 2nd time I've seen that, but the terms of service says this:

"Furthermore, unlimited plans (except for DataConnect and Blackberry Tethered) cannot be used for any applications that tether the device (through use of, including without limitation, connection kits, other phone/PDA-to-computer accessories, Bluetooth® or any other wireless technology) to laptops, PCs, or other equipment for any purpose."

So, I can tether with the unlimited Data connect. Period. That is what the ToS says.

Posted by: edward40handz

Quote:

Originally Posted by unsigned

OK Im sure you know better...

Posted by: edward40handz

Quote:

Originally Posted by unsigned

OK . If you read what you just wrote.. You will agree with me..

Data Connect
Access your e-mail, corporate intranet, and the Internet while on the go by wirelessly connecting your PDA to the Internet. Requires usage with a Cingular Wireless PDA. Service is not available at all times in all places. View Map and Coverage Limitations.

so as you can see you can use the PDA device with a Data connect plan.. You can use a Smartphone connect plan with A Smartphone... AS far as tethering you cannot tehter with any plan other than Black Berry Tether.. . Trust me I know.. I conversate with National Trainers and The VPGM of NY.. these guys KNOW the deal.. If you would like to you can call Stan Sigman or Ralph Delavega and ask them.. They should know.. Genious...

Posted by: rapps

I'm just curious as to which plan will be 'less' suspicious to cingular for my unlimited usage on the 8525? I'm not going to get the $40 plan.....

Which one should I get: 1. Media Max 200 which as unlimited data or 2. smartphone connect unlimited.

Both are unlimited but the media max comes with some texts. Am I equally safe/not safe using either?

I currently have the Media Maxx200 but I'm using a non-pda phone. I'm hoping to use my new pda for occasional slingbox use but no tethering....

Posted by: unsigned

Quote:

Originally Posted by edward40handz

If you would like to you can call Stan Sigman or Ralph Delavega and ask them.. They should know.. Genious...

I think I will, contact info please? That is not what the ToS says.

And thanks for the sarcastic comment, *******.

Posted by: tkdlove

what a bunch of cheap losers.... i want to fraud a company out of $20... how can i do it and no get caught... pathetic!
one of the earlier posters hit it on the head "if you can afford the phone, you can afford the data plan"

come into my store and i will take the improper code off the account if you purchase a pda. hell i did it just this evening...

want to fuss about it... i will have the local police escort you out of the store

i would advise every rep that reads this : CYA baby... they will audit and if you process an upgrade and do not correct the code they will look at "you" as frauding the company. if they don't want the PDA connect then don't sell the device.

and to all those that doubt Cingular can tell what you are using... hahaha simple, simple minded fools... hahahahahahaha

Posted by: brettatk

First of all, I do not plan on tethering the 8525. I now have the SLVR and pay $7.99 for some kind of basic media package. I just called this morning and upgraded to the Media Max 200 Bundle for $19.99. So when I get the 8525 I will remain with that plan. All I needed was unlimited Media Net for checking email and web surfing, I'll never use up the 200 messages per month. I do not consider it defrauding anybody. Why should I pay $39.99 for the PDA data plan when the one they offer for $19.99 will be more than enough? I just hope the phone is released on the 16th!!

Posted by: aLKoHoLiC

I have the Media Works plan and at the time I originally activated it, it was allowed with PDA phones (I have the SX66). Why would I have to switch my plan? I'm just switching phones...

Posted by: tschabo

Quote:

Originally Posted by aLKoHoLiC

I have the Media Works plan and at the time I originally activated it, it was allowed with PDA phones (I have the SX66). Why would I have to switch my plan? I'm just switching phones...

same here, I have the MEW1 since my SX66. However, reps are no longer allowed to sell you a subsidized phone and let you keep that plan.

Posted by: Blue Puma

Don't let the employees in this thread unduely scare you.... Cingular does not currently audit data, they currently don't closely monitor what phone you have your sim in, and they don't take people's MEW1 away, unless of course an enterprising agent in a store flips you for the commission..... If Cingular itself (and not an enterprising agent) does audit or look at the IMEI and take away MEW1, please post a link to the thread or webpage describing this....

True, this may change in the future, but it has been this way for quite a while....

Posted by: jscro

"Don't let the employees in this thread unduely scare you.... Cingular does not currently audit data, they currently don't closely monitor what phone you have your sim in, and they don't take people's MEW1 away, unless of course an enterprising agent in a store flips you for the commission..... If Cingular itself (and not an enterprising agent) does audit or look at the IMEI and take away MEW1, please post a link to the thread or webpage describing this....

True, this may change in the future, but it has been this way for quite a while...."

So in theory, I should be able to walk in a Cingular store, purchase the phone, and not have them touch my plan? I've tried that twice in the past, and both times the rep changed my data plan without me knowing it. When the said they changed my plan back to the old MEW1, I wound up with $1000+ in data charges that same month. It caused me so much grief I wound up taking the phone back, and just purchasing an unlocked phone.

I'd really like to pick up the 8525, but man I don't want to go through all that bull **** again.

Has anyone actually been able to do this?

Posted by: Blue Puma

2 different issues. Will they sell you a phone from a store without monkeying with your plan? No; at least not willingly.

Can you use a phone and keep the cheap MEW1; without using the more expensive appropriate data plan? Yes.

I wrote this earlier: "Every time I walk into a store in Chicago, the associate almost insists on checking my features on my account. I'm sure that if I tried to buy the phone from any of them, they'd change my mew1... better to get it from somewhere where they wouldn't check, e.g. telesales, or get the TyTn alltogether....

I have walked into stores with cash for a hot phone dozens of times, and they will almost always refuse to sell it to me without either new service or contract extension...."

Just get it naked, and don't tell anyone your phone number, etc., and you'll be ok. If they give you a problem, just walk out.

Posted by: strikeIII

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Puma

2 different issues. Will they sell you a phone from a store without monkeying with your plan? No; at least not willingly.

Can you use a phone and keep the cheap MEW1; without using the more expensive appropriate data plan? Yes.

I wrote this earlier: "Every time I walk into a store in Chicago, the associate almost insists on checking my features on my account. I'm sure that if I tried to buy the phone from any of them, they'd change my mew1... better to get it from somewhere where they wouldn't check, e.g. telesales, or get the TyTn alltogether....

I have walked into stores with cash for a hot phone dozens of times, and they will almost always refuse to sell it to me without either new service or contract extension...."

Just get it naked, and don't tell anyone your phone number, etc., and you'll be ok. If they give you a problem, just walk out.

Simple, solution....aviod the stores all together and just order it through cingular.com or if you have a premier account then just order it through there...the people at the store will always want to upgrade you to something you don't want or scare you into signing up for something else just so they can make thier commission...let's be honest business is business and these people got to make a living so they will try to hustle anything out of any customer....just do your business online....i stopped argueing with these people along time ago and i don't understand why people still do over these forums....

Posted by: Centex99

how do you play an order on cingular.com without actually adding a plan to the phone?

Posted by: strikeIII

Quote:

Originally Posted by Centex99

how do you play an order on cingular.com without actually adding a plan to the phone?

okay, so if you wanna buy a phone straight out then that maybe a different story but if doing an upgrade or new service...then go online...most of these people are talking about upgrades and new service....

Posted by: edward40handz

Quote:

Originally Posted by rapps

I'm just curious as to which plan will be 'less' suspicious to cingular for my unlimited usage on the 8525? I'm not going to get the $40 plan.....

Which one should I get: 1. Media Max 200 which as unlimited data or 2. smartphone connect unlimited.

Both are unlimited but the media max comes with some texts. Am I equally safe/not safe using either?

I currently have the Media Maxx200 but I'm using a non-pda phone. I'm hoping to use my new pda for occasional slingbox use but no tethering....

well being that you are actually a consumer that wants to know the information rather than argue about it.. Its probably going to be better off on the smartphone connect...but using connections that are not done directly from the phone to the internet without any outside devices.. are not legal. But Im tired of arguing with people do as you wish..

and as for the other comments I am not going to give out personal info for Stan and Ralph but you can google search their office.. its Atlanta Ga.... thanks..

Posted by: edward40handz

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkdlove

what a bunch of cheap losers.... i want to fraud a company out of $20... how can i do it and no get caught... pathetic!
one of the earlier posters hit it on the head "if you can afford the phone, you can afford the data plan"

come into my store and i will take the improper code off the account if you purchase a pda. hell i did it just this evening...

want to fuss about it... i will have the local police escort you out of the store

SEE NOW THIS IS SOMEONE THAT ACTUALLY KNOWS SOMETHING.. THANK YOU FOR BACKING THE INFO IM PUTTING OUT THERE... GENIUNE.. THANKS

Posted by: tkdlove

Quote:

Originally Posted by brettatk

First of all, I do not plan on tethering the 8525. I now have the SLVR and pay $7.99 for some kind of basic media package. I just called this morning and upgraded to the Media Max 200 Bundle for $19.99. So when I get the 8525 I will remain with that plan. All I needed was unlimited Media Net for checking email and web surfing, I'll never use up the 200 messages per month. I do not consider it defrauding anybody. Why should I pay $39.99 for the PDA data plan when the one they offer for $19.99 will be more than enough? I just hope the phone is released on the 16th!!

thats just it.... it isn't up to you and frankly neither i, and i would imagine, any other rep would let you keep it. it may very well be good for you but this ain't about you is it? this is about Cingular and their data services and what they will allow you to use.
you all want free data so bad then get a job as a sales rep. we get everything free PWNT

Posted by: tkdlove

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Puma

Don't let the employees in this thread unduely scare you.... Cingular does not currently audit data, they currently don't closely monitor what phone you have your sim in, and they don't take people's MEW1 away, unless of course an enterprising agent in a store flips you for the commission..... If Cingular itself (and not an enterprising agent) does audit or look at the IMEI and take away MEW1, please post a link to the thread or webpage describing this....

True, this may change in the future, but it has been this way for quite a while....

haha... so how was lunch with Sigman? is he doing well? kids doing ok?

i mean obviously you guys are close since you know whats going on and all...

last time i checked, my dept. was auditing and those of us on ROCCs calls are being advised to switch people... got 6 today...

no matter what you guys think, this isn't about you or me this is about Cingular and what they want... get over it

Posted by: DJ Chameleon

I suspect the reason some people want to maintain the $20 Media Max plan is not to defraud Cingular out of an additional $20 per month. The issue for many of them is being charged twice as much for the exact same service. In fact, the PDA plan is inferior. First of all, it doesn't include 200 messages. Second of all, the PDA plan does not allow access to Cingular's Video services or music streaming services. Cingular needs to explain why this apparently inconsistent pricing is justified. I personally am on the fence on this issue. I can afford the phone and the PDA data plan but the inconsistent pricing seriously offends me. I am seriously considering the Black Jack instead of the 8525. Then I can switch to the $20 Smart Phone plan. It includes access to the video and new music services but I will lose the included 200 messages of the Media Max plan. Cingular will lose out on significant income from me if they do not offer a convincing argument why the PDA plan should be so much more when my Samsung A707, the Black Jack and the 8525 all use the same 3g bandwidth.

Yes, I am a professional working DJ, not a bedroom wannabe.

Posted by: Quatre

Quote:

Originally Posted by wierdo

well it could happen again when the new att merges with cing which is pending.

Posted by: Quatre

Quote:

Originally Posted by chain299

then as i said i would just leave cingular then as would other customers so keep trying to argue adn defend the wrong side.

Posted by: Quatre

Quote:

Originally Posted by edward40handz

Actually the only phone(device) you are allowed to tether with is the BlackBerry Devices.. All other tethering is not for any other device. See the thing is that phones do not pull the same amount of bandwidth. Thats why Cingular developed the PDA connect plans. Being that I work for Cingular I can pretty much tell you how this is going to work. I KNOW for a fact that Cingular can and will be able to tell what phone is attached to your account and they are able to see how much bandwidth you use. If you have and unlimited data soc on your account for 19.99 or a media max bundle you will most likely not use the same amount as someone that has a PC Card or Smart phone device. They are looking to cut down on people like yourself that abuse the unlimited data plan for PDA usage. You may be able to get away with it now and To tell you the truth I really dont care.. Im just letting people know that they are watching behind the scenes...

DUde and Ford Taurus.. Get a clue... You have no Idea what Cingular Is even about.. We are #1 and will stay that way... Just wait.. We pull close to 1mbps download speeds on our UMTS network.. NO ONE else has that speeds...as for now ... we operate on the EDGE network which is about 125kbps and that is our fallback... Our competitors operate on about 400kbps and then fall back to 32kbps.. so Who is the Ferarri.??? Your a joke.. Know what you are talking about before you open your mouth... thanks..

cingular isn't #1 because you as a falsely proud employee say they are. the customers say and we say you are not #1 and that you are a ford taurus. cingular is beginning to be hated more then vzw even. soon you will be telling yourselves your # 1 with no customers.

if cingular keeps spending all this time and money on ways to spy on cusomters and block stuff and force unneccesary data plans etc. they will fine themselves sued and if they avoid that customers leaving like the plague.

they are really going to shoot themselves in the foot, doing all this nonesense before they even release any 3g smart/ppc phones.

sprint already deployed evdo rev A. cing will always be behind and is now known for the worst in america with phone releases.

noone forgets how cing released the inferior non 3g 8125 , 5 mo's after sprint and vzws superior 3g htc apache 6700's

the moto v3i was already quadband, all cing had to do was brand it and release it. vzw had a cdma version made for them from scratch and released many months before cing could even slap t heir name on the v3i. sad

vzw released 2 colors of the 3g moto krzr k1m already before cing even releases one color of the non 3g k1.

there is a gsm moto phone in europe the moto maxx. Cing jus needs to add the neccesary bands to it for use in america. Vzw already had a version made for them and will be one more phone that vzw releases first and cing may never get , releasing instead the v3xx which looks just like the v3 and v3i but has hsdpa so the maxx with a whole new look and added lighting etc. will be much better and ppl will go to vzw for it instead of the 4 yr old v3 looking v3xx/izar or whatever they calling it.

cing is not #1 sorry. i wish they were better but they suck very badly and all the cing employees on these forums seem to be delusional pricks like i've never seen before.

wtf do they feed you at cing? hallucinogens and brainwash you into thinking they are #1. you cingular zombie.

Posted by: Quatre

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkdlove

can we get this guy off hofo and off the face of the earth. he is another brainwashed cingular zombie employee and a major prick on every thread. look at his damn signature cingular advertising cocky pre merger banner. what a joke.

i'm sure we would all love to know what store you work in so that you hear the cricketts there as noone will ever come there and the store and cing will have you to thank. also i'm sure others would like to know your whereabouts for other reaons. get a damn life instead of priding yourself on screwing paying customers over and teach other employees how to do the same. in the end you just hurt cing who you are so zombily proud of and promoting as if you own the company.

because of employees like you ppl will just leave cingular for a carrier with nicer more sane employees.

Posted by: pcmike

Obviously, Cingular and some of their employees haven't thought of everything. Some people have no use and will not even use a PDA connect plan and are simply buying the 8125/8525 in order to avoid carrying two devices. I personally, could give a crap about the data for the most part. I'm only getting an 8525 so I don't need to carry around a PDA as well as a cellphone. I'll mostly be using the 8525 for its PDA (non-data network) functions. If I am FORCED to pay $25/month more.. I'm going to be one hell of an unhappy camper and will raise holy hell. I'm absolutely, positively, NOT paying $25 more a month for no damn good reason.

Posted by: Quatre

25? the pda connect plan is 40/mo if they force you to take it and you should rais holy hell plus ***** slap tkdlove if he is your salesperson and thinks hes all smart adding that 40/mo data plan onto your account.

Posted by: pcmike

What I meant was.. $25 in addition to the $20 I've been paying every month for two years now. So, if the PDA Connect is $40/month let me rephrase my $25 more a month to $20 more a month. Either way, any change to my MEW1 @ $19.99/month and there will be calls made and faxes sent. I'm not going to be paying extra for something I'm not using like DJ Chameleon pointed out in an earlier post.

Posted by: princeasi

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkdlove

yeah i sure would like to know what store ur in if ur in So Cali. I would love to come in and buy a pda phone from you at retail, and dare you to change my mew1 without my permission!!!!!! i wont cause a fuss at that particular time so you can have the police escort me, but i sure would have that nice lil chat with you after your shift is over!

Posted by: edward40handz

"they are really going to shoot themselves in the foot, doing all this nonesense before they even release any 3g smart/ppc phones.

sprint already deployed evdo rev A. cing will always be behind and is now known for the worst in america with phone releases."

See this is that thing that pisses me off... You have this dude that thinks he is the smartest person because he has 1,500 plus posts or whatever. Actually you have no clue about what 3g is really about....

EVDO.... what a great product in 15 cities... and you know that when you loose evdo service the speed of your data connection falls to 32kbps....

3G....In the cities that have our UMTS network its exactly the same speed as EVDO, HOWEVER<<<<<<< NO OTHER CARRIER HAS S>W>I>S>W>I>T>
With our 3G network you can have DATA,,, AND ....Voice at the same time. You can listen to streaming radio/video and then take a call at the same time.. what this is also producing is Video conference.. S>W>I>S>W>I>T>= See What I See When Im Talking to you.

Heres and Idea.... Sit back and actually LEARN something then hop on your computer and come to the forums and post a half way good gues about a company that has 58Million customers... Way to go champ..way to go...

Posted by: wierdo

One word, tel-e-sales.

The rep has no idea whether you're planning to use the phone or give it away, yet they still persist in "putting you on the right plan." It's not for your own good, it's to line their pocketbook (they get money to flip the feature). That's why I don't deal with the *******s in the stores any more.

The website sucks because you always have to take a 2 year, and you might not even get the best price. Telesales will often give you a better price and since they don't make commission, they don't fiddle with your account.

If I went into a store to buy an 8525, there would be a 90% chance the numbnuts would change my older than MEW1 MEdia Works, even if I told them I was giving it as a gift (which I often do since I can upgrade every 6 months anyway).

Posted by: tkdlove

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quatre

i invite you to come to A town...

Posted by: Cowboyshootist

Quote:

Originally Posted by edward40handz

3G....In the cities that have our UMTS network its exactly the same speed as EVDO, HOWEVER<<<<<<< NO OTHER CARRIER HAS S>W>I>S>W>I>T>
With our 3G network you can have DATA,,, AND ....Voice at the same time. You can listen to streaming radio/video and then take a call at the same time.. what this is also producing is Video conference

.. S>W>I>S>W>I>T>= See What I See When Im Talking to you.

Heres and Idea.... Sit back and actually LEARN something then hop on your computer and come to the forums and post a half way good gues about a company that has 58Million customers... Way to go champ..way to go...

Video Conferencing? Is that why Cingular removed the front mounted camera on the 8525?

Oh and as far as who is Numero Uno. JD Powers has some interesting data on that. I noticed that Cingular didn't fare too well in their survey data.

http://www.jdpower.com/cc/rd/cc/tel...eless/index.asp

Posted by: mindflayer

I have had Cingular swap my plan WITHOUT asking, and WITHOUT my buying a PDA phone. That's against federal regulations, and I made a quick call to my state PSC. It was reversed immediately.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkdlove

want to fuss about it... i will have the local police escort you out of the store

Failure to provide a customer service would get you fired, I hope. You sound like a prime target for the "10 on your side" type of programs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by edward40handz

EVDO.... what a great product in 15 cities... and you know that when you loose evdo service the speed of your data connection falls to 32kbps....

3G....In the cities that have our UMTS network its exactly the same speed as EVDO, HOWEVER<<<<<<< NO OTHER CARRIER HAS S>W>I>S>W>I>T>

You need to put down the Kool-aide™ and research a bit more.

I am pleased to say that the Cingular reps with whom I have dealt in person are much better. I used to manage wireless operations and development for a Fortune 50 firm and had to deal with every major carrier, and I can tell you it's a bloodletting. These low-level peons have no idea how it really is in terms of the larger picture.

Posted by: wierdo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quatre

well it could happen again when the new att merges with cing which is pending.

Jolly good for them. I'm still waiting for their update to my T&C that state I can't do any of the things I do (use MEdia Works with a PDA or data card, tether, etc.) When they do, I'll be happy to stop.

Sometimes there's an advantage to having been a customer for a very long time.

Even now, Cingular's T&C do not allow for customers to be charged extra for tethering, using with a PDA, data card, or anything else. So detect they may(for people who signed up for MEdia Works or other MEdia plan after the change in terms), and remove they may, but charge they may not (for anyone).

Posted by: edward40handz

[/QUOTE]

You need to put down the Kool-aide™ and research a bit more.

I am pleased to say that the Cingular reps with whom I have dealt in person are much better. I used to manage wireless operations and development for a Fortune 50 firm and had to deal with every major carrier, and I can tell you it's a bloodletting. These low-level peons have no idea how it really is in terms of the larger picture.[/QUOTE]

I am done with this post .. its going nowhere and people that KNOW NOTHING are opening their mouths as in any forum.. and you know something someone is giving the wrong info and watch when you will be forced to have the correct plan on your account.. this is unfortunate for those that have incorrect plans as their salesperson did not educate them right.. as for the people that dont care and think that they can get away with it forever.. I would turn your damn phones off... you guys have expensive phones and use allot of services on them but refuse to pay for correct plans to run them on the network.. Its people like you that make a company loose money then the prices of insurance and early night go up because of it... glad to see you all feel good about yourselves for getting over on a company that supplies you with great service.

There are always haters and that will be but you know something.. negativity will get you nowhere.. change your damn plan and suck it up... bunch of low balling people.

Oh an hey Quatre..... A KRAZR>>>> OMG.. that has to be one of the worst phones you can get... reviews killed it.. Buy a real phone.. not something that belongs in a girl purse..

Posted by: pcmike

edward, thanks for not posting to this thread again. Also, it's not people like us who CAUSE a company to lose money... its a company like Cingular with inadequate plans that CAUSE people like us to lose money for no reason. If someone isn't going to use all that much more data on their 8525 then they use to use on their Nokia 6230, then why the hell should they be forced to switch from their old MediaWorks package? They shouldn't... they're already overpaying @ $20/month for a service that is barely costing Cingular I'd say $5/month (in volume) to provide to them.

Anyhow, It'll be nice to not see a few blow hard Cingular reps posting on this thread..

Posted by: Blue Puma

Wirelessly posted (HTC TyTN Pro: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows CE; PPC; 240x320))

Lol!

OP: Can I do this?
Replies: Yes you can. They are not currently looking to stop this, but they may in the future.

You can rant and rave against this topic, but it has been answered.

Posted by: Heinrich

I just got a 8525 through Cingular retention dep't for $300. I said twice I wanted to keep media net unlimited (19.95). I checked my account and everything is the same except I now have a 2 year commitment, which I can't complain about for $300 for the phone. No upgrade fee (14.95 for overnight)

Posted by: Cowboyshootist

SNIP
There are always haters and that will be but you know something.. negativity will get you nowhere.. change your damn plan and suck it up... bunch of low balling people.

Oh an hey Quatre..... A KRAZR>>>> OMG.. that has to be one of the worst phones you can get... reviews killed it.. Buy a real phone.. not something that belongs in a girl purse..[/QUOTE]

Dude, do you actually read what you write? First you complain about negativity and then you go and hurl personal insults against another poster who happens to disagree with you.

Here's the issue. I believe that most people DON'T want to get the wrong plan or "steal" from Cingular (or any company). What they do want is a PRICE COMPETITIVE offereing and Cingular's current data plans are NOT competitive. They don't want arbitrary pricing based on what some executive thinks is a Smartphone versus a PDA. The fact is the correlation between the device type and data usage is tenuous at best.

If you want to offer an unlimited plan then offer an unlimited plan or charge everyone by their usage. Then, if I download more that some other customer it won't matter if I have a PDA, a laptop or 2 tin cans and a string.

Posted by: mindflayer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cowboyshootist

Here's the issue. I believe that most people DON'T want to get the wrong plan or "steal" from Cingular (or any company). What they do want is a PRICE COMPETITIVE offereing and Cingular's current data plans are NOT competitive. They don't want arbitrary pricing based on what some executive thinks is a Smartphone versus a PDA. The fact is the correlation between the device type and data usage is tenuous at best.

If you want to offer an unlimited plan then offer an unlimited plan or charge everyone by their usage. Then, if I download more that some other customer it won't matter if I have a PDA, a laptop or 2 tin cans and a string.

Amen. We have the right to complain - last time I checked, we lived in a system governed by competition and consumer demand. You may want to check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitalism if you don't get it.

I work for a very large, Dulles-based ISP and content provider.

I run into the same sorts here that have drank the Kool-aide and refuse to see market factors.

IN ANY CASE.... 8525 or Treo 750? Gah! I can not make up my mind!

Posted by: Cowboyshootist

Quote:

Originally Posted by mindflayer

IN ANY CASE.... 8525 or Treo 750? Gah! I can not make up my mind!

You may want to look around at the Vodaphone forum and other sites. I am hearing that the 750 with the internal antenna may not have as good reception as the 700 which has the external antenna.

I don't think anyone has done a "scientific" test but many of the reviews and posts I have seen refer to the weaker reception in urban canyons and inside buildings.

Of course Cingular doesn't have the 700 at all so you would be stuck going with the Palm Treo 650 and my advice is to avoid Palm Treos. I have a Palm T3 and love it but everyone I know who has a Palm Treo is constantly faced with resets and lockups. Windows Mobile may be in the same boat but it doesn't appear to be quite as bad.

Posted by: mindflayer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cowboyshootist

You may want to look around at the Vodaphone forum and other sites. I am hearing that the 750 with the internal antenna may not have as good reception as the 700 which has the external antenna.

Really? I hear the 8525 has great reception. Hmmm...

Posted by: Cowboyshootist

Quote:

Originally Posted by mindflayer

Really? I hear the 8525 has great reception. Hmmm...

I am only refering to the 700 versus the 750. The reports are that the 750 does not fare as well as the 700 in less "open" envirnoments (tall buildings in downtown areas, etc...). There's certainly no reason an internal antenna can't work as well as an external but in many cases the designers make trade-offs to get the internal antenna to fit within the form factor.

Posted by: serkle k

In talking with a store rep and a CS rep. They both told me that if I were to get the 8525 ( which i will be doing sometime this week) I do not need to get the data plan. Especially since i have what is a perfect plan for my usage. Not to much and not too little, all grandfathered. And nothing will change as far as my service plan unless i authorize it. And that I would only be required to get the unlimited data plan in order to be eligable for the rebate. I told them that 95% of the places i would be/go/use the net, already have a wifi connection and that it would be more cost effective for me to not get the data plan because the usage would pay for itself. (ultimately) If i can use the net on the device with a wifi connection then i wouldn't have the need for a data plan.

I'm not looking to tether, or cheat into the data usage. But I am looking into getting the most out of a device that offers all that i want and need. If i can use a device that is built to browse the net, with an exsisting WiFi connection, then why would i pay and extra $20 ontop of my service for a portion of what i'm not going to use?

Posted by: dan1431

Some points of interest.....simply having a laptop connect plan or a pda connect plan(not as sure about this plan) does [B]NOT[/B} preclude a user from accessing Cingular Video.

Both plans allow for use of wap.cingular and isp.cingular...which are the two main APNs on the Cingular network. I use isp.cingular for all of my browsing needs as well as my IMAP4 email client needs. However, I use wap.cinguler(MEdia Net) for access to Cingular Video and the MEdia Net protal as well as WAP based sites which are few and far between but seem to lead better when using the wap.cingular portal.

I also use wap.cingular for MMS as that seems to be the preferred portal for those type of services.

In terms of streaming video/audio Cingular seems to only get upset when one tries to stream mass amounts of those items. Simply using Slingbox from time to time does not seem to get their ire nor does accessing my XM radio from to time either. In fact, I may be wrong about this but Cingular now offers some XM channels as part of their service now.

Dan