vB Easy Archive - Media Max question

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Media Max question
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Posted by: dgaley

I just ordered my Palm Treo 680, and after talking to CS they insisted that the PDAs are not allowed to use the MediaMax plans. My question is if I go along and add this package (even though it is not under the listed compatible devices) will the plan go through or simply not work, and charge me for the data?

I've done plenty of searches, but need someone that has done this recently to let me know if it has worked for them.

Thanks in advance.

Posted by: Omega2008

....this has been discussed many times. You can use the MediaMax plan. The sales people are just trying to get more money from the sale of the higher end plans.

Posted by: brettatk

Are you currently with Cingular or are you moving over from another provider? What I did was before I ordered my 8525 I upgraded my data plan from Media Basic to the Media Max 200. Then I ordered my phone through Cingular's website and never had to talk to a sales person. Everything was in order when I activated the sim in my 8525 and I havnt had any trouble since. So it is definately possible to use Media Max with a PDA phone. If what I suggested wont work in your situation then I would just demand to the salesperson to be put on the Media Max plan, if they will not do it then ask for their supervisor. If they wont do it you could always try a Cingular store.

Posted by: dgaley

I was just surprised because after letting her know that this would cause me to return the phone within 30 days, she said that there is nothing she can do, and that this same argument has occurred many times recently. So its safe to call the bluff here?

Posted by: xxipimpyou69xx

quick question.....i activated a blackjack yesterday (switched from nextel) and bundled it with the mediaworks...1000 messages and 5mb data for 14.99......the phone works fine i was just curious if im going to see any extra charges on my bill

Posted by: botsdot

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxipimpyou69xx

quick question.....i activated a blackjack yesterday (switched from nextel) and bundled it with the mediaworks...1000 messages and 5mb data for 14.99......the phone works fine i was just curious if im going to see any extra charges on my bill

If you are like most Blackjack users you will blow though that 5mb pretty fast. Then the charges begin... I would go for one of the unlimited data MediaMax plans. They start at 19.99.

Posted by: TriAxis

Just enroll in the MediaMax200 plan online. That's what i did last month. I was set up in about 1 hour and got a confirmation email and text saying I could use it immediately.

Just go to this link
MediaMax
Determine which MediaMax plan you want
Click on the "Current customers purchase here" link
Then fill in your info and hit submit. Done

Posted by: ckurt25

My personal experience with Media Max 1000 and a Blackjack is I was eventually cut off from Cingular Video. If thats a big deal to you I'd suggest going with the Media Max and see if that works. It may eventually stop working and you could get the same message I did when trying to watch a video. Something like - You need to pick a plan that includes CV. After about a dozen calls to customer service they told me the Media Max plan is not intended for Smartphones or PDAs and some functionality will be lost. They offered to upgrade me to the PDA plan that included unlimited data and 1,000 messages but it was $49. I said its not worth $20 more a month for Cingular Video, especially since I have Orb

For now, Media Max works minus CV for me. It may work 100% for others but I'm guessing in the future Cingular will cripple some parts, like Video for Smartphones and PDAs.

Posted by: brettatk

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckurt25

I said its not worth $20 more a month for Cingular Video

That is 100% correct. I have access to Cingular Video with my Media Max plan but I never watch it. I guess if I was really bored I might get on it and view a few clips. I also have orb so if they ever took CV away from me I could care less.

Posted by: stellagifford

I have a friend who used to work at Cingular and she told me that my Media Max 200 bundle with my BlackJack would be audited and "upgraded" to a PDA plan, which costs $39.99/mo. I called her (old) manager and discussed my concern with him and he confirmed that it was true. I am in the works of getting this figured out since the salesperson who sold me the phone told me that I could use this plan with this phone. He sold me the plan just to get my sale, is what my friend told me. She says it happens all the time.

My suggestion? Call up Cingular, tell them you want to speak to the HIGHEST person you can, don't even bother with the idiots who will pick up the phone at first. Tell them you were sold the Media Max 200 bundle with your BlackJack and you want to know if you'll be audited later. DO NOT GIVE IN! It's not your fault! If you were sold that plan with that phone you did nothing wrong and hence should not have to pay anything extra. Don't let them take away any rebates, either.

Keep your fingers crossed for me. If I don't get to keep the plan I was sold, I'm not going to have a cell phone anymore! ...Seriously! I've been with Cingular since they bought AT&T *tear* and I have only had two or three billing cycles go by where I did not have to call customer service about something.

GrrrRRrrrRRrRrrrrRR

Good Luck!

Posted by: lew2

Audit, Schmaudit.

Dig out any previous GSM phone you have handy, write down the IMEI, put your sim card in it, call up CS and have them put the new IMEI in your account details and confirm that you have the MediaMax200 plan. When you’re done with the call, swap the sim card back into the blackjack and get on with life.

Technically yes they could probably find out you’re using a blackjack, but realistically the chances are so miniscule as to not be worth mentioning.

I went through the same thing when I bought a Treo 650 eighteen months ago. “Oh no, they’ll find you out and charge you tons of money” said all the naysayers. “They’re going to start auditing accounts soon and you’re going to get a $2,000 phone bill!” said the worrywarts. I say: “Pbbbthhhh!!!!” It isn’t going to happen.

Posted by: brettatk

I'm not really concerned. I'd like to see them change my monthly data plan from $19.99 a month to $39.99 a month without my permission or even trying to contact me. If they do start contacting customers saying this will happen, then I guess I'll decide what to do then.

I think with so many people signing up for the Media Max plan, Cingular finally figured out they were losing money with their smartphones and PDA phones. If you check their site they have changed what phones are compatible with what plans. I personally dont think Cingular can do anything about anyone who already has a Media Max plan with a PDA phone and we will be grandfathered in without having to upgrade. If you are looking to purchase a new data plan right now, then it may be a different story.

Posted by: RF9

If and when they do add enforcement, I believe it will be based on IMEI of the phone. If the IMEI doesn't fall within the number range of an approved Media Max capable phone, it'll just deny you access (or route you to a page that says "this phone won't work on Media Max.")
They could do it. It's not easy to do, but if they are determined they will
I think at this point they haven't done so because it hasn't been cost effective. PDAs make up such a small percentage of the subscriber base, and of those, figure half those people have accounts paid for by corporations that pay for full price BB and PDA plans, or just haven't figured out "this trick."
But now with popular PDAs coming out like Blackjack and Treo 680 all targeted to a consumer crowd, that percentage is going to break critical mass... and soo will the losses.

Nothing in their language warns of overages like the old AT&T days where the $25 3G plan specifically said "you use this on any phone with a different IMEI, and you pay $0.01 per KB." Not to mention I don't think they want 1 milliion people to call in all at the same time asking for their bill to be fixed and start filing law suits.

So enforcement will be in the form of denial of access, if anything. Thus forcing you to upgrade.

Posted by: lew2

So enforcement will be in the form of denial of access, if anything. Thus forcing you to upgrade.

I agree about how enforcement would be enacted, but more from a sense of there is nothing in the ToS which gives them the ability to switch you to a higher cost data plan with no notification. I don't even see anything in the ToS that would allow it with notification. And remember that Pay Per Use is a data plan just like the others, and the "no data" WIX BLOCKED is also an option.

In any event I doubt there will be real enforcement in the foreseeable future, especially if the ATT/Bellsouth merger occurs. With all the other stuff that will be going on in a merger of that magnitude, I doubt that enacting enforcement would have sufficient forecasted ROI to become a reality in the next two years. And at that point we could easily have a whole new landscape of choices.

Posted by: xxipimpyou69xx

Quote:

Originally Posted by TriAxis

Just enroll in the MediaMax200 plan online. That's what i did last month. I was set up in about 1 hour and got a confirmation email and text saying I could use it immediately.

Just go to this link
MediaMax
Determine which MediaMax plan you want
Click on the "Current customers purchase here" link
Then fill in your info and hit submit. Done

i just signed up for the MediaMax 1000 online.....i should be good to go with unlimited data even in internet explorer right?....thank you in advance im used to nextel having none of these features lol