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Cellular Phone Forum / General / General Topics / February 2004Calling plans getting worse? Upgrade from 3360?
About two years ago my brother and I, totally green with not even a pretense at any research or preparation, wandered into an ATT kiosk at a Chicago area mall and got a nationwide calling plan, 500 anytime minutes, unlimited nights/weekends, all for $35/mo. Contract period 1year, phone Nokia 3360. The phone is beginning to feel heavy and with "number portability" and increased competition etc., :) I thought surely there are better deals now and I could get a better (=lighter) phone. So here I am, better educated with consumer reports and gazillion web sites, and I am researching and researching, and can't even find a plan as good as mine let alone a better one! At ATT itself I'd get 200-300 minutes for the same money, ditto at Cingular and Verizon. I could of course stay with my plan but then there is that heavy 3360. ATT rep said I can get a new phone with two year contract. Doesn't seem like a good deal. Any suggestions? I don't think I'll find a better plan but what about the phone? If I buy some phone on ebay, can I convert it to my number? Which models for lighter weight and/or longer battery life? AS LONG as you buy a phone off ebay that is a ATT PHONE and was previously on the ATT NETWORK You will be okay, ATT doesnt activate cellphones from other providers. Nokia 1260 Nokia 3560 Motorola v60i My recommendations.. Nokia 3560 is a nice phone color screen! > About two years ago my brother and I, totally green with not even a > pretense at any research or preparation, wandered into an ATT kiosk at [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > the phone? If I buy some phone on ebay, can I convert it to my number? > Which models for lighter weight and/or longer battery life? You do not have to change your rate plan if you buy a new phone or even if you renew for 2 more years. Bruce > AS LONG as you buy a phone off ebay that is a ATT PHONE and was previously > on the ATT NETWORK You will be okay, ATT doesnt activate cellphones from [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > > the phone? If I buy some phone on ebay, can I convert it to my number? > > Which models for lighter weight and/or longer battery life? > You do not have to change your rate plan if you buy a new phone or > even if you renew for 2 more years. I understand. I would have been ok with one uear but two seem long to me just to get a phone upgrade. Things are changing fast and right now I am free to jump if a much better offer from somebody else comes along. Will try to get a phone some other way, probably ebay. | > You do not have to change your rate plan if you buy a new phone or | > even if you renew for 2 more years. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] | I am free to jump if a much better offer from somebody else comes | along. Will try to get a phone some other way, probably ebay. There is always the option of paying full retail price for the phone, and you won't have to extend the contract. The reason for the contract extension is because they are offering you the phone for free or at a reduced price. > AS LONG as you buy a phone off ebay that is a ATT PHONE and was > previously on the ATT NETWORK You will be okay, I am kind of "green" here. I'll make sure it is an ATT phone, but: 1. My present phone is TDMA, do I have to remain with a TDMA phone? 2. Once I receive the phone, how do I put my number in it? Do I have to take it to ATT or is it something I can do myslef? > Nokia 1260 > Nokia 3560 > Motorola v60i There is also a 3360. Any opinion about that? It lacks color but seem to hame considerably more talking mins than 3560. > 1. My present phone is TDMA, do I have to remain with a TDMA phone? Yes you are on a TDMA network. That is the type of network the 3360 uses so you must stay with that unless you want to change your plan. Which you said you don't. Like if you bought a GSM phone. Then you would have to get a GSM plan for GSM network. > > AS LONG as you buy a phone off ebay that is a ATT PHONE and was > > previously on the ATT NETWORK You will be okay, [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > There is also a 3360. Any opinion about that? It lacks color but seem > to hame considerably more talking mins than 3560. > > AS LONG as you buy a phone off ebay that is a ATT PHONE and > > was previously on the ATT NETWORK You will be okay, > > I am kind of "green" here. I'll make sure it is an ATT phone, but: > > 1. My present phone is TDMA, do I have to remain with a TDMA phone? Yes. Only a TDMA phone will work with a TDMA plan. > 2. Once I receive the phone, how do I put my number in it? Do I have > to take it to ATT or is it something I can do myslef? Go here: http://groups.google.com/advanced_group_search and search for AT&T 888 "ESN change". > > Nokia 1260 > > Nokia 3560 > > Motorola v60i > > There is also a 3360. Any opinion about that? It lacks color but > seem to hame considerably more talking mins than 3560. I thought you said you already had a 3360. I had one and liked it pretty well, but I upgraded to a used 6360 purchased through eBay to get more phone book entries and some other features. It has IR, like the 3360. I used the automated ESN change number. > I thought you said you already had a 3360. I had one and liked it > pretty well, but I upgraded to a used 6360 purchased through eBay > to get more phone book entries and some other features. It has IR, > like the 3360. I used the automated ESN change number. Typo, yes I already have 3360, I meant 6360! What would be a fair ebay price for a used 6360? > > I thought you said you already had a 3360. I had one and liked it > > pretty well, but I upgraded to a used 6360 purchased through eBay [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Typo, yes I already have 3360, I meant 6360! What would be a fair > ebay price for a used 6360? I paid $72 (plus s/h) last fall for one that's in very good condition. The 6360 is just as heavy if not heavier than the 3360.. just a fyi > > I thought you said you already had a 3360. I had one and liked it > > pretty well, but I upgraded to a used 6360 purchased through eBay [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Typo, yes I already have 3360, I meant 6360! What would be a fair ebay > price for a used 6360? >1. My present phone is TDMA, do I have to remain with a TDMA phone? You don't *have* to stay with TDMA, but from what I've read the GSM network isn't quite yet as developed as the TDMA/AMPS network >2. Once I receive the phone, how do I put my number in it? Do I have to >take it to ATT or is it something I can do myslef? You have to call AT&T customer care and tell them that you want to activate a new phone and give them the ESN of your new phone (located under the battery on a label.) >> Nokia 1260 >> Nokia 3560 >> Motorola v60i > >There is also a 3360. Any opinion about that? It lacks color but seem >to hame considerably more talking mins than 3560. Just a guess, but I think the color phones may draw more battery power than the monochrome LCD models. The 3360 is a nice little no frills candy bar style phone. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply > The 3360 is a nice little no frills candy bar style phone. Sorry I meant 6360. I already have 3360 that I am trying to upgrade from. >> The 3360 is a nice little no frills candy bar style phone. > >Sorry I meant 6360. I already have 3360 that I am trying to upgrade >from. I had a 6000-series Nokia TDMA phone and, while it is a great phone, it is way too bulky for this day and age. We have four lines under my AT&T account and I've tried 5-7 phones in the last two years. There is NOTHING that comes close to the Nokia 8265. In general, I would only buy a Nokia phone for TDMA. The Panasonic, Motorola and Audiovox phones that I tried sucked BIG time. Yes he does have to stay with TDMA unless he wants to change plans, which is what he wanted to avoid. > >1. My present phone is TDMA, do I have to remain with a TDMA phone? > [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply Correct me if wrong, but I believe the plan structure for GSM is completely different from that on the "old" TDMA network. Since the OP indicated he was very satisfied with his plan, to keep it I believe he would have to stay with TDMA. Dean ______________________________________ > >1. My present phone is TDMA, do I have to remain with a TDMA phone? > > You don't *have* to stay with TDMA, but from what I've read the GSM > network isn't quite yet as developed as the TDMA/AMPS network > > > (snip) > The 3360 is a nice little no frills candy bar style phone. > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > -----Yes it is. I owned one and was very satisfied with it. Bulletproof. > AS LONG as you buy a phone off ebay that is a ATT PHONE and > was previously on the ATT NETWORK You will be okay, Wait, this just caught my eye. Does it have to be a previously used phone? Can't it be a new phone designed for ATT network? Another thing is I travel and with security people extra paranoid everywhere, I don't want a camera in my phone. So what are some of the best ATT lighter-than-3360 phones without camera and with long battery life? Thanx. > > AS LONG as you buy a phone off ebay that is a ATT PHONE and > > was previously on the ATT NETWORK You will be okay, [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Thanx. Sure it doesn't have to be used. By the way there is so much talk about unlocking phones. Well just because you unlock a phone to use it with another carrier doesn't mean the carrier you want has to cooperate with you. Anyway, about 2 weeks ago I was in the same boat. Just over a year ago I got a 3360 with AT&T and finally realized I was old school carrying that around. So I decided on the Motorola V60i. All you have to do is choose a phone and go to the phone's manufacturer website and make sure it is TDMA. This way you won't have to change your plan. The V60i comes in TDMA. I just emailed sellers on Ebay and asked them to look under the battery. v60i (t) means TDMA. After the phone arrived, I called AT&T customer service and asked them how I would go about getting it programmed. To my surprise he programmed it with me right over the phone. On Ebay they divide the phones by manufacturer then by carrier. So you can click Motorola for example and then AT&T and then do a keyword search for the model you want. You just have to be a smart shopper. Look at the sellers feedback. If you see that he has been selling lots of phones then this means he is getting used phones somewhere and does not know their history. It's kind of like a car, try to get one from an original owner. http://electronics.listings.ebay.com/Cell-Phones-Plans_Phones-Only_W0QQfromZR12Q QlotrZ1QQsacategoryZ11025QQsocmdZListingItemListQQsocolumnlayoutZ3 I would NOT lock yourself in for 2 years just to get the phone. That is too long for a contract. That's excessive to me. I would never do it. Don't have to when we have Ebay. As far as battery life I don't think that is a brand/model issue. If you need battery life then either make sure you are using a new battery which holds a good long charge or buy an extended life batt. I can't have a camera either. I often have to step onto military bases and there are buildings where a camera phone is out. Plus many other places want to ban them. "Dell Dude" <no to determine the prices, go to the advanced search, and serch the product under completed auctions, will give you an idea what the selling and buying prices are. >Any suggestions? I don't think I'll find a better plan but what about >the phone? If I buy some phone on ebay, can I convert it to my number? >Which models for lighter weight and/or longer battery life? You can buy a phone on ebay, but you have to be sure that it was used on the AT&T network. Since you have TDMA the ESN must be in AT&T's database or they won't allow it on their network. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply Verizon has the largest network so you will always pay a little bit more for that service. You can now pay $39.99 for 400 minutes and unlimited in-network calls, with unlimited n&w. That's a deal in today's market. The older/lower plans are cheap but don't offer many included minutes, such as the 200-300 minute plan you quoted. Here's my thoughts on everything: AT&T has the honor of having the highest complaint rate to the FCC, as well as some of the worst coverage in many areas. (Although some areas are fine.) Now that they have joined with Cingular, they have the largest customer base, but still lack coverage in the same areas as before. Now that LNP is in place, Cingular and AT&T are losing more customers than they gain. VZW is gaining 5 customers for every 1 they lose. That should tell you something about the reputation of the companies. If you go with the biggest and the best, you won't be sorry. I live in Western New York (between Rochester and Buffalo) and use VZW because none other provides service! For many people, VZW is the only option. __________________________________________________________________ > About two years ago my brother and I, totally green with not even a > pretense at any research or preparation, wandered into an ATT kiosk at [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > the phone? If I buy some phone on ebay, can I convert it to my number? > Which models for lighter weight and/or longer battery life? >About two years ago my brother and I, totally green with not even a >pretense at any research or preparation, wandered into an ATT kiosk at [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] >the phone? If I buy some phone on ebay, can I convert it to my number? >Which models for lighter weight and/or longer battery life? Yes, you can register any TDMA AT&T Wireless phone by calling AT&T customer service and giving them ESN number. I've had AT&T Wireless for 3 years and have been extremely happy with them, but there is almost no signal at my new house that I bough 6 months ago. So I switched to Verizon. Trust me, if you're happy with AT&T coverage, you should stay with them. AT&T TDMA sound quality is WAY WAY WAY WAY better than this CDMA Verizon technology. As far as phones go, there's no better TDMA phone than Nokia 8265. It's small, has great reception and sound quality, battery lasts a week, comes with an excellent headset, etc. |
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