Cell Phones - Printable Version

Cell Phones - Printable Version

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Cell Phones - DeeBye - 02-01-2004

My wife and I just signed up for (what seems to be) an amazing cell phone plan.

She works in a bank that has some sort of corporate partnership with a cell phone service provider (I don't know the details, but suffice to say it's a huge national bank and a huge cell phone service provider.) As such, she's always offered employee deals.

She was recently offered a cell phone deal that we could not refuse. I'd like to know if we were ripped off, or if we made the right choice.

We get a free phone (Motorola T720g, Canadian sister to the Motorola T720), as long as we agreed to a 7-month contract (which we did). The contract is for $15/month which scalable. If we use <50 (anytime) minutes, the price is $15 for that month. If we use up to 200 minutes, the price is $20. 300 minutes is $30, etc.

The plan is adjusted monthly; subscriber receives the best available rate (<-- I read that off the contract :) ).

All prices are in Canadian funds [Image: canada.gif]

I'm looking at the contract right now and I don't see how we can be ripped off, unless we use an ungodly amount of minutes per month. If we limit ourselves to <50 minutes per month for 7 months, we pay 7x15 = $105, and we get to keep a very expensive phone.

Good deal, or ripped off?

Cell Phones - AtomicKitKat - 02-01-2004

Yeah, I think your deal is okay for a couple in their 30s(assumption) I don't know how much Canadian $ are worth, but I pay about $15($1.7 per USD) monthly, and use up about an hour and 20 minutes(70 minutes) each month. So if C$1=US$0.5 or so, I'd say you have an okay deal. And 7-months is short. Over here, for new subscribers the minimum period is 1 year(renew your subscription and upgrade your phone, may have to trade in your old one), maximum is 2(for a newbie subscriber)

Cell Phones - DeeBye - 02-01-2004

1 CAD = 0.753920 USD
1 USD = 1.32640 CAD

I'm ONLY 29! I'm not 30 until April, you insensitive clod.

edit: typo

Cell Phones - WarLocke - 02-01-2004

If I buy a phone, I want to be able to use it whenever I frikkin' well want. None of this "X minutes per month" crap - I darn well bought the phone, I'm not paying extra to use it!

Therefore, I do not own a cell phone. :P

Once they start offering flat "$20/month w/unlimited time" plans (or whatever amount), I may consider it.

</derail>

Cell Phones - bschultz - 02-01-2004

there is only one company that i know of that offers that plan.

the name of the company is called cricket. its not everywhere though so good luck. oh yeah and its only a flat fee for local calls.

found it

http://www.cricketcommunications.com/areas.asp

Cell Phones - DeeBye - 02-03-2004

I've received my phone.
[Image: cell3.gif]

Now I just need to figure out how all the bells and whistles work.

Since I'm on the subject -- my phone is internet-enabled. I want to see how that works, but I'm afraid of excess charges. I'm fairly sure that I will be charged per kB while browsing. With just text on and pictures disabled, what sort of web experience might I expect? Can I, for example, browse this forum and post a reply?

I also need a new ringtone. The 30+ preloaded ones on my phone suck.

Cell Phones - Lady Vashj - 02-03-2004

bschultz,Feb 1 2004, 08:17 AM Wrote:there is only one company that i know of that offers that plan.

the name of the company is called cricket.  its not everywhere though so good luck.  oh yeah and its only a flat fee for local calls.

found it

http://www.cricketcommunications.com/areas.asp

It's in Michigan, but only the Lower Peninsula...

Oversight? Or has the UP gone and joined Wisconsin, or declared itself the 51st State, as I have been expecting it to for a long time?

Cell Phones - jahcs - 02-03-2004

Quote:DeeBye Posted on Feb 3 2004, 05:28 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've received my phone.

Now I just need to figure out how all the bells and whistles work.

Since I'm on the subject -- my phone is internet-enabled. I want to see how that works, but I'm afraid of excess charges. I'm fairly sure that I will be charged per kB while browsing. With just text on and pictures disabled, what sort of web experience might I expect? Can I, for example, browse this forum and post a reply?

I've watched people type text messages into thier phone. It takes a bit of work with only the ten keys.

Cell Phones - Mithrandir - 02-04-2004

Quote:Oversight? Or has the UP gone and joined Wisconsin, or declared itself the 51st State, as I have been expecting it to for a long time?

I think we all know that the UP is actually a Canadian Protectorate.

Cell Phones - LochnarITB - 02-04-2004

jahcs,Feb 3 2004, 05:34 PM Wrote:I've watched people type text messages into thier phone.  It takes a bit of work with only the ten keys.

I don't own one and don't know much about cell phones but, when I saw a blurb about this phone, I thought it would be one I could enjoy owning.

Cell Phones - Lady Vashj - 02-04-2004

Mithrandir,Feb 4 2004, 03:29 AM Wrote:I think we all know that the UP is actually a Canadian Protectorate.

See, I moved below the bridge when I was two or so, so long ago I don't even have a trace of the accent anymore. I'm shocked that my parents have kept the truth of my citizenship hidden for so long.

Cell Phones - Zedd - 02-08-2004

DeeBye,Feb 1 2004, 06:27 AM Wrote:I'm ONLY 29!  I'm not 30 until April, you insensitive clod.

Dammit, Dee...stay away from Slashdot, it's bad for you.