8,100 pennies.

Man, that would weight a lot.

The plan you have is just cheaper than anything we have. Verizon and Cingy have the same plans currently, but they won't match since they barely break even on the $39.99 plans.

I dunno why the taxes would be different though.

I assume the taxes on 39.99 plans in the same location would be the same.

The surcharges I mentioned are a separate group of "administrative" and other "non-tax" charges, that I'm sure you recognize. What they really represent is anybody's guess. Verizon's bill says some of them are fees and taxes. Go figure.

Someday I suppose we'll drive up to a gas pump and the price will be displayed as "2.79/gal plus taxes and surcharges reflecting drilling rights, exploration expenses, mandated ingredients, our dealer's license, and the cost of getting the gas to your station."

I see how easy it is to digress. Everyone, please see my simplified question (Let's simplify this question?) at https://www.phonescoop.com/carriers/forum.php...
(continues)

As for the 33% increase, see if you can find a difference in coverage from 3 years ago to today. A combination on new cell sites, expanded service, and research tech is all pricey.

Granted there are more towers and stuff these days. I hadn't realized they weren't already investing in research and building the original cell sites.

But I take your point. Thanks.

All companies invest in R&D and technology and to a large extent the consumer funds that investment.
8 years ago, when Verizon was Air-Touch in my hometown, $39/month got you 40 minutes or something like that.
Now $49/month gets you 450 minutes, but you also internet capable phones, qwerty phones, bluetooth, etc...technology has come a long way...
Bottom line, yeah Cingular is not the cheapest, but they are competitive and to a certain extent, they are worth it...

There is a $39.99 450 minute plan with 5K nights and weekends. Ask around and see if people in your area have a problem and go from there...

Actually, $39.99 gives you 450, not $49.99. Verizon doesn't have a plan for $49.99 unless you're doing Push To Talk.

Thanks, that's the published plan here.

"Cingular has invested more than any other wireless carrier -- $13 billion -- in improving its network in the past two years leading to the best network reliability in our history - again, as determined by the leading wireless network research company and one used by virtually all of the major wireless companies. "

Although I'm not familiar with the various companies in that detail, I've heard good things about Cingular coverage/reception, and that's the main reason I'm here in the first place. Would like to read that report further. Got a URL?

if you can't afford it, maybe you should either stay with what you got or go prepaid. Actually I think going pre-paid will actually be more... 😳

You're right, it sounds rude, although I'm sure you mean to be constructive. I looked briefly at prepaid, have a friend on it, but it seems a hassle, and you have to buy the phone outright. So you're right, more cash up front, savings in the long run, I suppose.

What I don't get is why so many people don't get it. I ain't broke. I just prefer to spend my money on other things. Sheesh.

rrinqu said:


All that aside, why a 33% increase in the cost of basic service from the major providers over just 3 years? It can't be government mandates and stuff, cuz they bill that (and I'm not really sure what else) separately.

And BTW, I never said that Cingular was claiming anything. 🤨

it's up because the cost per minute has gone down. if they are offering base plans with more min than they did 3 years, it actually makes it going down.
$39.99 / 300min= .133cents per minute $39.99 / 450min= .088cents per minute...
so while you may not be able to get a $34.99 or $29.99 pricing plan, the actual cost has went down...

Certainly the price of most technologies can be expected to come down per unit over time. Hard drives aren't a perfect comparison, but are a dramatic example. For decades, we've enjoyed a far lower price per byte year after year.

But the overall price of a typically sized drive has also come down, or at least held steady as capacities went up. Regardless of that, I'm thrilled. Every year I need more and more storage space. If 30 gig drives are even sold anymore, I'm not sure I'd want one.

So far, that's not so with phones. It's hardly cheaper if you don't NEED 450 minutes a month. Maybe I'll want them a few years from now. Not at this time, thank you.

By the way, although the price has come down, apparently the difference ...
(continues)

Sure it must be the SIM card 🙄

Wow, you're one of them too?

Don't roll your eyes, just do a little research. It may not be as easy as rolling your eyes, but you might learn something. Not that you don't know anything, but you obviously don't know about GSM.

so does sprint.

ever heard the phrase "can't beat 'em join 'em" that's what they are doing now they couldn't win in a price war with verizon so they figured might as well try to make some money so they switched their plans to replicate verizon's rates. if anything that will encourage verizon to stay the same not change.

Cellenator said:
How so verizon charges 99 bucks for 2000 min and so does cingular

Because with ROLLOVER, you could conceivably have 2000 minutes to use at your discretion for 39.99 per month whereas with Verizon, it's going to cost $99.00 bucks EVERY TIME.

I would settle for 29.99. 🙂

By "try real hard" do you mean get the Cingular Store sales rep to check someplace, or do you mean shop around to third-party vendors, or...?

I dont think you'll be able to get that calling plan. This is a calling plan that is available thru our Customer Relations dept for current customers who are even on a lower plan ($14.99, $19.99 and the like) and threaten to cancel cuz they don't need 450 mins. Since you'd be considered a new customer. They wouldn't even mention this plan to you... sorry. 😢

Thanks. Glad at least one of the companies is doing as much or more for their current customer base than for new acquisitions. I suppose Verizon deserves some credit, too, for keeping me on the unpublished rate after contract.

Gotta wonder how long they've been on a $15 plan, but as far as I'm concerned, thread's closed.

We all have different priorities for our cash.

I'm looking forward to 450 minutes a month on the rollover plan. Last month I was on land lines constantly, but needed only 92 minutes of airtime.

Combine your home phone service with cingular, if you have one of the Bells as home serivce, and that will give you a discount on cingular service.