--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 223 CELLULAR Ref: E4Y00003 Date: 04/27/97 From: JOHN SUMMERS Time: 07:09pm \/To: ALL (Read 2 times) Subj: New Moderator Effective with this message I am turning the reins of the CELLULAR Echo over to Blake Bowers. Blake has been one of the more knowledgable participants of this ECHO over the years and shows an ability to work through problems that might arise in any situation. Congratulations Blake (or maybe condolences) on your willingness to take on this task. I will correspond NetMail with you to get the E-List changed. Thanks to you and all of the participants of this ECHO since I started it. I will continue to participate as much as possible. John Summers Originator - CELLULAR http://www.ultravision.net --- timEd-B11 * Origin: A DFW, TX "A" & "B" Band user! (SID's 00033 & 00038) (1:124/5103) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 223 CELLULAR Ref: E4Y00004 Date: 04/26/97 From: LEN MORGAN Time: 07:28am \/To: ALL (Read 2 times) Subj: Two Phones Hello All, Why is it I can't get anyone to activate my handheld cellular phone with the same phone number as my big mobile phone? The big one is quite large and is NOT portable. I want a portable phone with the same phone number, so when I leave the car, I can take the portable phone. No one here seems to want to program an existing number in my portable, even knowing I own the number. Obviously, it isn't about my ownership of the number, but rather forcing me to purchase a new phone number, right? Salutations, Len A thought for today: ...What distinguishes an PC from a boat anchor? Brand loyalty. InterNet: len.morgan@730.gigo.com Node 1 1:203/730 HST/DS/FAX 33.6 - Node 2 1:203/731 HST/DS 14.4 --- GoldED/386 3.00.Alpha5+730LM7 * Origin: QST Sacramento's Premier Ham BBS V.ALL 916-920-1288 (1:203/730) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 223 CELLULAR Ref: E4Y00005 Date: 04/29/97 From: THE REAL TOM MARKS Time: 12:01am \/To: ZIGGY MALTER (Read 2 times) Subj: Re: Ukraine / GSM-900 -=> Quoting Ziggy Malter to George Erdner <=- ZM> In Australia, for landline phones we pay a monthly rental (dial tone) ZM> then a flat fee of 25c for local calls. The local call area is ZM> basically the whole metropolitan area of the city and suburbs, which ZM> in the case of Sydney, is an area with a radius of about 50 miles. ZM> This means I can make untimed local calls up to a distance of around ZM> 100 miles if I'm in one end of the Sydney area and the other party is ZM> at the other end. ZM> Sydney is one of the biggest cities in the world as far as area is ZM> concerned. Melbourne, which is the capital of Victoria (down south ZM> from here) is even bigger. Both cities have a population of around 4 ZM> million. ZM> We pay a toll for long-distance calls as you do. In america, for landline services, I pay $10.xx a month, and I have unlimited local calling, no charge at all, period. But my area is limited to around 25 miles depending on direction from my area. ZM> That's a real ripoff. It is like saying that the landline providers ZM> should charge you for incoming calls because you are using their wires ZM> which are coming to your house. You might think it's a ripoff, but I don't think people that are going to call cellphone users want to pay the price of talking to them, except for maybe on the weekdays. IT might be good if you could either dial the cellphone # or maybe like a *11 then the # or something to say that you will accept the charges, let them have a choice, not just force it on them. People don't want to pay because the person they are calling has the luxury of havein a cellular phone. ZM> At present, we have both an analog and digital system, but analog will ZM> be totally phased out by the year 2000. We use the GSM digital system ZM> and it is fantastic. It is pretty damn hard to tap into without very ZM> sophisticated equipment (unlike analog) and the other services ZM> provided are great, such as short message service and a few others. How good is the sound quality on the GSM digital? The only ones we have in america that I know about are TDMA and CDMA. The TDMA service get's really crappy sometimes, but I have the new CDMA service and it sounds terrific, and like you said it's pretty hard to crack without expensive equpiment. ZM> It costs me around $1.50 including calls to have the GSM phone. ZM> Running a couple of businesses, I can't live without it now. It cost's you $1.50 for what? Per month for the phone ? Per day? What. ... It is hereditary in my family to have no children. ~~~ ReneWave v2.00 Gamma-1+ --- Renegade * Origin: LOTL/2 * 412 746 3592 * lotl2.slip.lm.com * USofA (1:129/230) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 223 CELLULAR Ref: E4Y00006 Date: 04/29/97 From: THE REAL TOM MARKS Time: 12:01am \/To: CHARLES HUNTER (Read 2 times) Subj: Re: Ukraine / GSM-900 -=> Quoting Charles Hunter to Scott Currier <=- SC>The days of rediculous airtime charges are numbered. CH> Thank God for that! Our Sprint PCS gives us 300 minutes for $95.00 CH> which I feel is a good deal compared to cellular. CH> Charles That is a pretty good deal, I only get 180 minutes for $80.35. But then I get unlimited off peak for $15 dollars and I use over 2000 minutes a month on average, so it's worth it for me. How much is your minute rate ? I heard that you can only use the sprint PCS phones in like a certain area though, and once you go outside of that area it doesn't do you any good. ... Nobody notices when things go right. ~~~ ReneWave v2.00 Gamma-1+ --- Renegade * Origin: LOTL/2 * 412 746 3592 * lotl2.slip.lm.com * USofA (1:129/230) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 223 CELLULAR Ref: E4Y00007 Date: 04/29/97 From: THE REAL TOM MARKS Time: 12:01am \/To: CHARLES HUNTER (Read 2 times) Subj: Re: Prepaid Cellular -=> Quoting Charles Hunter to George Erdner <=- CH> Obviously, your view is somewhat biased. The cellular companies CH> advertising sure gives the impression that they think it is a CH> neccessity when they try to sell the service; but the deny it is a CH> neccessity when it comes to regulation. The free-market economy does CH> not regulate the cellular phone industry in all neccessary areas. CH> After all, cellular phone industry uses a national resource.....the CH> airwaves and the public telephone system. About the only real reason CH> there is not more regulation is because the cellular companies have CH> done a good job lobbying (bribing) our government officials. They don't give the impression that their service is a necessity. They just say that it is a luxury, everone here knows it, you don't need a house phone, it's just a luxury as well. IF you have to make a phone call, there are payphones all over the place. The airwaves are regulated, the cell phone companies have to pay for a slice of frequency that they are alloted, and they have just bought a big area of airwaves from the goverment, it's not like they just use it without permission. CH> Because I shouldn't have to tolerate extortion (one or two year CH> contract) to enjoy the benefits of the neccessity service. They are not extorting you, if you don't like it, don't get it. They have plans where you can just pay for what you use and nothing else. That is like saying that leasing a car is extortion, you pay for what you get, you understand waht they are doing, you get your service and they get their money, what's your point? CH> Your comment is a bit ignorant and aristocratic. I don't see why a CH> company like Bell Atlantic Nynex should be able to extort deposits CH> from potential customers with which to fund it's expansion. Their CH> credit requirements are excessively stringent to the point of being CH> ludicrous. There is no question about paying bills on time; and your CH> question: "what do you need a cell phone for?" is redundant and off CH> point. They require deposits because they are afraid that you won't pay them on time, and besidees your constant whining about contracts I'd be afraid that you woudln't pay your bill either. I had to pay a deposit, I was against it at first but what the hell after they year they keep your measly sum of money, they give it back to you with interest. ... There is a skeleton in every old house. ~~~ ReneWave v2.00 Gamma-1+ --- Renegade * Origin: LOTL/2 * 412 746 3592 * lotl2.slip.lm.com * USofA (1:129/230) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 223 CELLULAR Ref: E4Z00000 Date: 04/29/97 From: BRIAN LINGARD Time: 04:25pm \/To: CHARLES HUNTER (Read 3 times) Subj: Bell Atlantic/NYNEX 29 April 1997 Ottawa Canada Sounds like you need to plead your case to your state p.u.c. or Public Services Commissioner. If they agree the carrier needs regulating they can offer to regulate them which will send chills of terror throughout the senior management of the carrier. Good Luck. ... "Transporter chief Hunter, beam the landing party to the bridge" --- Blue Wave v2.12 [NR] * Origin: Vision Information Systems (1:163/266) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 223 CELLULAR Ref: E4Z00001 Date: 04/28/97 From: CHARLES HUNTER Time: 11:48pm \/To: GEORGE ERDNER (Read 3 times) Subj: Prepaid Cellular 1 GE>The cellular industry's use of the airwaves is well regulated. They have >to conform to the FCC's technical regs regarding frequency and transmit >power. But the "public" phone system is the property of private >enterprise. It's no different from any other private business that >society has developed a level of dependence on. No, Sir. It is an industry that exclusively utilizes a public resource(s),...the public telephone system and the air ways. CH> About the only real reason CH> there is not more regulation is because the cellular companies have CH> done a good job lobbying (bribing) our government officials. GE>That's a crock. The simple fact is that it is very expensive to build >and maintain a cellular phone network. The towers and MTSO alone cost >billions. The only way that a cellular phone network can function is if >the company that owns and operates it makes enough revenue to handle >expenses, and enough profit to make it the work required worthwhile. >Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile is also a publicly owned company. The cellular companies have been and are raking in the profits by the barrel. So what if they are a publicly owned company? GE>And those "unethical" people happen to be anyone who buys shares of >stock in the company. Not quite. Those unethical people are the big wigs at the top..... Dennis Strigel included IMHO.....who are so intrigued with themselves and their power that they wouldn't know how to do anything else but screw the general public. GE>I suggest you go to the library and look up what "extortion" means. >Setting terms and conditions for service is one of the standard things >that all businesses do. The simple fact is that it costs all cellular >companies a certain amount to set a customer up. The cellular companies >don't start making a profit from a customer until that customer has been >with the carrier for a certain length of time. If they couldn't be sure >that customers would stick with the company for a given length of time, >then they'd have to charge much higher prices for everyone. Oh Bull. Most companies that are in the service business cater to their customers to attract business. Bell Atlantic Nynex extorts deposits from them to be able to use that money at interest rates lower than prime so as to expand their system. GE>Besides, if you don't like the way that Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile does >business, then just get a cell phone from the "A" side carrier. The area >code on your tagline indicates you're from the Southeastern corner of >PA, so I think your alternate carrier would be Cellular One or AT&T >Wireless. Or, go to your local Radio Shack and cough up the $200 bucks >to buy a Sprint PCS phone. Sprint doesn't require contracts. They also >don't have towers outside of major cities, but that's the way it goes. Your attitude is interesting. You think that you can just dictate what everyone else should do without regard to what their interests and rights might be. Hmmmmmmm......I think you really must be a Bell Atlantic associate. CH> Your comment is a bit ignorant and aristocratic. I don't see why a CH> company like Bell Atlantic Nynex should be able to extort deposits from CH> potential customers with which to fund it's expansion. GE>The don't. They require security deposits from people who are bad credit >risks. But they never turn anyone down for service. Their definition of "bad credit risks" is hardly logical or fair. Nor is it consistent. What they consider "bad" in most cases is what other types of businesses consider "good". GE>Yes, there is. If you haven't established a credit history of paying >your bills on time, very few companies are going to trust that you will >pay them on time. Cellular companies are no exception. Try getting >electrical or gas service without a security deposit if you have bad or >no credit. The gas company or the electric company ask for deposits; but they are based on legitimate factors and are usually fair. Many landline phone companies only require a $50.00 deposit for service. You can sign up for Bell Atlantic Cellular service wherein you are promising to pay a bill of less than $50.00 a month and they want a $1000.00 or more deposit. GE>No, Bell Atlantic was one of the "Baby Bells", formed as a result of the >divestiture of AT&T in the early 1980's. It is not a "public" utility, Bell Telephone of Pennsylvania, Diamond State Telephone and (I believe) C&P Telephone were put together to form Bell Atlantic when the divesture took effect. It was and is a public utility. Bell Atlantic Mobile (now Bell Atlantic Nynex) was and is a division of the public utility, Bell Atlantic or it's parent company. GE>The "public" telephone system is now, and always has been the private >property of the companies that built it (and the people who own stock >in those companies). It is not, and never has been, the property of the >general public, except for those people who bought a piece of it on the >open market. Nonetheless, it still utilizes a natural resource that in reality (Continued to next message) * 1st 2.00 ~ To poldly bow air mobius gumby four: Star Trek on novocaine. --- QScan/PCB v1.19b / 01-0671 * Origin: AirPower Information Services 610-259-2193 (1:273/408) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 223 CELLULAR Ref: E4Z00002 Date: 04/28/97 From: CHARLES HUNTER Time: 11:48pm \/To: GEORGE ERDNER (Read 3 times) Subj: Prepaid Cellular 2 (Continued from previous message) belongs to the public. Even moreso with the airwaves wherein licensees are required to serve the public interest as a condition of their license. GE>The only people that Bell Atlantic NYNEX (and every other cell phone >company) "discriminates" against are people who can't or won't pay their >bills. You reveal your ignorance and arrogance with that one, Mr. Erdner; but I understand since you have been rubbing shoulders with Bell Atlanticy Nynex. In addition to the things I have already stated, Bell Atlantic Nynex (among others) discriminates against all of their customers when they give them the bull about "free phones" and thereby violate the Credit laws and engage in deceptive business practices. CHARLES * 1st 2.00 ~ To poldly bow air mobius gumby four: Star Trek on novocaine. --- QScan/PCB v1.19b / 01-0671 * Origin: AirPower Information Services 610-259-2193 (1:273/408) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 223 CELLULAR Ref: E4Z00003 Date: 04/24/97 From: MATIAS RIZZONE Time: 11:00pm \/To: BRIAN LINGARD (Read 4 times) Subj: prepaid cellular Hola Brian!! Le decas a Charles Hunter: please reply this message with the receive date Saludos, Matias. --- Terminate 4.00/Pro * Origin: Nuevo point de ASM BBS (4:900/617.9) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 223 CELLULAR Ref: E4Z00004 Date: 04/29/97 From: JOHN MACKEY Time: 11:27am \/To: JOHN SUMMERS (Read 3 times) Subj: New Moderator On (27 Apr 97) John Summers wrote to ALL... JS> Effective with this message I am turning the reins of the CELLULAR JS> Echo over to Blake Bowers. John- My congrats to you as I bid you a farewell from your moderatorship, and congrats to Blake as he takes over. Anyone who has witnessed Blakes moderation on other radio related echos knows how much he enjoys to exercise the power & authority of moderating so his volunteering was somewhat predictable. (although I can not speak to anything of recent as I put Blake in my killfile lists months ago & I never see messages from him anymore) The only thing that comes to mind is that I had thought with this change of moderation it might me a good time to get a moderator that has a firm technical understanding. But that is also ok, as we can continue without that luxury. So my hat is off to both of you John & Blake. John you deserve a retirement & Blake now has another echo to add to his agenda which he will certainly enjoy. Again, congrats to all!!!! If I can be of any assistance please feel free to ask as I always desire to be a positive influence, regardless of other's circumstances. John, you have basically made this echo what it is today - that is directly credible to you. You have a right to be proud of that. Infact, if it weren't for you, the "cellular_II" echo probably would never have been started, so you get some credit there too. ... Two most common elements in the universe: Hydrogen & Stupidity. --- PPoint 2.00 * Origin: John E. Mackey, Jr., KA0SSF (1:105/302.234)