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billing
An AT&T spokesman says yesterday's data network outages across the U.S. were the result of the cut undersea cable in the Mediterranean that's caused Internet and phone disruptions across Northern Africa, India and the Middle East. The cable will take 12-15 days to fix, although AT&T's U.S. network was back up by the end of the day yesterday. [The Seattle Times]
outages
AT&T Data Outages Hit Midwest, AT&T Says Nothing
Rick in Chicago wrote to us this morning to let us know that he hasn't been able to access AT&T's 3G network all day. So far, AT&T has told him nothing, nor have they made an announcement: "text messaging still seems to work, so they could send out a text message to let people know ," he IMs us. He got confirmation that it was the network and not his company-issued phone from his company's tech department. This blog says it's 3G and Edge, while this blog says its UMTS that's down and disabling Treos and Blackberries. More »
early termination
Alltel Tells Father They Won't Waive ETF For Soldier Deployed To Iraq Unless He Is Deceased
Mark writes in,My son recently was deployed to Iraq. His cell phone carrier is Alltel. Prior to leaving for Irag, he cancelled his cell phone coverage before the completion of his 2 year contract commitment. As his father, I telephoned Alltell, explained the situation and asked Alltel to have the $200 early termination fee waived. Alltel explained they only waive the $200 early termination fee if the party is DECEASED.Seriously, that's just messed up. More »
success stories
$180 In Overages Waived By Staying Calm, Asking For The Supervisor, And Smart Negotiating
Dave writes:
I just got a wireless bill from Cincinnati Bell with $180 worth of overages. Thanks to several of the articles I've read on your site, I felt confident that I would be able to get them waived. And I did. The one thing I did that I probably wouldn't have done without your site was when the rep I was speaking with said that she "didn't have the power" to grant my request (I wanted all of my overages waived if I upgraded my account), I didn't lose my cool or get upset but calmly asked to talk to her supervisor. Her supervisor offered me what I wanted without ever having to ask! One hundred and eighty, thanks.That's the way to do it. If the customer service rep says they "don't have the power," then you just simply ask to be put in touch with someone who does. Remaining cool, calm and professional, you escalate to someone with decision-making powers. Also note his successful negotiation tactic... More »
truth in advertising
AT&T May Limit Unlimited Data Plans To 5GB Per Month, Remove Text Messaging
IntoMobile writes that an "agent/employee discussion forum at HowardForums has revealed the possibility of new data plans for AT&T." The new plans would be slightly cheaper, but do away with included text messages and impose a "soft cap" of 5GB per month data usage on the so-called "unlimited" MediaMax packages, and users who go over that will be urged (?) to sign up for a more expensive plan. Urged? Soft cap? How does that work in a business situation? Unlimited is unlimited, right?More »
contracts
Potential Solution To Rogers Wireless SMS Fee Hike
A reader tells us that on March 4, 2008, Rogers Wireless will increase the price of international text messaging to 25 cents per message, which he thinks might be another "get-out-of-contract-free" opportunity similar to what Verizon opened itself up to when it hiked its fees this month. However, according to the portion of the contract Andrew sent us, and based on what a commenter wrote on a previous post, we think what might happen instead is Rogers Wireless will simply let you continue under the terms of your old contract if you call up and insist. It's worth a shot—post how it turns out if you try it. More »
shutdowns
Items Affected By The Cellular Analog Network Shutdown
The analog-to-digital TV revolution is still a year off, but the country's oldest cellular network will be shut down in February. Wired and Associated Press provide the following list of what kinds of items will be affected.Cell phones
"In particular, check phones that are kept around as 911-only phones. Such phones, which don't have a phone number and aren't initialized with a carrier, were given out by some donation programs that collected old phones." Less than 1% of cell phones currently in use are analog, but the article points out that that still counts for over a million devices. Anything less than 5 years old or that can text message isn't analog. More »
unlocked
Verizon To Open Its Network To Any Compatible Device
Verzon Wireless announced today that it will be opening its network to any compatible device. Verizon uses the CDMA network, a technology it shares with Sprint. According to Verizon Wireless Chief Executive Lowell McAdam, Sprint phones could work on Verizon's network "if they pass Verizon's testing procedure." Sadly, GSM phones used by AT&T and T-Mobile, including the iPhone, can not work on Verizon's network. More »
data theft
Lots Of Retailers Don't Use Proper Wireless Security
The recently reported TJ Maxx security breach—where data on 94 million credit card accounts was stolen in 2003, 2004, and 2006—has ended up costing the company $200 million and counting. But although it's the biggest example so far of retail data theft, TJ Maxx isn't the only retailer doing a poor job of keeping sensitive data protected from hackers. One wireless security vendor recently surveyed thousands of stores and discovered that a significant number of retailers don't practice good wireless security: More »
Microsoft has said it will not participate in the upcoming wireless spectrum auction, because it wouldn't help their business model, which is to create and sell software to handset makers. [Reuters]
stick it in your ear
8 Bluetooth Headsets Reviewed
A professed non-early-adopter has reviewed 8 different Bluetooth headsets in a range of prices, scoring them on design, functionality, sound quality, and value. Her favorite from the group: the huge Plantronics Voyager 520, which sells for around $100. Coming in last was the $100 Samsung WEP410, which kept falling out of her ear. More »
the great wireless auction
Wireless Consumers Both Win and Lose With New FCC Rules
You win some, you lose some. Google's bid to created an open wireless network was only partially sucessful today as the FCC rejected some of the search giant's conditions, but adopted others. More »
class actions
Some Belkin Wireless Owners May Be Entitled To Full Refunds
If you bought one of 37 Belkin wireless products between October 13, 2002 and February 5, 2007, you may be entitled to a full refund. More »
verizon
Verizon: Watch Non-Recordable TV On A Tiny Screen For $15 A Month
Wow, what a deal. For only $15 dollars a month, you too can watch "eight channels with a mix of live and delayed programming from CBS, FOX, NBC Entertainment, NBC News, Comedy Central, ESPN, MTV, Nickelodeon," on your cellphone. The Chicago Tribune says,I watched on the LG phone and was struck by the video's sharpness and detail — it felt as if I were watching a miniature HDTV. Under an overcast sky, the screen wasn't that viewable, and on sunny days, forget it. But in a car or on a bus or indoors, reception and clarity were great.Watching TV in cars makes us revisit our last meal, so we'll pass. —MEGHANN MARCO More »
cellphone
Be Your Own Wireless Company
A former Microsoft exec is starting a service that will allow any group—from churches to sports teams— to become their own wireless provider, according to BusinessWeek. The service, called Sonopia, will rent space on Verizon's network (similar to the way Virgin Mobile works) but rather than brand the service itself, Sonopia will offer branded phones, tech support, customer service and other features to organizations that will share the profits. 5% of the revenue collected from the users will go to benefit the group, so your favorite sports team could have a wireless company, or your church, or a cancer research group. From BusinessWeek:If just half of one percent of the group's 5 million members sign up for NWF [National Wildlife Federation] Mobile, the program stands to generate more than $100,000 a year, says Greg Griffith, director of cause-related marketing at NWF. The organization's other affinity programs and corporate outreach generate some $3.5 million a year today. Based on the response to NWF Mobile's first ad, Griffith expects as many as 5% of NWF's members to sign up&—more, in fact, than the number currently using the group's affinity credit cards. "People will say, 'I spend this much on a phone anyway, I might as well spend on the cause I care about,' " Griffith says.Bad news for Virgin Mobile, good news for panda bears. —MEGHANN MARCO More »
sprint
We Post Sprint Supervisor's Direct Line, She Changes It, Leaving Message Blaming Us
"...in regards to my personal work number being published on a website, consumerist.com, in regards to customers calling me personally in regards to their contact with Sprint..."More »
rfid
