| Author |
Message |
Jambx
Posts: 4
Phone Model:
Audiovox 9000
Service Provider:
Verizon |
 
Sat Mar 12, 2005 7:39 pm |
Hi,
In need of some advice - I recently won a Brand New Siemens S46 cell phone on Ebay (it said it was for ATT Service) --- don’t ask me why but I have a thing for older cell phones (hence my present Audiovox 9000 on Verizon - the 9000 BTW is a awesome phone).
I went down to the Cingular store today only to be turned down - they said they only are supporting the legacy AT&T phones and customers! I called Cingular Customer Care and was also told a similar story. Has anyone heard of this?....I would think GSM is GSM....why they are refusing a new business is beyond me - looks like I'm staying w/ Verizon.
What gets me is ebay has a whole mess of AT&T phones for sale ... wonder if many are getting the same sad news as I when they are tiring to activate a new account....
Can anyone shed light here? ......
Thanks,
jim
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realboy2005
Posts: 82
Phone Model:
Motorola V3r (T-Mo), unlocked, flashed, flexed
Service Provider:
Former AT&T Wireless |
Sat Mar 12, 2005 11:30 pm |
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Let me figure out what your trying to do... you are trying to transfer your account to Cingular? And what else do you need? What do they tell ya?... it's very weird, cuz i was gonna transfer my account to them....not gonna happen....
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Celtic Dragon
Posts: 245
Phone Model:
iPhone/w610i/BJ
II
Service Provider:
Cingular/AT&T |
Sun Mar 13, 2005 12:15 pm |
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I'm sure it has something to do with the merger. Since ATT was bought out, I'm sure they're not going to be signing up new customers under ATT service, so you wouldn't be able to set up an account with an ATT phone. I can't swear to it, but that's the way it seems to me.
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Jambx
Posts: 4
Phone Model:
Audiovox 9000
Service Provider:
Verizon |
Sun Mar 13, 2005 1:02 pm |
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All I wanted to do is sign up with Cingular using an AT&T phone – seem to me since there are supporting former AT&T customers it didn’t seem like a big deal to me - but, it appears their policy is “not” to use AT&T phones for “new” accounts - what really gets me is all these phones are still for sale off of Ebay - unsuspecting purchasers like myself don’t know that these phones are basically worthless....I think its time to call my State Attorney General...
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realboy2005
Posts: 82
Phone Model:
Motorola V3r (T-Mo), unlocked, flashed, flexed
Service Provider:
Former AT&T Wireless |
Sun Mar 13, 2005 7:51 pm |
You are able to create an account with your old AT&T Wireless phone. First of all, you should create a new account with Cingular. Then you will be able to get the new phone from them with the huge discount. Then you have to have your old cell phone unlocked and just swap the sim cards....
you should be totally fine...
hope that helped...
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Jambx
Posts: 4
Phone Model:
Audiovox 9000
Service Provider:
Verizon |
Sun Mar 13, 2005 8:45 pm |
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Sorry, I guess I haven’t been very clear - I never have a AT&T account - I am presently with Verizon and was going to Cingular/AT&T because I like the phone that is supported by the AT&T network. If these (and other types of) AT&T phones are not "activatable" by Cingular - WHAT GOOD ARE THEY!
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realboy2005
Posts: 82
Phone Model:
Motorola V3r (T-Mo), unlocked, flashed, flexed
Service Provider:
Former AT&T Wireless |
Sun Mar 13, 2005 8:59 pm |
That's what I'm saying about unlocking and swaping sims... All you need to do is unlock your old phone, so it can "work" with Cingular Wireless.
But this is just my own suggestion to you: buy a cingular phone for a very low price (go to bestbuy, whatever, etc). With the 1 or 2 year agreement. If you don't want an agreement then don't do this step. If you decide to get the phone from Cingular, there is a chance to sell this new cell phone for a good price and then just keep using your old one.
My point is: your old phone will work with Cingular; you just have to unlock it! You should be totally fine.
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Jambx
Posts: 4
Phone Model:
Audiovox 9000
Service Provider:
Verizon |
Sun Mar 13, 2005 9:50 pm |
Wow that sounds too easy. The only question I have (and promise it will be my last!) - when I want to use the "other" phone - does swapping out the SIM Cards "unlock" it or do I need Cingulars assistance (as you can see I get the impression I wont get much help from them).
Thanks again for all your help.
Jim
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realboy2005
Posts: 82
Phone Model:
Motorola V3r (T-Mo), unlocked, flashed, flexed
Service Provider:
Former AT&T Wireless |
Sun Mar 13, 2005 10:43 pm |
Haha... your funny... Cingular will never give ya the unlock code, and there is a reason for that (they don't want to lose customers). So if you want to use "another" cell phone, you will have to unlock it first. I know a guy who unlocks Nokias and Motorolas. So what I really suggest you to do is to buy the new Cingular phone and keep it. (motorola is pretty good, plus it supports 850Mhz frequency, so you will be able to use it outside of the big cities, with your old Siemens you won't have any signal in those remote areas).
If you have any other questions, look into my profile, there is my email, email me with the future questions...
hope that helped!
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elmo01
Posts: 2181
Phone Model:
Samsung SPH-M510
Service Provider:
Bell Canada |
Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:16 am |
| Jambx wrote: | Hi,
In need of some advice - I recently won a Brand New Siemens S46 cell phone on Ebay (it said it was for ATT Service) --- don’t ask me why but I have a thing for older cell phones (hence my present Audiovox 9000 on Verizon - the 9000 BTW is a awesome phone).
I went down to the Cingular store today only to be turned down - they said they only are supporting the legacy AT&T phones and customers! I called Cingular Customer Care and was also told a similar story. Has anyone heard of this?....I would think GSM is GSM....why they are refusing a new business is beyond me - looks like I'm staying w/ Verizon.
What gets me is ebay has a whole mess of AT&T phones for sale ... wonder if many are getting the same sad news as I when they are tiring to activate a new account....
Can anyone shed light here? ......
Thanks,
jim |
you wont be able to get a multiband plan (TDMA and GSM) thats what that phone was designed for but you should be able to get a GSM only service if its a cingular you will have to get the phone unlocked...
the sales rep in the store was just looking at the phone in all likelyhood... start the service get the "free phone" and have your S46 unlocked... put in the SIM and your off to the races... ensure you set the phone to GSM only
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