AT&T Launches New GSM PrePaid w/DATA

[Internet Police]

AT&T Wireless has launched a new service called GoPhone, aimed at customers
with less than stellar credit or who do not want to be encumbered with
long-term contracts. The service will be offered in more than 10,000 stores
around the country, including Target, 7-11, CompUSA, Staples, Ritz Camera,
and AT&T Wireless' own retails stores. GoPhone offers unlimited night and
weekend calling, domestic long-distance, and roaming from AT&T Wireless'
national service area. The company said the service would not require a
credit check and would automatically replenish a customer's account by
deducting a set fee from their bank account, credit card, or debit card
every 30 days, or when a customer's account reaches $5, whichever comes
first (when a customer's balance falls below $10, and again at $7, AT&T
Wireless will send a warning text message to the customer's phone). The plan
includes a $90 Nokia 3590 handset and four nationwide calling plans ranging
from $20 to $50 per month. Customers may also add access to AT&T Wireless'
mMode wireless data service for an additional $4 per month. The plan is
limited to phones operating on a newer GSM-mode network AT&T Wireless is
building, not its existing nationwide TDMA network.

The cellular phone penetration rate in the United States has been hovering
around 50 percent for a while -- well below Europe's 70 percent to 80
percent penetration rate. Cellular providers in the U.S. have been trying
various marketing plans to increase the rate of penetration, and AT&T
Wireless' latest plan should be seen in this light. If successful, it may
also help the company in its struggle with Cingular to become the
second-largest U.S. wireless provider after Verizon Wireless, which is
comfortably occupying the No. 1 spot. Last year, AT&T Wireless turned away
more than 4 million applicants for wireless service because of bad credit.
What better way to improve the company's fortune than tailoring a plan for
these very customers?

--
Please Visit Our Sites Featuring Palm and PrePaid Wireless News and Info @
http://groups.msn.com/prepaidwireless or http://groups.msn.com/palmplace

[Dameon D. Welch-Abernathy]

Internet Police wrote:

> GoPhone offers unlimited night and
> weekend calling, domestic long-distance, and roaming from AT&T Wireless'
> national service area. The company said the service would not require a
> credit check and would automatically replenish a customer's account by
> deducting a set fee from their bank account, credit card, or debit card
> every 30 days, or when a customer's account reaches $5, whichever comes
> first (when a customer's balance falls below $10, and again at $7, AT&T
> Wireless will send a warning text message to the customer's phone).

I wouldn't necessarily call this prepaid, though I guess technically it
is. It's definately not prepaid in the manner AT&T has done it in the
past. What I don't like about it is that if you don't use your balance,
you lose it, despite constant replenishing.

Of course, offering free nights and weekends might be a good trade-off,
assuming you use those minutes (I typically don't).

-- PhoneBoy

[Stanley Naimon]

But or and it is probably NOT available in the 5 AT&T "partner" Suncom
states.

**********************************************************************
Stanley Naimon Midlothian VA Sna...@juno.com
No man is an island............ Never send to know for whom
the bell tolls. It tolls for thee. John Donne Devotion XVI
*********************************************************************

[Stuart G. Friedman]

There has been a lot of debate over whether unused minutes role over.
Someone in the ATT forum posted some language from the contract which
suggested that they do.

Stu

"Dameon D. Welch-Abernathy" <dwelch...@phoneboy.com> wrote in message
news:vbipek3...@corp.supernews.com...

[xNokia_3390x]

"Stuart G. Friedman" <Stu.Ign...@nospam.na> wrote in message
news:oaNua.7128$3f7.4...@newssvr28.news.prodigy.com...

> There has been a lot of debate over whether unused minutes role over.
> Someone in the ATT forum posted some language from the contract which
> suggested that they do.

Bob Bob (his username) on HowardForums.com posted this:

"If your balance is anything ABOVE $5.00 on the 30th day and your
credit/debit or checking/savings account is automatically charged your
recurring monthly fee, your balance WILL NOT rollover to the next month. If
however your balance falls below $5.00 BEFORE the 30th day, your balance
WILL rollover. So lets say you started service on May 6th. You have until
June 6th to use all your minutes. If on June 5th you have a balance
remaining of $6.00 and you stop using your phone until you're charged
automatically, the $6.00 will be seized and you will have 19.99 to use from
June 6th until July 6th. BUT if on June 5th, you use your phone and your
balance falls to say $4.00, you will be automatically charged your monthly
fee (19.99) on this day and you have until July 5th to use those minutes. In
this scenario, the 4.00 will be added to the 19.99 to give you a balance of
23.99 to use for that month."

An AT&T CSR confirmed that this is true as well. This definitely makes
sense IMO. Bob Bob said he worked with the people developing Go Phone -- so
he should definitely know what he's talking about. Take it with a grain of
salt...only time will tell when people start getting near their 30 days.

[P. Synthesis]

On Sat, 10 May 2003 02:07:06 GMT, "xNokia_3390x"
<ofc2...@REMOVEspamex.com> wrote:
>
>Bob Bob (his username) on HowardForums.com posted this:
>

>So lets say you started service on May 6th. You have until
>June 6th to use all your minutes. If on June 5th you have a balance
>remaining of $6.00 and you stop using your phone until you're charged
>automatically, the $6.00 will be seized and you will have 19.99 to use from
>June 6th until July 6th. BUT if on June 5th, you use your phone and your
>balance falls to say $4.00, you will be automatically charged your monthly
>fee (19.99) on this day and you have until July 5th to use those minutes. In
>this scenario, the 4.00 will be added to the 19.99 to give you a balance of
>23.99 to use for that month."
>

The Terms and Conditions governing the GoPhone account don't seem to
be in agreement with the above. It's pretty stupid of AWE not cover
this in their FAQ. This is going to be one of the most asked
questions!!! Here's the relevant blurb from the T&C's:

==========
Funds deposited in your account expire after 30 days and will be
forfeited if not used prior to the expiration date. However, if
additional funds are deposited in your account before the current
account balance expires, the existing balance will be carried over to
the new expiration date that is 30 days from the date the additional
funds are actually deposited in your account.
==========