Go to an independent Cingular agent -- not a company owned store -- and try
to find a knowledgeable salesperson. I had purchased an unlocked GSM phone
elsewhere and was able to keep my existing $29/mo plan and didn't have to
pay the "normal" $18 rip-off fee.

The company owned store told me I'd have to get on the $39/mo (their
cheapest advertised) plan.

You do have to pay for the Sim card. Around $30 is normal for that.

jy

"Ed Stasiak" <estasiak@att.net> wrote in message
news:1160527627.723989.288370@m73g2000cwd.googlegr oups.com...
>I got a letter from Cingular the other day and it said that
> they will no longer be supporting my (4+ year old Motorola
> V60) TDMA/analog cell phone (whatever that is) and I have
> to get a new GSM cell phone (whatever that is).
>
> Now Cingular is offering a "free" Nokia 6030 phone, but the
> rebate deal states that I have sign-up for a new 2-year contract
> with them and I have to get a Cingular VISA Rewards Card
> and I'm not interested in going thru all that BS.
>
> So since it appears I have to get a new cell phone and I'm not
> hip to the cell phone provider market, I figured I'd head down
> to the local Cingular store and buy a new phone I like and have
> them transfer my existing Cingular service (which works fine,
> more or less) to the new phone.
>
> I know it can't be _that_ easy....
>
> So what kinda problems and additional costs might I end-up
> facing with Cingular by going this route, and what do I need to
> know and say to the (no doubt punk-ass teenage) service rep
> at their store, to avoid all kinda hassles over this?
>