"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?

They like to throw on extra costs. It could cost you one or more hundred
dollars to buy a phone without the 2 years.

You can buy a GSM phone on Ebay, Amazon, Newegg, or any number of dealers.
Do a little research first, so you can make sure your buying the right one.
You may need a SIM card. Cingular can help you with that.

However, if your phone is still working, and your happy with it, keep it
until it doesn't work anymore. It'll probably work for years, if your
lucky.

CS