At 29 Jan 2007 16:25:42 +0000 jeremy wrote:

> Tons of us left, rather than give in to Cingular's arm-twisting to make
us
> abandon our preferential rate plans (which we EARNED by being loyal
ATTWS
> customers for YEARS) and go with new two-year contracts at higher prices,
as
> though we were just a bunch of new customers that had just walked in
the
> door.

True, but did you ever think, perhaps, that was Cingular's plan? Before
the merger, AT&TWS was giving away the farm- unlimited GSM plans for $99,
amazing retention deals, etc.

Perhaps Cingular's intent all along was to strongarm you into paying more
or walking away. Frankly, they'd rather have a $15/month customer cancel
than keep his $15 plan. Billing and support costs are too high to allow
such low revenue customers.

So, in the end, both parties were happy- you, because you left Cingular,
and Cingular for cutting loose another lower revenue customer. I'm not
saying I _like_ the way they handled the merger, but I do understand it.