Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (
More info?)
SBC sold me the Cingular service with the $40 "fast forward" device and
$2.99 monthly forwarding charge waived. What a great idea...you just place
the phone in the charger/fast forward device and your calls are
automatically forwarded to the preassigned number. Here is the problem:
Unless I am totally inept when it comes to mechanical things and
electronics, this "Fast Forward" device is quite poorly designed. This is
supposed to be a combination charging base and automatic call forwarder.
Good idea, poorly executed. The phone is a Sony-Ericsson T-616 (but that's
another post altogether).
The first fast forward device failed after about four weeks. SBC directed
me to a Cingular Store, where SBC/Cingular customers are not even
acknowledged as Cingular users, to exchange the unit. The manager, after a
few minutes of grumbling, did exchange the device, however. In the several
months since then, I have continued to use the fast forward device, while
informally collecting statistics on its use.
1 of 4 attempts OK. In use, a successful connect and forward activity
occurs about one time in four. Of the other three attempts out of four, one
time will just lock up the phone requiring battery removal to restart it.
The other two times out of four, the Fast Forward device just beeps in
protest, and you have to press the cancel button, remove the phone and try
again. Just the "plug in" procedure is an exercise in manual dexterity
requiring a fair amount of practice.
Of course, the alternative forwarding method with this phone requires 15
joystick and button presses to enable and a similar number to cancel.
Again, a good idea, poorly executed.
Oh yes, one more thing. I cannot prove it yet, but I will have evidence at
the end of this billing cycle I think, that forwarded calls DO use your
Cingular minutes, so all you get for the forwarding is use of your other,
probably more convenient, phones.
It looks like Verizon, in spiter of their higher prices, may have to be my
next carrier.
"SBC" <lsblack@pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:4ZUtd.56600$QJ3.35015@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...
>I am sure you "get" (enabled) call forwarding for "free" which each
>carrier,
> but you have to pay per forwarded call, or per forwarded minute. Each
> carrier charges differently.
>
> Cingular is 10 cents a minute I believe. Cingular offers as an option,
> the
> fast-forwarding package, that is intended to be use with the included
> cradle, but also has unlimited call forwarding for the monthly $2.99(?)
> fee.
> This fee is waived with combined SBC billing.
>
> Lance
>
> "Dick" <LeadWinger> wrote in message
> news:8uefr09fl9gpr8q6csamhd4fbo49qolosc@4ax.com...
>> I just signed up with Cingular, and don't have the phone yet, however,
>> I picked up a brochure at a Cingular store today. It lists:
>>
>> Basic voicemail
>> Call forwarding
>> Call waiting
>> 3-way calling
>> Caller ID
>> Detailed billing
>> Text/Instant messaging (10-cents a message unless you pay extra)
>> Multimedia messaging (25-cents per message unless you pay extra)
>> Media net (1-cent per kilobyte unless you pay extra)
>>
>> This is for GSM National plans. Don't know if it would be different
>> for regional plans.
>>
>> On Wed, 8 Dec 2004 18:16:19 -0800, "Halogen8" <halogen8@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >I've been a wireless phone user for a long time now and it seems that
>> >wireless companies always included services such as call forwarding with
>> >just about all calling plans.
>> >
>> >For example Verizon includes these services:
>> >3-Way Calling
>> >411 Connect®
>> >Basic Voice Mail
>> >Call Forwarding
>> >Call WaitingCaller ID
>> >New Every Two®
>> >No Answer/Transfer
>> >TXT Messaging
>> >
>> >ATT gave free call forwarding as well.
>> >
>> >I was looking on the cingular page, and call forwarding is not listed as
> a
>> >service included with your plan. Is it truly the case that you have to
> pay
>> >for call forwarding with cingular?
>> >
>>
>>
>
>
>
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