Recently in contract terms Category

There is a new voice plan in the Verizon Wireless Small Business toolbox. The Nationwide Small Business SharePlan, available starting May 17, gives customers shared Anytime Minutes, unlimited Mobile to Mobile calls to over 80 million other Verizon Wireless customers, and consolidated billing. With the plan, which starts at $69.99 per month for two lines and 700 minutes, customers have the option of adding lines for as low as $9.99 per month. The Nationwide Small Business SharePlan also comes with access to the My Business online account management tool, Small Business Specialists and online technical support 24/7.

AT&T has changed the terms of service for its wireless data plans restricting data access for Internet browsing, email and intranet access.

While "certain uses that cause extreme network capacity issues and interference with the network and are therefore prohibited" such as server devices or host computer applications, camera posts or broadcasts, peer-to-peer file sharing and devices that maintain continuous active Internet connections when a computer's connection would otherwise be idle or any "keep alive" functions.

"This means, by way of example only, that checking email, surfing the Internet, downloading legally acquired songs, and/or visiting corporate intranets is permitted, but downloading movies using P2P file sharing services, redirecting television signals for viewing on personal computers, web broadcasting, and/or for the operation of servers, telemetry devices and/or supervisory control and data acquisition devices is prohibited," state the new terms.

AT&T "reserves the right to deny, disconnect, modify and/or terminate Service, without notice, to anyone it believes is using the Service in any manner prohibited or whose usage adversely impacts its wireless network or service levels or hinders access to its wireless network..."

There is An Early Termination Fee of $175 for Data Connect Plans.  These changes are not good news for Sling media where people watch recorded video from a far. For example, the guy on the cruise ship that got a $28,000 data bill. Then there is the attorney who sued after she got her first bill of $5,000 for wireless data.

Alltel Wireless launched Alltel Mobile Advisor, a free application which is pre-loaded on a wide variety of handsets.

Alltel Mobile Advisor delivers a  platform that allows users to optimize their calling plans and respond to offers. Customers can also view instructional videos on how to use their handset features, all with a single click on their wireless phone.

Customers using Alltel Mobile Advisor can instantly experience the benefits, as they will have one-click access to a wide variety of applications of interest and a faster way to communicate. These offers include tones, wallpaper, ringbacks, games and text/data plans.

Alltel Mobile Advisor is pre-loaded on new Alltel handsets including the Samsung R800 and R600. Customers with other handsets, such as LG 830, LG AX260, LG AX585, MOTOKRAZR K1m, MOTORAZR V3c, MOTORAZR V3m, MOTORAZR V3a, Motorola Hint QA30, MOTOROKR Z6m, Samsung r510, Samsung u420, Samsung u520 and Samsung u706, can download the free application directly from the Alltel Shop.

Alltel Mobile Advisor is powered by VOCEL Interactive Messaging (VIM), a next generation mobile messaging platform that allows customers to respond to mobile alerts and offers with just one click.

Sprint is now offering a new plan that combines the Simply Everything with the productivity of wireless 3G for a laptop. The Simply Everything plan + Mobile Broadband gives customers unlimited text, picture and video messaging, GPS navigation, email and Web surfing on their phone - plus 5 GB of blazing Internet access on their laptop, all for $149.99 per month.

Their news release says that the plan is ideally suited for small businesses and consumers who live a mobile lifestyle and want to enhance their productivity by being connected just about anywhere they go, the Simply Everything plan + Mobile Broadband allows customers to use their Mobile Broadband Card or USB modem to get ultra-fast access to the Internet on their laptop. The plan offers a savings of $599 per year vs. comparable AT&T and Verizon plans.

Cricket Communications announced that Cricket coverage is now available in the greater Chicago area. Cricket will introduce its Cricket unlimited wireless services through the rollout of retail outlets on a geographic basis, completing the initial distribution footprint over the next 30 days. It looks like their plans may be the cheapest, best deals in the area, depending upon cell phone usage.

Cricket service will be available in the area through 10 Cricket retail stores, 100 exclusive dealers and 50 standard dealers, as well as online. They have just released the Cricket A100 and Kyocrea S1300.

Customers in Chicago, which is reportedly the largest Cricket market to date, will now have access to unlimited, feature-packed 3G wireless voice and broadband services. Also, there is now contiguous Cricket coverage stretching from over 60 miles south of Chicago in Kankakee to as far north as central Wisconsin.

Cricket has these special offers:

• $30 Online Special plan - includes unlimited anytime minutes, unlimited nights & weekends and caller ID.
  
• $35 Online Special plan - unlimited anytime minutes, US long distance and Caller ID for only $35 a month.
  
• $40 Plan with Unlimited local & long distance minutes + Unlimited text & picture messaging.
  
• $45 Unlimited Plan with unlimited Local and U.S Long Distance Calls, Unlimited Text, Picture and Instant Messaging.
  
• $50 Unlimited Everything Plan - Unlimited Local and U.S Long Distance Calls, Unlimited Mobile Web, Unlimited U.S. & Mexico Text, Picture and Instant Messaging, Unlimited Coverage in Cricket Markets, Voice Mail, Caller ID, Call Waiting and 3-Way Calling. Offer ends.
  

The best deal however, appears to be this one through our Wireless and Mobile News coupon-link which is the first month free with free shipping when you purchase a phone and plan online through this coupon-link.

TracFone Wireless, announced the launch of SafeLink Wireless in most of Georgia. SafeLink Wireless will serve as the company’s distribution of Lifeline - a U.S. government supported program for income eligible households that ensures telephone service is available and affordable for eligible low-income households.

The SafeLink Wireless service will provide eligible low-income households a free cell phone, mobile access to emergency services and free 68 minutes of air time, monthly, for one year. The cell phone offers in-demand features: voicemail, text, call waiting, international calling to over 60 destinations and caller ID.

<p>
  "Nearly half a million households in Georgia qualify for the Lifeline 
  services - offering these participants the opportunity to have the same 
  access and privileges many individuals take for granted when it comes to 
  using cell phones," said Jose Fuentes, Director of Government Relations 
  for TracFone. <br /></p><span class="bwunderlinestyle"></span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">To learn more about

SafeLink Wireless, including eligibility requirements, please call 1-800-977-3768 or visit safelinkwireless.com. You can get refill your Tracfone Wireless Airtime here.

According to Boy Genius Report and leaked Verizon documents, Verizon is ending it’s “worry-free” test drive program where you could get out of a contract in 30 days without paying for the air-time, usage and taxes when you changed carriers.

It’s hinted that some “people” would run up a high phone bill than bail out.  After February 15, customers who want get out of their contracts in the first thirty days will they still have to pay their bills. No Early Termination fee will be charged it the customer ends service within 30 days of sign-up.

Verizon is also changing the New Every Two program in which a discount is given on a new phone when a customer agrees to another 2-year contract. Presently, customers with a monthly calling plan that is $79.99 and greater receive a $100 NE2 discount on a new handset. Starting Febraury 15, that discount will be reduced to $50. Customers with a monthly calling plan of $34.99 to $79.98 will receive a $30 discount instead of the current $50.

The free smartphone arena is heating up as retailers both online and big-box discount are offering the AT&T BlackBerry Bold for FREE with a new service agreement and the "unlimited" plan.

The BlackBerry Bold Unlimted service requires

• At least a 1350 minute talk plan (single or family)  that runs $79.99 a month.
  
• Unlimited text messaging $20.00 a month
• The required BlackBerry data plan at least $30.00 at month without the ability to tether the BlackBerry Bold as a modem.

The minimun monthly cost for the freebie is $129.99

LetsTalk.com is offering a free ( 1 cent) BlackBerry Bold: Unlimited Package (AT&T) with a rebate, two year contract and the unlimited service.  It is also available at Walmart

Reviews have been postive for the BlackBerry Bold.  While many speculate that BlackBerry Storm from Verizon will also be offered for free with big data plans.  For some strange reason, technophiles don't like the fact the Wal-Mart highly discounts smartphones and they have turned it into a big controversry.

Leap Wireless International, and MetroPCS Communications, Inc. announced today that they have entered into a national roaming agreement and an agreement to exchange wireless spectrum, and have settled all outstanding litigation between them.

Verizon Wireless customers who don't want to sign a one- or two-year customer agreement now have a month-to-month option.

With Verizon Wireless' new Month-to-Month agreement customers purchase new devices at full-retail price, or use their own CDMA devices without the commitment of a one- or two-year contract. Also, customers can terminate their agreement at the end of any month without paying an Early Termination Fee.

AT&T now offers a wireless policy portal to help customers  locate and understand the most frequently sought information about their wireless service.

When you enter the portal, you can view policies in five categories and browse a timeline of AT&T's customer-focused wireless policies dating back to 1983. The portal shows AT&T customers easy-to-find information at www.att.com/wirelesspolicies.

Srint Nextel now has an online self-service tool that allows consumer customers to analyze their wireless usageto determine if their current plan is the right "fit."

The Sprint Plan Optimizer, available at www.sprint.com/planfit, gives customers a view of their historical cost and usage trends.

After viewing a month-to-month analysis of usage and costs, customers can opt to "Analyze My Plan." If Sprint Plan Optimizer finds a better plan to fit the customer's usage pattern, a plan change is suggested. Customers may then complete any desired plan changes directly online.

 Alltel Wireless, is making it easier and affordable to bundle popular applications with  Alltel Connect Packs. With five bundles to choose from, Alltel is providing customers a wide variety of options to customize their phone to meet their specific needs and budget.

Starting at only $9.99 per month for unlimited web and data wih, Alltel Connect Pack 1 with progressively more services  services which can save up to 40 percent on their monthly bill.

Alltel Connect Packs are available to customers with current postpaid rate plans of $39.99 and higher with capable phones.

Verizon now offers information about its Nationwide Messaging plans in online videos in American Sign Language (ASL) to better serve customers who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The videos feature Tom Boudrow of the Marlboro, Mass.-based Verizon Center for Customers with Disabilities, using American Sign Language to answer frequently asked questions about Verizon Wireless' Nationwide Messaging plans. The video clips can be viewed at http://aboutus.vzw.com/accessibility/nationwide_faq.html.

Verizon is going to offer a bundle discount to wireless customers with Verizon DSL or FIOS.  The discounts will range from $8 to $21 a month, depending on the wireless contract.

The Associated Press reported that the discount applies to DSL service with downloads at 3 megabits per second, and to FIOS broadband at up to 20Mbps, other faster broadband options do not qualify.

A new service online service Skydeck  helps people to take control of their cell phones and their cell phone bills. Skydeck unlocks the  information hidden in a cell phone bill. Their software fetches  bills from the cell phone company and combines that information with the customer's address book to show the name with the phone number, allowing customers to search and organize calls the way their email is searched and organized. There is also a social networking feature.

In the future, Skydeck plans to introduce a range of products and services that will help consumers and small businesses to get maximum value out of their cell phones and we will charge a fee for some of these. But the current version of Skydeck is free to individual consumers and always will be.

Sprint announced it will launch a domestic unlimited pricing plan that gives customers unlimited voice, data, text, e-mail, Web-surfing, Sprint TV, Sprint Music, GPS Navigation, Direct Connect and Group Connect for $99.99 a month. The new pricing plan is available to existing and new customers beginning tomorrow.

“This is a bold, unprecedented move,” said Dan Hesse, president and CEO, Sprint Nextel. “Wireless today is about much more than just voice. It is about data services - texting, email, video, pictures, music, navigation, surfing the Web and more. Customers want these applications, but without complexity and without having to worry about their bill. The $99.99 Simply Everything plan delivers it all right to the palm of their hand now.

The $99.99 Simply Everything plan is available to customers on both Sprint’s CDMA and iDEN networks. Existing Sprint customers can switch to the Simply Everything plan without extending their current contract either by contacting Sprint customer service or by stopping by any participating Sprint retail location. New line activations require a two-year agreement.

U.S. Cellular announced the addition of a $99 unlimited national calling plan for new and existing customers to offer convenience and service to both consumer and business customers.  The new national plan allows customers to make unlimited voice calls.

“We recognize that cell phones are critical to helping customers keep connected with the people and activities that matter most to them,” said Jay Ellison, executive vice president and COO of U.S. Cellular.

In addition to the unlimited national calling plan, U.S. Cellular offers a $14.95 unlimited texting plan and a $9.95 unlimited easyedge data package to provide customers with a variety of services to satisfy their individual needs. The company also offers a wide variety of plans that include unlimited free incoming calls and texts.

Information on this limited-time offer will soon be available to customers at www.uscellular.com or at local retail stores.

AT&T, also announced an unlimited plan today:

AT&T Inc. announced new unlimited wireless voice plans for $99.99 a month for unlimited U.S. calling on all devices with no domestic roaming or long distance charges. The plans can be combined with any current wireless data plan.

The new plans, available Feb. 22, can be ordered at one of AT&T’s 2,200 company-owned retail stores and kiosks, at www.att.com, or at one of the thousands of authorized AT&T retail locations. Existing customers can choose unlimited calling without extending their contract. New customers have the option of a month-to-month, 12 or 24 month contract.

As with other voice calling plans, AT&T customers can choose from a variety of data and messaging plans to meet their needs. For example, customers with standard wireless phones* can choose a data plan such as $5 for 200 text, picture, video and instant messages or $35 for unlimited messaging and MEdia Net access.

“We are pleased to offer our customers these great new plans that deliver value and simplified pricing,” said Ralph de la Vega, president & CEO, AT&T Mobility. “This is a highly competitive market and we’re committed to moving fast to meet customer needs.”

*Standard wireless phones do not include smartphones or PDAs or the iPhone.