Will Cingular's Merger With AT&T Affect You? By J. Lloyd

Will Cingular's Merger With AT&T Affect You?
By J. Lloyd

Cingular is now the "New AT&T." You may have heard this on the television as they are now advertising this new merger of the two companies. What does this mean for the average consumer? If you were a Cingular customer, will you have to purchase a new phone instrument or sign a new contract? The answer to this question is a resounding, "no." You have to do anything to remain a customer.

Why use Cingular?

Well, according to their literature, they are the best cellular phone company in America today. They tout that "no other carrier compares" to their outstanding service. They claim that they have a fewest dropped calls, unlimited mobile to mobile calling, and roll over minutes.

Roll Over Minutes

One of the best features of is their roll over minutes. No other cellular company offers roll over minutes. Your minutes accumulate for up to 12 months so that you can use them at your discretion.

So, how do you know if this is the company you want to use and the one that will meet your needs? The different plans they offer vary in cost depending upon the number of minutes you want to purchase for each month, if you want more than phone, if you want the family plan or if you want special features.

You can spend as little as $40 or several hundred dollars for your instrument. The final cost will depend upon whether you sign a 1-year or a 2-year contract with the company. The 2-year contract locks you in for a longer period of time, but it does provide you with the best final price on the telephone instrument.

The best way to get started is to determine what features you really want or need. Think practical. While games, music players, video records, and cameras are standard on many, do you really need these? Think about what you will actually use.

Some of the most popular features include volume controls, speed dialing, voice activation, hands free ability, and the capability to change your ring tone to vibrate or to very loud or very soft.

You should also take a 'hands-on' approach when selecting your phone. Go to the store and play with the phones. See if it is comfortable to hold in your hand and if it is easy to talk on. Does it fit well into your purse or easily clip onto your belt? Selecting a new wireless service provider, a plan and a new telephone requires some research on your part.

There are many different carriers, plans and options available for the consumer today and without adequate knowledge and planning you may be purchasing items that you will never need or use.

Think ahead; know what you want, and make an informed decision before you sign a contract. You will not be sorry that you took the extra time to fully understand what is offered and what you really need in a Cingular cellular phone.

For more cell phone information please visit http://www.cellphonerap.com - a popular cell phone website that provides tips, advice and cell phone resources. Don't forget to check out our page on the Cingular cell phone.

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AT&T Unity Cell Phone Plan Joins Cell, Landlines By Thomas Arouet

AT&T Unity Cell Phone Plan Joins Cell, Landlines
By Thomas Arouet

AT&T is back in the wireless business: and with the launch of the Unity plan, AT&T is already showing its traditional spirit of innovation. Announced on January 19, 2007, AT&T Unity will, in one sweep, create the largest free, unlimited-calling community in America.

The name AT&T has been absent from the cell phone marketplace for a few years, after its name had been replaced by Cingular Wireless. Now, a recent merger between AT&T and BellSouth has changed the situation. In the course of 2007, the AT&T brand will gradually replace the Cingular Wireless trade-name.

And with the announcement of the Unity plan, the name AT&T Wireless is reentering the cell phone market with a bang.

The AT&T Unity Plan: Unlimited Free Calling From and To Cell Phone and Wirelines
The main feature of the AT&T Unity plan is that is allows customers to place and receive unlimited calls to all AT&T and Cingular Wireless cell phone numbers as well as to all AT&T wirelines.

While, previously, unlimited cell phone calling was only available to other cell phones within the same network, the AT&T Unity program extends this benefit to all lines, including wireless, wirelines or land-lines, homes, businesses--in short, any phone number on the AT&T or Cingular network. By doing so, it also offers subscribers a single, consolidated phone bill that includes both the cell phone and land line.

With the size of the AT&T customer base, this is a real, tangible advantage for tens of millions of individual customers and families. "More than two years ago, Cingular Wireless, now the new AT&T, raised the bar by creating the largest unlimited wireless calling community in America," said Edward E.

Whitacre Jr., chairman and CEO of AT&T. "[This is] a feat no competitor has been able to duplicate. With AT&T Unity, we are raising the bar even higher by adding unlimited domestic calling to and from AT&T wireline customers."

And by consolidating the user's or family's cell phone and land-line bill, the new AT&T Unity offers convenience as well as an easy way to keep communication costs efficient and under control.

Signing Up for the AT&T Unity Plans
The AT&T Unity plan has been made available starting January 21, 2007. It may be purchased by qualified AT&T and Cingular Wireless subscribers who are also signed up for AT&T wireline services. AT&T Unity is available both as an individual plan and as a family plan; users can choose between different levels offering up to 6,000 anytime minutes, nationwide long distance, roaming, voice mail, call forwarding, call waiting, 3-way calling and caller ID.

AT&T Unity is available to qualified cell phone, business and residential customers; however, it may not be purchased in conjunction with a prepaid cell phone, it is not yet available in all areas, and specific features may vary by region.

To find out more about AT&T Unity cell phone plans, you can visit Wirefly.com, where you can get interesting cell phone deals on most of today's brands and carriers. You can also visit directly the cell phone plans page to compare AT&T plans with other cell phone plans from other carriers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Arouet