In my experience, picking a cellular provider, plan and phone is about as much fun as a root canal. There are just way too many pricing options, rules, requirements, etc. for anyone but the most... More

In my experience, picking a cellular provider, plan and phone is about as much fun as a root canal. There are just way too many pricing options, rules, requirements, etc. for anyone but the most aggressive and detail-oriented shopper to feel confident in a decision. Against that backdrop, I can't attest to the competivess of Cingular's rates, the breadth of the phone selection, or the quality of the customer service. What I can tell you is that I've used Cingular (and before them AT&T Wireless) for years and have never had any major issues with the phone service. I've even taken my phone (GSM) to the UK and Australia where it worked fine. So, if dropped calls and connection quality are issues that matter a lot to you (they are to me) then I suggest giving Cingular a try.
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I don't know about their regular service, but the GoPhone did not work out well for me. The phone I received was cheap and annoying to use. Also, the billing was screwed up pretty much every month... More

I don't know about their regular service, but the GoPhone did not work out well for me. The phone I received was cheap and annoying to use. Also, the billing was screwed up pretty much every month I had the phone which required me to spend countless hours on the phone with customer service to get things straightened out. It always ended up working out, which is positive, but overall it was a bad experience and I would not recommend the GoPhone to anyone else. A friend of mine has the pay as you go with T-Mobile and she has been very pleased with it. That may be a better option.
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Ahhh, I found a place where I share my rant. You know the feeling. You get shafted by a business, and swear you'll tell everyone you know, but then realize you don't know enough people to make it... More

Ahhh, I found a place where I share my rant. You know the feeling. You get shafted by a business, and swear you'll tell everyone you know, but then realize you don't know enough people to make it hurt. Anyhow, those who are interested, AT&T will fleece ya if you are not careful. I guess you you can associate them with CIngular since they were bought out. I signed up in Cali, and called them before making the move to Washington to ensure my service would be fine transferring over. However, once I got here, AT&T tried to force me to buy a new phone and renew with CIngular. I went from something like 400 anytime minutes, with unlimited nights and weekend for 40 bucks to being forced to take an option that only had anytime minutes period. No nights and weekends, and NO long distance. What the heck. As if it costs them anything. And they couldn't understand that no, I don't want to pay for another phone, I just want to be able to continue using my service on my old terms through the end of my contract. No customer service there.
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I tried Cingular because they had a good deal on a phone I wanted and while the phone was cool, I couldn't talk on the phone inside my house in Seattle or inside my building at work. I switched to... More

I tried Cingular because they had a good deal on a phone I wanted and while the phone was cool, I couldn't talk on the phone inside my house in Seattle or inside my building at work. I switched to Verizon and have never had any problems.
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I'd been with AT&T Wireless forever when it switched to Cingular; at least 6-7 years. I've never left mainly because I always want a new plan and/or phone before my contract with them ends. Of... More

I'd been with AT&T Wireless forever when it switched to Cingular; at least 6-7 years. I've never left mainly because I always want a new plan and/or phone before my contract with them ends. Of course then have you start over a 1-2 year agreement with them each time... My coverage in Seattle (and when I lived in SF/Berkeley) has always been great, except wen I upgraded to a digital phone before their network was up to par. Even when travelling I usually have more bars than most folks. But MAN! Could dealing with the company sales and Customer Service people be any worse?! Whether its an erroneous billing or a simple question, I've rarely left each experience with them without having a new knot in my shoulders and a nervous tic or two. _IF_ they end up correcting anything it's such a painful process that I regret having taken it with them to begin with. Things are tolerable as long as I only need to make & receive calls. Otherwise...oof.
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