I don't think there's a way to put this nicely, but the cell phone people know that if you don't realize that those musical ringtones are obnoxious, annoying and completely unnecessary, then you certainly won't care about paying 3 bucks for one.
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 04-26-2005, 07:30 PM:
Here here (or is it Hear hear?)
Musical ringtones are annoying. They are strictly for posers. I will eventually get another cell phone, but it will always be on vibrate... except when it's not. They should let you digitize your own sounds for a ring. I'd digitize an actual telephone ringing. It'd be the most unique "ring tone" evar! ppl would be like "OMG WTF is that noiz? OMG LOL!"
Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 04-26-2005, 07:38 PM:
Just get a symbian based phone and load the sounds onto a SD card. You can then select them as ringtones.
Posted by Sam Graham (Member # 2889) on 04-26-2005, 07:39 PM:
I actually work in the industry, so I figured I'd throw some tips in.
I would recommend visiting each of the carriers in your area (or their websites) and getting brochures that detail out coverage, rate plans, overage charges, and feature charges. I recommend this over asking a sales person about these things because the sales rep typically will answer exactly what you ask, nothing more, which can result in "surprises" you never thought to ask about.
Coverage is the first thing to look at. Will their available coverage suit your needs? I also can't emphasize enough asking everybody you know locally how their coverage is with their carrier in your area, because carriers can be "good" in one market but be "bad" in another. Sprint is a great example...I've never heard a complaint about their coverage in Eastern Iowa, and I've never heard anybody say a good thing about them in Des Moines.
Once you've limited that down, the second question is rate plans and features. Are you just needing to make and receive calls? Do you want to be able to text or use some sort of Internet services? How much time do you think you'll be using per month? And if it turns out you find yourself using significantly more or less time than expected, can you change rate plans without hassles?
When you've chosen a carrier (or limited it down), a good question to ask your sales rep is "If I am on (x) rate plan and do not have any overage, roaming, or long distance charges, what will my final monthly charge be, including taxes and any additional fees?" If they can't answer you definitively, leave immediately.
And if you plan on talking while driving, ask about Bluetooth-capable phones and headsets, which connect wirelessly. That's also not a bad idea if you plan to interface your computer and your handset for any reason.
BTW - you CAN make your own ringtones. Some phones include their own limited programs. Anybody with a MIDI keyboard or program can do it, because that's all those ringtones are. Even if your phone doesn't have connectivity to a PC, you can put together a cheap and dirty WAP site to download your own ringtone files from. And some new phones don't even need that...They'll play any MP3 file you place in your phone's memory as a ringtone. Record yourself saying "Dude, your phone's ringing" and upload it. That would mess with people.
Oh...There is actually a MIDI ringtone called "Old Phone". It sounds exactly like an old ringing telephone. And yes, it's been my standard ringtone for the past couple of years.
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 04-26-2005, 07:56 PM:
MIDI, eh? What sound bank (instrument sets) does it use? Quicktime? GM? Wingroove? Vocalwriter? Reason? MIDI never sounds the same on two different systems. I prefer Reason's sound bank, but it takes up 600 megs for all of the instrument samples. Add an additional 200 megs for the Reason program so you can set reverb, ambience, distortion effects, etc. But cell phones shouldn't have a problem holding that much data.
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 04-26-2005, 08:04 PM:
Ringtones should be outlawed. They are stupid and annoying. When I bought my last phone the guy started babbling about how many cool songs this one had and that one had and I had to cut him off and say "all I want is a phone that RINGS. If you can't find me one without these stupid songs, I won't purchase anything."
He had to look one by one through every phone in the place and right at the end found ONE that would ring normally. It was $200, but I bought it. So you people whining about your lame ring tones costing so much, look how much money I had to pay to get a phone without that stupid crap on it. That's highway robbery! ![[Mad]](mad.gif)
Posted by Thomas Dieter (Member # 2507) on 04-26-2005, 08:19 PM:
I've been with US Cellular (westcoast version of Cellularone), and I had no problems what so ever. Never went over my minutes, and never ran into service problems. I'm now with Cingular cause I joined a plan with my mother after I ran over my other phone, and could get it replaced cause I didn't have insurance. I have to say that I've yet to have a problem, but I do prefer US Cellular over Cingular. Sprint PCS I have never been fond of, and just about a year ago I convinced a friend of mine to switch to Cingular from Sprint cause they kept loosing his service, and billing him extra for things he didn't have.
As for ringtones, I try to keep mine simple. I go with the phone look, and then I find a ring tone that I like that's not annoying to me. I personally don't like flip phones. I really don't fancy the ability to have KORN or Hubastank playing for my ring tone. I wouldn't even know my phone was ringing if that happened. Well, you asked, I answered.
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 04-26-2005, 08:26 PM:
What brand is your phone, Brad? I'll have to keep them in mind when the time comes to fork over for a cell phone.
Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 04-26-2005, 09:19 PM:
When I got a new phone last summer, I picked a Sony Ericsson that was only like $30 after rebate. No camera. It works fine, although I now find I prefer the flip-phone I had before this one. It's annoying to have to lock the exposed keypad all the time (if I don't lock it, the buttons are always getting pressed by something or other). Battery life is excellent. And it has a built-in ring that sounds just like an old-fashioned phone. When I first got it, I downloaded 1 new ringtone: "Purple Haze". It was gawdawful bad, downright embarrassing. Jimi Hendrix would sue someone if he were still around. I've never used it.
Posted by Jason M Miller (Member # 2597) on 04-26-2005, 10:01 PM:
I use Nextel, before that I had Verizon, man I'm glad I got ride of that thing
Posted by Don Anderson (Member # 397) on 04-26-2005, 10:30 PM:
Josh, check the different packages from each provider. Check for sound quality. Check for all add on...such as ringtones,music downloads, etc. I've had Verizon for over 6 years, and have NEVER had one problem, other than a dropped call or two. The sound quality from Verizon is the best. Cingular sound quality is horrible, ATT isn't much better. Verizons Customer Service is very good. They have many different plans for every budget. I have the Nationwide plan, just in case I want to fly somewhere in the US, I'm not going to be charged for roaming. Check around and see what provider has the most towers in your area, chances are Verizon will have contracts with them so no roaming fees are tacked on. The roaming fees of any cellphone provider are the killers. Hopefully, you are not into all the little add on services that are available, they add up. Text messaging is just stupid. I can talk a helluva lot faster than typing. Types of phones vary from one seller to another. Hell, a phone is a phone! Most of the camera in them suck. Spend a day checking out different providers and phones in your area. See what areas they cover.Cell phone kiosk salespeople are worse than car salesmen!Can U hear Me now??????
Posted by Sam Graham (Member # 2889) on 04-27-2005, 07:16 AM:
David, your "old fashioned phone" ringtone is likely the same file I have, as it originated from Sony Ericsson.
Obviously, they're very simple MIDI tones. Cell phones have anywhere from a "4-note" capability up to 40 (most Sony Ericsson models). The "creation" programs on the cell phones aren't real MIDI creators, but programs that allow you to assemble pre-existing pieces. (Basically worthless.)
"Old Phone" sounds correct on 24-note or higher Nokias and all Sony Ericssons that have Polyphonic capability, but it sounds like crap on Motorolas.
Posted by Josh Jones (Member # 447) on 05-31-2005, 12:52 AM:
Well, as of now, I'm looking pretty hard at Verizon. The only thing that kinda pisses me off is that the cheapest individual plan they have is $40 a month, unless there is something I missed. Sprint was just as bad.
JJ
Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 05-31-2005, 01:17 AM:
If you're looking for cheaper than $40/month ... you'd probably be better off with a pay-as-you-go plan like Virgin Mobile.
Posted by System Notices (Member # 2357) on 01-13-2007, 10:26 PM:
It has been 592 days since the last post.
Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 01-13-2007, 10:26 PM:
Looks like Cingular is changing back to AT&T
AT&T to nix Cingular brand
Austin Business Journal - 10:20 AM CST Friday
Cingular Wireless LLC and its orange bouncing jack logo will soon start to slowly disappear.
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) will begin on Jan.15 the rebranding of Atlanta-based Cingular as simply "AT&T." As part of the rebranding, a new ad campaign will launch later this month and AT&T will hire 400 new retail associates in its stores over the next year to push an in-store "emerging media experience" to demonstrate products and services to consumers.
AT&T did not disclose the cost of the brand-transition campaign. GSD&M in Austin is managing the nationwide campaign, says AT&T spokeswoman April Borlinghaus. GSD&M also was one of the agencies of record for the re-branding campaign of the old SBC Communications Inc. and AT&T Corp.
Cingular became part of San Antonio-based AT&T when AT&T finalized its $85 billion purchase of BellSouth Corp. on Dec. 29. AT&T believes it will save 20 percent of operating expenses related to the AT&T/BellSouth merger from advertising, as all operations are moved under a single brand.
"Around the world, our customers recognize the AT&T brand for meaningful innovation, a commitment to customer service, high quality and exceptional reliability," says Edward E. Whitacre Jr., chairman and CEO of AT&T. "AT&T, BellSouth and Cingular are now one company, and going to market with our services under one brand is the right thing to do."
At first, new ads will feature both the Cingular orange jack logo and the blue AT&T globe logo. Cingular's "raising the bar" tagline will also be around a bit longer. Each transition campaign element will conclude with the Cingular and AT&T logos coming together while an announcer says, "Cingular is now the new AT&T." The broadcast spots will conclude with an animation in which the jack character appears to "skywrite" the AT&T globe.
As part of the re-branding, roughly 2,000 nationwide company-owned wireless retail outlets and store kiosks will transition in 2007 to AT&T-branded signage. The nearly 15,000 employees in these stores and kiosks will begin wearing AT&T-branded apparel in coming months.
Once the transition ends, the color orange will continue to be associated with AT&T's wireless services, while the Cingular brand will be phased out.
Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 01-15-2007, 12:27 PM:
Suncom is my current provider. I know they are affiliated with Triton PCS. I thought that Triton was a sub of AT&T also.. but not sure..
Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 01-15-2007, 06:44 PM:
My cell is with nTelos, a regional carrier. While they advertise a lot of plans, they will tailor a plan to your requirements. Mine has unlimited anytime minutes on their digital network plus 200 minutes off network per month for $49.
Their network coverage is excellent thru out Va. I frequently rack up 1500 to 2000 min. a month and rarely off net.
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I've found myself getting into unrelated conversations. When I got a new phone, I was given plenty of extra credits to redownload the "Get It Now" applications I had on the old one. When I broke my antenna off the new phone, tech support authorized free replacement... even though it wasn't covered by my insurance.
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you see people with them damned things GLUED to the side of their head, not paying attention to the rest of the world. And on top of it: can't live without it for a second.![[Razz]](tongue.gif)