Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: Monty Solomon Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Cellular Phones Inquiry Message-ID: <9713@accuvax.nwu.edu> Date: 14 Jul 90 06:09:30 GMT Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu Organization: TELECOM Digest Lines: 23 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 482, Message 11 of 11 Some friends and I are looking to buy several cellular phones. Which are the best portables? Best transportables? What is the best way to evaluate the quality of cellular phones? Many of the stores here have tie-in deals where you must use a particular cellular phone company for at least three (3) months. Aren't these tie-in deals illegal? The phones are much cheaper when bought this way due to the subsidies from the phone companies. Thanks for any and all advice and comments. [Moderator's Note: The tie-in deals are only illegal in California, although some such deals, like one Ameritech had (still has?) with Fretters is pretty obnoxious and should be illegal in my opinion. Obviously if you expect to get the cellular company to subsidize your purchase, you should expect they will want a commitment to their service. But there are so many cellular phone agents around, surely you can find one selling phones you like requiring commitments to the carrier you prefer to use. PT]