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From: couric@mcgp1.uucp (Carl Couric)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Cellular Daily Roaming Surcharge $4.00 per Day?
Message-ID: <14415@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 6 Nov 90 17:17:48 GMT
Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu
Reply-To: couric@mcgp1.uucp
Organization: McCaw Cellular Communications, Inc., Seattle
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 795, Message 6 of 13


In article <14279@accuvax.nwu.edu> kaufman@neon.stanford.edu (Marc T.
Kaufman) writes:

>In article <14237@accuvax.nwu.edu> couric@mcgp1.uucp writes:

>>McCaw does not charge for incomplete calls, busy, or no
>>answers. That's nice considering you're using the radio spectrum to
>>find out if the number you want to talk to is available.

>Great.  What a fine, generous attitude.  I suppose when I dial New
>York from my home near San Francisco, I am *NOT* using radio spectrum
>or system resources to find out if the number I want to talk to is
>available.

Yes, you are! In fact, It is a generous attitude. Neither the long
distance company OR McCaw charge you. You are correct in that calling
New York will use Various radio spectrum, either Via Microwave or
Sattlelite. I don't mean to come off sounding harsh or rude. I just
want to say that the cellular company does not charge you, it the same
convience you already enjoy with your current hardline system.

>Bah!  This just reinforces my decision NOT to get a cellular phone.
>They're just like COCOTs, but they cost more.

It really depends on what you want. Why are we like a COCOT? I see
this as a convenience to go wireless, just like push button compared
to rotary. In some cases, its even cheaper than hardwire (I can show
physical proof :-).

Marc (and anyone else), still have questions on this, PLEASE reply or
call me. I hope I have shed some light on this subject.


Carl Couric    VAX System Manager
Florida Cellular One (McCaw Communications)
(305) 792-2355 x543

or Please reply to this account... ;-)


[Moderator's Note: You are quite correct that cellular calls are as
cheap as or cheaper than landline in many cases. When I tell people
that my Ameritech service allows me to call *anywhere* in northeastern
Illinoiis, from Wisconsin on the north to Morris, IL on the southwest
and parts of northern Indiana at the rate of 10 cents for the first
three minutes and ten cents a minute thereafter they can't believe it.
A four minute cellular call to a place forty miles distant costs 20
cents. On a 'genuine Bell' payphone the same call costs 50 cents!
People who know little or nothing about cellular service think I am a
wealthy person. My total monthly bill: $35-45, period. They look at me
and say 'is *that* all?' .... Yes, and I use it at least once or twice
daily. Cellular service is a definite answer to the COCOT menace.  PAT]