Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!linac!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!srhqla!quad1!ttidca!sorgatz From: sorgatz@ttidca.TTI.COM ( Avatar) Newsgroups: sci.electronics Subject: Re: Cellular Phones of the Future Message-ID: <21479@ttidca.TTI.COM> Date: 28 Nov 90 23:44:34 GMT References: <6571@bgsu-stu.UUCP> <6220026@hpcupt1.cup.hp.com> Organization: Citicorp/TTI, Santa Monica Lines: 32 In article <6220026@hpcupt1.cup.hp.com> dclaar@hpcupt1.cup.hp.com (Doug Claar) writes: +..I know lots of people that would love a cellular phone, but just can't +afford it. Many of these people are NOT "techies," though they are +probably more technical than someone in East Overshoe, Montana. Point well taken. I have long lamented the high cost involved in aquiring and operating a cellular phone. It just seems unreasonable that the phones cost so much and that the service is so expensive. The best prices seldom fall below $400 for a new, quality instrument. Used prices are a little better, and sometimes a real-deal comes by..as was the case when I bought my "AudioVox CM400". A friend had purchased a used truck that had the unit installed, it was not working and the seller claimed the unit had been modified or "chipped" for free service! It wasn't a stolen phone, but it had been reprogrammed to avoid the normal charges..(too complicated to explain!) I bought the unit out of curiosity, for $100.00 cash. One of our local cellular dealers checked the unit out, making sure that the Electronic Serial Number was not one that had ever been listed as a stolen property. I was assured that even if it was, there would be no real problem with returning the unit to it's rightful owner. They also reprogrammed it for normal service and established a legit number for me. All at no charge! The actual costs of going cellular involve a $50 fee, $25 of which the local dealer rebated me. The plan I picked provides full-time access, for $25/month, prime-time minutes costing $0.90, and off-peak minutes at $0.20 -- Erik K. Sorgatz Citicorp(+)TTI 3100 Ocean Park Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405 {csun | philabs | psivax}!ttidca!sorgatz