Latest Update on Cellular One and AT&T?
Posted August 23rd, 2007 @ 10:33pm by Erik J. Barzeski
I haven't heard anything more on the AT&T buyout of Cellular One. Back in June, it was said the buyout would be completed around December or January.
Our last contract (of the three phones we have with CellOne) ends in mid-November, so the timing works out nicely if so. Ideally, I could begin using my iPhone, my wife could perhaps get one for herself, and her parents could simply get a new phone.
Local Cellular One employees don't seem to know anything, and various Web searches haven't turned up anything either. So, are there updates, and if so, where might I find them, dangit?!?!
Donate Life
Posted 24 Aug 2007 at 3:22pm #
Not sure if there is anything new since the announcement but this forum seems to be pretty good for keeping up to day on cell phone related items:
Howard Forums .
or the AT&T Forum is here.
Posted 05 Sep 2007 at 7:10pm #
CellOne sent out a letter to us saying that the merger with AT&T was coming in the next few months. No concrete date though.
Posted 04 Oct 2007 at 10:08pm #
The local CellOne store in my area said December-January area. Stupid AT&T booted us off of their network for "off-network usage" of about 60% because CellOne DCS wouldn't allow AT&T to use their tower anymore, so AT&T ended our contract w/ no fees and Subsidy unlocked our phones, and then sent us to CellOne. Stupid thing: 4-5 more months and we would be AT&T again anyway, but just try talking to the 611 people....
Posted 12 Oct 2007 at 9:52am #
Yeah I just tried to check how many minutes I had left on my phone by calling 611 like I always do. I have cellular one but when I dialed the 611 from my cell phone it connected w/ AT&T's customer service....The guy I talked to suggested I called the 1800 number for cell one, which I did and that didnt work either lol. Kind of sucks when you cant even get a hold of customer service to check minutes, pay bill etc.
Posted 17 Oct 2007 at 5:53pm #
Aaron
The reason you got AT&T Customer service is because the tower that you hit with your phone was an AT&T tower, and the switch did not recognize your number as a Cell One number. Therefore the system assumed since the tower you hit was AT&T you were AT&T.
It has nothing to do with the merger.
Erik
You might have to wait a bit after Day One ogf the merger to use your Iphone while AT&T makes all the network adjustments. Depending what happens in your area, you might not be able to use your Iphone on the AT&T network until spring...
Posted 24 Oct 2007 at 3:17pm #
Cellularone employees nor At&t employees have no information on the merger because it is in the hands of the FCC. They will not allow any information out until the close of the 2 companies. It is all speculation until the FCC approves the merger.
Posted 24 Nov 2007 at 12:38pm #
👿 I spoke with Cell One last night Att's aquistion goes into effect on December 9th then it gets good after that,As long as your contract with cell one is not up or anything of that nature then ATT will acknowlwege cell ones customers.But if a contract change in minutes or a cell one customer wants to upgrade to the i-phone then they must take a contract with ATT.Also if you switch to ATT the phones with celluar one will be no good so you will have to buy new phones.The reason behind that as i was told is because ATT phones are locked even though they take a sim card were cell ones phones are unlocked and wont work on the ATT network.I have even begun to be ticked off,after a year no mater what you must then convert to the new att plans which guys gals they do not have unlimited plans at all.When you call the 611 number after December 9th you will be diverted to the att call center.Now what they dont know is whether you will be able to try phones for 30 days like cell one does or whether ATT will change this policy also.Also something about December 27th which has to do with contracts,last but not least ATT does not offer pre-paid phones so anyone on a cell one pre=paid will be lost.I have a 1000 minute unlimted plan plus my phone i have right now which i bought in may 2005 the V555 i cannot upgrade till 2008 and this phone is toasted.so unlike some they are safe others like myself will have to look to buy a phone on ebay so i can stay at my minutes.There you go:The aquistion was done last thursday but the FCC still has to approve,the total turaround is december 9th.Cell one is asking alot of customers not to buy phones until after the 9th since some plans will not be honored.I want a I-Phone bad but to stay in my contracted minutes I need to find it online through ebay.Hope that helps all.Hate the merger.
Posted 25 Nov 2007 at 9:47pm #
[quote comment="44555"]:evil: I spoke with Cell One last night Att's aquistion goes into effect on December 9th then it gets good after that,As long as your contract with cell one is not up or anything of that nature then ATT will acknowlwege cell ones customers.But if a contract change in minutes or a cell one customer wants to upgrade to the i-phone then they must take a contract with ATT.Also if you switch to ATT the phones with celluar one will be no good so you will have to buy new phones.The reason behind that as i was told is because ATT phones are locked even though they take a sim card were cell ones phones are unlocked and wont work on the ATT network.I have even begun to be ticked off,after a year no mater what you must then convert to the new att plans which guys gals they do not have unlimited plans at all.When you call the 611 number after December 9th you will be diverted to the att call center.Now what they dont know is whether you will be able to try phones for 30 days like cell one does or whether ATT will change this policy also.Also something about December 27th which has to do with contracts,last but not least ATT does not offer pre-paid phones so anyone on a cell one pre=paid will be lost.I have a 1000 minute unlimted plan plus my phone i have right now which i bought in may 2005 the V555 i cannot upgrade till 2008 and this phone is toasted.so unlike some they are safe others like myself will have to look to buy a phone on ebay so i can stay at my minutes.There you go:The aquistion was done last thursday but the FCC still has to approve,the total turaround is december 9th.Cell one is asking alot of customers not to buy phones until after the 9th since some plans will not be honored.I want a I-Phone bad but to stay in my contracted minutes I need to find it online through ebay.Hope that helps all.Hate the merger.[/quote]
That's all not completely true. The Cell One call centers will remain open through the end of 2008. You will retain your plan even if your contract expires. CellOne is still making offers to customers to extend thier contracts. Cingular took over AT&T in 2004/5 and there are customers still in their "Blue" plans - you keep your plan as long as your phone works, or you replace your phone.
That being said, AT&T mobility is business, and there will be a point where it no longer cost effective to keep the remaining hundred or so customers on expired rate plans and then will force you to move or cancel. By that time everyone else (1.69 million or so...) is going to be sporting new AT&T mobility phones...yes, when you do finally make the choice to go to AT&T mobility you will have to sign a new 1/2 yr agreement(depending on the circumstance). But once you're in, you can change your plan in the AT&T plans without having to sign a new contract. I *believe* the only time you are required to sign a new agreement is in exchange for a discount on a new phone at this time.
Seriously, if you wanna see how AT&T treats thier customers look at Verizon...if they offer customer a no contract plan change on Monday morning, you better believe AT&T is going to be doing that tuesday afternoon.
If you are a cell one customer please don't expect to have everything change over night. That works both ways - you're plan isn't gonna change unless you want it to (for now) and you're not going to be able to put an iPhone on your Cell One plan.
Oh yeah, if you get an unlocked iPhone with CellOne, you have to go through Apple support to get it to work. Even though CellOne has been purchased by AT&T mobility, there are two seperate networks. I'm guessing that around May/June 2008 the IPhone will be available to Cell One people as customers begin the migration to the AT&T bill system. Would recommend being patient on that , but if you want it bad enough, lots of luck.
Posted 26 Nov 2007 at 8:41am #
[quote comment="44583"]Oh yeah, if you get an unlocked iPhone with CellOne, you have to go through Apple support to get it to work.[/quote]
A lot of what you said is correct, but this portion is not: Apple will want nothing to do with you at that point. If you have an unlocked iPhone, you're on your own.
[quote comment="44583"]Even though CellOne has been purchased by AT&T mobility, there are two seperate networks.[/quote]
Yeah, kind of, but not really. CellOne and AT&T have had a roaming agreement for over a decade. The transition will be pretty smooth.
[quote comment="44583"]I'm guessing that around May/June 2008 the IPhone will be available to Cell One people as customers begin the migration to the AT&T bill system.[/quote]
January, 2008. I was told as soon as mid-December, in fact, so I'm padding that by saying 2008. Not every CellOne store will carry the iPhone in-store, but you can buy one anywhere (Apple's online store) and they'll be able to set up your account appropriately.
Because I was already month-to-month, I "switched" to AT&T. They waived all activation fees since they admitted I was basically already "their" customer. All three phones on my plan were month-to-month.
Posted 26 Nov 2007 at 5:53pm #
I have a two year contract that I got 5 months ago. So, will I beable to switch my phone to an Iphone with no problems, or will I have to pay to cancle a contract and switch to At&t and get a contract signed?
Posted 26 Nov 2007 at 5:59pm #
[quote comment="44600"]I have a two year contract that I got 5 months ago. So, will I beable to switch my phone to an Iphone with no problems, or will I have to pay to cancle a contract and switch to At&t and get a contract signed?[/quote]
Just buy the iPhone from Apple and then add the iPhone Data option to your existing plan for $20/month. You'll have to wait until AT&T is aware of CellOne's customers (and your plan), but that should work.
Or go into a CellOne and tell them you want out of your contract so that you can sign up an iPhone with AT&T. They might not care since they were just bought out anyway. Be nice.
Posted 29 Nov 2007 at 1:08pm #
I drove by the cellone here in town in missouri on my way to school and it had signs "the new at&t" covering up the cellone signs.
Posted 29 Nov 2007 at 3:33pm #
im a new hire for cellone/at&t and at the last training meeting they said that dec. 9th is the date. also all existing cellone customers are able to upgrade there equipment to the new at&t how ever the iphone is not being sold at all locations.
Posted 09 Dec 2007 at 12:19am #
yes! the day is almost here! in a little over 12 hours I will finally have an iPhone! i've waited for 5 months for this day and its finally here.
Posted 16 Feb 2008 at 8:45pm #
our cellone office hasnt changed and its almost mid feburary. anyone know why?
Posted 22 Mar 2008 at 1:02pm #
i have hellone oh sorry cellone but anyway its late march and im in western pennsylvania and i went in to a radioshack store and they told me that i have to upgrade to att and then i went in to the att store and they said yes i do and if i dont i will start noticing coverage changes. i havent seen any recent posts so i figured i would keep everyone updated. if you have cellone you have to upgrade to att in order to get the iphone. and you cannot extend your contract with cellone or sign a new one. you have to upgrade and if you recently signed a cellone contract right before the merge [if u sined october 2007 - december8 2007] you will not be able to finish it. i will not return to this website so if you would like anymore info please call 724-679-1152 to contact me or e-mail me at tjac@zoominternet.net Also for the iphone if you buy one at the apple store you must get an att contract there. and you have to change youre att plan to an iphone plan if you want an iphone and this will not effect your contract. plus when you get or have a contract you can change your plan and not have to sign a new contract. plus if you want to get out of youre contract you have to pay 20$ a month for the remander of youre contract. i also have info about t-mobile sprint verizon and virgin mobile that you cant find out online. if you would like that info plz contact me at the number or e-mail above. thanks
Posted 24 Mar 2008 at 8:13am #
[quote comment="44652"]I drove by the cellone here in town in missouri on my way to school and it had signs "the new at&t" covering up the cellone signs.[/quote]
ya thats the point of a sell out 🙄
Posted 05 Apr 2008 at 8:00pm #
[quote comment="44600"]I have a two year contract that I got 5 months ago. So, will I beable to switch my phone to an Iphone with no problems, or will I have to pay to cancle a contract and switch to At&t and get a contract signed?[/quote]
you do not have to pay. all you have to do is sign an agreement and a two year contract with att. {an activation charge will be charged.} all cellone customers are eligible to do this. 😆
Posted 05 Apr 2008 at 8:01pm #
[quote comment="46030"]our cellone office hasnt changed and its almost mid feburary. anyone know why?[/quote]
yours is not part of the new att. ❗
Posted 28 Jul 2008 at 10:53pm #
Anyone know about the agreements between T-Mobile and Cell One and/or AT&T? I have T-Mobile and I roam with "Cellular One DCS" in Western Maryland. AT&T has great service here... so why can't T-Mobile let me roam with AT&T instead of Cell One - after all I'm told they have roaming agreements... and actually, Cell One and AT&T both have about the same service where I live... but when I travel elsewhere, AT&T is usually the leader (most of my friends have AT&T and they like to rub it in my face)... but I usually roam with Cell One! My phone did roam once with AT&T somewhere in central PA -- so I know it CAN, but why can't T-Mobile allow me to pick up AT&T elsewhere all the time? This whole "market area" thing is bull! National wireless coverage EVERYWHERE --how hard is that after almost 20 years of building up networks?!
Additionally, the only reason I'm with T-Mobile (which is still pretty crappy unless you live in a big city) is because with their HotSpot@Home I get full service at home all the time -which is pretty great seeing as something like 65% of cell phone users don't have full service at home? (not sure of that statistic) ...but I only get about one bar at my house without the HotSpot (wireless Internet)... which I guess is another issue because there is still a lot of people in the US without access to high-speed Internet... but that's for another blog!
Yeah, I just wish cell carriers would get off their behinds and make an effort to make their networks better... trying to "switch" and "merge" is wasting time and money, and creating confusion and angry consumers.... 😐 ...I'm all for mergers... but not when it takes so long, isn't a full merger, and messes up roaming agreements (again with the whole confusion thing) - because it isn't making them *BETTER*
Posted 07 Sep 2009 at 9:31am #
We have Cell one and are running without a contract off of AT&T. They say around 2nd week of oct 09 we will no longer be able to get any reception? At&T is unable to match the old Cell One package
Posted 16 Aug 2011 at 7:06pm #
Wow. I didn't even know cellular one still existed in 2007. I sold cell phones back in '99-01 and cellular one was a very distant 2nd competitor to Verizon in my area. I didn't hear anything about them after around 2002. For some reason I thought Cingular bought them, before becoming At&T ( again, kinda).