Comments on: Cellphones in US - Sucks http://www.arjunprabhu.com/blog/archives/2006/03/15/cellphones-in-us-sucks/ A blog about the happenings around me! - arjun prabhu Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:05:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: ASYA http://www.arjunprabhu.com/blog/archives/2006/03/15/cellphones-in-us-sucks/#comment-33503 ASYA Tue, 16 Jan 2007 19:53:53 +0000 http://www.arjunprabhu.com/blog/archives/2006/03/15/cellphones-in-us-sucks/#comment-33503 Hello,My name is Asya Perry and I wanted to know could I get a free cell phone without putting in my social security or my credit card number or the phone doesn't have to be free?If so could you direct me to the place that does that? Thank You! Hello,My name is Asya Perry and I wanted to know could I get a free cell phone without putting in my social security or my credit card number or the phone doesn’t have to be free?If so could you direct me to the place that does that? Thank You!

]]> By: anonym http://www.arjunprabhu.com/blog/archives/2006/03/15/cellphones-in-us-sucks/#comment-14654 anonym Thu, 17 Aug 2006 16:40:01 +0000 http://www.arjunprabhu.com/blog/archives/2006/03/15/cellphones-in-us-sucks/#comment-14654 all fine....what abt the free unlimited domestic calls within US and canada that service providers offer here after 9 and on weekends????what abt the family plans they offer??? do any of the providers in India offer that??? std frm cells sucks in India.....they just rob all this coz there still isnt enuf competition to drive service providers all fine….what abt the free unlimited domestic calls within US and canada that service providers offer here after 9 and on weekends????what abt the family plans they offer??? do any of the providers in India offer that???
std frm cells sucks in India…..they just rob
all this coz there still isnt enuf competition to drive service providers

]]> By: IM http://www.arjunprabhu.com/blog/archives/2006/03/15/cellphones-in-us-sucks/#comment-12814 IM Mon, 17 Jul 2006 13:10:08 +0000 http://www.arjunprabhu.com/blog/archives/2006/03/15/cellphones-in-us-sucks/#comment-12814 "In US, almost all the providers ask you to sign a 1 year or 2 year contract. In India … “What contract?? Are you kidding?”" Well, the contract is required only for the post-paid plan and you get a nice phone for free, or better than free (you get some money back after rebates etc.) Please chack out various offers available at www.amazon.com. Have a phone already and spend very limited time on phone? Then get a pre-paid service and there are no contracts. “In US, almost all the providers ask you to sign a 1 year or 2 year contract. In India … “What contract?? Are you kidding?””

Well, the contract is required only for the post-paid plan and you get a nice phone for free, or better than free (you get some money back after rebates etc.) Please chack out various offers available at http://www.amazon.com. Have a phone already and spend very limited time on phone? Then get a pre-paid service and there are no contracts.

]]> By: IM http://www.arjunprabhu.com/blog/archives/2006/03/15/cellphones-in-us-sucks/#comment-11970 IM Wed, 05 Jul 2006 11:09:49 +0000 http://www.arjunprabhu.com/blog/archives/2006/03/15/cellphones-in-us-sucks/#comment-11970 "In US, first of all, its very difficult to get a cell phone connection!. You need to have a good “credit history” to get a cellphone. If you don’t have a credit history, you need to pay some deposits. And guess what? I was told that I need to deposit $750 to get a cell phone connection since I did not have any credit history!!! In India, almost everyone can manage to get a cell phone service. No major deposits etc!" In India if you are on a post-paid plan, then you give a deposit irrespective of your credit history. The amount varies based on wether you have long distance, international, etc. In US, you pay the deposit only if you have good credit history. There is none of these hassles if you are on a pre-paid plan. Infact, you could get a SIM card, recharge cards, phone equipment etc. without having the trouble to give photographs, address proof, identity proof, etc as in India. These can be purchased on ebay at much cheaper rates than MRP and get them delivered to your home too! Imagine that happening in India! “In US, first of all, its very difficult to get a cell phone connection!. You need to have a good “credit history” to get a cellphone. If you don’t have a credit history, you need to pay some deposits. And guess what? I was told that I need to deposit $750 to get a cell phone connection since I did not have any credit history!!! In India, almost everyone can manage to get a cell phone service. No major deposits etc!”

In India if you are on a post-paid plan, then you give a deposit irrespective of your credit history. The amount varies based on wether you have long distance, international, etc. In US, you pay the deposit only if you have good credit history. There is none of these hassles if you are on a pre-paid plan. Infact, you could get a SIM card, recharge cards, phone equipment etc. without having the trouble to give photographs, address proof, identity proof, etc as in India. These can be purchased on ebay at much cheaper rates than MRP and get them delivered to your home too! Imagine that happening in India!

]]> By: Vinod http://www.arjunprabhu.com/blog/archives/2006/03/15/cellphones-in-us-sucks/#comment-10820 Vinod Mon, 12 Jun 2006 21:58:46 +0000 http://www.arjunprabhu.com/blog/archives/2006/03/15/cellphones-in-us-sucks/#comment-10820 Look like most of you people have no idea about where to get your cell phone in the US. First of all nobody just go to a store and buy the cell phone, you do your research to find the best price. I have tmobile, I pay $35 for 1000 any time min, nights and weekends are free. I also get 400 free text messages. You sign a year or more contract because there are too many providers. Once your contracts up, you can go to a different provider with better price and keep the same tel#. As far as the credit status, that is the way of life. That is the modern way of punishing people who are not responsible for their actions, unlike creditors india who go to people's house and beat them up for not paying the bills. Next time, before you post something like this, do a thorough research. Look like most of you people have no idea about where to get your cell phone in the US. First of all nobody just go to a store and buy the cell phone, you do your research to find the best price. I have tmobile, I pay $35 for 1000 any time min, nights and weekends are free. I also get 400 free text messages. You sign a year or more contract because there are too many providers. Once your contracts up, you can go to a different provider with better price and keep the same tel#. As far as the credit status, that is the way of life. That is the modern way of punishing people who are not responsible for their actions, unlike creditors india who go to people’s house and beat them up for not paying the bills. Next time, before you post something like this, do a thorough research.

]]> By: Sunil http://www.arjunprabhu.com/blog/archives/2006/03/15/cellphones-in-us-sucks/#comment-3196 Sunil Tue, 04 Apr 2006 09:56:19 +0000 http://www.arjunprabhu.com/blog/archives/2006/03/15/cellphones-in-us-sucks/#comment-3196 I had been in US for 3 years and I had a very good plan. The only drawback was the one year contract but that was nothing compared to the features of the plan. I had 600 day time minutes and night (between 9PM to 8PM) and weekend free to ANY network. All this for US$35. The customer service was impeccable. If I enact the same usage on my Airtel connection......Brrrrr!!!! Might have to declare bankruptcy. The plans which are in US is perfect if you are staying for a more than a year. If you are on a short term vacation there are calling cards which can be purchased online. I used 9278.com. They have good rates for both local and international calls. I had been in US for 3 years and I had a very good plan. The only drawback was the one year contract but that was nothing compared to the features of the plan. I had 600 day time minutes and night (between 9PM to 8PM) and weekend free to ANY network. All this for US$35. The customer service was impeccable. If I enact the same usage on my Airtel connection……Brrrrr!!!! Might have to declare bankruptcy. The plans which are in US is perfect if you are staying for a more than a year. If you are on a short term vacation there are calling cards which can be purchased online. I used 9278.com. They have good rates for both local and international calls.

]]> By: srivas http://www.arjunprabhu.com/blog/archives/2006/03/15/cellphones-in-us-sucks/#comment-3109 srivas Fri, 31 Mar 2006 04:05:11 +0000 http://www.arjunprabhu.com/blog/archives/2006/03/15/cellphones-in-us-sucks/#comment-3109 Hi arjun, You are out to prove "HAMARA BHARAT MAHAN" Regards Thanks for the INFO, one more thing to feel proud of India Hi arjun,
You are out to prove “HAMARA BHARAT MAHAN” Regards
Thanks for the INFO, one more thing to feel proud of India

]]> By: dharma http://www.arjunprabhu.com/blog/archives/2006/03/15/cellphones-in-us-sucks/#comment-3071 dharma Tue, 28 Mar 2006 23:33:05 +0000 http://www.arjunprabhu.com/blog/archives/2006/03/15/cellphones-in-us-sucks/#comment-3071 hi arjun, i totally agree with you when it comes yo mobile facility in US. had a very good experience myself. i was asked to give a deposit of $500 from t-mobile. if the contract of 1 year was voilated, i would have ot pay $200, adding to $700 in total. used to the crazy mobile hype of india, i am at a loss here without a cell. the modles, be it motorola or nokia is way back in looks and facilities. From fm to cameras to hell-a-lot options we are way ahead in the mobile technology. Roaming charges are the only thing to be considered in US, but its not very expensive in India either. A regular corporate Hutch plan would go : rs 250 monthly- hutch to hutch unlimted free-600 mins talk time free- rest 40ps- 100 sms free-rest at 30ps-rs25 sms plan(optional) gives u unlimited sms free-landline 99ps-roaming rs1.50 so, even if you are a mobile addcit, you dont spend more than rs 500 / max. almost $12 ??? way to go India..... hi arjun,

i totally agree with you when it comes yo mobile facility in US. had a very good experience myself.

i was asked to give a deposit of $500 from t-mobile. if the contract of 1 year was voilated, i would have ot pay $200, adding to $700 in total.

used to the crazy mobile hype of india, i am at a loss here without a cell. the modles, be it motorola or nokia is way back in looks and facilities. From fm to cameras to hell-a-lot options we are way ahead in the mobile technology.

Roaming charges are the only thing to be considered in US, but its not very expensive in India either.

A regular corporate Hutch plan would go : rs 250 monthly- hutch to hutch unlimted free-600 mins talk time free- rest 40ps- 100 sms free-rest at 30ps-rs25 sms plan(optional) gives u unlimited sms free-landline 99ps-roaming rs1.50

so, even if you are a mobile addcit, you dont spend more than rs 500 / max. almost $12 ???

way to go India…..

]]> By: Shesh http://www.arjunprabhu.com/blog/archives/2006/03/15/cellphones-in-us-sucks/#comment-3031 Shesh Sun, 26 Mar 2006 18:32:38 +0000 http://www.arjunprabhu.com/blog/archives/2006/03/15/cellphones-in-us-sucks/#comment-3031 I forgot to mention, in US there is no roaming charges whereever you go within US. In India roaming charges are very expensive. I forgot to mention, in US there is no roaming charges whereever you go within US. In India roaming charges are very expensive.

]]> By: Shesh http://www.arjunprabhu.com/blog/archives/2006/03/15/cellphones-in-us-sucks/#comment-3030 Shesh Sun, 26 Mar 2006 18:30:52 +0000 http://www.arjunprabhu.com/blog/archives/2006/03/15/cellphones-in-us-sucks/#comment-3030 Arjun, I do find Indian telecom market better than US in many ways. But there are few things where US (telecom) scores better than India. 1. In US there is no telecom circle funda. Calling rates is common throughout US. 2. Getting a postpaid connection might be tough. But getting pre-paid here is quite simple. You can get a pre-paid connection here without credit history, without SSN number, without proof of address/identity. Just log-on to www.cingular.com & you can place an order for a pre-paid phone with connection for $30. You can also walk to a telecom company store and buy a pre-paid phone with connection without even showing your identity (although this can become a security issue to the US). In India one needs proof of identity & address to purchase pre-paid connections also. 3. If one chooses the right plans, the calling rates are not too expensive in US if used in the right manner. Cingular has a pre-paid plan for $50 per month. In this plan one can have 400 minutes of airtime during peak hours & unlimited calls during off-peak hours which is 9 PM to 7AM and full weekends. These unlimited calls can be done anywhere in the US and to any phone on any network! Typically people in US don't make personal calls during peak hours (which are normally the office hours). So, these plans work out very well for the US people. More than 90% people in US have got plans which offer night and weekend free. In India this kind of an offer (night & weekend free) can't be offered by any operator because in the Indian telecom industry there is a concept of IUC (interconnection usage charges) because of which your operator/telecom company will have to pay the other operator if the call lands on a phone outside your telecom operators network. US doesn't have IUC charges & that's the reason why incoming is charged in US unlike in India where the operator is earning money for incoming calls from the callers operator. 4. Other than mobile I like the concept of IP phone (which is equivalent to landline but works on broadband internet). IP phone is not yet legalized in India. We have a IP phone at home (in US) for which we pay $25 per month. We can do unlimited calls to any phone anywhere in the US on any network at any time & there are no airtime charges!! Arjun, I do find Indian telecom market better than US in many ways.

But there are few things where US (telecom) scores better than India.

1. In US there is no telecom circle funda. Calling rates is common throughout US.

2. Getting a postpaid connection might be tough. But getting pre-paid here is quite simple. You can get a pre-paid connection here without credit history, without SSN number, without proof of address/identity. Just log-on to http://www.cingular.com & you can place an order for a pre-paid phone with connection for $30. You can also walk to a telecom company store and buy a pre-paid phone with connection without even showing your identity (although this can become a security issue to the US). In India one needs proof of identity & address to purchase pre-paid connections also.

3. If one chooses the right plans, the calling rates are not too expensive in US if used in the right manner. Cingular has a pre-paid plan for $50 per month. In this plan one can have 400 minutes of airtime during peak hours & unlimited calls during off-peak hours which is 9 PM to 7AM and full weekends. These unlimited calls can be done anywhere in the US and to any phone on any network! Typically people in US don’t make personal calls during peak hours (which are normally the office hours). So, these plans work out very well for the US people. More than 90% people in US have got plans which offer night and weekend free.
In India this kind of an offer (night & weekend free) can’t be offered by any operator because in the Indian telecom industry there is a concept of IUC (interconnection usage charges) because of which your operator/telecom company will have to pay the other operator if the call lands on a phone outside your telecom operators network. US doesn’t have IUC charges & that’s the reason why incoming is charged in US unlike in India where the operator is earning money for incoming calls from the callers operator.

4. Other than mobile I like the concept of IP phone (which is equivalent to landline but works on broadband internet). IP phone is not yet legalized in India. We have a IP phone at home (in US) for which we pay $25 per month. We can do unlimited calls to any phone anywhere in the US on any network at any time & there are no airtime charges!!

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