Wireless Department
PUBLIC ADVOCATE MAPS CELL DEAD ZONES ON WEB SITE
The Public Advocate has been providing a map of locations where wireless telephone service is not available on the office web site since January 2005. The locations are identified by provider (U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless, Unicel, Tracfone, Cingular, Sprint, Nextel, T-Mobile, and several smaller-volume carriers), and by the type of equipment in use by the wireless customer reporting the dead zone.
By now, more than 2,292 locations are mapped at http://megisims.state.me.us/website/wireless_dz/viewer.htm on the "I Can't Hear You Now" map.
This mapping exercise has already had an impact in two ways. In a recent agreement between U.S. Cellular, the Telephone Association of Maine and the OPA that the PUC approved this fall, U.S. Cellular has agreed to report on its effort to eliminate the dead zones it is responsible for one the "I Can't Hear You Now" map on the OPA website. Additionally, the ConnectME Wireless Task Force has incorporated the "I Can't Hear You Now" locations in its own map of wireless service territories in Maine. In both settings, the OPA's dead zone map is forcing wireless companies to pay attention to customer dissatisfaction with lost signals and unserved areas.
The OPA continues to accept customer complaints about wireless dead zones. Please go to the OPA website at http://www.maine.gov/meopa/telephone/report_dead_spot.html if you want to report a location where your cell provider leaves you in the lurch. You will be helping to improve wireless phone service in Maine.
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AT&T (Cingular)
http://www.cingular.com
(888-333-7055)
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T Mobile
http://www.tmobile.com
(800-866-2453)
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US Cellular
http://www.uscellular.com
(888-944-9400)
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Unicel
http://www.unicel.com
(800-336-4455)-local
(800-462-3558)-national
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Verizon
http://www.verizon.com
(800-256-4646)
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Nation 450 with Rolllover
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Nation 550
Family
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Get More
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Family Time Basic
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Wide Area 700
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Wide Area Family
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National 450
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Expanded Local
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Local Family
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True
Nationwide
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America's Choice Individual
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America's Choice Family
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Monthly Fee
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$40
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$60
(2 lines)
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$40
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$60
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$40
|
$70
(2 lines)
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$40
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$40
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$70
(2 lines)
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$40
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$40
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$70
(2 lines)
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Anytime
Minutes
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450*
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550*
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600
|
700
|
700
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1000
|
450
|
800
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1800
|
600
|
450
|
700
|
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Offpeak
Minutes
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5000
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Unlimited
|
Unlimited
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Unlimited
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$6
Unlimited
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Unlimited
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$8
Unlimited
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1000
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1000
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500
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Unlimited
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Cost per
extra min.
|
45¢
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40¢
|
40¢
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49¢
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30¢
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35¢
|
30¢
|
45¢
|
45¢
|
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Cost of
extra lines
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N/A
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$10
|
N/A
|
$10
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N/A
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$10
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N/A
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$20
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$9
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$20
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NA
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$10
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Roaming Rate
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0
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0
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0
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69¢
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0
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40¢
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0
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0
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From Canada
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79¢
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49¢
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69¢*
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50¢
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69¢
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To Canada
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19¢
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20¢
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19¢
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30¢
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49¢
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Home Area
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U.S.
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U.S.
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U.S.
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ME, NH, (excluding Portsmouth) VT and parts of 22 other states in south, midwest and west
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U.S.
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Most of ME, MA, NH, VT, and NY
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U.S.
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US
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Type of
Network
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GSM/TDMA
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GSM
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CDMA
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GSM
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CDMA
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Notes
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Rollover applies-minutes
rollover for up to 1 yr.Extra $1.25 "regulatory
fee" applies to all plans.*Plus unlimited mobile to mobile minutes between Cingular users in calling area.
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1000 minutes for $40/mo with no extra offpeak minutes."MyFaves" option-unlimited calls to any five numbers for $10/mo.Family Plan includes free mobile to mobile minutes in area.Regulatory fee of 86¢ per line.
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96¢/monthly "regulatory fee."Unlimited mobile to mobile between US Cellular customers in area.Family-45 roaming minutes included.National family plans start at $70.$30 plan available with 300 minutes.*New Brunswick or Quebec, other Provinces much higher.
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Service contract is optional-price per phone is cheaper with contract. (Our advice: choose no contract.)$2/mo. for unlimited Unicel to Unicel with local and nationwide plans.Family Plan includes unlimited incoming minutes and Unicel to Unicel minutes.
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Unlimited "in-calling" among Verizon Wireless customers.$60 plan offers 900 minutes.
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- Roaming charge —applies when calling from outside home area. International roaming may cause additional toll charges and administrative fees.
- Toll rate—applies only to some local plans when call destination is outside home area. Toll rates apply to international calls.
- Important—call and check websites for latest promotions and always verify coverage quality in area of use.
- Activation fees —($30 to $36) often apply but are sometimes waived upon request when purchasing online.
- Cancellation fees—($150 to $200) generally apply if you cancel service before expiration of contract term.
- Cost of phone—Phone is often free when signing a 1 or 2-year contract. Ask about current promotions.
- Right to terminate—Some carriers reserve the right to terminate service if 50% of usage occurs outside of their licensed area.
- Features—Most plans include Caller ID, Call Forwarding, Call Waiting, 3-Way Calling, Voicemail, and other advanced features.
- Grace period—Right to cancel contract within first 14-30 days.
- Note—Your wireless phone may not be usable with other wireless plans when you change service. Many advertised promotions require two-year contracts, which should be avoided.
- Dial 611 from cellular phones for customer service. 911 emergency calls may work from cell phones even without activation.
- Each carrier offers many other plans.
Prepaid wireless plans
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CingularPay As You http://www.Gocingular.com
(888) 333-6651
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Net 10
http://www.net10.com
(877) 836-2368
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T-MobileTo Go http://www.tmobile.com
(877) 387-4324
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Tracfone
http://www.tracfone.com
(800) 867-7183
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Unicel
Unicel Express
http://www.unicel.com
(800) 462-3558
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Initial Cost-Including phone & starting minutes
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$20 to $200
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$20 to $90
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$30 to $400 (includes
$10 card)
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$10 to $100 (includes 10 minutes)
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$15 to $110
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Home Area
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Much of US
(spotty in Maine)
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Much of US
(spotty in Maine)
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Much of US
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Much of Maine*
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Much of US
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Airtime Rate Per Minute (US)
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25¢
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10¢
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10¢ to 33¢
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20¢ to 34¢
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10¢ plus $10/month
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Roaming Charge Per Minute
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0
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0
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0
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Double the
airtime rate
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0
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Toll Charge Per Minute
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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Minimum Recharge Dollars
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$15
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$15
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$10
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$20
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$20
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Expiration of Minutes (days) (varies by refill amount chosen)
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30-365
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30-365
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30-365
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45-365
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30-90
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Sample Annual Cost (Does Not Include Cost of Initial Package or Roaming Calls)
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10 minutes/month
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Cost
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$100
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$150
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$100
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$80
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$360
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Minutes purchased
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400
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1500
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1000
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240
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2400
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Type of refill
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1 x 365 days
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1 x 365 days
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1 x 365 days
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4 x 90 days
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4 x 90 days
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50 minutes/month
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Cost
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$150
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$150
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$100
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$150
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$360
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Minutes purchased
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600
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1500
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1000
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630
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2400
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Type of refill
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6 x 90 days
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1 x 365 days
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1 x 365 days
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1 x 365, 1 x 90,
1 x 30 days
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4 x 90 days
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100 minutes/month
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Cost
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$300
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$150
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$150
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$240
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$360
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Minutes purchased
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1200
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1500
|
1400
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1200
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2400
|
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Type of refill
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2 x 365 days
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1 x 365 days
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1 x 365 and 1 x 90
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6 x 90 days
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4 x 90 days
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NOTES Customers who use more than 100 minutes per month should consider regular monthly fee cellular plans. Watch for and ask about promotions.
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With unlimited mobile-to-mobile 10¢ plan, a charge of $1.00 per day applies when there is any incoming or outgoing use.
10¢ plan allows unlimited mobile to mobile (Cingular to Cingular)
15¢ per minute + airtime to Canada
Canada roaming 79¢
Minutes roll over
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Minutes roll over
You will not be able to make or receive calls from any location outside of the US, Puerto Rico or US Virgin Islands
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$100 refill gets 15% more minutes and 365 days expiration on further refills
Canada roaming 49¢40¢/min. + airtime for calls to Canada
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Depending on number and duration of minutes purchased
Roaming coverage in much of US*
Home area depends on selected phone
No extra charge for calls to Canada and 60 other int'l destinations - call 800 706-3839 to activate
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Canada roaming 50¢15 cents/min. to Canada
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