covert%covert.DEC@decwrl.dec.com (John R. Covert) (03/17/89)
In recent messages from John Higdon (zygot!john) and Donn Pedro (donn@mcgp1) >>it seems that the good people of southern California are being taken for >>a ride >> >> PacTel Cellular may be the only cellular operator in the country that >> charges the moment you hit the s(p)end button, whether the call is >> answered or not. > >Cellular One in LA does not do this. There is no Cellular One in L.A. (See my reply in V9#88.) The "A" carrier is L.A. Cellular, and they charge *exactly* the same rates as PacTel Cellular (.70 peak and .24 off peak) with incomplete calls charged at 50% (so don't let that phone ring for a long time) by both carriers. >Dont like it. Vote with your wallet!!!! When you get in the LA >area contact Cellular One and setup roaming with them. Would be nice, but not only is there no Cellular One in L.A., but L.A. Cellular won't even accept credit card roamers. So unless your home carrier has an automatic roaming agreement with L.A. Cellular, you're stuck with PacTel. And if your carrier doesn't have a roaming agreement with EITHER carrier (as is the case for BOTH Boston systems (NYNEX and Cellular One), then you have to set up credit card roaming with PacTel, at a $15 charge for 1-30 days. >Their system is reliable and their billing is fair. >What can I say... I work for them. I presume (from your mcgp1 address) that you work for McCaw Communications. Too bad you didn't check your information about L.A. before posting it. BTW, for the general edification of the rest of the readership, there is not a single company called "Cellular One." The name "Cellular One" is licensed from Southwestern Bell for a nominal annual charge. Most, if not all, McCaw owned cellular carriers use the name Cellular One, however, the name is also used by Southwestern Bell in Boston, Washington, and Chicago. In those cities where Southwestern Bell is the local wireline carrier, they do not use the name Cellular One -- in fact the even license it to their competition! In some cities the name Cellular One is used by a local company having no outside affiliations. /john