I usually use humor so those who cannot read into my humor - this is humor.
it's a pitched battle between the executives and the American Middle-class. with
numbers like 100million, just a dollar a month extra is ONE BILLION per year
(my perfect example is gasoline prices in CA, 1 extra dollar times 30 million cars per day
and gas is up to $2 per gallon cheaper in states with NO refineries)
there are thousands of vice presidents making millions (that's billions) coming
up with schemes to simply get you to pay more. in spite of there being dozens
of cell phone companies (like the sub-contracted MVNs like Cricket, etc)
my cell phone number was originally Sprint decades ago, then they
up the rates, and NOT available to existing customers so I moved the number.
I also had a business phone with ATT and I needed a phone that worked overseas.
I was lied to by the ATT person about the Windows phone he was getting MASSIVE
bonuses for. didn't know it didn't work till I got to two countries where it failed.
two weeks - no phone - was reduced to buying an international calling card
and using public pay phones.
you want a cheap cell phone? use T-Mobile's legacy Pay-as-you-go SIM in
the (unlocked) phone of your choice. you can still buy these accounts on
ebay. cost? one $10 fill-up keeps your account live for one year. then add
minutes for your outside on-the-road use.
it's ironic that ATT with their plastic-encased cheap phones no longer work
on ATT because they killed 2G. these 2G phones still work on GSM networks
in about 100 countries and on T-Mobile.
then when you're not on the road, use Skype. free.
I am waiting for the giants to jump in. FI, a good start, good for US/overseas
internet, calls, SMS, and above ALL - roaming. all the big guys charge you
for a specific overseas country and the minute you step off a plane in a 3rd
country, and your phone auto-downloads email, you are SCREWED.
whoever gives me what I already have at a cheaper, better, faster rate
get my forever business.
somewhat funny story. I was at a buddy's house who uses DTV/ATT
and I used my phone with a hotspot to my laptop. my download
beats his DTV connection. he switched that day.
but before you switch, try your LTE phone as a hotspot and compare
to a hard-cable connection. and of course, NO ATT (can you wait
for clear skies, no rain, no snow, no hail, and no 18-wheelers in sight)?
if you really want to shut-off the well-rehearsed retention spiel,
ask for a VICE PRESIDENT to ask (then have that VP send
you an email with details) for the best deal. they won't
be able to find one. they're all out at the Bay Area's Benz dealer
(off 101 just outside Oracle HQ), jammed into the 20-foot doorway
looking at AMR GTs. in ATT colors of course.
that ATT VP can email me or post here with his best deal. and
if it doesn't require a shareholder meeting, he may be able to
single-handedly triple the number of customers. and
he can do it from his GT convertible.
one of these days, cell phones and service will be free, with
internet, and streaming music/video right behind it. it will
take someone very smart to realize the media owners
already get paid by subscription, by download, by view, by
service provide, by ads, by everything. there are about 3
reasons then the lights go on.
.. that was a good many years ago though. 
