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Lori Hansell
Customer Service Administrative Assistant
Telecom Services
lhansell@uoregon.edu
If you're subscribing to the discount wireless service for state business use that's offered to UO faculty and staff through Telecom Services, you'll probably need to reconsider your choices in the light of several changes that were recently announced by the major vendors. These changes primarily affect light users who were subscribing to Cingular's flat-rate or TDMA/Digital plans, but other users may also benefit by upgrading their existing plans.
OSA (Oregon State Advantage), aka Cingular TDMA/Digital Plan: These users will see their airtime rate increase from $.17 per minute to $.19 per minute--and sometimes to as much as $1.00+ per minute.
This plan has very limited coverage in Oregon, and in addition to the regular airtime charge noted above, it charges $.25/minute for long distance and $.99/minute for roaming. This plan has been grandfathered for the last three years and is referred to as TDMA, aka Digital, with Cingular (formerly AT&T).
TDMA/Digital phones are no longer being offered and have been removed as an option for new activations because the TDMA network is being replaced with the GSM network. Cingular plans to completely shut down TDMA soon, perhaps as early as August of next year.
Cingular's Local and National Flat Rate Plans. The old flat-rate plans--for $9.99 and $12.99, respectively ($8.60/11.17 after discount)--will not be offered once our Western States Contracting Alliance contract is renewed effective June 1, 2006.
After May 31, 2006, the only option available to light users will be with Verizon for the National $11.99/month, $.25/minute plan. If you have already upgraded and are on the new Cingular Flat Rate Plans, you will be grandfathered as you have been with the OSA. Any TDMA users that remain until the end will not have service after August 2007--or possibly even sooner.
The lowest-rate plan Cingular will offer is a national 450-with-rollover-minutes plan for $34.39/month, after discount. Minutes will accrue for a year and then restart after that point.
Another option: keep your number and change your provider to Verizon. Verizon offers many free phones, great coverage, and competitive rates. It also offers a low-use plan for $11.99/month and $.25/minute (one charge per minute). This is a national plan, and there is no additional discount. The next step up is Verizon's National Plan (450 minutes for $33.19, after discount).
To see what's available, please visit the Verizon and Cingular websites (http://www.verizonwireless.com/, http://www.cingularwireless.com/). Most options are available to our users, although prices of phones and plans will vary.
You'll find Telecom order forms on the forms page (http://telcom.uoregon.edu/Forms-Form12.htm) and on the Cellular Phone Information page at http://telcom.uoregon.edu/Cellular.htm under "Cellular Phone Order Form 12."
If you have further questions regarding cell phones, wireless plans offered through UO Telecom, or UO policy, please contact Lori Hansell (346-1035, or lhansell@uoregon.edu).