I have carried a cell phone for years for almost solely for emergency
use. Don't even know how many years I have had it, shows only 6 hours
and a few minutes on it. Today tried to use it and it was
inoperable. A guy with me tipped me off that ALL old phones are now
inoperable as of a couple weeks ago.

Per him. CPs were all changed over to digital and the old analog ones
no longer work. I presume that info was publicised somewhere but I
sure didn't see or hear it.

Harry K

On Oct 19, 11:26 pm, Harry K wrote:
I have carried a cell phone for years for almost solely for emergency
use. Don't even know how many years I have had it, shows only 6 hours
and a few minutes on it. Today tried to use it and it was
inoperable. A guy with me tipped me off that ALL old phones are now
inoperable as of a couple weeks ago.

Per him. CPs were all changed over to digital and the old analog ones
no longer work. I presume that info was publicised somewhere but I
sure didn't see or hear it.

Harry K

Depends where it was and to which system he was subscribed.
Here in this part of Canada, for example, we have several providers
including Rogers and a Bell Canada affiliate who use different systems
for their provision of digital cell phone services.
Only the Bell affiliate provides analog (which we still use for
strictly emergency voice calls). But we hear rumours that their analog
will be discontinued in a year or so? Hope they will give me a new
robust phone if/when they do.
Whatever; it does sound that the service provider may not be doing a
very good job of keeping that customer advised.
Is the customers billing/mailing address etc, up to date in the
provider's records?
In the part of the Middle East where my relative works they have only
digital cell phone service, no analog at all..

terry wrote:


Depends where it was and to which system he was subscribed.
Here in this part of Canada, for example, we have several providers
including Rogers and a Bell Canada affiliate who use different systems
for their provision of digital cell phone services.
Only the Bell affiliate provides analog (which we still use for
strictly emergency voice calls). But we hear rumours that their analog
will be discontinued in a year or so? Hope they will give me a new
robust phone if/when they do.
Whatever; it does sound that the service provider may not be doing a
very good job of keeping that customer advised.
Is the customers billing/mailing address etc, up to date in the
provider's records?
In the part of the Middle East where my relative works they have only
digital cell phone service, no analog at all..

2/18/2008 is the analog sunset date.

Harry K wrote in news:1192843607.591797.182720
@z24g2000prh.googlegroups.com:

I have carried a cell phone for years for almost solely for emergency
use. Don't even know how many years I have had it, shows only 6 hours
and a few minutes on it. Today tried to use it and it was
inoperable. A guy with me tipped me off that ALL old phones are now
inoperable as of a couple weeks ago.

Per him. CPs were all changed over to digital and the old analog ones
no longer work. I presume that info was publicised somewhere but I
sure didn't see or hear it.

Harry K


for almost solely for emergency use.

If you are in the US and it is SOLELY for emergency use, you don't even
need service. If you can power it up and hit any tower of any provider,
you can dial 911.

--
Red...

"If women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy."

http://www.RedGreen.com/index.cfm?app=cart&a=menu
http://www.RedGreen.com/files/layout...rg_gal_028.jpg

http://www.pbs.org/redgreen/about.html

I believe the story goes something like this:

Unlike DTV which mandates a shutdown of the analog stations, THe FCC did not
mandate the shut down of analog cell phones. They mearly said "you may stop
maintaining them". Some networks will chose this time to get rid of the
analog system, some networks may continue on as is, and some networks will
charge a user fee to analog phones usetrs to maintain the network.
Eventually the analog system will disappear but it wont be instantaneous. IT
will more likely fade away. In my opionion the driving force will be all
those millions of analog On Star systems that will keep it around for a few
more years.

LAst I heard ATT had said that something like 90% of the network had
switched to digital and for the others there would be a user fee (to drive
them over to digital too).


"Harry K" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have carried a cell phone for years for almost solely for emergency
use. Don't even know how many years I have had it, shows only 6 hours
and a few minutes on it. Today tried to use it and it was
inoperable. A guy with me tipped me off that ALL old phones are now
inoperable as of a couple weeks ago.

Per him. CPs were all changed over to digital and the old analog ones
no longer work. I presume that info was publicised somewhere but I
sure didn't see or hear it.

Harry K

"jmagerl" wrote in message
Eventually the analog system will disappear but it wont be instantaneous.
IT will more likely fade away. In my opionion the driving force will be
all those millions of analog On Star systems that will keep it around for
a few more years.

Old analog On Star customers were told they would not longer have service.
IMO, it was always overpriced anyway. I had one free year when I bought my
car and I never renewed.


http://www.onstar.com/us_english/jsp...transition.jsp

However, based on a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruling, cellular
carriers will not be required to support the analog cellular network
beginning in early 2008. Without the analog network, we can't ensure the
coverage that will allow us to provide subscribers, with analog equipment,
the services they expect from us. As a result, beginning January 1, 2008,
OnStar service in the United States and Canada will be available only
through vehicles that are capable of operating on the digital cellular
network.

We at OnStar sincerely regret that we will not be able to provide OnStar
service to vehicles with analog equipment after December 31, 2007. All
OnStar subscribers affected by this change will receive a letter from OnStar
that outlines how this affects

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
....
Old analog On Star customers were told they would not longer have service.
IMO, it was always overpriced anyway. ...

Like many (all?) forms of insurance, it's overpriced until really
needed, then it's invaluable...

--

On Sun, 21 Oct 2007 09:15:15 -0400, h wrote:


"Harry K" wrote in message
roups.com...
I have carried a cell phone for years for almost solely for emergency
use. Don't even know how many years I have had it, shows only 6 hours
and a few minutes on it. Today tried to use it and it was
inoperable. A guy with me tipped me off that ALL old phones are now
inoperable as of a couple weeks ago.

Per him. CPs were all changed over to digital and the old analog ones
no longer work. I presume that info was publicised somewhere but I
sure didn't see or hear it.

Harry K

I only use my cellphone about once a year, and it had to be replaced a few
months ago for that reason. Tracfone sent me an email with a form to fill
out, and the new free phone arrived in a few days. I'm surprised your
carrier didn't notify you.


My first Tracfone was analog. I replaced it to get some new features
(including a flip style case, making it safe to keep in a pocket). I
bought the new phone locally, and called to transfer service. This was
NOT required to keep service. That was less than a year ago. Maybe
they've changed something since that.

BTW, I did have to get a new number (they said because of the change
in technology), but I did get to keep the airtime minutes.
--
65 days until the winter solstice celebration

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"Unlike biological evolution. 'intelligent design' is
not a genuine scientific theory and, therefore, has
no place in the curriculum of our nation's public
school classes." -- Ted Kennedy

On Sun, 21 Oct 2007 08:45:16 -0500, Red Green
wrote:

Harry K wrote in news:1192843607.591797.182720
:

I have carried a cell phone for years for almost solely for emergency
use. Don't even know how many years I have had it, shows only 6 hours
and a few minutes on it. Today tried to use it and it was
inoperable. A guy with me tipped me off that ALL old phones are now
inoperable as of a couple weeks ago.

Per him. CPs were all changed over to digital and the old analog ones
no longer work. I presume that info was publicised somewhere but I
sure didn't see or hear it.

Harry K


for almost solely for emergency use.

If you are in the US and it is SOLELY for emergency use, you don't even
need service. If you can power it up and hit any tower of any provider,
you can dial 911.

There was some change related to cellphone service around here. In
some areas I would get an "Emergency Only" message on the phone
display. That sounded scary and Tracfone customer service was of no
help at all.
--
65 days until the winter solstice celebration

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"Unlike biological evolution. 'intelligent design' is
not a genuine scientific theory and, therefore, has
no place in the curriculum of our nation's public
school classes." -- Ted Kennedy

On Oct 21, 7:26 am, dpb wrote:
Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

...

Old analog On Star customers were told they would not longer have service.
IMO, it was always overpriced anyway. ...

Like many (all?) forms of insurance, it's overpriced until really
needed, then it's invaluable...

--

Yep. I have used it twice way out in the boonies to call for help
(Tow and a flat when I couldn't budge the lug nuts).

Harry K