Price in Dallas is $199 for the Qualcomm phone; I have not inquired if there is more than one phone available--don't think so, though. Service at two rates: $27/mo., plus $.27 per minute local calls; or $45/mo. with 100 free minutes and thereafter $.20 per minute local calls. Am unaware of any free time or time in which there is reduced charge; at least nothing like that has been mentioned, so doubt same exists. "Local" is the entire state of Texas without a long-distance add-on charge. In Dallas, the analog companies' local service territories can run as far north as mid-Oklahoma (who cares!--sorry Okies) south to about Waco; therefore, if you are so inclined, you cannot call Austin, Houston or San Antonio without incurring the additional long-distance access or interchange charges. Since so much business is conducted with those cities, I would think that is big advantage with some business people, since the normal day-time long-distance charge for fixed phones is at least 20-30 cents per minute.
If you buy the phone and sign up for service before year end, you get a one-time credit to your phone bill of $100, plus free caller ID ($5/mo. normally) and first in-bound minute free for as long as you continuously maintain service. Detailed rather than summary bills are $1/mo.; handset insurance against loss, theft, damage is $2.95/mo.; and, emergency road service is also offered (if I recall correctly, $2/mo.). There is no long-term contract for service, so it is a month-to-month. Full-blown hands-free installation into the car is $399 (including labor), but for $109 a noninstalled handfree kit is also available that plugs into the cigarette lighter with a speaker that sits on the console. Am told the battery gives 4 hours of life (if I recall correctly) leaving the unit oncall. It takes about five hours to recharge the battery with the charging unit. At least that's the situation in Dallas. Hopes this helps. |
