Re: Cell phones, etc.

[Terry Moore <terrym@nando.net>]

At 01:24 PM 7/8/96 -0700, you wrote:

The phone is not connected to the previous owner.  You can use the phone as
is with credit card or collect, outgoing only.  I think 911 will also work
for free.  All phones work that way when they are not assigned to a number.

Terry

96 A6Q
84 5K(for sale)


>
>	So ... all you cellular phone toting folks out there -- I have
>	a question for which I haven't received an adequate answer yet.
>
>	My '91 200Q has the Motorola/Audi phone in it, and I'm tickled
>	pink at the thought of trying out the supposedly cool voice-recognition
>	features it has.  Problem is, I don't *really* need a cellular phone.
>
>	Terminally curious that I am, I punched the power button and the
>	phone came up in the "Roam" mode. Previous owner forgot to have
>	his service disconnected, I thought, and I let it be for many months.
>	Tried it again over the weekend -- still works!  I try calling the
>	number taped to the unit (thoughtful of Mr. Previous Owner), but it
>	cannot be reached.  Just for kicks, I dial my home number -- I am
>	connected to something called the American Roaming Network, and it
>	asks me if I'd like to call collect or use a credit card. Figuring
>	I couldn't be ripping anyone off if I pay for it myself, I first
>	try the credit card option (doesn't work), and then the call-collect
>	option -- which does!
>
>	So what's the deal here? Do I have a phone which can make outgoing
>	calls only on a pay-per-call basis, or am I still on the other guy's
>	service somehow?  Could it be that he had this phone cloned and
>	is still using the other?  If so, why couldn't I reach that number?
>
>	It would be really cool if I could use the phone as it stands -- I
>	would only need it in an emergency, and wouldn't mind paying the steep
>	airtime rates at such a time.  Of course, if it turns out that the
>	other guy is still paying a subscription for it, I doubt if I could
>	even justify the $15 per month subscription that GTE wants for
>	what they call a "security" option.
>
>	Any thoughts appreciated!
>
>	-Arun
>
>--
>--
>Arun Rao
>Pixar Animation Studios
>Pt. Richmond, CA 94804
>(510) 215-3526
>
>