D-day question

[callmeox]

My market in Ohio is undergoing billing conversion on the 17th of October and I'm really not looking forward to being absorbed by a carrier that I've avoided for years.

I recall reading other threads about some Alltel subs having to do something with their handsets on/around the conversion date. My son is headed to California on the 15th for a 10 month assignment and I'm concerned that his phone will not work unless he can do the required conversion voodoo here in his home market.

What's the deciding factor for who has to fiddle with their phone when we convert?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

[tsguy52]

Originally Posted by callmeox

My market in Ohio is undergoing billing conversion on the 17th of October and I'm really not looking forward to being absorbed by a carrier that I've avoided for years.

I recall reading other threads about some Alltel subs having to do something with their handsets on/around the conversion date. My son is headed to California on the 15th for a 10 month assignment and I'm concerned that his phone will not work unless he can do the required conversion voodoo here in his home market.

What's the deciding factor for who has to fiddle with their phone when we convert?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

The only thing he would have to do is a MIN (mobile identification number) update and most markets have already completed that.

This is only to align everything up correctly with billing (line ranges) before the conversion. It has nothing to do with your phone number. If his line is required to do this, then you probably would have heard about it by now.

In the event that he will have to update his programming and not in the home area it will require manual programming. Pretty simple process and he would have to call CS or Tech to get the correct MIN and any programming instructions. Doubt this will be the case this late in the game.

Hope this helps!

[callmeox]

Yep, that helps. I appreciate the assist.

I can see it now as we drop him off at the airport:

"Don't forget to do a *228 before you board the plane"

[tsguy52]

Originally Posted by callmeox

Yep, that helps. I appreciate the assist.

I can see it now as we drop him off at the airport:

"Don't forget to do a *228 before you board the plane"

No prob! Yeah def do a quick *228 before leaving. The actual number he would need to dial to do the MIN update would be *22896 if required. If that doesn't work, then *228 option 1 would do the same thing.

[kch50428]

Originally Posted by callmeox

...I'm really not looking forward to being absorbed by a carrier that I've avoided for years.

Not to pick nits.... but your account became property of Verizon back in January when the deal was finalized. Now they're just getting around to putting a Verizon name on things.

[callmeox]

I understand how it all works, but when my bill says Alltel, I manage my account through Alltel.com and get personal assistance at a store with an Alltel logo over the door, it is easy to maintain the fantasy that I am still with the carrier that I chose 8 years ago and not with the one that I passed on by choice.

[tsguy52]

Originally Posted by callmeox

I understand how it all works, but when my bill says Alltel, I manage my account through Alltel.com and get personal assistance at a store with an Alltel logo over the door, it is easy to maintain the fantasy that I am still with the carrier that I chose 8 years ago and not with the one that I passed on by choice.

Well VZW is adopting a lot of things Alltel did. They were actually very similar in a way. Give it mid next year and you should have one **** of a cell phone company. Right now there are going to be some bumps along the way.

[callmeox]

I view my mobile phone service as a commodity now and as long as I get a signal where I need it, my bill is correct, customer service is helpful with low wait times and the dollar amount that I write on a check every month doesn't jump when need to renew my contract, I'll be fine.

I'm an easy customer.