Welcome to Mobile Communication System's general questions and anwers section. This page contains answers to commonly asked questions about your wireless service. We hope you find them helpful and informative. Should you have any further questions, please consult our Contact Us page.

Account Information:

• What is my contract length?
  • Contract length is the term of your most recent service agreement. This, combined with the activation date, helps determine when a customer is eligible for an upgrade. If you have been a customer for more than 30 days and you cancer your service before the end of your contract, an early termination fee will apply.

• Will my contract automatically renew?
  • Your contract will not automatically renew. If you upgrade your equipment or change your rate plan a new contract may be required.

• How do I cancel my service or remove a line from my account?
  • If you need to close your account or cancel a line of service on your account, please Contact Us or dial 611 form your wireless phone. Account cancellations are made effective the last day of your billing cycle. A cancellation of wireless service may result in early termination fees.

• Can I change my number if I move to another state?
  • Yes, you can change your number if you move to another state with AT&T service.

Bill and Payments

• How do I pay my bill by wireless phone?
  • Dial *729 (*PAY) and press Send. Select 1 to pay with a bank account or 2 to pay with a credit card. Enter all requested information about your payment type. Upon successful completion of the transaction, you will be provided with a confirmation number.

• Why is there a late fee on my bill?
  • A late fee is assessed when a payment does not post by the end of your billing cycle.

• What is an Activation Fee and how much does it cost?
  • This non-refundable, one-time fee is charged per phone when you activate new service. It is billed in full on your first statement. AT&T charges a $36 Activation Fee on all new wireless accounts, unless you sign up for a FamilyTalk plan, in which case the Activation Fee is $36 for the primary line and $26 for each additional line activated. These fees are subject to change.

• What is an Upgrade Fee and how much does it cost?
  • This non-refundable, one-time fee is charged per phone when you up-grade your service and sign a new contract. AT&T charges an $18 Upgrade Fee on all wireless accounts, unless you are upgrading from a former AT&T Wireless phone or from a TDMA/analog phone in which case the Activation Fee is waived. These fees are subject to change.

• What types of calls are free?
  • 611 calls to AT&T Customer Service for wireless customers and 911 emergency calls.
    “800” numbers are not free. They are charged against your airtime minutes.

• What are Anytime Minutes?
  • Anytime is the term used to describe the number of minutes used during each billing cycle. Each rate plan has an amount of included package minutes for use anytime 24 hrs. a day. Calls are billed in one-minute increments and rounded up the next full minute increment at the end of each call for billing purposes.

• Can you help me understand my first bill?
  • On your first wireless service bill from AT&T, you can expect to see a few things:
    • Usage charges
    • You may be partial billed for monthly service used from the day of activation to the last day of the first billing cycle.
    • Monthly service and feature charges for one month in advance.
    • Prorated charges or extra airtime.
    • One time activation fee.

Phones and Devices

• What is Wireless Phone Protection Plan?
  • Wireless Phone Protection Plan gives you the protection you need for your wireless phone against theft, loss, accidental physical and liquid damage and coverage for mechanical and electrical failure after the manufacturer’s warranty period has expired. Please Contact Us or visit our Phone Protection Plan Webpage for more information.

• What is GPRS?
  • GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) is the technology used by GSM Wireless carriers to transport data across their network. By breaking the data up into packets the network can transport the data at fast speeds and reliability. EDGE is an enhanced version of this technology which produces faster download speeds. UMTS will display even faster speeds for Data transportation for both downloads and uploads utilizing the HSDPA technology.
    Wi-Fi: A person with a Wi-Fi enabled device such as a computer, wireless phone, or PDA can connect to the internet with in proximity of an access pint.

• What is a SIM Card and what is the purpose?
  • A SIM card is a specially programmed microchip that inserts into a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)-compatible mobile device. Without a SIM card inserted into the mobile equipment only emergency calls to 911 can be made. SIM cards allow users to easily switch their account information between other compatible GSM devices for immediate use. SIM cards contain 128 KB of memory which allows users to store contact information and easily update their mobile device with the phone book.

• How do I understand my phone?
  • Please direct your specific question about your phone to our helpline: helpwithmydevice@getcingular.com.