Ringtones Newsletter
Issue 32, March 2012
In This Issue
- Dialing In by CEO John Marick »
- Feature Focus: A Budget-Friendly Smartphone »
- Time to Cut the Cord? When to Drop Your Landline »
- Customer Stars: Jay and Emily Comstock »
- Your Questions Answered »
- Refer A Friend: An Easy $10 for You »
Consumer Cellular Home | Newsletter Archive
What’s New
- Airline Passengers Share Consumer Cellular Experience in New Commercial. Read More »
We’re Here to Help
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Refer A Friend, Earn Ten
Give Yourself and Your Friends $10! Refer someone who signs up with Consumer Cellular and you’ll receive a $10 credit on your upcoming invoice. Your friends will be happy, too. Not only will they get fantastic cell service at great rates from the best cell phone service company in America, they'll also get a $10 credit on their first invoice. Don’t wait to share the wealth! The best gifts don’t require contracts.
Want to tell a friend? Click here to send an email.
Dialing In
by John Marick
The reigning king of March holidays remains, for me at least, St. Patrick's Day, which is celebrated in just about every corner of America, as well as many parts of the world, on the 17th. It's an official holiday in Ireland and an unofficial one in the United States. There are parades and parties aplenty, corn beef and cabbage as well — and no shortage of drinks to wash it all down.
And, of course, there's the wearing of green, which often includes sporting a small shamrock for good luck.
I wanted to take a moment this month to talk about the concept of luck, because luck, however defined, either good or bad, has little place in business. We started Consumer Cellular over fifteen years ago with a better concept: cell phone service is essential and should be available to as many people as possible, not just the rich or the tech-savvy. Today, we're providing no-contract cell phone plans and service to over 750,000 customers.
The Irish have been celebrating St. Patrick's Day for a thousand years. When it comes to acknowledging "luck," however, we have to go back even further, to the first century AD and the Roman philosopher Seneca. He's the one who told us the real secret behind any lucky charm. "Luck," according to Seneca, "is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."
Here at Consumer Cellular, we prepare every day for the opportunity to serve our customers better. We listen to what they want or have to say and do whatever we can to meet their needs, whether we offer a new phone or plan or add minutes to the plan they're already using. That's not luck, that's a solid business plan.
I like to think listening to customers is our pot of gold.
John
For more comments and industry insights from John, read his latest blog.
Feature Focus
A Budget-Friendly Smartphone
It's here and available now. A smartphone that gives you the best of both worlds: a price that doesn't hurt your pocketbook combined with a phone that truly delivers.
The LG Thrive is designed for cell phone users who don't need or want a lot of complexity yet still want many of the robust features associated with a smartphone — and at an affordable entry price of $90.00*.
The Thrive is a slim and attractive Android 2.2 smartphone with WiFi, turn-by-turn GPS navigation, and 3G data. It comes with a 3.2-megapixel camera, video capture, 3.5mm audio jack, and memory card slot. Powered by a 600 megahertz processor, the phone will enable you to access the Internet and keep in touch, as well as stay informed, in a fast, PC-like fashion. Simultaneous voice and data exchanges, along with a clear speakerphone, help you to easily engage in more than one activity at a time. Plus, the Thrive's loud ringtone will ensure incoming calls do not go unnoticed. Best of all, because it's an Android, you'll have access to thousands of downloadable apps available online in the Android Market.
Simply put, the LG Thrive is the perfect choice for getting started with smartphones. As the saying goes, it's the best bang for your buck. Learn more about or order your LG Thrive today.
And down the road, if you find you’re enjoying a smartphone but want to try a more powerful model, we have you covered there, too, with the Motorola Bravo.
*Requires $35.00 activation fee.
Time to Cut the Cord?
When to Drop Your Landline
Have you noticed that more and more people are dropping their traditional landline telephone, aka their home phone, and replacing it with their cell phone? We have. But the real question is should you follow suit?
The answer, of course, depends upon your situation. We’ve all grown comfortable with the reliability of a home phone. After all, you’re less likely to misplace it or drop it in a puddle. A home phone is also something you’re very familiar with. It’s what you always used before cell phones and it’s probably the contact number your friends know best. Plus, there are times when a landline may be your best choice. For example, if it’s tied-in to your home security system.
On the other hand, people are not only becoming more comfortable with their cell phones but they’re starting to realize they can count on reliable cell phone service. Plus, they can save money by not having a landline. Cell phones are more practical, especially for people on the go. And cell phones go far beyond what one expects from a traditional home phone, with such wireless features as Web access, texting, music and picture taking.
Clearly, we’re witnessing a trend. According to a survey published by the National Center for Health Statistics (June 2011) nearly one out of every three American families has already dropped their landline and gone solo with their cell phones. But remember, going without a landline is not for everyone. There are tradeoffs to consider. For your lifestyle, it’s a question only you can answer.
Customer Stars
Jay and Emily Comstock
As the Manager of Student Financial Services at a private college, Jay Comstock knows the true value of a dollar. So when his cell phone contract with a major provider was about to expire, he set his sights on finding a more practical and affordable solution.
With his previous carrier, Jay was stuck in a long-term contract that required pricey phones and offered fancy features he didn’t need or use. He and his wife, Emily, Minnesota residents, prefer to keep their lives simple, especially when it comes to technology.
While checking out his cell phone options, Jay read about Consumer Cellular’s #1 ranking in a Consumer Reports magazine, a subscription he received as a Christmas gift. For Jay, a cell phone user since 1997, switching to Consumer Cellular was like a “breath of fresh air”: finally, no contract cell phone plans and phones that truly fit their budget.
“Navigating the online account is super easy!,” recalled Jay. “It details all of the calls and it is very easy to understand the billing and when and how to make a payment. Consumer Cellular is easy and simple and they have an awesome pricing plan.”
Jay selected the Samsung A177, because he wanted a phone that he could text with easily and the Samsung looked like his old Blackberry. His wife opted for the free, Motorola WX345. They initially chose the 300-minute plan but then increased to the 700-minute plan.
“For those who want to cut back on expenses and get back to the basics, Consumer Cellular is perfect!,” said Jay. “Easy to sign up, easy to manage, and oh — did I mention — it's NOT expensive! We can even increase or decrease our minutes from month-to-month.”
Your Questions Answered
In each issue we ask our Support team to recommend — and answer — commonly asked questions about our products or services.
A friend who also uses a cell phone told me I could contact my service provider by dialing 611. What is "611" and why would I use it?
Your friend is correct. To reach us in a hurry, just tap or enter 611 in your cell phone and click Send. You’ll be connected to our customer service department immediately. The beauty of this service is your 611 call is free from your cell phone and won’t use any of your minutes. So if you need quick access to us while you’re on the go, use 611… anytime, anywhere. It’s convenient, easy to remember, and free.
Have more questions, need more answers?
Go online and see the answers to our most frequently asked questions.
What’s New…
Airline Passengers Share Consumer Cellular Experience in New Commercial
Have you ever noticed how before a plane takes off or after it lands, one of the first things people do is take out their cell phone? They let others know they haven’t taken off yet — or they’ve arrived safely. We had some fun with the notion of a flight delay and finding yourself stuck on the tarmac in our latest commercial.
Please click on the image to the right to watch the commercial. And when you do, look for a familiar face (or two), coming from the cockpit.
