AT&T targets a more mature audience with new plan
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Oct 27th 2007 3:18PM
posted Oct 27th 2007 3:18PM
It seems the wireless industry is at a bit of a crossroads here where cellphone users are starting to retire and their needs are changing drastically. They may not need nearly as many minutes as they did in the workforce -- but as pretty much anyone who has ever touched a cellphone can testify, it's virtually impossible to give up the habit once you've started, particularly now that some folks are phasing out their landlines. Japanese carriers have been catering to this unique segment of the market for a while now and their US counterparts are starting to get into the swing of things with devices like Verizon's Wireless Coupe. AT&T really doesn't have any phones that it's specifically marketing to seniors just yet, but it's moving in that direction with the introduction of its "Senior Nation 200" plan offering 200 anytime minutes, 500 night / weekend minutes, and unlimited mobile-to-mobile for 30 bones a month. Sounds like a good deal for anyone that needs a light plan, but young'uns need not apply; AT&T is actually verifying that you've hit the 65 mark at the cash register.
ok, I guess those people who would sign up for that plan have not heard of http://www.sprint.com/sero where for $30 bones you get 500 minutes, 7pm NW, UNLIMITED SMS, UNLIMITED MMS plus UNLIMITED EVDO Data.
Probably not, because sprint SERO isn't advertised on TV or anything. And Sprint SERO is something that is highly abused in my opinon, by people who don't deserve it.
That is sure a lot better than my at&t Premier for $33 bones for 450min, 9pm NW, unlimited M2M, and then I gotta add $19 just to get 200 SMS and unlimited data. Too bad there's all these complications to convert to Sero for existing users.
This reminds me of my first Sprint voice plan:
$30 for 500 minutes and unlimuted N&W
....that was 5 years ago. How is this innovative?
Because nowadays wireless companies are pushing more minutes for less which leave those who only want min. amount of minutes in the dark.
JITTERBUG!
BIGGER buttons!
BIGGER numbers!
now technology and simplicity have come together!
May I place a call for you?
I like the senior plan a lot, its making me change my opinion about At&t. I would like to see them also give a plan like that to any one on social security. Some are young but handicaped in some way and do not work. I would like to buy them a iphone but they can't afford the monthly wireless bill but then they could cancel the land line and be able to call family long didtance at night. It would be great for them.
What about it AT&T? Help the handicap or challenged?
Why do people love throwing SERO into people's faces when you need an Sprint employee to refer you or you don't get it. You can go through loopholes to do it but either way, you need to be a new customer to get it. You have to jump through a lot of hoops to get it.
savings@sprintemi.com has worked for quite a while for Sprint SERO, which by the way has periodically and conveniently opened itself up to "everyone" -- not just those with employee email addresses.
The Sprint SERO plan is nothing more than a marketing gimmick to test the waters for a $30 online only plan.
Fatwallet has a huge message thread on this plan-
http://www.fatwallet.com/t/18/680568/
If this was not profitable to Sprint they'd shut this plan down in a second.
What is very much worth noting is that this plan included unlimited EVDO data, making it an awesome deal for those with Windows or Palm smartphones (Blackberry users still need a BB specific data plan add-on).
On top of that, you must live in a Sprint service area -- NOT a Sprint Partners area like I do. How you can tell if you're in Sprint Partners? Well, its almost impossible. Best way to tell is to go to sprint.com and enter your zipcode. In my case its 52402 then get the caution "!" triangle with the caption "Sprint currently offers wireless service in the 52404 area." Well, whooptie shit. No SERO for me, however. What a bummer.
What is it with these companies and only offering plans like this to the elde--I mean, the mature? Yes, I understand that the mature, most of the time, are on fixed incomes, well, so are many college students and people whose families don't support them. I mean, I love anything that would help the aged (is that PC enough?...hope so), but what about everyone else.
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They should make this plan available to everyone, but should advertise it mainly for the mature. I mean, the Firefly is supposed to be a children's phone, but did they go around double checking to make sure these phone were going to kids, checking for Yu-Gi-Oh cards (or whatever they play with), and such?