Have I mentioned how very, very, very, very much I hate dealing with Cingular?

Very.

First, let's review what we've been told: "ATT Wireless is now Cingular!" "You'll notice no change in your wirless service." "The changeover will be 'seamless' to former ATT Wireless customers."

Sounds good.

I went to the Cingular store (company-owned, btw) today. My request: I need a Cingular SIM to replace the ATT one so that I could have them turn on the GAIT feature of the phone. Easy, huh?

No.

First, "our computers are down so we won't be able to do anything in-store today."

Second, "if you get a new SIM, then you'll have to get a new contract with at least a one year extension because we aren't allowing former ATT customers ["seamless," remember?] to simply put a new Cingular SIM in their phones."

"But I'll give you a SIM, you can take it home, and call Cingular and do this over the phone, since our computers are down."

"Uh-oh, you're on a family plan. If you change your phone then your wife's and daughter's will stop working. They will all have to be put on a new >1 year contract too. No, we don't offer the current plan you're on, you'll have to change."

"You'll need to bring in their phones, if you decide to switch to a Cingular contract, so they can be 're-programmed.'"

By now I'm steaming. Remember "seamless" and "you won't notice any change" (except, apparently, being extorted into a new contract)?

My final question to her: "Is my current contract over with?" "We don't know, our computers are down."

I might go through the hassle of switching phone companies but reading reports on the cell phone discussion boards it sounds as if all of them are simply abysmal at customer "service."

If only Dante had had cell phone and cable tv providers.....

I'd pay good money at this point for a "cell phone agent" (something like a real estate agent) who could navigate all this %$&#&.