Banc of America Securities and other financial analysts praised Cingular Wireless' recent "meaningful pricing changes," including a rollover plan that lets customers who sign up for local plans carry over unused minutes into the next month.
Customers no doubt also welcomed the move.
Despite the warm reception to Cingular's plan, competing cell-phone service providers have no intention of letting their customers keep unused minutes.
"Sprint PCS allows our customers to monitor their usage and they can -- free of charge -- change their plans at any time to make sure they don't go too far under or over their buckets of minutes," said Sprint PCS spokesman Dan Wilinsky.
Verizon Wireless, AT&T Wireless and T-Mobile also confirmed that they had no plans to let customers carry over unused minutes.
Under Cingular's new plan, customers can use rolled-over minutes for up to 12 months. Cingular is the second-largest cell-phone service provider next to Verizon.
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A looming ban on DWY: Britain is on the verge of banning driving while yakking (DWY) on a cell phone.
The department of transportation said that people using mobile phones while driving are four times more likely than other drivers to have an accident. Government officials are currently mulling a plan to outlaw driving while talking on a cell phone, unless the driver uses a hands-free kit or headset.
Drivers who infringe on the rule could face a fine of up to £2,500 ($3,800).
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Bye-bye: In a bittersweet "mutual agreement," Salomon Smith Barney bid farewell to telecom expert Jack Grubman.
Grubman, in case investors have forgotten, is the analyst who gave telecom stock unquestionable support when the market was plush. He remained the industry cheerleader even as investors lost money hand over fist and many telecom companies headed to bankruptcy court.
On his way out, Grubman will receive the remains of a five-year contract struck in 1998, The New York Times reported. A $19 million loan will be forgiven and he will receive approximately $12 million in stock and stock options he has earned over the years, the Times said.
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Ericsson in deep dough-dough: Meanwhile, there's no immediate graceful exit for Ericsson from its financial woes.
Ericsson, whose shares (ERICY) closed at 63 cents on Tuesday, recently warned the financial market that it may need to invest another 530 million euros ($520 million) into its cell-phone joint venture with Sony. The company also reported that the venture -- after it posted a small profit in the first quarter of this year -- is bound to have a loss for the full year due to weak cell-phone sales worldwide and technical problems with some Sony Ericsson handsets.
Reuters contributed to this report.
