Hi all,
Does any one know if there are any prefered providers for Tel, wireless, cable and broadband services. Does Mayo offer any discounts on any of them?
From what I've heard Qwest is pretty popular for Tel. Also Mayo offers discounts on some wireless - cingular and sprint. But Midwest has the best service in town.
Any other thoughts?
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6 comments:
I know Sprint offers a 20% discount for Mayo employees. I didn't know about cingular and Midwest. I'll look into their plans but I've got a good deal with T-mobile that I'd hate to give up.
Charter is the cable company and they currently have some discount packages on their website. Just enter your address to get pricing at www.charter.com . Cable internet and 70 channels of cable = approx $70/mon. I spoke to Charter and they denied any discouts for Mayo employees.
I've been using VoIP phone via Sunrocket.com and it's been great. Plus, it's much cheaper than a regular LAN line: $9/mon for 2 yrs with free USA long distance and all of the extra features of a LAN line. I think they've increased the price to $17/mon but there many reasons to switch to VoIP and only a handful reasons not to switch. Their website lists all of the features but they may not mention that VoIP is not recommended if you do a significant amount of MP3 or video downloads via a P2P program like LimeWire. Since downloads and voice are transmitted through the same internet connection, voice will suffer if another application is consuming the bandwidth. However, voice quality is NOT affected by web browsing, streaming music/video, email, etc.
good luck.
I talked to somebody at Charter on Friday. Their prices for just cable internet are:
- 4 Mbps up / 256k down for $57.95
- 5 Mbps up / 512k down for $62.95
- 10 Mbps up / 1M down for $82.95
There might also be a one-time fee of $49.95 to set it up if you've never had cable before at your place. If you get a cable TV package you'll save $10 on cable internet.
Thanks for the advise, guys.
I've never tried VoIP, but sounds like a great idea. I'll consider trying it this time.
Niti
I've called around a bit, and here's what I've been told:
- Verizon has no discount
- Cingular can't tell me over the phone what the discount is and their website needs a working mayo.edu email address
- Midwest Wireless offers 10% off, and you have the option of going with a Tri-state plan and then expanding it to nation-wide coverage when you travel, provided you give them enough advanced notice.
- T-mobile offers a 10% discount on plans, allows 1-year plans, and waives the activation fee. They were willing to include two Razr V3t phones for $49.99 upfront that they would rebate (i.e.-free) and two free bluetooth headsets that cost up to $69 each when I would sign up for a 700 minute family share plan for $59.99-10% discount ($54/month). The cost, after accounting for the free phones, is about the same as with Midwest Wireless but I the plan would include nation-wide coverage all the time, so I'm leaning towards T-mobile.
Sorry for the long post, but this is what the folks in the Leisure & Lifestyle Office emailed to me regarding cell phone discounts:
Cingular
Through Voluntary Hospitals of America (VHA), Cingular offers Mayo Clinic employees a 24% discount on all Cingular Wireless service plans and up to a 45% discount on equipment for new services (excluding PDAs.) Visit www.cingular.com/benefits/vha (copy and paste to browser) or call (800) 331-0500, option #3. Refer to FAN number 00028175.
This is an online offer only.
Midwest Wireless
With Midwest Wireless, you will receive 10% off each month's service. For more information or for the current specials, call (888) 642-8255 or go to the Midwest Wireless Web site.
Sprint PCS
Sprint offers a discount of 23% off all monthly recurring charges on Sprint service and 12% off monthly recurring charges on Nextel service for Mayo Clinic employees, volunteers and retirees. Visit their Web site for ordering information (username - mayo clinic; password - mayoil ).
T-Mobile Discount
http://extranet.t-mobile.com/tmobile-exc/extranet/select.do?id=143bf5e5ac97a7d0f8ea2553dbc36ed020cf909246d8b18d
Mayo Clinic employees are eligible for at least an 8% discount* on wireless service monthly services, no activation fees and $40 off all handsets. Special exclusive discounts and promotions are offered each quarter. T-Mobile provides several ways for you to get information or take advantage of these the benefits.
• For those that like the idea of a “real person,” a special T-Mobile call group is set up to assist you. Call (866) 464-8662 and identify yourself as a Mayo Clinic employee. Please refer to discount code 3303TMOFAV.
• These employee benefits and discounts currently are not available to new subscribers at T-Mobile retail stores.
• What about employees who are already T-Mobile customers? Many of the promotions are only available for new lines of service; however, employees who already are using T-Mobile can “migrate” their account to your company’s corporate plan, so that on a prospective basis they can qualify for certain monthly discounts on their T-Mobile invoice.
• Customer service calls can be directed to T-Mobile’s Customer Care team at (800) 937-8997.
* The percentage of the discount on monthly services will increase with the number of employees signing up with T-Mobile.
** The device, activation fee and monthly rate plan discounts are available only when users order via the employee web site, or by calling the group that supports this web site at (866) 464-8662.
Verizon Wireless
Open House Marriott Hotel (subway level)
May 1 & 2, 2007
As a Mayo Employee, you will receive a 8% monthly discount with Verizon Wireless. In addition to the monthly discount, you will receive discounted equipment, accessories and waved activation fees with a two-year agreement.
This offer is for new and existing Verizon Wireless customers. Are you currently in a contract with Verizon Wireless? You are still eligible for the monthly discount. Sign up during the following times in the Marriot Hotel (subway level by Caribou Coffee).
• May 1 – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• May 2 – 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information, contact John Rardin at (507) 993-2982 or e-mail john.rardin@verizonwireless.com. You can also visit the Verizon retail store at 190-16th St. SW, Suite 200 or call (507) 252-9955.
Wireless Toyz Discount
(200 North Broadway)
Wireless Toyz, a multi-carrier cell phone store, is offering Mayo Clinic employees a discount on accessories: 15% off Wireless Toyz-branded accessories and 10% off other accessories, including higher-end accessories like Bluetooth™ headsets. In addition, they offer discounts off phones upon activations of plans with Sprint, Verizon and Nextel, and honor corporate discounts on monthly plans.
Anyone else wondering who the local phone companies are in Rochester? The State of Minnesota has a
List
Rochester City - County of Olmsted
BullsEye Telecom, Inc. (877) 638-2855
Desktop Media, Inc. (507) 373-2155
Digital Telecommunications, Inc. dba DTI (877) 742-5384
Global Crossing Telemanagement, Inc. (800) 236-1009
Integra Telecom of Minnesota, Inc. (952) 746-7100
Ionex Communications North, Inc. (800) 860-8401
Jaguar Communications, Inc. (800) 250-1517
McLeodUSA Telecommunications Services, Inc. (800) 500-3453
New Edge Network, Inc. dba New Edge Networks (877) 435-7950
NOS Communications Inc. (800) 569-4667
QuantumShift Communications, Inc. (800) 454-7339
Qwest Corporation (800) 244-1111
Sprint Communications Company L. P. (800) 877-4646
Trinsic Communications, Inc. (800) 511-4572
USLink, Inc. dba TDS METROCOM (888) 546-5287
Velocity Telephone, Inc. (763) 521-0401
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