Amp'd Mobile to shut down July 24 at 12:01am?
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Jul 22nd 2007 2:59PM
posted Jul 22nd 2007 2:59PM
Update: Make sure to hit the "Read" link for full details on how the shutdown will affect customers (i.e. can I keep my phone? my contacts? all that freakin' digital schwag I switched carriers to buy?). Interestingly enough, the main Amp'd page is still buzzing along as if nothing was wrong, and it actually took us quite a few minutes to locate the tiny graphic linking to the FAQ.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
On their FAQ, they say you can file a claim to get a refund of unused minutes etc, but i can't figure out what to do on the site they link to. Anyone have any ideas how to file one?
thats my birthday!
There's your excuse to buy an iPhone. :)
What's an "iPhone"? Got a link?
http://www.engadget.com
LOL iphone
yeah there is another waste of money to spend on.
I wonder if I can charge them an early-termination fee...
This has got to be really rough on all 3 Amp'd mobile users. Let's hope they can find another phone company that equally rips them off as much as Amp'd.
"Amp'd Mobile sent out a text message this evening -- seemingly to its entire customer base"
lol so like... 3 messages got sent out... damn that sucks for that those guys...
Next up... Helio (dont call them a phone company... they kill people with their whales if you do)
i really doubt helio is going to go down...
You just keep holding onto that hope, Helio will be gone before the decade is up. Although Helio chose to target the more techno-geek demo with their handsets its still the same demo that Amp'd tried to get into and as such presents the same issue, the money for subscription or prepaid is comming from the parents or the nearly empty pockets of their demo. Either way they're eventually going to have to face the reality that you can't compete with the big 3 or 4, whatever it is you have in the US, eventually they'll choke em into submission.
Well, if it helps any, Helio's parent is definitely one of the Big 3 of its home country.
In all seriousness, Helio also fills a niche that you haven't mentioned- the Korean niche. Quite a few of the Korean people I know have big money to blow on nice phones and all-inclusive service plans. Amp'd was going after something that any carrier could go after; Helio also goes after a niche that every carrier refuses to touch nowadays (Verizon used to allow Korean phones onto their network; now that they've cracked down there's only Helio) to make sure they're making *some* money to stay afloat.
Helio is a little bit different and has a greater following and piggy backing off of sprint.
i guess that ad they ran with the guy making out with his phone turned away more than a few prospective customers.
http://promotions.ampd.com/q_and_a/?
When I decide on my new wireless service provider - can I take my phone?
Yes, if your service provider of choice uses CDMA.
Sprint would take them with their phone? Verizon probably will, but seeing as Verizon and Sprint have strict ESN policies, I don't see why Sprint would let them keep their phone.
I guess that means no more of those Asian Wanna-Be-Rapper commercials...too bad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GipXu4yR91E
That was Boost Mobile
What? He posted the video he was referring to. It is clearly Amp'd Mobile, not Boost Mobile.
Thanks Palooz...There must be a similar Boost Mobile video that I was not aware of, that's why I included the Youtube video just in case...glad to see I'm not completely crazy.
Break-up by text message? Ouch!
Bad form Amp'd.
Like oh mah gawd betch, you can't text message breakup!
http://youtube.com/results?search_query=text+message+breakup&search=
Get a GSM phone people. CDMA is so last century. And better yet don't get pre-paid you cheap skates. *laughs wildly at CDMA pre-paid people*
Amp'd wasn't prepaid, braniac.
GSM came out a decade before CDMA, brainiac. Way to use a protocol from 1982.
Amp'd was pre paid as well BEAU
and yet europe is rife with it, and only a measly few million idiots refuse to get rid of a format dominated by a company that disables all of the best features of their phones just to make a few dollars more - to the detriment of their customers.
On my way to my local Helio store in the morning!
I work for Ampd Mobile in the IT at the corporate office.....I'll tell you the past few days here have been weird, quiet and just tense. We had a meeting on friday with the CEO and he basically told us not in these exact words but basically start udating your Resume!!! Since Ampd is over I'm gonna let you guys in on some info. Verizon is pulling the plug on us on the 24th, (which you guys know already) they want to do it on Monday but the court order indicates that Monday is the rediculous deadline Ampd has to meet in order for Verizon not to shut us down. We have to come up with 7 million dollars by Monday before Verizon can pull the plug....which means Tuesday at 12:00am they terminate Ampd Forever! We have collected 3 million which some of it came from our customers who were in collections already! My opinion for the downfall of Ampd, 1) Letting customers get to exagerating overdue balances up to....you ready for this: I saw customers who racked up 6 thousand dollar balances and where still not shut off....NO JOKE! and some of them were on family plans....I sawn a family plan ith 5 lines 60 days overdue ownig us $7,450.00 I dont know about you but I know Verizon Sprint, T-Mobile Etc....once you reach 30 days or atleast close to $1,000.00. they shut you off! 2)Our "brilliant" VP of Marketing who focused our budget more on getting top celebs and music artist for out content then actually focusing on servicing our customers and actually hiring decent customer service reps who are the worst i have ever come across Seriously Ampd customer service was one of the worst CS I have ever ever seen......they get about 3 or 4 days of crappy training, then after having to learn like 7 different systems in that short time, they throw them on the phones and dont even know the difference between CDMA and GSM.....Im surprise we lasted over 2 years!!! and finally here is also my opinion on the CEO: the CEO has that 7 mill we need (of hes own money) to get us out of this hole and give us that extra time so that verizon doesnt pull the plug just yet, but even hes not stupid enough to invest back into hes own company when he doesnt even believe in it anymore. S**T I wouldnt...... no one does. thats why no one wanted to invest on the "titanic".....Well enough of my rant but Im very disapointed to leave Ampd after 2 years with company and how laid back it was....we ocasionaly had beer breaks during work hours...sometime we buy cases of Coronas and just drink and chill...those where the good ol days. Well back to the EDD line on Tuesday for me! lol
Somehow, I'm not surprised at all a company that encourages "beer breaks" during work hours is going out of business.
Hey, don't knock the beer breaks ;) We had them at my old company, and we were making more than a little money there...
Yeah dude, don't knock the beer breaks. We have beer breaks a few times a month at my place. I work in a highly technical environment. Everyone is responsible and works hard. With only 100 employees, we posted a $64 million profit last year.
Beer breaks at Amp'd? Hmm, I can do you one better.
I used to work in import/export in one of the major American airports (not gunna tell you which one; you never know who's reading) and we used to drink Coronas at the end of the day.
One time more work unexpectedly came up a half hour before clockout time, and I ended up driving a tug across the airport tarmac with about 4 beers in me.
Fly assured on your next vacation.
I'll better you on that.
You know the guys at the airport fueling the trucks that fuel the planes.
Those guys used to drink all the time.
Imagine, guys sitting on a million gallons of high octane jetfuel (not diesel), drinking.
But alas, nothing happened and they did their job well.
I'm still waiting to get my number ported...today is the "last" day and I want my number to be ported asap so that I won't have to worry about losing a number I requested to be ported to another service...how long will this take?
i dont know, im not in customer service. and i dont work for Ampd anymore! sorry
Helio isnt bad.....its worst!
Well, unless you're Korean. I've heard that there are vast differences in Helio's Customer Service quality that favor their Korean helpline over their English line.
BUT.. BUT their commercials are so funny.. theres a guy who says "AMP'D" really loudly and abrubtly and the other ones where the guy gets everyone to do what he wants them to do
Sounds like a good time to sign up for Sprint's SERO program.
Funny how they seem to be in the death throes, talking about shutting down on the 24th, but their main website is still available to take orders (as of 9:48 am CDT).
I tied to place an order for fun yesterday, it gives you an error message at the end.
More uselessness from Gen Y hip-hop losers.
Why dont Sprint send me this text message.
"leopard @ Jul 22nd 2007 10:47AM
Funny how they seem to be in the death throes, talking about shutting down on the 24th, but their main website is still available to take orders (as of 9:48 am CDT)."
Yeah they just opened a large store in Toronto a 2 or 3 months ago, and they're always out on the sidewalk with the tunes cranked up trying to get kids to sign up for service. Last time I saw it happen was just last Thursday. If they're going tits up this week, then that some GREASY business pratices they've got going there.
Amp'd Canada is a separate company. Operated by Telus.
So the answer is basically "look north of the border if you still like Amp'd"?
It is interesting to go through the Q & A section on the Amp'd site. They have the balls to say you should still pay your bill but don't say what to do if they owe you money. They owed me money for 8 months while the CFO kept saying they needed to get the paperwork straight and that the bill would be paid. The AP person left but they said nothing and left her voicemail and email active so people wouldn't know. Why would anyone want to do business with liars and thiefs anyway?
From what I learned in bankruptcy you can kiss that money goodbye. In bankruptcy even if you have a legit claim like even if they stole it by overcharging your credit card, everything gets stayed which means all of there assets becomes property of the bankruptcy estate and the creditors get paid first. generally (since they are in backrush) nothing is left to pay back your claim. That's why they tell you to pay your bill but when it comes to money they owe you they say put a claim in for it and kiss it goodbye.
I have Amp'd the service has been phenomenal and I have never dropped a call! I get 1000 minutes and free nights and weekends starting at 7pm and unlimited text for only $56.99. But I guess it was too good to be true :( I am considering Verizon since I can just use this phone on there and the service is perfect in my area. But how do I get a Sprint employees email address for SERO plans? I hear Sprint has horrible service...but I have never tried them. I am in the 37221 zip code.
thanks!
Enjoy your slow, expensive data package on GSM while I rock my unlimited EV-DO Revision A for $15/mo. Oh, look out! GSM dropped another call!
Hey I have Ampd Mobile phone and I got this text message as well that they are shutting down the service. I contacted my local Ampd store and they forwarded me to these people that are doing the port-ins for Ampd Mobile as long as you have a current Ampd Mobile Phone they can get it ported in to any of the carriers. It took me about six hours to get it ported in. Here is their link:
http://retail.invictawireless.com
Do you guys know if we are going to get charged for our June minutes?
Thanks guys,
Mariana
They should of learned from Mitsubishi's 0-0-0 deal to not trust young people.
I have ntelos and i have unlimited minutes and text for $50 a month.
Hey guys good news! We just found out Verizon is not shutting us down on the 24th.....they already shut us down lol lol
j/k
Looks like the hop hop marketing angle went kerplunk. The commercials and celeb endorsements must have wiped them out.
I have Cricket, I pay $45 a month and have unlimited minutes and texting. I paid $112 a month through verizon for two phones to share $1400 minutes before Switching. I'll never go back to another contract as long as cricket is around.
For Those people who had Amped, Put a restriction on your credit card so you cant be charged. If you are charged, Think charge back! A bankrupt company will have no qualms about accidentaly charging 10-20% of its customers to make that 7 million they need.
I love how they 'may' end operations on the 24th, but either way, customer service won't be available beyond the 23rd. So either port ahead of time or pray they stay alive.
Good.
Any company that uses a thug phrase like "Where you at?" DESERVES to go out of business.
Now where are all of the suburban white gangsta wannabes going to get their minutes to call they bitches? Oh, yeah, still from Mommy and Daddy.
your a moron, that's boost mobile.
*you're
I still have service as of 11:15AM Central Standard Time. Due to coverage in my area I am trying to decide between 1. Verizon 2. AT&T 3.Helio and 4.Sprint. I think I can use my phone still on Verizon/Sprint. I hear Sprint has horrible reception but I have never used it and they have those cheap SERO plans. I have never tried Helio. Anyone ever tried either one? I am in Tennessee.
thanks
I worked at the Amp'd noc until this past may... when I got a phone call saying not to come into work anymore as the whole department had been laid off. What I saw there in the month or two before seemed really odd... there was literally 50+ mail baskets full of bills returned by the postal service as undeliverable. One room had these baskets stacked 6 feet high and 15 feet wide, and all the service reps were asked to spend several hours a day trying to contact these customers and get updated mailing addresses so they could get their bills - otherwise they would be cancelled. If you can imagine over 10,000 customers not receiving their bills and many of them running over a grand apiece, I think you'll see one of the reasons for Amp'd mobile's failure
you can still buy a ampèd plan o the website. and up here in kanada it is run off of TELUS mobility which is also still selling this brand...i wonder if people are informed of the service stopping tomorrow?
Ok to fill everyone in who's getting screwed by a rebate that didnt turn up, or unused minutes.... here's the instructions that they so nicely "forgot" to tell us.
1 - goto http://chapter11.epiqsystems.com/AMI/
2 - click "documents" at the top of the page
3 - click and read the document " How to file a proof of claim form."
or click this link directly
http://chapter11.epiqsystems.com/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentPk=8555d90b-5307-4221-8fbc-398c3d064347
4 - print and read "Amp'd Mobile, Inc. Proof of Claim Form"
or click this link for the file directly
http://chapter11.epiqsystems.com/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentPk=242b6d18-f147-41f8-855a-b97391a0caa3
5 - fill out forms and mail in your claim
6 - cross your fingers and hope you get the money back.
Some how they bought us more time!
Amp'd Official Site:
Is Amp'd going out of business?
Amp'd is potentially suspending US operations on July 31st.
So I dunno if we should bail or not!? What if someone buys Amp'd and we get to keep our great service and cheap plans!?
My concern is that if I bail out and then Ampd gets bought I will have to pay a early disconnect fee. I have only had Ampd for 5 months and have had no problem with the service or their billing.
well, today its 8/1/07 3:50 am and my amps mobile still working , well well se how long will this last
For those of you thinking about running to your local Helio Dealer need to do some more research on the carriers. Earthlink & SKT (South Korean Telecom) the parents of Helio report a huge loss from same period last year of 16.3 million...do the math, with only 100K subscriber base...they are next...regardless of the envolvment with Sprint...Helio is ONLY "Piggy Backing" Sprints Network! I.E. like a "roaming agreement", but Helio owns NONE of the Sprint/Nextel Networks.
Being a subcontractor for the major wireless carrier and knowing what and how the networks stand since my company is building the sites and the technology in them...as much as I even hate to say it...your better sticking to the carrier with thier own network and not "Leasing" bandwidth from others!
As you can see these "Pop Up Carriers" as we like to call them come and go as you can see, they may offer a few extra bells and whistles for your money, but what the hell good is it if they are gone tomorrow?
Here is a good link about what we all feel will be the next carrier run out due to no Network of their own. So for the time being, I will stick with AT&T (Formerly Cingular)and let all these mom and pop carrier fall off the face of the earth!
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/de-ja-vu-helio-weighs-down-earthlink-earnings/2007-07-27
Enjoy!
i was wondering if anybody knows anything about porting my number from ampd to sprint. the request was being processed for 4 days now when i call the ampd 800-number it says their customer support lines are closed. Is my number going to be lost? the text i recieved said that they were keeping it open until august 15th
You need to call Sprint for the LNP (Local Number Portablity)...not the carrier you are dropping. Once ur # is ported from AMP over to Sprint...then Amp's services are not needed.
Only time u need to worry about ur # is ur old carrier canceling ur acct b4 the new carrier has time to request ur # ported from old carrier network/switching.
Hope that helps u mate!
g/l
19 yr old son signed up 2 months prior to closing (of course, his first official contract). They screwed up his plan, charging him for text msgs when it should have been unlimited, resulting in 900.00 bill. A call to cust svc said it would take 6 weeks to straighten out, and went out of business 2 weeks after the call. Customer service went out the window immediately upon notification of the bankruptcy, and we kept getting routed to billing/collections dept, who said they couldn't do anything about it. Still sending him huge bills, even though we've called, written letters, filed an unsecured creditor claim, etc. I personally consider a company signing people to a 2 year contract when they are aware of an impending closure a MAJOR P.O.S. As a consolation to their customers with time left on their contract, they are "waiving" the balance of (in my sons' case) 22 months' service on the contract. What a great bunch of folks......Anyone with any FCC, legal or creditor background have any suggestions? Already filed with the OR AG's office under 'consumer fraud'.
well i think its all a bunch of bullshit anyways about the whole damn companys downfall i had there service for only 7 months and i bet durring that 7 months i had y phone only 4 months of that time because it got stolen and i tried and tried to get them to send me another one and they never did and i still had to pay my bill i tried to contact them several times through email and over the phone stating that i really need a new phone ASAP then out of no where i get this damn letter saying all this bankruptcy bulshit and now what do i do there website aint there anymore i am just wondering if my account is completly shut down or if its still going to be on my grandmas credit
It is August 28th 2007 and I still have amp service. Does anyone else have this problem? How long will this go on? Can I be eventually sued?
Can I use my Amp'd mobile Phone With The Sprint Network??