Already the Cingular / ATT Wireless merger has proven to be harmful to consumers. While Cingular has been advertising their “great new 5-bar” wireless network, they have silently removed many consumer-friendly options from their lineup.

For example, they no longer offer the option of a 1 year contract for new service. They are forcing a 2 year contract for new customers, and depending on where you live, you either get a $240 pro-rated cancellation fee or a flat $150 cancellation fee. That flat fee means that if you cancel on day 364 of your 1 year contract, you have to pay them $150. That is pure, 100%, unadulterated JUNK.

Also, they employ some pretty slimy marketing tactics. They advertise unlimited nights and weekends on all plans $49.99 and above. Sounds like a good deal…I’ll take the $49.99 plan please. Oh, you don’t have a $49.99 plan? Just the $39.99 or the $59.99? Sounds to me like the real truth is unlimited nights and weekends on all plans $59.99 and up….but that doesn’t sound like as sweet of a deal, does it?

Also, soon after the merger, Cingular promptly removed the $19.99 and $29.99 plan from their offerings, so now there is no low-cost option other than prepaid, which has horribly expensive per-minute rates.

Overall, the only benefit consumers have seen as a result of the merger is slightly better coverage in some areas. As with most mergers, the pockets of the “higher-ups” have been nicely lined with fresh benjamins while the consumers get the shaft. Neat-O!