HOT! Verizon cell phone - free Express Network high-speed internet (144Kbps)

[gambit32]

Can someone tell me exactly what they said when they called Verizon about getting this added onto their phone? I got my phone in late May and I'm really upset about missing out on this.

I go to call, but all I can get out of them is that yes, i could get the mobile office kit, but id need to get on the Express Network plan for $74.99. I tried mentioning "No, im interested in the one that just uses your mobile minutes" but she kept cutting me off with "I know how you might think that but... blah blah"

I'd really like to get this added to my phone, but I really dont know what I should say to these people to make it obvious to them exactly what im looking for...

For that matter, Does this even work anymore? Can I still get it added?

 

[crowderd]

Originally posted by: gambit32
Can someone tell me exactly what they said when they called Verizon about getting this added onto their phone? I got my phone in late May and I'm really upset about missing out on this.

I go to call, but all I can get out of them is that yes, i could get the mobile office kit, but id need to get on the Express Network plan for $74.99. I tried mentioning "No, im interested in the one that just uses your mobile minutes" but she kept cutting me off with "I know how you might think that but... blah blah"

I'd really like to get this added to my phone, but I really dont know what I should say to these people to make it obvious to them exactly what im looking for...

For that matter, Does this even work anymore? Can I still get it added?

Try calling back. You might get a different CSR who will be more knowledgable.

 

[jfunk]

You don't need to call or anything to get the minutes only express network. It is just on automatically now for all 1X capable phones. They started doing this because the new phones with cameras in them need it. The reps don't seem to know anything about it, because it is not a promotion or anything like that, so they haven't been given any literature or anything, but there is no activation or checkmark they have to put on your account or anything, it's just there. The express network plans are still available so you can buy extra minutes specifically for the network that won't use your regular airtime minutes, but that is all they do.

As for the "cool sites" thing on the free WAP service, try using the google home page. I never could get anything to connect via whatever that site was with the cool sites listing either. Everything else I got to works fine.

j

 

[shurato]

I have a Samsung T300 cell phone that is apparently not expressnet capable. I am in a 2yr contract with about 1yr left on it. I have to buy a phone at full price because I am still under contract. Can anyone reccomend to me where I could purchase a verizon phone that is expressnet capable without a new contract? I personally dont want to spend so much money for a new phone. Just need something reliable and cheap. I don't care too much about color or features (as long as the phone is not too ugly) because I have a Toshiba E755 pda that I want to try to use to connect like you laptop users are doing. I went to radio shack and their crappiest and most ugly phone was $200 to buy without a new contract!

 

[WilhelmII]

I just ordered a Mobile Office Kit for my Audiovox 9155-GPX for 9.95 with free shipping. This thing used to be $90.

 

[hallf]

Originally posted by: shurato
I have a Samsung T300 cell phone that is apparently not expressnet capable. I am in a 2yr contract with about 1yr left on it. I have to buy a phone at full price because I am still under contract. Can anyone reccomend to me where I could purchase a verizon phone that is expressnet capable without a new contract? I personally dont want to spend so much money for a new phone. Just need something reliable and cheap. I don't care too much about color or features (as long as the phone is not too ugly) because I have a Toshiba E755 pda that I want to try to use to connect like you laptop users are doing. I went to radio shack and their crappiest and most ugly phone was $200 to buy without a new contract!

My local Verizon store will let me upgrade my phone to whatever deal they have going as long as it has been a year since my last hardware upgrade...but I have to extend my contract a year when I do it. I've also purchased (and sold) Verizon compatible phones on eBay - you just have to research the prices, so you know if you're getting a decent deal or not. Phones bought that way don't require any contract changes - just take it to Verizon and tell them to change your phone number from your old unit to the new one.

 

[shurato]

Hmm really? I guess those radio shack stores are different because i also went to radio shack and the guy even called a verizon rep for me...but it really appears to me that most verizon customer service reps are pretty clueless anyway. Do i have to pay an activation fee if i switch phones? I remember sprint wanted to charge me when i wanted to do that a while back. I think i can pick up a kyocera 2235 for like 50 bucks on ebay.

 

[nexialist]

Just signed up for America"s plan with 2 LG VX3100 phones, so It sounds like I can use this.

What Can I do with express network.

Can I check email, browse anandteck hot deals, check my stocks during the day?

Dan

 

[KrustyVT]

Originally posted by: nexialist
Just signed up for America"s plan with 2 LG VX3100 phones, so It sounds like I can use this.

What Can I do with express network.

Can I check email, browse anandteck hot deals, check my stocks during the day?

Dan

Yes, yes, yes. It's just like having a normal Internet connection.

-=K=-

 

[crobusa]

It is just on automatically now for all 1X capable phones.

Sales: We don't know what your talking about. Heres Tech's direct line
Tech: Yes, we have it, but its only for america's choice.. since you don't have a cell# I can't talk/transfer to sales. Go to your dealer.

I really want to get that promotional 1 yr 1000 minutes for $40/mo. Is it possible?
Assuming I take the blind leap of faith.. isn't there some protection if I return the phone in 15 days or something?
Are people getting conformation before they committ?

 

[ableach33]

signed a renewal contract last month... called yesterday about it being offered automatically... she back tracked my contract to the first ever contract i had with them.. jan of 2003... then i couldn't get on the express network... called back.. CSR that I got didn't even know about the june 2nd promotion... (even though its been almost 2 months now and even the website has this deal)... tried to explain to her that i was using EN for the past month, gave up.. called back, got express network back on... still under Jan contract.. will be waiting to see if they charge me... I somehow also am able to use that free WAP service now when before it was giving me some error messages..

good luck to the rest of you...

 

[kermalou]

for more info go to

www.howardforums.com and find the verizon boards...

they have a lot of threads about this.

 

[OatMan]

Please help this wireless NOOB!

just got AC and VX4400 June 26th. I have a palm m500. I want to buy the cable that was referred to earlier in the thread.

Once I do that what do I do? Do I have to download and install web browsers and stuff? Is Verizon EN my ISP? Do I need a userID and password? I use road runner cable internet at home, but I don't imagine I can get to it via EN...

Can someone point me to some specific info on this as I'm just having trouble finding it...

thanks!

 

[nexialist]

Wow man,

Is it possible to use a Palm as a receiver? My wireless experience is practically zero.

If so, then I finally have a reason to get one. I have a lot to learn. Maybe it's time for Wireless for Dummies?

Dan

 

[Mears]

Ok, I'm having trouble getting this to work with a LG VX4400 that I just bought. Here is the steps I took:

1. Purchased the future dial data cable at radio shack. It is the newer one that works for the 4400 and one other model.
2. D/l'd the usb driver package from future dial and installed, choosing "LG 4400(verizon)" as my phone
3. Plugged my phone in to the cable when prompted and set the data/fax to data in always and set the transfer rate to 15200 on the phone.
4. Let winxp finish installing drivers. At which point there were three present (modem, usb, and com port). The com port was 5 and my modem was using com 3. I switched the modem over to com5 (note I also tried w/ com3) and set its rate to 15200. I put in the initialization string AT$QCMDR=3(also tried w/o the string).
5. Set the port speed to 15200 in device manager.


After creating a dial-up connection, I dialed it and it connected. However, I could not open any websites, although I could ping google, etc. I should mention that one time it did finally bring up a page, but it was extremely slow. Also, the phone keeps disconnecting itself for some reason. My signal strength was good.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Mears

*Edited for clarity*

 

[Mears]

Bump for edit

 

[santokki]

Thanks everyone for this thread. I'm up in the mountains in Utah camping. I'm able to check my e-mail and post on AT. Nice.

 

[NickelTitanium]

I have a question about the mobile web service with the waptunnel. After I go to the secret menu and renter the information. I am unable to enter the browser menu. What I do get when I go to the "Start the browser" I can't press the "0". It ask me if I know there could be charges...


Secondly, when I am on the EN service. My connection seems to connect and disconnect on and off. Is it my connection or is do I have a wrong setting? I did set the data/fax to be data in always.

 

[kctopitz]

For those of you who are using the EN network regularly, does this access work feasibly as a regular internet connection? Obviously it depends on where you live, but assuming you have a decent signal at home and you only get on the net during off-peak hours, could this be a suitable alternative to dsl/cable/dialup?

 

[KrustyVT]

Originally posted by: kctopitz
For those of you who are using the EN network regularly, does this access work feasibly as a regular internet connection? Obviously it depends on where you live, but assuming you have a decent signal at home and you only get on the net during off-peak hours, could this be a suitable alternative to dsl/cable/dialup?

I use it as my primary means of internet access on week long business trips and the like, and it works very well. If it starts to become an actual access replacement for people at home, I have a feeling Verizon wouldn't keep this around for long.

-=K=-

 

[Shimmishim]

well...

i've tried 3 different times now to get this express network added to my plan (i have an existing america's choice plan)

and no one knows what this is...

so anyway...

any suggestions on how i can get this service added to my plan???

 

[KrustyVT]

Originally posted by: Shimmishim
well...

i've tried 3 different times now to get this express network added to my plan (i have an existing america's choice plan)

and no one knows what this is...

so anyway...

any suggestions on how i can get this service added to my plan???

I find it hard to believe that these days the CSR's are not aware of this feature. Rumors were that this feature was automatically being added to plans starting in June - have you tried to connect to EN yet? That's the best way to tell if your account is provisioned for it - if that doesn't work, you might want to try calling Verizon and speaking to the wireless data division, as they should definitely know about this.

-=K=-

 

[Waterskier1]

I got the VX4400 specifically for this. When I tried to access it, it wouldn?t work, so I called Verizon. I went through several CSRs continuing to ask for Management, and finally got one who said that this is only provisioned for Picture phones. It seems this is the way verizon sends pictures, and is the only authorized use of the service, unless you pay for it. That is why you won?t see it advertised (by them), anywhere, as free. Indeed, they only address the ?for fee? service. I asked about the package number, and was told that was for picture phones only. It seems that the reason that you?re finding so many at Verizon who don?t know is because the company hasn?t really taken a stand yet. It seems that right now, the position is that it will only be provisioned on picture phone accounts, and that is the only authorized use, besides the ?for fee? usage. In the end, he added the equivalent package to what was specified at the beginning of this thread, stating that it will convert to that package when they convert my region to the new billing system. But, he gave no guarantees that it would continued to work, and further no guarantees that it would only cost me minutes. This is from a manager in the Northwest, which services Colorado. YMMV seems appropriate.

 

[dcdomain]

Hmmm... I have another year of school before I move back home where T-Mobile/Cingular (GSM) is terrible. I guess it would be safe for me to stick with T-Moble right now (awesome phones). Anyone know how long this feature will last? Since it's not really supported, and probably costing them in some way, I figure once more and more people abuse it, they'll find a way to charge or block this feature. But if it doesn't cost them that much, they should really advertise this feature, I know I'd jump over from T-Mobile.

 

[pX]

I have a Kyocera 2325 and I can't get the Verizon program to recognize the thing. The Kyocera software (for ringers, contacts etc) cannot auto-detect my phone, but I can set my phone to a manual port (port 5, which is the USB port it's connected to), however the Verizon deal only autodetects. Anyone run into this?
Also, just an FYI for 2325 users, this is how to use WAP for ~free (costs minutes unless during a free air time):

Enter 1 six times and press Options. Go to Browser Setup and select UP Link B. If you're prompted for the security code enter 000000. For Primary IP, enter the IP for the gateway you want to use (from waptunnel.com ), then select Next. Then enter the port number under Primary Port. Secondary IP and Secondary Port just leave blank and hit next. Once that's done, you'll be taken back the Browser Setup menu. Exit the programming screen. Then open the browser. Go to setup, select option 4(UP Link) and then change it to UP Link B.