At my work we got 35 i1000+ phones for free and currently have a $50 plan that includes 300 min., all incoming calls free, voice mail, text messaging, call forwarding, free 2-way service, and their net service. All I can say is that these things are the best since sliced bread. They are crystal clear all the time, and the area we are in usually has bad coverage, but these are out of this world. So it is definitely not just the phone that makes the quality.
Here in Tucson, Arizona we have company called "Cricket". For $29.95 they offer unlimited talk time to anyone within AZ and no contract or any sort of commitment required. $99/month seems to be awefully high price to me.
MiniMUNCH:
>so my wife can call me for free when I'm away on business no matter where I am in the world and I only get charged for a local call on my cell phone and the call is free (local) for our home line.
You meant even if you're in Australia or in hong Kong, you wife stuill can call you from California for teh cost of a local call???
If so, That's a HOT HOT deal!
I may now look into nexttel (though I have to find a partnet to use the service with me, no point for me to get Nextel alone by myself).
>so my wife can call me for free when I'm away on business no matter where I am in the world and I only get charged for a local call on my cell phone and the call is free (local) for our home line.
You meant even if you're in Australia or in hong Kong, you wife stuill can call you from California for teh cost of a local call???
If so, That's a HOT HOT deal!
I may now look into nexttel (though I have to find a partnet to use the service with me, no point for me to get Nextel alone by myself).
NICKel
Golden Member
- May 7, 2000
- 1,774
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Here in Tucson, Arizona we have company called "Cricket". For $29.95 they offer unlimited talk time to anyone within AZ and no contract or any sort of commitment required. $99/month seems to be awefully high price to me.
I am in tucson as well, and I tried Cricket.... service works ok but 5 miles out of town it dies... I need service in Other states so this isn't a good deal for me.....
As for the 2 year contract ..... There is a 200.00 penatly.... Lower than Verizon which is 400.00 and AT&T is until you die!!!
I average about 2000 minutes a month and I have been for the most part pleased. I don't use the radio half as much as I use the cellular.... Service has been great in Chicago, NY, CT, NJ, Philly, Cincinati, FL, Las Vegas, AZ, NM, and I only lost the signal for 40 miles in the middle of the desert on my way to Los Angeles from AZ (about 1000 miles).
It might not be right for everyone, but they are giving away voicemail, Internet ( my first 3 bookmarks on the phone are Techb@gains, Anandtech hit deals and Bens Bargains) , ID, and text messaging too so shop around....
I am in tucson as well, and I tried Cricket.... service works ok but 5 miles out of town it dies... I need service in Other states so this isn't a good deal for me.....
As for the 2 year contract ..... There is a 200.00 penatly.... Lower than Verizon which is 400.00 and AT&T is until you die!!!
I average about 2000 minutes a month and I have been for the most part pleased. I don't use the radio half as much as I use the cellular.... Service has been great in Chicago, NY, CT, NJ, Philly, Cincinati, FL, Las Vegas, AZ, NM, and I only lost the signal for 40 miles in the middle of the desert on my way to Los Angeles from AZ (about 1000 miles).
It might not be right for everyone, but they are giving away voicemail, Internet ( my first 3 bookmarks on the phone are Techb@gains, Anandtech hit deals and Bens Bargains) , ID, and text messaging too so shop around....
NICKel
Golden Member
- May 7, 2000
- 1,774
- 0
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Be careful of Voicestream. I have had their service now for 3 months. The service and price are great. Problem is customer service. IT SUCKS. They have a policy about customers talking to management. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED. Try it! You will never be able to talk to a manager. The worst part is repair. If your phone breaks, your SOL. They will mail you a new one. Takes 5 business days. Mine never showed up, even after calling several times. I finally walked in the store where I bought it and demanded a new phone or I wasn't leaving. I got one. Their billing is always screwed up. Watch your bills very closely. I and a friend have both gotten overbilled every month. I was so angry during the phone fiasco I started http://www.voicestreamcellularsucks.com . Had to vent my anger.
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With nextel you get unlimited direct connect with any National Business plan, so if you know some one that has one you can virtualy have unlimited minutes.
Also if a company were to buy 10 or more units they get all there phones for free
Also if a company were to buy 10 or more units they get all there phones for free
I have had Nextel for around three years now - since they first came to the Detroit metro area.
I was paying $70 each for two phones with 400 minutes and unlimited Direct Connect plus all the other usual features. I decided to switch because of all the cheap plans advertised. I called to cancel, but continued to use my phone while I waited for them to turn it off. Turns out they have a "Customer Retention Plan" (which is why you don't get shut down right away) and it took them three weeks to call me.
In the end, I had $24.95 per month, 600 anytime minutes, unlimited direct connect, no contract, $80 curtesy credit, backdated billing by three weeks, and a guarantee of a free phone when I decide to upgrade. I can buy any phone they use, send in the bill and they will credit my account.
The service and dropouts are no worse than any of the other phones. It has improved each year as they add more cells. When my husband went Elk hunting in the Colorado mountains - now that's remote - he was able to call me. True, he had to walk 1.5 miles to the top of the mountain but that's another story!
If you need/like to get in touch with somebody for short conversations, quick updates, walk throughs of procedures, etc. the Direct Connect cannot be beat.
I was paying $70 each for two phones with 400 minutes and unlimited Direct Connect plus all the other usual features. I decided to switch because of all the cheap plans advertised. I called to cancel, but continued to use my phone while I waited for them to turn it off. Turns out they have a "Customer Retention Plan" (which is why you don't get shut down right away) and it took them three weeks to call me.
In the end, I had $24.95 per month, 600 anytime minutes, unlimited direct connect, no contract, $80 curtesy credit, backdated billing by three weeks, and a guarantee of a free phone when I decide to upgrade. I can buy any phone they use, send in the bill and they will credit my account.
The service and dropouts are no worse than any of the other phones. It has improved each year as they add more cells. When my husband went Elk hunting in the Colorado mountains - now that's remote - he was able to call me. True, he had to walk 1.5 miles to the top of the mountain but that's another story!
If you need/like to get in touch with somebody for short conversations, quick updates, walk throughs of procedures, etc. the Direct Connect cannot be beat.
I have had Nextel service for two years now. The only problem I have had in the Atlanta area is in the really snotty neighborhoods where the residents won't allow any towers. I have also used the service in MD, NY, DE, RI, DC, PA, NC, SC, FL, and TN on the highways, and in towns -- not a single problem (I'm not counting US1 through some of Virginia's forests where I drove fro miles without anything resembling an exit to a town -- there I had no service). I average around 2000 cellular minutes and about 1200 direct connect minute, so I think I have tested the service 'properly'. And these are minutes all over the Atlanta area. I hear there are markets in the US where Nextel service isn't great but haven't been to any of those area.
Those of you who are excited about Sprint's dual band service ... I don't know ... If they claim an all digital network (as does Nextel) why would you have to rely on analog signals? The fact remains that all carriers have areas where they don't yet have towers -- so in a purely digital world, you either have service or you don't. Coverage varies from market to market. Check which areas you are likely to be in, and consider the coverage there. Service from any company may be horrible in Town A,XX and yet great in Town B,YY. If you plan on using the phone primarily in Town B, and almost never visit Town A, who cares what kind of coverage you get in Town A.
Quick question(s) for those of you having the "move an inch, lose coverage" problem: Were you in a building and how far was the serving cell? I have a friend that works in a warehouse made of aluminum -- I havent seen any cellphone work in the back of that!
The Nextel pricing is a bit steep if you look at other plans on a strictly cellular basis. If you throw in the unlimited walkie-talkie (direct connect) minutes AND actually use those minutes for calls, they add up really quickly to a very good deal. I make a lot of short calls (<60s)to friends and coworkers on the Nextel service that would kill me if I made them on the cellular side. Obviously, everyone has a different criteria for when to use a cellphone, so this may not apply to you.
PS. When I say cellular call, I am defining that as the standard telephone-type call that one makes on a standard cellphone as opposed to the direct connect (walkie talkie) feature.
Enough ranting, just my $0.02.
Those of you who are excited about Sprint's dual band service ... I don't know ... If they claim an all digital network (as does Nextel) why would you have to rely on analog signals? The fact remains that all carriers have areas where they don't yet have towers -- so in a purely digital world, you either have service or you don't. Coverage varies from market to market. Check which areas you are likely to be in, and consider the coverage there. Service from any company may be horrible in Town A,XX and yet great in Town B,YY. If you plan on using the phone primarily in Town B, and almost never visit Town A, who cares what kind of coverage you get in Town A.
Quick question(s) for those of you having the "move an inch, lose coverage" problem: Were you in a building and how far was the serving cell? I have a friend that works in a warehouse made of aluminum -- I havent seen any cellphone work in the back of that!
The Nextel pricing is a bit steep if you look at other plans on a strictly cellular basis. If you throw in the unlimited walkie-talkie (direct connect) minutes AND actually use those minutes for calls, they add up really quickly to a very good deal. I make a lot of short calls (<60s)to friends and coworkers on the Nextel service that would kill me if I made them on the cellular side. Obviously, everyone has a different criteria for when to use a cellphone, so this may not apply to you.
PS. When I say cellular call, I am defining that as the standard telephone-type call that one makes on a standard cellphone as opposed to the direct connect (walkie talkie) feature.
Enough ranting, just my $0.02.
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