Verizon users: Difference between Vcast/Internet?

[Alienwho]

I'm getting verizon and am most likely going to end up with the env2. I have the option to get internet access for the phone, through work for $5/month. My question is, would it be worth it? I don't know what I could do with the internet on the env2. I can't use java programs, so that means no google maps (which is pretty much the number 1 reason I would want it). A representative at the store told me that the internet on the phones is synonymous with Vcast, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

I am confused, anybody care to shed some light?

 

[Ns1]

vcast = whatever bullshit verizon wants to give you and let you download
internet = full blown internet

I dont' see the point for internet (which is 45 bucks for unlimited usage) unless you have a pda phone.

 

[Savij]

Originally posted by: Ns1
vcast = whatever bullshit verizon wants to give you and let you download
internet = full blown internet

I dont' see the point for internet (which is 45 bucks for unlimited usage) unless you have a pda phone.

The internet is not the full blown internet since Verizon has most likely locked down your phone to try to get you to pay for vcast. While Verizon's coverage is decent in my area, I'm going to switch just because their phone is pissing me off.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: Savij

Originally posted by: Ns1
vcast = whatever bullshit verizon wants to give you and let you download
internet = full blown internet

I dont' see the point for internet (which is 45 bucks for unlimited usage) unless you have a pda phone.

The internet is not the full blown internet since Verizon has most likely locked down your phone to try to get you to pay for vcast. While Verizon's coverage is decent in my area, I'm going to switch just because their phone is pissing me off.

See this

http://b2b.vzw.com/productsser...ness+plans//data+plans

(vzw - business plans - data)

The $45 one is true internet. Whatever else they offer you is bullshit. I'm not 100% familiar with the env2, so maybe their POS crippled internet is actually vcast.

 

[destrekor]

What plan do you have? Americas Choice? Or Nationwide?
If you have Americas Choice, internet access uses airtime. The Mobile Web 2.0 package for $5/month allows unlimited use of Mobile Web 2.0, but you have to deal with airtime. I an unsure if the Vcast pack (for $15/month uses) uses airtime or is still calculated as data somehow.

If you have Nationwide, data and voice are separate. Mobile Web 2.0 access is automatically provided, but you have to pay $1.99/MB of data (which Verizon states is, on average, 50 HTML web pages). But with the same Vcast pack, you get unlimited data access on non-smartphone devices.

I have the Samsung Glyde, and since it has full HTML browsing, it supposedly requires the Nationwide plan. I have the Vcast pack too, so I can browse the net as often as I like, and also as a bonus get to access all the mobile video content. Some networks have full episodes on it... granted, not the greatest quality, but if you are out somewhere and have time to waste, it's pretty nice, plus they are usually broken into segments. If you have strong EV-DO reception in your area, you'd have pretty good streaming.

Originally posted by: Ns1
See this

http://b2b.vzw.com/productsser...ness+plans//data+plans

(vzw - business plans - data)

The $45 one is true internet. Whatever else they offer you is bullshit. I'm not 100% familiar with the env2, so maybe their POS crippled internet is actually vcast.

Those data plans are ONLY for smartphones and PDAs. You cannot use those with any other kind of phone.

+

 

[Ns1]

re: ^^

Ah, I see.

 

[Alienwho]

Wow it's even more complicated than I thought. Vcast always looked like a load of garbage. I just want basic gmail and google maps functionality is all . Utilizing the built in GPS without paying verizons stupid $10/month fee would be nice too.

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: Ns1
re: ^^

Ah, I see.

Yea, with my purchase of the Glyde, I had some lengthy talks with CSRs about what exactly is offered and why I would have to switch my family's America's Choice family share plan to the Nationwide share plan. Kind of annoying, but thankfully the cost is the same so it really does nothing for my parents.
But I'm debating the vcast pack for me... while the Glyde is the perfect size, the GUI takes up too much screen real estate on an already smallish screen, so HTML browsing can be kind of a pain. Tried to do ATOT one day during a commercial break... I gave up immediately. Just not enough browser window. I'm hoping there's a firmware update to allow use of the entire screen, that'd be awesome.

Originally posted by: Alienwho
Wow it's even more complicated than I thought. Vcast always looked like a load of garbage. I just want basic gmail and google maps functionality is all . Utilizing the built in GPS without paying verizons stupid $10/month fee would be nice too.

I'd love that too, but yea, Verizon locks out using anything else.

What your looking for isn't going to be found on a dumbphone basically anywhere. You need a phone with a real OS to allow you to download an app. I'm realizing those kinds of features are exactly what I want in a mobile, but hell no I will not pay an extra $45/month for unlimited data, so I'll make do.

+

 

[Alienwho]

I also read that even if you have the data plan, using MSN messenger/AIM uses TEXT messages instead of the data. So I get unlimited internet, but only 250 texts, so using an internet style application uses up my limited texts? I really hate verizon.