What do you think of this cell phone plan?

murphy55d

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
11,542
5
81
edit: forgot to add this is Verizon Wireless National Plan. No Long distance or roaming.

Thinking about getting one...LMK what you think of this plan:

1st Plan: America's Choices 300 $35.00

300 Peak time minutes (6am-9pm)

Contract Term: 12 months

Included Calling Features:
? 3-Way Calling*

? 411 Connectsm*

? Call Forwarding*

? Call Waiting*

? Caller ID*

? Calling Feature: #BAL*

? Calling Feature: #MIN*

? Detailed Billing*

? Mobile Messengersm Service*

? No Answer / Busy Transfer*

? Voice Mail*


Bonus Calling Features:
4000 Night & Weekend Home Airtime Minutes
Free for as long as you remain on the plan selected at activation Free

Recurring Monthly Access & Service Charges Sub Total $35.00

One Time Fees or Credits that will appear on your First Monthly Bill:
1 Year Contract Activation Fee $30.00

One Time Monthly Bill Charges Sub Total $30.00

this will be with a:

Motorola V120c Black $79.99
Included Accessories:
Standard Lithium Ion Battery (1100 mAH)
Wall Charger
Quick Reference Guide/Manual
One Year Warranty


Thoughts?


 

Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
9,773
0
71
Verizon's good in most areas. Make sure you watch that roaming indicator though, and understand what it means (flashing, solid, extended network, etc.)
 

murphy55d

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
11,542
5
81
gopunk, let me ask you a few questions, just to make sure I understand this completely.

There are no long distance charges and no roaming fees. Correct?

things like caller ID and all that, those services which I listed are all standard, right?
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
78,855
355
136
As long as you can live with the 300 weekday minutes (15 minutes a day on average) then it's a good plan.

Personally I prefer VoiceStream you get 500 weekday ANYTIME, with UNLIMITED weekend, no long distance, no roaming, 12 month contract and only $40/month.
 

murphy55d

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
11,542
5
81


<< Verizon's good in most areas. Make sure you watch that roaming indicator though, and understand what it means (flashing, solid, extended network, etc.) >>



Ok it says:

With America's Choice Calling Plans, all your plan minutes are national minutes. Call anywhere from anywhere on America's Choice network coast to coast with no roaming or long distance charges.

how and when will roaming affect me? (pretend I don't know anything about cell phones ;)
 

gopunk

Lifer
Jul 7, 2001
29,239
2
0
There are no long distance charges and no roaming fees. Correct?

no ld fees, no roaming provided you stay within their network. they have a map of their network, it is fairly extensive and you should be fine as long as you don't live out in the middle of nowhere. i'd say they have about 60% of the nation covered, with just about all of the populated areas covered.

things like caller ID and all that, those services which I listed are all standard, right?

yes... caller id only lists their phone number, unless they're in your address book.
 

murphy55d

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
11,542
5
81
That VoiceStream package doesn't look bad. I don't understand their coverage map though. :eek:

It says

Whenever, Wherever Get More rate plans eliminate long distance and digital roaming charges to make calling throughout the United States affordable. Click Map for Larger View


You always get the same low rate whether you're calling locally, traveling in another city, or calling long distance.

That means for one flat rate you can call your sister in Atlanta from your friend's beach house in Honolulu. Just pick one of four rate plans and call from any city in the United States where there is GSM coverage - over 6,000 cities - for as little as 8 cents a minute.

8 cents a minute? I thought being a National Plan, the long distance was included with it?

 

Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
9,773
0
71
With America's choice, you get 4000 weeknight and weekend minutes. With Voicestream, you're still burning up those weekday minutes "anytime" between 12 AM Monday (late Sunday night, ya know) and 11:59 PM Friday night.

On America?s Choice, there are no domestic long distance charges, ever.

Voicestream, AFAIK, does not work on any type of network except for GSM. There is no analog roaming, so if you're in the boonies, where there is generally only analog (AMPS) coverage, and you want to make a call, you're screwed, even if you're willing to pay for it.

Verizon's current phones work on three specific types of network (800 MHz analog AMPS, 800 MHz CDMA, and 1900 MHz CDMA), giving you some measure of redundancy to keep you connected. From where I sit, my Verizon phone has it's choice of all three signals.


When you're on the AC network, you're getting service from one of three service providers, Verizon, Alltel, or Sprint PCS. When you're "roaming" (solid "R" indicator, or phone's screen says "roaming") it means that your phone is picking up a signal from some other provider, such as US Cellular, AT&T analog, or someone else, and you will get charged per minute for making or receiving a call.

Verizon has cut a deal with Alltel and SprintPCS that allows Verizon customers to use their networks cheap (to Verizon). Verizon gets charged more by other providers if one of their customers uses their networks, hence, the per minute roaming charges.

The phone automatically prioritizes which company's network it connects to based on info downloaded into your phone called a PRL, or preferred roaming list. On America's choice, the priority is generally as follows:

  1. Verizon Digital (usually 800 MHz CDMA, 1900 MHz in a few markets) No roaming charges, no "R"
    Verizon Analog (800 MHz AMPS) No roaming charges, no "R"
    Alltel Digital (AFAIK, 800 MHz CDMA) No roaming charges, flashing "R", or banner reads "extended network"
    Alltel Analog (800 MHz AMPS) No roaming charges, flashing "R", or banner reads "extended network"
    Sprint PCS (1900 MHz CDMA) No roaming charges, flashing "R", or banner reads "extended network"
    -------------
    Everyone else (800 MHz AMPS, 800 MHz CDMA, or 1900 MHz CDMA) Roaming charges in effect, solid "R" on, or banner reads "roaming"

HTH.
 

Doggiedog

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
12,780
5
81
That's what I got too with a V60c.

But you forgot to mention that you have to pay 2 cents for every text message sent or received.

Sucks to have to pay for received messages.
 

Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
9,773
0
71
That's included if you have wireless web on your plan. Of course, that's $6.95 per month, unless it's being promo'd out of your bill. My wireless web promo ends soon, so I'm going to cancel it. Nobody sends me text messages anyway, and I'm fine with that. If you've got my digits, call me and talk!