Internet access via cell phones

[EVILUTION]

.... I need to know what you guys are using and what it costs. I'm looking for a phone that can act as a wireless router or access point for the web.

Most of the tech geeks that I work with have sprint ... they got in on some deal where it costs $30/mo with pretty much unlimited everything.

What other services are available? I see AT&T has iPhones ... anyone have AT&T?

Basically I'm looking for a phone that I can access the web and email where ever I go. I have very limited access at work and very limited access when at reserve weekends.

Help get me outfitted.

[ZXTUNER]

sprint and at&t are the best

[camaro_guy]

Alltel mang! I know Andy will be all over this too but honestly now is the perfect time to jump onto Alltel! we are merging with Verizon so you'll get the Verizon coverage at the Alltel rates since your contract grandfathers you in. Get set up with a blackberry curve or HTC Pro and you have full access to the world wide web including apps for Face, youtube, Turn by turn GPS etc... All are phones can tether making it a modem for your computer.. The HTC Pro has wifi for internet sharing so you can use the Alltel network to connect from you PC! It's all national coverage and I haven't seen a roaming charge for a customer yet unless they left the country.

[camaro_guy]

sprint and at&t are the best


Sprint if you like having service near cities but shit out of luck in the country sure thing it rocks! Plus I see some AMAZING bills from pissed off customers that I save from the nightmares..

AT&T has the iPhone and that is about it....Better service then Spring though.

[Jettaman]

Sprint if you like having service near cities but shit out of luck in the country sure thing it rocks! Plus I see some AMAZING bills from pissed off customers that I save from the nightmares..

AT&T has the iPhone and that is about it....Better service then Spring though.

I also see those pissed customers and thier AMAZING bills from sprint here at US Cellular.

[krazyk]

Sprint if you like having service near cities but shit out of luck in the country sure thing it rocks! Plus I see some AMAZING bills from pissed off customers that I save from the nightmares..

AT&T has the iPhone and that is about it....Better service then Spring though.

ive had sprint for like 8 years now and i havent had anything that you mention happen...
i get service EVERYWHERE regardless of how far out in bum fuck egypt i am...
the internet from sprint on the cellphones also kicks ass

[abot316]

I used to be with Sprint years ago, If you were in a big city like Chicago it was worth it, up here, crap, and their customer service blew ass. Sprint can go suck it. I like my Alltel.

[EVILUTION]

Lets talk some numbers..... what does this service cost?

[ZXTUNER]

you can get unlimited calling texting and internet from sprint for 99 a mounth

[ragdoll]

I used Sprint and AT&T for these services around central Wisconsin. Sprint murders AT&T for both covereage area and speed. I'd get about 15-20kbps downloads on AT&T and about 90-140kbps downloads on Sprint. On a good day I'd see 175kbps on Sprint! That's actual download speeds. Pretty impressive.

I'd get Sprint without question. I'd pitch it's value to work and have them help pay for it, too.

I can't help with costs because work paid for both services for me.

[EVILUTION]

Sprint has a deal going with Sentry .... something like $40/month for everything but you have to buy a $200 phone.

[ragdoll]

This is just me, but I wouldn't mind spending a few hundred for a phone if it's awesome.

[EVILUTION]

So sprint owns all .... hmmm.

[TurboE30ftw]

Alltel IMO, fastest I've seen is 1.8mbs and 700k/s upload through my phone. Data cards are now quoted up to 3.2mb/s. Cheapest if you want is a 39.99 cell phone plan with the $30 tethering.

Otherwise just get a 59.99/month data-card and use a router system that will use that as an internet source and then distribute it. Advantage of this is priority over phones for data from towers, so you dont notice if the towers become over-crowded, and slightly higher speeds.


BTW Sprint/Nextel was #3 for worst rated customer service for companies worldwide (survey I read today on msn). I used to have nextel but ditched it when sprint took control.

[camaro_guy]

Spring my have the unlimited everything for 99 but who really needs unlimited minutes? KrazyK is one of the lucky ones Sprint didn't fuck up with.

A smart phone plan w/ 500minutes, 10 My Circle, night@7, Unlimited data, txt and tethering is 120 plus tax (90 without tethering.) normal plans are 39.99. Plus, as long as you don't go to the corporate store customer service is grade A.

Come get hooked up this month I'll waive activation and 50% of accessories. (CWSCC discount of course)

Consumer reviews http://www.consumersearch.com/cell-phone-plans (Verizon or Alltel; same thing)

[krazyk]

im not lucky one lol..
ive got 500 minutes, unlimited internet & data, nights and weekends starting at 7, unlimited text messages, free incoming calls, free sprint to sprint..
and i pay hmmmm $65 a month... less as soon as my work discoint from my new job sets in..

If you ever have any bad dealings with sprint than call and say your going to cancel your plan.. they will do anything and everything to keep you, including give you free add on and discounts to keep you happy..
for what i get and what ive gotten from them i wont be switching...
every single person i know that uses US cellular or alltell cant touch what i get from sprint and they pay a fuck ton more...

[Dizmm]

USCC is finally launching their 3g service up here along with some new mobile internets. It should be officially launched in the next month.

[camaro_guy]

USCC is finally launching their 3g service up here along with some new mobile internets. It should be officially launched in the next month.


About damn time! Welcome to the fast lane!

[devlish]

i know how to send text messages.

[Dizmm]

i forgot my phone at home today.

[devlish]

^ that explains that email.

[SgtRauksauff]

I've been thinking along these lines myself lately. But, in my area (baraboo/portage), USCellular is pretty much the only thing worth getting that has signal where I go, and that's not even looking at any sort of connection to the internets.

--sarge

[ragdoll]

Chuck Norris says I have AIDS.

[EVILUTION]

To bad USC has shit internet service.

[Dizmm]

To bad USC has shit internet service.

USCC is finally launching their 3g service up here along with some new mobile internets. It should be officially launched in the next month.

whats you need to stay connected 24/7?

[stpdk]

whats you need to stay connected 24/7?

I have USC and ive never had problems with the net just the POS HTC Touch that i should have never gotten.

[EVILUTION]

Well what does the net cost for a current USC customer?

[stpdk]

Well what does the net cost for a current USC customer?

Anytime MinutesMonthly
RateAdditional Anytime MinutesIncluded Roaming MinutesIncoming CallsNight & Weekend MinutesMobile-to-
Mobile
MinutesWide Area 700 (javascript:openWindow('b_plandetail.html?pkid=404 7&mkt=607740&zip=54481',%20'Detail',%20480,450);)http://www.uscc.com/uscellular/SilverStream/Objectstore/Images/btn_buy.gif (http://www.uscc.com/uscellular/SilverStream/Pages/b_showphone.html?pkid=4047&type=4&mkt=607740&zip=54481&wrkflow=wrkFlowPlan&covType=1)

700$39.99$0.490Unlimited
Included9:00 P.M.
$6.00Unlimited
$6.00
Wide Area 1000 (javascript:openWindow('b_plandetail.html?pkid=392 5&mkt=607740&zip=54481',%20'Detail',%20480,450);)http://www.uscc.com/uscellular/SilverStream/Objectstore/Images/btn_buy.gif (http://www.uscc.com/uscellular/SilverStream/Pages/b_showphone.html?pkid=3925&type=4&mkt=607740&zip=54481&wrkflow=wrkFlowPlan&covType=1)

1000$49.99$0.4930Unlimited
IncludedUnlimited
7:00 P.M.Unlimited
Included
Wide Area 1300 (javascript:openWindow('b_plandetail.html?pkid=392 6&mkt=607740&zip=54481',%20'Detail',%20480,450);)http://www.uscc.com/uscellular/SilverStream/Objectstore/Images/btn_buy.gif (http://www.uscc.com/uscellular/SilverStream/Pages/b_showphone.html?pkid=3926&type=4&mkt=607740&zip=54481&wrkflow=wrkFlowPlan&covType=1)

1300$59.99$0.2530Unlimited
IncludedUnlimited
7:00 P.M.Unlimited
Included
Wide Area 2000 (javascript:openWindow('b_plandetail.html?pkid=392 7&mkt=607740&zip=54481',%20'Detail',%20480,450);)http://www.uscc.com/uscellular/SilverStream/Objectstore/Images/btn_buy.gif (http://www.uscc.com/uscellular/SilverStream/Pages/b_showphone.html?pkid=3927&type=4&mkt=607740&zip=54481&wrkflow=wrkFlowPlan&covType=1)

2000$79.99$0.2530Unlimited
IncludedUnlimited
7:00 P.M.Unlimited
Included
Wide Area 3000 (javascript:openWindow('b_plandetail.html?pkid=392 8&mkt=607740&zip=54481',%20'Detail',%20480,450);)http://www.uscc.com/uscellular/SilverStream/Objectstore/Images/btn_buy.gif (http://www.uscc.com/uscellular/SilverStream/Pages/b_showphone.html?pkid=3928&type=4&mkt=607740&zip=54481&wrkflow=wrkFlowPlan&covType=1)

3000$99.99$0.2530Unlimited
IncludedUnlimited
7:00 P.M.Unlimited
Included
Wide Area 5000 (javascript:openWindow('b_plandetail.html?pkid=392 9&mkt=607740&zip=54481',%20'Detail',%20480,450);)http://www.uscc.com/uscellular/SilverStream/Objectstore/Images/btn_buy.gif (http://www.uscc.com/uscellular/SilverStream/Pages/b_showphone.html?pkid=3929&type=4&mkt=607740&zip=54481&wrkflow=wrkFlowPlan&covType=1)

5000$149.99$0.2530Unlimited
IncludedUnlimited
7:00 P.M.Unlimited
Included

whatever plan you have plus 24.95 a month

[camaro_guy]

Actually it's not the HTC half the time it is the service. I've compared speeds with a guy at school. Both have Curves one for US cell and the other for Alltel. The challenge was to start from main screen go on the web to facebook, leave a comment that said mine is faster, then exit the internet and send a text that said "done." He recieved my text before he even completed the facebook comment. Both phones where brand new and working fine!

Spend a little bit more and get worry free service! Have you checked out Consumer Reports lately? Alltel and Verizon in at least 1st or 2nd place through all the reviews. Plus 88 million customer you can talk to for freeeeeeee!

[stpdk]

Actually it's not the HTC half the time it is the service. I've compared speeds with a guy at school. Both have Curves one for US cell and the other for Alltel. The challenge was to start from main screen go on the web to facebook, leave a comment that said mine is faster, then exit the internet and send a text that said "done." He recieved my text before he even completed the facebook comment. Both phones where brand new and working fine!

no im not talking about problems using the internet being the phones fault im talking about the phone freezing up doing normal tasks like sending a text taking a pictures just easy little things it should be able to handle haha thats why i lost all my numbers. i had to reset the whole thing it wouldnt even connect to the little computer to get my numbers off of it

[Dizmm]

^ that’s an accurate test. too many variables.

[camaro_guy]

^ that’s an accurate test. too many variables.


Ok just ran a speed test. using my HTC Pro's web browser it pulled a 782kbps. Explains why I never wait even a minute for any youtube video to load on it and it's in HD.

[Tcatt]

USCC is finally launching their 3g service up here along with some new mobile internets. It should be officially launched in the next month.

perfect timing for me to get a new phone :cool:

[Wolf///M3]

i may b a little late but i have the iphone 3g.. i love the phone and all the stuff it comes with and the service is good and the internet works great... ic that at&t has a new iphone coming out now too... the service i'm paying for 450 min and unlimited night and weekends plus rollover min with the iphone service plan which is $30 basicly for unlimited internet use and i have unlimited text $20 and that brings my total to $95.. when i got the phone i barely talked on it so i have about 2500 rollover min to use haha..

[SgtRauksauff]

Ok just ran a speed test. using my HTC Pro's web browser it pulled a 782kbps. Explains why I never wait even a minute for any youtube video to load on it and it's in HD.


please enlighten me: WTF is the point of HD video on a 2.8" screen with 640x480 resolution? Well hey, you could play the original Doom on it ok I guess....


--sarge

[camaro_guy]

please enlighten me: WTF is the point of HD video on a 2.8" screen with 640x480 resolution? Well hey, you could play the original Doom on it ok I guess....


--sarge

Shhhh it's just a selling point.

[SgtRauksauff]

so, what's the general consensus of the LG Tritan?

personally, I've never really liked LG as a brand in general, but I've got a buddy with one of these, and he just loves the thing, and is fairly competent in the technical field, so he's not one to be generally brainwashed by marketing drivel.

my Razr has an issue with the display (LCD has sprung a small leak) so I'm probably going to be getting a new phone soon. USC is basically the only carrier of any merit where I am (baraboo/portage/dells/sauk/reedsburg/madison/beaverDam/waupun/markesan).

--sarge

[Dizmm]

Tritan is a good phone, but your required to get the Premium internet for $20 extra a month. just get a blackberry.

[SgtRauksauff]

I don't like blackberries, they look stupid. and have a dumb name.

I want my Nokia 7160 again, but with the spring-loaded bottom-half like they got everywhere else in the world except the USA.

we are SO far behind in mobile phone technology it isn't even funny.

--sarge

[matt]

Like my Touch Pro. And my plan. Sprint works pretty well for me, but i havent tethered my phone yet.

I think crackberries are ok, but too many people have them. Theyre turning into the Razr.

[Dizmm]

we are SO far behind in mobile phone technology it isn't even funny.

--sarge

your still using the Moto Razr, maybe its just you that’s behind.

RIM (Blackberry) have came a long way since they were first launched. I foresee BB's becoming extremely popular in the future.

I think crackberries are ok, but too many people have them. Theyre turning into the Razr.

too many people have them? that means they're good. why do people put so much effort and money into trying to be different?

[SgtRauksauff]

I'm behind for the USA, sure, but the USA is behind the rest of the world pretty far. In cell phone technology, AND in education.

--sarge

[SgtRauksauff]

Tritan is a good phone, but your required to get the Premium internet for $20 extra a month. just get a blackberry.

anyways.... to get a blackberry, you still need to have the 'smartphone data plan' which is 15 bucks a month, has a 5gb cap (not likely to reach that, IMO) and with a $0.49/mb overage fee if the 5gb is exceeded.

I haven't been able to find similar numbers for the 'Premium Mobile Internet Plan' required by the Tritan, as far as a cap/overage.

I like the touch features, though, kinda nifty. If they made a Blackberry Touch, I'd almost get in on that right away. The HTC TouchPro looks fairly OK, also. Never heard of HTC until just recently, though.

When's USCC going to get an Android based phone????

--sarge

[mrslysly]

When Tmobile's contract with google for the T1 runs out. If then even.

[Dizmm]

anyways.... to get a blackberry, you still need to have the 'smartphone data plan' which is 15 bucks a month, has a 5gb cap (not likely to reach that, IMO) and with a $0.49/mb overage fee if the 5gb is exceeded.

I haven't been able to find similar numbers for the 'Premium Mobile Internet Plan' required by the Tritan, as far as a cap/overage.
--sarge

The BB data plan is $24.95/month.
For an additional $15, you can get the internet tethering which allows you to hook your BB to your computer for internet access.

The Premium internet phones are a waste. Sure they look cool, but you don’t get any work done with them.

Premium internet phones:
samsung delve (all touch screen)
LG Titan

[matt]

too many people have them? that means they're good.

Jeez I cant think of a more inaccurate statement about cell phones than that. Was the Razr good? Hell no. But we still sold tons of them.

[Dizmm]

the v3c and v3m razrs were some of our best phones.

[matt]

Im talking the original V3. Our most serviced phone by per cent of sales EVER. (sprint)

[Jettaman]

Jeez I cant think of a more inaccurate statement about cell phones than that. Was the Razr good? Hell no. But we still sold tons of them.

ARE YOU KIDDING!!! THE razor was an amazing phone we have alot of people still wishing we sold them still! V3C best razor ever!

[Kiley]

i loved my razr! i'm afraid to say this, but jeff's is still going strong since 12/2006!

[Dizmm]

maybe its a sprint thing.

[SgtRauksauff]

The BB data plan is $24.95/month.
For an additional $15, you can get the internet tethering which allows you to hook your BB to your computer for internet access.

The Premium internet phones are a waste. Sure they look cool, but you don’t get any work done with them.

Premium internet phones:
samsung delve (all touch screen)
LG Titan

my motoRazr (v3c) is probably the best phone I've ever had.

So, 20 bucks MORE than the 'premium mobile internet plan'. which seems to include tethering, from what I've been able to see.

Besides that, why the hell should I have to PAY for the ability to 'tether' (fecking stupid term, btw) my phone? It has a freakin' USB port. I've got a USB cable. ta-daaa. Not frickin' rocket science. It's like buying a car to drive to work in, that the dealer gets an extra kickback each time you drive it for shopping or to visit family or to go to the library. LAME.

What's the bandwidth cap/overage fees for the BB data plan? What about for the HTC TP, is it the same plan?

--sarge

[Dizmm]

^ I agree 100%, tethering should be a free thing.

The BB Data plan is $25. same goes for the HTC Touch

[ragdoll]

anyways.... to get a blackberry, you still need to have the 'smartphone data plan' which is 15 bucks a month, has a 5gb cap (not likely to reach that, IMO) and with a $0.49/mb overage fee if the 5gb is exceeded.

I haven't been able to find similar numbers for the 'Premium Mobile Internet Plan' required by the Tritan, as far as a cap/overage.

I like the touch features, though, kinda nifty. If they made a Blackberry Touch, I'd almost get in on that right away. The HTC TouchPro looks fairly OK, also. Never heard of HTC until just recently, though.

When's USCC going to get an Android based phone????

--sarge

We do make a BlackBerry touch. It's called the BlackBerry Storm(9500)

http://www.611connect.com/files/blackberry_storm.jpg

I have one right in front of me(it's my "test" phone)... it's pretty neat. Especially with the new OS that was just released for it.

[SgtRauksauff]

Yeah, but it's not offered with US Cellular. I wouldn't mind changing carriers, except that it's the only one that covers ALL the areas I need to get to without any dead spots. My razr's not dead yet, so I'll keep hoping that some good changes happen by the time I actually NEED a new phone....

How hard is it to just buy the phone you want, and go to the carrier and say, "Here's my phone. activate it on your network."

--sarge

[Dizmm]

How hard is it to just buy the phone you want, and go to the carrier and say, "Here's my phone. activate it on your network."

--sarge

ha, your an IT guy, you should now there’s lots more to it than that. Phones need to be programmed to work with a certain carrier and their network. You take a sprint phone, try activating it on USCC, and guess what, the phone is going to want to use Sprints Towers and go to Sprint for its services.

[matt]

Does anyone know any specs on the range from cell towers on a GSM network as opposed to CDMA? Something i've always wondered is it seems like GSM signals travel farther, but they arent as strong, whereas CDMA has a shorter range, but are more powerful as far as internet, etc.

[Dizmm]

cdma is better.

[SgtRauksauff]

GSM has a really short wavelength, so is good for penetrating concrete and steel and maintaining signal in a metropolitan area. It DOES require towers a lot closer together though. CDMA has a longer wavelength, which inherently lets the signal travel farther before breaking up. So less towers are needed, which is good for unpopulated rural areas.

At least, that's my understanding of it.

Dizmm, that was basically just wishful thinking on my part. It SHOULDN't be that hard to change carriers, and wouldn't be if there were good solid standards being used across all the carriers, and the phones were made with these standards in mind. BUT all the little side deals with carriers and phone manufacturers have really mucked that up.

here's a small link on the gsm vs cdma thing, not comprehensive, but interesting reading. I think the R-UIM card implementation here would be awesome for CDMA phones. linky mcClickster (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-gsm-and-cdma.htm)

I believe the BB 9500 is pretty much a Verizon-ONLY phone, because of the fact that apparently Verizon dumped a lot of cash to share development costs with RIM.

--sarge

[ragdoll]

I believe the BB 9500 is pretty much a Verizon-ONLY phone

--sarge

Oh yeah. Forgot about that. The Storm is exclusive to verizon, like the iphone is exclusive to att, and the instinct is exclusive to sprint.

It's already slipped my mind that Wisconsin doesn't have much for large carrier support. Verizon is trying to push their way into Wisconsin more than they are already, from what I've heard.

I wish I could tell you more...

[SgtRauksauff]

well, if they turn out to be a good carrier, I'm ok with that.

in other phone news... how about the Land Rover S1 phone?

http://www.landroverphone.co.uk/

--sarge

[StephaniEvo]

Looks oldschool...but heavy duty non-the-less