Cell phones

[Earl Faubion]

With recent mergers and new rate plan offerings the cell phone climate is changing so I wonder if anyone has any tidbits of wisdom to share regarding ths subject as it relates to chasing.

 

[Anonymous]

Cingular has the best plans and phones with good data and software apps- however, there coverage can be very poor in remote areas where Verizon seems to work very well... I bit more expensive but have better rural coverage. I used to work in the industry for Nextel during college... so, with that said. I have Verizon currently because I live in more of a growing rural area... However, I'm switching to Cingular in the summer! Hope the info helps.

 

[Amos Magliocco]

I was an ATT sub and just ordered a new phone from Cingular, the Samsung Samsung X427M. I noticed how much better Cingular's plans were and figured it was a great time to get rid of the land-line in the apartment, which is draining me $40 per month for no reason.

I had been hanging onto my ancient Nokia 6160 because of the Ositech/Nokia/ATT cellular modem setup that was popular among chasers for a few years. But that phone is on the old TDMA network and my coverage is bad, compared to friends with newer phones on better protocols. Between XM and wifi, I should be fine for chasing data.

I also ordered the Data Connection kit for the Samsung phone. Anybody have experience with this? I thought it might be worth a try as it was only an extra $35. I figure if it sucks, I'll cancel the data portion of the plan.

 

[Skip Talbot]

I also ordered the Data Connection kit for the Samsung phone. Anybody have experience with this? I thought it might be worth a try as it was only an extra $35. I figure if it sucks, I'll cancel the data portion of the plan.

Amos, I was also on an older Nokia with ATT. It had a color screen and I could download pictures from the internet, but there was no way to zoom them or transfer them to the laptop.

So I bought a new Sony phone with connection kit and switched to Cingular with the intention of using that as basically just a data link. I would download the radar pictures one at a time like I did on my old phone, then manually transfer them over to the laptop so I could view them on a larger screen (one at a time).

Then I discovered I could use the phone as a modem, connecting my laptop at over 100 kbps directly to the internet and I'm in heaven. I like it so much in fact that I'm thinking about using one of the plans year round so I can surf while I commute or out of town.

 

[Anonymous]

Amos- Good call. I do have a ton of experience with using the phone as a modem etc... Works pretty well but can get frozen up especially trying to pull radar images, etc. It says it will pull at around 100k but usually is more like a regular dial up at 56k... However, when you're trying to pull data in the car--- you can't go wrong. Very cheap way to avoid buying expensive equipment.

 

[Earl Faubion]

Verizon would be my choice if it was available in Oklahoma. Since it isn't I've done my homework and reduced my choices to Sprint and Cingular.

For ten years I was with AT&T wireless and I loved it but they are now history and after finding I was among a block of their customers that Cingular was selling off to Alltel I decided to leave. I'm now with Sprint PCS on a 14 day trial based on the strong recommendation by a family member who is in a unique position to compare roaming coverage with various wireless companies. Sprint's network coverage isn't as good as Cingular's but their roaming agreements apparently are because he says his Sprint phone consistently pulls in a signal when his coworkers on different plans don't. He also recommends a Sanyo phone if you go to Sprint which is what I'm using now. So far I love the phone but I'll reserve final judgment on the service a little longer because the phone my wife is using on the same plan has some issues and much depends on how Sprint handles that situation.

So with that said I guess the expression, "your mileage may vary" is applicable which is why I'm going to very picky on this trial period and if I'm not fully satisfied I'll have no qualms about bailing out before the 2-year contract becomes ironclad, regardless what a trusted friend says. If Sprint doesn't work out I'll try Cingular. Outside these two providers I've not found any rate plans that I believe I can live with.

One final note, I will be using my phone for voice communications only so modem usage and other considerations are not being factored into my evaluation. Those things may come later.

 

[Dan Cook]

I've got Cingular. According to their site, service down here isn't available, but I get full bars without roaming.

 

[Amos Magliocco]

Sounds good. Thanks for the reports, guys. I'm hoping 2005 is the year that cellular internet connections are the last resort for me, behind wifi and XM.

I have a Sprint Connection Card, too, which is deactivated right now, but I'm thinking about not activating it again this year and going with the $80 unlimited Cingular data for April, May, and June. Maybe I won't even need that much. I'm anxious to see how XM changes what access I need post-morning forecast.

The best part of all this is the money I save by diconnecting my land-line telephone in the apartment once and for all. That will be a very happy service request. For about six months, I looked at that local phone service bill and wondered why I was allowing myself to get ripped off every four weeks.

 

[Andrew Pritchard]

I've got Cingular. According to their site, service down here isn't available, but I get full bars without roaming.

I've got cingular too and would recommend it. In the areas of Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin that I've chased, the only place I had any trouble with service was central Wisconsin, and no one has any business chasing there anyways.

 

[Glen Romine]

I've had cingular for a while, and have found there service is mediocre in regions where Verizon and Cellular One are dominant. Particular regions that have been tough include much of western IA, and the remote areas (away from cities and interstates) of NE and especially KS. Maybe it was just my phone..... which reminds me that when picking a phone I'm guessing you are better off to get one that supports as many possible bands as you can get.

Glen

 

[Amos Magliocco]

Okay, I think we've covered this already ad nauseum, so forgive me for raising it yet again. Some friends of mine and I are trying to get clear answers and Cingular gives a different response every time we call.

For those who have Cingular phones right now and use the phone (not a PC Card) for data with a laptop, can you tell me:

(1) are all Cingular data plans available to you? (from $30 to $80 monthly) and;

(2) are you able to change from month to month withuot incurring additional fees or signing a new contract?

Thanks!

Amos

 

[Jeff Snyder]

Amos,
I just switched to Cingular when I got an awesome deal on an MPX220. I was planning on getting a voice plan in addition to a data plan (which requires a PCMCIA data card), of which the unlimited data plan is $79.99. However, there is a 'loophole' in the Cingular data plans. Depending upon your phone, you can use the included USB cable to connect your phone to your computer. Now, there is a $19.99 option you can add on to your voice plan for unlimited data. This option is intended to allow you unlimited data ON your phone, unlike the $79.99/mo plan which is intended for use on your laptop. That said, if you get a phone that can tether to your computer via a USB cable (such as the Motorola MPX220) you can get the $19.99 unlimted data plan, and just use that as your data option for your laptop. There is no way for Cingular to know if you are using just your phone, or if the data is being passed through your phone to your laptop. I strongly suggest this method of data access, as it'll save you a lot of money through the year.

 

[Amos Magliocco]

Amos,
... That said, if you get a phone that can tether to your computer via a USB cable (such as the Motorola MPX220) you can get the $19.99 unlimted data plan, and just use that as your data option for your laptop. There is no way for Cingular to know if you are using just your phone, or if the data is being passed through your phone to your laptop. I strongly suggest this method of data access, as it'll save you a lot of money through the year.

Jeff, this is golden information---thank you! I know others mentioned this before, but I wasn't paying close enough attention or didn't understand fully.

You mention the use of a USB cable to tether the phone and computer. I'm assuming the same loophole is possible if, instead of a USB cable, I connect my phone and laptop via a bluetooth wireless adapter. Would you think so?

Amos

 

[Jeff Snyder]

Amos,
From what I've read, this can be done over Bluetooth, IR, and cable (USB and maybe serial, but I'm not sure about serial). I personally have only tried it using the USB cable. Just make sure that the phone you are using can be used as a GPRS modem. On my phone, I just choose "USB" under my 'modem options' menu, and go from there. I had to putz around with it for about 2 hours to learn how to set it up and enable it correctly, but now it works like a charm. I used [email protected] as the UserID and CINGULAR1 as the password. I don't remember exactly what number I used, as I don't have my phone on me at this time. A quick Google search brought up a thread in which someone posted the number "*99***3#", which seems right. There are some rumors that if you use the UserID of "[email protected]", you may get charger for the data, as the phone, by default, uses the WAP address. Haven't seen any concrete evidence of this, just rumor. Try Googling or searching cell phone forums such as www.howardforums.com for more specific information.

I think I've heard Skip T. say that he does this as well. Perhaps he can provide his specs.

 

[Skip Talbot]

Amos and others, keep us posted on whether or not this works for you and how Cingular responds. I know many of us are going to be using this loophole as our primary data option out in the field this spring. Rumor has that excessive downloading over the media works plan may prompt an upgrade to one of the more expensive data plans. But who knows how much excessive is or if Cingular will even notice at all. I would like to use this data all the time (commuting and trips), but Im cautious since Im basically exploiting the system.