Empathy List Archives

RB

ron barr

Fri, Dec 15, 2006 4:33 PM

have just spoken with techies at Verizon - as usual the local company store
wasn't too well informed. It seems they are basically trying to flog their
air cards and the broadband $59/month service. They are telling me that it
is illegal to use a phone as a modem without paying for this service and if
I do use it my service with them is subject to cancellation! Talk about big
brother.

They do offer several phones with office kits which enable tethering via the
USB cable to you laptop (see below). While you wouldn't need the air card if
you do this they tell me you would nevertheless have to buy the $59/month
broadband service to use the phone modem legally.

Four points here that I'd appreciate feedback on and should be of general
interest - I know a lot of you have been using phones with laptops for email
etc.

An air card and/or broadband service seems only viable economically if one
is using it at home as well, or live aboard. 2-4 months a year usage when
wi-fi is not available isn't worth the approx $700 per annum IMHO.
How can they enforce this and how realistic is it that they could cut off
one's service? I am told it is in the contract somewhere???
Probably wasn't in my old contract 2 years ago. I am due for a free phone
now but that means signing up for a new 2 year contract and possibly that's
where the small type about using the phone without the Broadband contract is
buried - anyone seen this?
Presumably one can go on line and buy the phones and office kits more
reasonably without signing up for a new two year contract- how does one
activate the new phone if buying in the open market, and deactivate the old
one?

For your interest Consumer Reports top rated phones (which also have
Bluetooth) for which Verizon Office Kits are available are the LG 8300 and
Samsung 930. Office kits are quoted at $40 from Verizon.

Thanks

Ron Barr
Lady Brookhaven Hatteras LRC 42
Presently lying: Newport RI

have just spoken with techies at Verizon - as usual the local company store wasn't too well informed. It seems they are basically trying to flog their air cards and the broadband $59/month service. They are telling me that it is illegal to use a phone as a modem without paying for this service and if I do use it my service with them is subject to cancellation! Talk about big brother. They do offer several phones with office kits which enable tethering via the USB cable to you laptop (see below). While you wouldn't need the air card if you do this they tell me you would nevertheless have to buy the $59/month broadband service to use the phone modem legally. Four points here that I'd appreciate feedback on and should be of general interest - I know a lot of you have been using phones with laptops for email etc. An air card and/or broadband service seems only viable economically if one is using it at home as well, or live aboard. 2-4 months a year usage when wi-fi is not available isn't worth the approx $700 per annum IMHO. How can they enforce this and how realistic is it that they could cut off one's service? I am told it is in the contract somewhere??? Probably wasn't in my old contract 2 years ago. I am due for a free phone now but that means signing up for a new 2 year contract and possibly that's where the small type about using the phone without the Broadband contract is buried - anyone seen this? Presumably one can go on line and buy the phones and office kits more reasonably without signing up for a new two year contract- how does one activate the new phone if buying in the open market, and deactivate the old one? For your interest Consumer Reports top rated phones (which also have Bluetooth) for which Verizon Office Kits are available are the LG 8300 and Samsung 930. Office kits are quoted at $40 from Verizon. Thanks Ron Barr Lady Brookhaven Hatteras LRC 42 Presently lying: Newport RI

RY

Ralph Yost (home)

Fri, Dec 15, 2006 4:45 PM

Ron:
You can easily activate any Verizon compatible phone on their web site. All
you do is put in the serial # of the phone and it will be activated. It will
automatically remove your old phone from being active.

Before you buy any accessories directly from Verizon, check the secondary
markets for these devices on Ebay. I have saved a lot of money with spare
batteries, DC chargers, belt holders, etc on Ebay. This stuff is new, not
used, so read the ad carefully to be sure you identify it as such. There are
people who have active businesses on Ebay selling this stuff.

If there is a restriction in your contract, then that is what you are
supposed to abide by. However, I dont think they can detect how you use the
phone. Data over the phones, however, will be a lot less than the Broadband
PCMCIA card for a laptop. So it will be a price-performance trade off that
you will have to evaluate what is appropriate for you.

If you dont want to sign a 2 yr contract you can sign a 1 yr contract but
you dont get the free phone. Thats another trade off.

R.

----- Original Message -----
From: "ron barr" rwhb@msn.com

have just spoken with techies at Verizon - as usual the local company
store
wasn't too well informed. It seems they are basically trying to flog their
air cards and the broadband $59/month service. They are telling me that it
is illegal to use a phone as a modem without paying for this service and
if
I do use it my service with them is subject to cancellation! Talk about
big
brother.

They do offer several phones with office kits which enable tethering via
the
USB cable to you laptop (see below). While you wouldn't need the air card
if
you do this they tell me you would nevertheless have to buy the $59/month
broadband service to use the phone modem legally.

Four points here that I'd appreciate feedback on and should be of general
interest - I know a lot of you have been using phones with laptops for
email
etc.

An air card and/or broadband service seems only viable economically if one
is using it at home as well, or live aboard. 2-4 months a year usage when
wi-fi is not available isn't worth the approx $700 per annum IMHO.
How can they enforce this and how realistic is it that they could cut off
one's service? I am told it is in the contract somewhere???
Probably wasn't in my old contract 2 years ago. I am due for a free phone
now but that means signing up for a new 2 year contract and possibly
that's
where the small type about using the phone without the Broadband contract
is
buried - anyone seen this?
Presumably one can go on line and buy the phones and office kits more
reasonably without signing up for a new two year contract- how does one
activate the new phone if buying in the open market, and deactivate the
old
one?

For your interest Consumer Reports top rated phones (which also have
Bluetooth) for which Verizon Office Kits are available are the LG 8300 and
Samsung 930. Office kits are quoted at $40 from Verizon.

Thanks

Ron Barr

Ron: You can easily activate any Verizon compatible phone on their web site. All you do is put in the serial # of the phone and it will be activated. It will automatically remove your old phone from being active. Before you buy any accessories directly from Verizon, check the secondary markets for these devices on Ebay. I have saved a lot of money with spare batteries, DC chargers, belt holders, etc on Ebay. This stuff is new, not used, so read the ad carefully to be sure you identify it as such. There are people who have active businesses on Ebay selling this stuff. If there is a restriction in your contract, then that is what you are supposed to abide by. However, I dont think they can detect how you use the phone. Data over the phones, however, will be a lot less than the Broadband PCMCIA card for a laptop. So it will be a price-performance trade off that you will have to evaluate what is appropriate for you. If you dont want to sign a 2 yr contract you can sign a 1 yr contract but you dont get the free phone. Thats another trade off. R. ----- Original Message ----- From: "ron barr" <rwhb@msn.com> > have just spoken with techies at Verizon - as usual the local company > store > wasn't too well informed. It seems they are basically trying to flog their > air cards and the broadband $59/month service. They are telling me that it > is illegal to use a phone as a modem without paying for this service and > if > I do use it my service with them is subject to cancellation! Talk about > big > brother. > > They do offer several phones with office kits which enable tethering via > the > USB cable to you laptop (see below). While you wouldn't need the air card > if > you do this they tell me you would nevertheless have to buy the $59/month > broadband service to use the phone modem legally. > > Four points here that I'd appreciate feedback on and should be of general > interest - I know a lot of you have been using phones with laptops for > email > etc. > > An air card and/or broadband service seems only viable economically if one > is using it at home as well, or live aboard. 2-4 months a year usage when > wi-fi is not available isn't worth the approx $700 per annum IMHO. > How can they enforce this and how realistic is it that they could cut off > one's service? I am told it is in the contract somewhere??? > Probably wasn't in my old contract 2 years ago. I am due for a free phone > now but that means signing up for a new 2 year contract and possibly > that's > where the small type about using the phone without the Broadband contract > is > buried - anyone seen this? > Presumably one can go on line and buy the phones and office kits more > reasonably without signing up for a new two year contract- how does one > activate the new phone if buying in the open market, and deactivate the > old > one? > > For your interest Consumer Reports top rated phones (which also have > Bluetooth) for which Verizon Office Kits are available are the LG 8300 and > Samsung 930. Office kits are quoted at $40 from Verizon. > > Thanks > > Ron Barr

GH

Gregory Han

Sat, Dec 16, 2006 1:35 PM

Ron

The reason to use your phone as an internet connection rather than the
aircard is with the phone you can turn the broadband on and off as a
FEATURE. Every day if you wish but you must call them to do it. There
is no 2 year committment. The aircard is more convenient and can be
left on 24/7 if you wish. With the phone you have to charge it
periodically. I suspect the aircard may be a bit faster also but I
get 250kbps in EVDO areas and half that in other areas.

Yes the contract says they can cancel you if you use the phone for
data without the $60 per mont. Hey - its their network. They can also
cancel if you use the line for too much data. Its all in the contract
on the website.

There is still confusion - at least in my mind- about whether you need
VCAST service when you teather the phone to not use your minutes. The
store last week said no ant others here on the list say they do not
get charged. I can tell you that I got a $400 bill for minutes used
and finally got credit but not until the high level service guy told
me that I needed VCAST. VCAST is an extra $15 per month. YMMV

--
Greg and Susan Han
Allegria Krogen Whaleback #16

Ron The reason to use your phone as an internet connection rather than the aircard is with the phone you can turn the broadband on and off as a FEATURE. Every day if you wish but you must call them to do it. There is no 2 year committment. The aircard is more convenient and can be left on 24/7 if you wish. With the phone you have to charge it periodically. I suspect the aircard may be a bit faster also but I get 250kbps in EVDO areas and half that in other areas. Yes the contract says they can cancel you if you use the phone for data without the $60 per mont. Hey - its their network. They can also cancel if you use the line for too much data. Its all in the contract on the website. There is still confusion - at least in my mind- about whether you need VCAST service when you teather the phone to not use your minutes. The store last week said no ant others here on the list say they do not get charged. I can tell you that I got a $400 bill for minutes used and finally got credit but not until the high level service guy told me that I needed VCAST. VCAST is an extra $15 per month. YMMV -- Greg and Susan Han Allegria Krogen Whaleback #16

J&

John & Judy Gill

Sun, Dec 17, 2006 12:46 AM

When we did the Loop during the 2002-03-04 boating seasons we used
our Verizon Cell Phone as a Modem which worked very well where
Digital Cell Phone Service was available (there were many dead spots
in Canada, Northern Michigan and on the Heartland Rivers). The speed
was painfully slow -- 14.2 kbps! We used a software program by
Smith Micro called: "Quick to Net" (Macintosh) or "Quick Link
Mobile" (PC's ) <http://www.smithmicro.com/.

I have not kept up to date with Cell Phone use as a modem because we
switched over to the Verizon WWAN (wireless wide area network) card
which many call an "air card" because it is wireless - many think
that it it is always BroadBand Speed - 600 to 800 kbps, but in many
areas, only NationalAccess Speed at 60-80 kbps is available (that is
still better than dial up at 56 kbps.

We love our Verizon WWAN card and get BroadBand speed at home in a
suburb of Philadelphia, get NationalAccess speed at our marina in
Georgetown, MD but BroadBand speed when in Baltimore, etc. We have
only found three locations in the past year where service was not
available - Branson, MO, Pennatangushine, ONT. Camada/

Our article about Wireless Communications in the ARTICLES section of
our website will cover this topic in more detail>

John and Judy Gill
Two Js V, a 36 ft. Carver Mariner
Slip E-26, Sassafras Harbor Marina, Georgetown, MD
AGLCA Loopers
Pennsway Power Squadron - USPS Life Members
Orillia Power Squadron CPS-ECP
Web site: < http://homepage.mac.com/twojscom/GreatLoop/ >

When we did the Loop during the 2002-03-04 boating seasons we used our Verizon Cell Phone as a Modem which worked very well where Digital Cell Phone Service was available (there were many dead spots in Canada, Northern Michigan and on the Heartland Rivers). The speed was painfully slow -- 14.2 kbps! We used a software program by Smith Micro called: "Quick to Net" (Macintosh) or "Quick Link Mobile" (PC's ) <http://www.smithmicro.com/. I have not kept up to date with Cell Phone use as a modem because we switched over to the Verizon WWAN (wireless wide area network) card which many call an "air card" because it is wireless - many think that it it is always BroadBand Speed - 600 to 800 kbps, but in many areas, only NationalAccess Speed at 60-80 kbps is available (that is still better than dial up at 56 kbps. We love our Verizon WWAN card and get BroadBand speed at home in a suburb of Philadelphia, get NationalAccess speed at our marina in Georgetown, MD but BroadBand speed when in Baltimore, etc. We have only found three locations in the past year where service was not available - Branson, MO, Pennatangushine, ONT. Camada/ Our article about Wireless Communications in the ARTICLES section of our website will cover this topic in more detail> John and Judy Gill Two Js V, a 36 ft. Carver Mariner Slip E-26, Sassafras Harbor Marina, Georgetown, MD AGLCA Loopers Pennsway Power Squadron - USPS Life Members Orillia Power Squadron CPS-ECP Web site: < http://homepage.mac.com/twojscom/GreatLoop/ >

great-loop@lists.trawlering.com

Using Verizon phones with laptops