Several listees have asked me privately about my new cell phone service for phone and e-mail. I love it!. At first there was a problem navigating to some sites, and none would accept my passwords (like Fidelity and Yahoo mail) because there was a bug in the Venturi compression software. The fix is in the mail (CD), and in the meantime I've turned off the compression and everything is now working well. It's true, you can't really surf the web by cell connection, but you can "canoe" the web, and the e-mail is easily accessible. I just got my first bill, and there is no charge for internet connection after 9PM and weekends, as advertised. My plan, America's Choice 400, provides 400 anytime minutes, unlimited nights & weekends, 1000 Verizon mobile to Verizon mobile minutes, and includes the Verizon ISP, for $40 a month (plus taxes, about $8). Of course, there are the usual free features, like a voicemailbox, three-way calling, call waiting, and text messaging (almost free). If anyone signs up with Verizon for cell phone service, and uses me as a reference, I can earn a $25 credit on my bill as a referral fee, and it won't affect your cost. My account number is 319178785-00001, and my phone number is 772-631-7408. More info is available at www.verizonwireless.com Many thanks. If you have any questions, e-mail or call. Mark Richter, m/v Winnie the Pooh, Stuart, FL Verizon Cell 772-631-7408 Unlimited free minutes after 9PM and all day Weekends. __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com

Mark, I'm using a Sierra Air Card in my laptop on the Verizon network The AirCard is basically a cellular modem built into a PCMCIA card which will insert into any modern laptop, it offers both voice and data services). When you get your new version 2.1 of the Venturi software, surfing will get better. When you get the software going, go out to www.toast.net and run one of their free speed tests. When I run the slower 14.4 service with the compression on, I can get 28.8 easily. I can also use the 1x faster connection which is advertised to give "up to" 153K. Non- compressed I've seen anywhere from 33.6 to 128K, with compression it ranges from 56K to over 512K! As I understand it, the Venturi has 2 parts-the client which resides on your pc and the server side which Verizon has on their ISP servers. The 1X is really only good near large cities but the 14.4 works just about everywhere I've been with it. Verizon does have plans to get 1X everywhere they offer digital service. The plan I bought is $99 per month but gives you unlimited air time / anytime, however voice calls are .25 per minute ( I use another phone for voice). Isn't technology great? Jeff Barfett Southern Nights Mark Richter wrote: >Several listees have asked me privately about my new cell phone >service for phone and e-mail. I love it!. At first there was a >problem navigating to some sites, and none would accept my >passwords (like Fidelity and Yahoo mail) because there was a bug >in the Venturi compression software. The fix is in the mail >(CD), and in the meantime I've turned off the compression and >everything is now working well. It's true, you can't really surf >the web by cell connection, but you can "canoe" the web, and the >e-mail is easily accessible. >