Comments on: The only thing that stays the same is change http://www.anywhereman.com/2009/07/the-only-thing-that-stays-the-same-is-change/ Freelancing, Self-Employment, the Web, and Everything About Working From Anywhere. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:27:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: daveyank http://www.anywhereman.com/2009/07/the-only-thing-that-stays-the-same-is-change/comment-page-1/#comment-224 daveyank Tue, 28 Jul 2009 01:57:51 +0000 http://www.anywhereman.com/?p=76#comment-224 Right on, Jeremy, and great post of your own profiling some of the devices. Sounds like we're looking for similar smartphones. I may just find myself a cheap Verizon phone on ebay for the time being so I can get around the 2-year agreement contract, and once Verizon has a decent wi-fi enabled phone I'll buy it. Hopefully carrier plans start getting more competitive as well and the cost of monthly web access (which is still required on wi-fi phones) gets cheaper. Thanks for your excellent contribution to this discussion! Right on, Jeremy, and great post of your own profiling some of the devices. Sounds like we're looking for similar smartphones. I may just find myself a cheap Verizon phone on ebay for the time being so I can get around the 2-year agreement contract, and once Verizon has a decent wi-fi enabled phone I'll buy it. Hopefully carrier plans start getting more competitive as well and the cost of monthly web access (which is still required on wi-fi phones) gets cheaper. Thanks for your excellent contribution to this discussion!

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.anywhereman.com/2009/07/the-only-thing-that-stays-the-same-is-change/comment-page-1/#comment-223 Jeremy Mon, 27 Jul 2009 22:46:05 +0000 http://www.anywhereman.com/?p=76#comment-223 Well Dave,<br>I completely agree with your assessment. I just posted a new post on my blog about the mobile phone topic (<a href="http://www.refocusingtechnology.com/index.php/2009/07/27/smartphone-dilemna/" rel="nofollow">http://www.refocusingtechnology.com/index.php/2...</a>). I want to purchase a new smartphone. Have looked at the Pre, Blackberry Tour, and the HTC Snap/Ozone. Of course you have to pair those with specific carrier issues as well. <br><br>IMO, there are three criteria: coverage, price, features that I am comparing. I consider the WiFi option to be a VERY important part of the coverage criteria. None of the carrier/phone options seems to be a good fit for me. Sprint has issues with lack of WiFi on their phones and iffy coverage in your area of the world (where I spend some time). Verizon has some issues with WiFi and definitely with price of monthly plans. As far as T-Mobile and AT&T I think the price and coverage just don't mesh well with my needs.<br><br>It seems like the better solutions are coming (as Sprint now is demanding WiFi on smartphones) but they aren't here yet. Wish the right solution was there now. Well Dave,
I completely agree with your assessment. I just posted a new post on my blog about the mobile phone topic (http://www.refocusingtechnology.com/index.php/2…). I want to purchase a new smartphone. Have looked at the Pre, Blackberry Tour, and the HTC Snap/Ozone. Of course you have to pair those with specific carrier issues as well.

IMO, there are three criteria: coverage, price, features that I am comparing. I consider the WiFi option to be a VERY important part of the coverage criteria. None of the carrier/phone options seems to be a good fit for me. Sprint has issues with lack of WiFi on their phones and iffy coverage in your area of the world (where I spend some time). Verizon has some issues with WiFi and definitely with price of monthly plans. As far as T-Mobile and AT&T I think the price and coverage just don't mesh well with my needs.

It seems like the better solutions are coming (as Sprint now is demanding WiFi on smartphones) but they aren't here yet. Wish the right solution was there now.

]]> By: daveyank http://www.anywhereman.com/2009/07/the-only-thing-that-stays-the-same-is-change/comment-page-1/#comment-32 daveyank Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:57:51 +0000 http://www.anywhereman.com/?p=76#comment-32 Right on, Jeremy, and great post of your own profiling some of the devices. Sounds like we're looking for similar smartphones. I may just find myself a cheap Verizon phone on ebay for the time being so I can get around the 2-year agreement contract, and once Verizon has a decent wi-fi enabled phone I'll buy it. Hopefully carrier plans start getting more competitive as well and the cost of monthly web access (which is still required on wi-fi phones) gets cheaper. Thanks for your excellent contribution to this discussion! Right on, Jeremy, and great post of your own profiling some of the devices. Sounds like we're looking for similar smartphones. I may just find myself a cheap Verizon phone on ebay for the time being so I can get around the 2-year agreement contract, and once Verizon has a decent wi-fi enabled phone I'll buy it. Hopefully carrier plans start getting more competitive as well and the cost of monthly web access (which is still required on wi-fi phones) gets cheaper. Thanks for your excellent contribution to this discussion!

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.anywhereman.com/2009/07/the-only-thing-that-stays-the-same-is-change/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Jeremy Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:46:05 +0000 http://www.anywhereman.com/?p=76#comment-31 Well Dave,<br>I completely agree with your assessment. I just posted a new post on my blog about the mobile phone topic (<a href="http://www.refocusingtechnology.com/index.php/2009/07/27/smartphone-dilemna/" rel="nofollow">http://www.refocusingtechnology.com/index.php/2...</a>). I want to purchase a new smartphone. Have looked at the Pre, Blackberry Tour, and the HTC Snap/Ozone. Of course you have to pair those with specific carrier issues as well. <br><br>IMO, there are three criteria: coverage, price, features that I am comparing. I consider the WiFi option to be a VERY important part of the coverage criteria. None of the carrier/phone options seems to be a good fit for me. Sprint has issues with lack of WiFi on their phones and iffy coverage in your area of the world (where I spend some time). Verizon has some issues with WiFi and definitely with price of monthly plans. As far as T-Mobile and AT&T I think the price and coverage just don't mesh well with my needs.<br><br>It seems like the better solutions are coming (as Sprint now is demanding WiFi on smartphones) but they aren't here yet. Wish the right solution was there now. Well Dave,
I completely agree with your assessment. I just posted a new post on my blog about the mobile phone topic (http://www.refocusingtechnology.com/index.php/2…). I want to purchase a new smartphone. Have looked at the Pre, Blackberry Tour, and the HTC Snap/Ozone. Of course you have to pair those with specific carrier issues as well.

IMO, there are three criteria: coverage, price, features that I am comparing. I consider the WiFi option to be a VERY important part of the coverage criteria. None of the carrier/phone options seems to be a good fit for me. Sprint has issues with lack of WiFi on their phones and iffy coverage in your area of the world (where I spend some time). Verizon has some issues with WiFi and definitely with price of monthly plans. As far as T-Mobile and AT&T I think the price and coverage just don't mesh well with my needs.

It seems like the better solutions are coming (as Sprint now is demanding WiFi on smartphones) but they aren't here yet. Wish the right solution was there now.

]]> By: Smartphone Dilemna | Refocusing Technology http://www.anywhereman.com/2009/07/the-only-thing-that-stays-the-same-is-change/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Smartphone Dilemna | Refocusing Technology Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:29:31 +0000 http://www.anywhereman.com/?p=76#comment-30 [...] P.S. ~ For more reading about Phone options and issues Dave over at AnywhereMan has a similar article called “The only thing that stays the same is change“ [...] [...] P.S. ~ For more reading about Phone options and issues Dave over at AnywhereMan has a similar article called “The only thing that stays the same is change“ [...]

]]> By: The Only Thing That Stays the Same is Change | Anywhereman http://www.anywhereman.com/2009/07/the-only-thing-that-stays-the-same-is-change/comment-page-1/#comment-28 The Only Thing That Stays the Same is Change | Anywhereman Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:32:11 +0000 http://www.anywhereman.com/?p=76#comment-28 [...] The original carrier was Unicel, and they have since been purchased by Verizon so I am now officially a Verizon customer. The plan I use gives me 600 anytime minutes, free incoming calls, free incoming texts, and all the usual …Continue [...] [...] The original carrier was Unicel, and they have since been purchased by Verizon so I am now officially a Verizon customer. The plan I use gives me 600 anytime minutes, free incoming calls, free incoming texts, and all the usual …Continue [...]

]]> By: daveyank http://www.anywhereman.com/2009/07/the-only-thing-that-stays-the-same-is-change/comment-page-1/#comment-27 daveyank Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:04:19 +0000 http://www.anywhereman.com/?p=76#comment-27 Thank you John. I appreciate your response. My hesitation with Sprint is that even though the coverage map shows coverage in my area, I have heard from multiple locals that it's pretty iffy. I think the only way I could take the risk in going with Sprint would be to try the service and handset first. <br><br>Also, for my readers, I did receive a response from Sprint rep @srdoherty on Twitter as well. Sprint earns cool points for their punctuality in responding. :-) Here's what he wrote:<br><br>"You'd likely save more $ w/ Sprint vs. comparable VZW/ATT plans, however, not aware of any wi-fi phone that isn't a smartphone, & not aware of any wireless provider that doesn't require a data plan for a smartphone (tho I see you do reference T-Mo)."<br><br>I then asked him about buying a phone from somewhere like eBay and if Sprint would require a data plan on that phone:<br><br>"Not sure honestly. May depend on model. I would call sales (800-sprint1), tell them you have an X phone you'd like to activate......and ask them what the eligible plans are for that model. Most of the new Everything plans include data and messaging."<br><br>Later in the day I did receive a Tweet from an AT&T rep as well who simply directed me to the AT&T website, but not much for info specific to my questions. Here's @chelseyi's response:<br><br>"I'm with ATTNEWS, here's info on AT&T's network <a href="http://bit.ly/xpti0" rel="nofollow">http://bit.ly/xpti0</a>, and this <a href="http://bit.ly/U7DJ9" rel="nofollow">http://bit.ly/U7DJ9</a> is an overview of our devices."<br><br>So that's where I'm at so far. Still don't feel comfortable making a contract decision yet. Stay tuned! Thank you John. I appreciate your response. My hesitation with Sprint is that even though the coverage map shows coverage in my area, I have heard from multiple locals that it's pretty iffy. I think the only way I could take the risk in going with Sprint would be to try the service and handset first.

Also, for my readers, I did receive a response from Sprint rep @srdoherty on Twitter as well. Sprint earns cool points for their punctuality in responding. :-) Here's what he wrote:

“You'd likely save more $ w/ Sprint vs. comparable VZW/ATT plans, however, not aware of any wi-fi phone that isn't a smartphone, & not aware of any wireless provider that doesn't require a data plan for a smartphone (tho I see you do reference T-Mo).”

I then asked him about buying a phone from somewhere like eBay and if Sprint would require a data plan on that phone:

“Not sure honestly. May depend on model. I would call sales (800-sprint1), tell them you have an X phone you'd like to activate……and ask them what the eligible plans are for that model. Most of the new Everything plans include data and messaging.”

Later in the day I did receive a Tweet from an AT&T rep as well who simply directed me to the AT&T website, but not much for info specific to my questions. Here's @chelseyi's response:

“I'm with ATTNEWS, here's info on AT&T's network http://bit.ly/xpti0, and this http://bit.ly/U7DJ9 is an overview of our devices.”

So that's where I'm at so far. Still don't feel comfortable making a contract decision yet. Stay tuned!

]]> By: John Taylor http://www.anywhereman.com/2009/07/the-only-thing-that-stays-the-same-is-change/comment-page-1/#comment-26 John Taylor Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:53:45 +0000 http://www.anywhereman.com/?p=76#comment-26 Thanks for considering Sprint. I'd check out two 3rd parties for information as you consider your options. Links are below.<br><br><a href="http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2009/06/10/billshrink-iphone-3g-s-vs-palm-pre-vs-t-mobile-g1/" rel="nofollow">http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2009/06/10/billshri...</a><br><a href="http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=20868" rel="nofollow">http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=20868</a><br><br>If you have specific questions about Sprint coverage in your area, you may check our coverage maps on <a href="http://Sprint.com" rel="nofollow">Sprint.com</a>.<br><br>We'd love to have you as a customer. Thanks for considering Sprint. I'd check out two 3rd parties for information as you consider your options. Links are below.

http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2009/06/10/billshri…
http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=20868

If you have specific questions about Sprint coverage in your area, you may check our coverage maps on Sprint.com.

We'd love to have you as a customer.

]]> By: daveyank http://www.anywhereman.com/2009/07/the-only-thing-that-stays-the-same-is-change/comment-page-1/#comment-25 daveyank Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:38:29 +0000 http://www.anywhereman.com/?p=76#comment-25 UPDATE: So far, based on feedback I've received from several folks on Twitter, it looks like I'm going to have to resolve to carrying three devices. I know that as soon as that decision is made final, someone will come out with a phone and pricing plan that WOULD have been perfect and I WOULD have gone with. Honestly, that always happens to me. :-) lol Keep the suggestions coming folks! UPDATE: So far, based on feedback I've received from several folks on Twitter, it looks like I'm going to have to resolve to carrying three devices. I know that as soon as that decision is made final, someone will come out with a phone and pricing plan that WOULD have been perfect and I WOULD have gone with. Honestly, that always happens to me. :-) lol Keep the suggestions coming folks!

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