Comments on: Clueless phone companies and target=”_blank” http://fettig.net/weblog/2005/09/26/clueless-phone-companies-and-target_blank/ The latest on Abe's work Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:59:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: jrk http://fettig.net/weblog/2005/09/26/clueless-phone-companies-and-target_blank/#comment-662 jrk Wed, 05 Oct 2005 01:52:02 +0000 http://fettig.net/weblog/2005/09/26/clueless-phone-companies-and-target_blank/#comment-662 T-Mobile is great (says the guy who's been onAT&T/Cingular for the last 26 months), so long as they have sufficient coverage where you need to be. There network is actually quite well-run -- I never ran into apparent bugs or gross oversubscription, as is the norm with Cingular -- it's just relatively limited to major metros. If you live in Manhattan, rock on; if you live in the woods, consider other options. They also have a relatively honest interactive coverage map, WAY beyond what any of the others provide. T-Mobile is great (says the guy who’s been onAT&T/Cingular for the last 26 months), so long as they have sufficient coverage where you need to be. There network is actually quite well-run — I never ran into apparent bugs or gross oversubscription, as is the norm with Cingular — it’s just relatively limited to major metros. If you live in Manhattan, rock on; if you live in the woods, consider other options. They also have a relatively honest interactive coverage map, WAY beyond what any of the others provide.

]]> By: phil http://fettig.net/weblog/2005/09/26/clueless-phone-companies-and-target_blank/#comment-658 phil Thu, 29 Sep 2005 21:03:52 +0000 http://fettig.net/weblog/2005/09/26/clueless-phone-companies-and-target_blank/#comment-658 VZwireless stinks. I'm switching as soon as my bondage is up. I might not like it any better, but I'm at least going to show VZ a thing or two (like they care). Here's why I think they do blank target... Verizon and Verizon Wireless are different companies. Verizon Wireless is owned by Verizon and Vodafone. Verizon for some purely bureaucratic reason, probably has some corporate policy that any link that isn't internall has to open up in an external window. Yeah, it's doff. Chances are if I want to know something about Verizon Wireless I don't want to know about their landlines. VZwireless stinks. I’m switching as soon as my bondage is up. I might not like it any better, but I’m at least going to show VZ a thing or two (like they care).

Here’s why I think they do blank target… Verizon and Verizon Wireless are different companies. Verizon Wireless is owned by Verizon and Vodafone. Verizon for some purely bureaucratic reason, probably has some corporate policy that any link that isn’t internall has to open up in an external window. Yeah, it’s doff. Chances are if I want to know something about Verizon Wireless I don’t want to know about their landlines.

]]> By: stephen ogrady http://fettig.net/weblog/2005/09/26/clueless-phone-companies-and-target_blank/#comment-651 stephen ogrady Wed, 28 Sep 2005 18:41:13 +0000 http://fettig.net/weblog/2005/09/26/clueless-phone-companies-and-target_blank/#comment-651 hi Abe, i actually made the switch from Cingular (old AT&T customer) to Verizon last January and now can't wait to switch back. the reason i switched was the same reason most people make that transition: the network. in Maine (i lived there for a little over 2 years, moving to Denver this past spring), the coverage was actually a little better with Cingular - at least up where i lived/worked in Georgetown/Bath - but most other places Verizon was superior. not by a ton, except in NYC, but enough. but i'm tired of putting up with terrible Motorola phones, awful customer service, and a network that won't give me the ability to call internationally without a $500 deposit. and their international rates? 65 cents a minute to the UK is what i was quoted - i used to get 8 on AT&T's plan. and from some of the folks i know who've stuck with Cingular, it seems like their coverage has improved quite a bit. so anyway, i've obviously got no idea what the best choice for you is, but would caution against expecting too much from Verizon. whatever you do, if you go Verizon do not get the Motorola V710. worst phone i've owned. either way, best of luck. hi Abe, i actually made the switch from Cingular (old AT&T customer) to Verizon last January and now can’t wait to switch back. the reason i switched was the same reason most people make that transition: the network. in Maine (i lived there for a little over 2 years, moving to Denver this past spring), the coverage was actually a little better with Cingular - at least up where i lived/worked in Georgetown/Bath - but most other places Verizon was superior. not by a ton, except in NYC, but enough.

but i’m tired of putting up with terrible Motorola phones, awful customer service, and a network that won’t give me the ability to call internationally without a $500 deposit. and their international rates? 65 cents a minute to the UK is what i was quoted - i used to get 8 on AT&T’s plan.

and from some of the folks i know who’ve stuck with Cingular, it seems like their coverage has improved quite a bit.

so anyway, i’ve obviously got no idea what the best choice for you is, but would caution against expecting too much from Verizon. whatever you do, if you go Verizon do not get the Motorola V710. worst phone i’ve owned.

either way, best of luck.

]]> By: Sean Reifschneider http://fettig.net/weblog/2005/09/26/clueless-phone-companies-and-target_blank/#comment-650 Sean Reifschneider Wed, 28 Sep 2005 10:15:31 +0000 http://fettig.net/weblog/2005/09/26/clueless-phone-companies-and-target_blank/#comment-650 Yeah, they all suck. I have Verizon, and recently went to check coverage on EvDO with both Verizon and Sprint and found that they both made it pretty hard. For something that is a buying decision point, far too hard. Most of the site suck, and why do they think they need verizonwireless anyway? Just earlier today I went to check detailed call information for my accounts and foolishly went to verizon.com and there was no link to get me easily to verizonwireless. I had to dig up an old e-mail. Mostly I just want good coverage. Verizon seems to have pretty good coverage, though in the north west part of our town it's very poor with both Verizon and Sprint. AT&T used to be good there, so Cingular might be a good option. I used to have Sprint and their coverage at my house was horrible, Verizon is 3 bars in the basement, so they're clearly the winner there. I'm tempted to try Cingular when it's time for renewal, but so many people are saying they hate them... I'm tempted to try that new Sprint $60/month EvDO service that falls back to CDMA when there is no EvDO. There's very little EvDO coverage, but CDMA has excellent coverage. And at $20/month less than the CDMA I just canceled... However, you have to also have a voice plan to get the $60/month rate. So, I guess I won't be doing that... Sean Yeah, they all suck. I have Verizon, and recently went to check coverage on EvDO with both Verizon and Sprint and found that they both made it pretty hard. For something that is a buying decision point, far too hard. Most of the site suck, and why do they think they need verizonwireless anyway? Just earlier today I went to check detailed call information for my accounts and foolishly went to verizon.com and there was no link to get me easily to verizonwireless. I had to dig up an old e-mail.

Mostly I just want good coverage. Verizon seems to have pretty good coverage, though in the north west part of our town it’s very poor with both Verizon and Sprint. AT&T used to be good there, so Cingular might be a good option. I used to have Sprint and their coverage at my house was horrible, Verizon is 3 bars in the basement, so they’re clearly the winner there. I’m tempted to try Cingular when it’s time for renewal, but so many people are saying they hate them…

I’m tempted to try that new Sprint $60/month EvDO service that falls back to CDMA when there is no EvDO. There’s very little EvDO coverage, but CDMA has excellent coverage. And at $20/month less than the CDMA I just canceled… However, you have to also have a voice plan to get the $60/month rate. So, I guess I won’t be doing that…

Sean

]]>