[El Scorcho]

I read that yesterday. Hope they get a move on and improve their coverage while they're at it. It's really bad.

[Fumblerooskies]

I read that yesterday. Hope they get a move on and improve their coverage while they're at it. It's really bad.

Really cool iPhone...but lousy coverage...why bother?

[El Scorcho]

I read that yesterday. Hope they get a move on and improve their coverage while they're at it. It's really bad.

Really cool iPhone...but lousy coverage...why bother?

I rarely talk on the phone. Besides, I have a VoIP app installed and there's WiFi almost everywhere I go.

That doesn't mean I like it. Not having to walk into my kitchen to send a text message would be kind of cool.

[LUconn]

I read that yesterday. Hope they get a move on and improve their coverage while they're at it. It's really bad.

Really cool iPhone...but lousy coverage...why bother?

I rarely talk on the phone. Besides, I have a VoIP app installed and there's WiFi almost everywhere I go.

That doesn't mean I like it. Not having to walk into my kitchen to send a text message would be kind of cool.

Ha. When I had sprint the phone worked everywhere except where I happened to live. And I had lived in 3 different places during that span. Pretty annoying.

[ALUmnus]

My cell reception has been like this, no matter what service I've had, no matter where I've lived (three different locations around this area and one in Connecticut), it never works in my residence. I don't get it.

[El Scorcho]

My cell reception has been like this, no matter what service I've had, no matter where I've lived (three different locations around this area and one in Connecticut), it never works in my residence. I don't get it.

Who are you with currently?

You could look into a Femtocell. Everyone but AT&T has already released one and even theirs is on the way.

[ALUmnus]

I'm currently with Ntelos. Being regional, they have their limits, but you can't beat their price. I'll have to see about this Femtocell thingy.

[Fumblerooskies]

You could look into a Femtocell.

Although it sounds like something to combat PMS...I'm going to check it out. First I have heard of such a thing.

[El Scorcho]

I'm currently with Ntelos. Being regional, they have their limits, but you can't beat their price. I'll have to see about this Femtocell thingy.

Ohhh. Now I hadn't considered Ntelos.

Sprint and Verizon have released their Femtocells. AT&T's should be out any day now.

There are some cons to them, but if you don't have coverage in your house they are a solution.

[LUconn]

http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/18/veri ... n-january/

That's pretty neat. What kind of connection do they broadcast? Would it be 3G?

It'll be available in Verizon stores and online starting January 25 for $249.99 -- not a bad deal for Verizon, considering you're saving them the expense of erecting a tower.

sounds like they've got quite a racket going here.


edit: It looks like it says it supports 1X data. That's the slower speed that's already broadcasted around here.

[El Scorcho]

Verizon's is 1x, yes. They charge you $250 for the device, but charge you no fee to use it. It uses your normal cell minutes and the phone basically just sees it as any other tower. One big con with Verizon is that they don't allow you to lock the box down which means that anyone living close enough to you to pick it up could end up using your broadband connection to make their cell calls.

Sprint's device (called Airave - http://tr.im/felr) also does not provide 3G coverage, only 1x. They charge you $99 for the device plus a $4.99 monthly fee. For an additional $10 monthly fee you get unlimited calling when using the Airave. They also allow you to lock the device down using a list of (up to 50) phone numbers so that only authorized phones can make calls on it. Engadget reviewed Airave here: Engadget Review

AT&T's device (Called MicroCell - http://tr.im/felp) is due any day now so there's been no official word on pricing yet. Their page for the device does state that a 3G phone is required to use it and that unlimited individual and family calling plans are available. I know that they pushed a "Carrier Update" to iPhone users through iTunes last week just for the purpose of adding an M-Cell logo image into the OS. It would be interesting if 3G coverage was available via these devices in Lynchburg before AT&T actually rolled it out. It would be pointless as I'd just use WiFi at home anyway, but still.

[El Scorcho]

sounds like they've got quite a racket going here.

And yes, that is what I meant when I said there are some cons to them. You're paying them for the device and allowing them to use the broadband connection (that you also pay for) to carry their data. In Sprint and AT&T's case you're also paying them a monthly fee. In Verizon's case you're allowing the world to use your broadband to make calls.

Quite a racket, indeed.

However, as I also said before, if you've got no signal in your home or office the femtocells are a solution even if they're a racket. Funny how they've managed to turn a negative aspect of their business into a revenue stream, huh?

[Hold My Own]

I bought something a little different...they make one for CDMA and one for GSM...it works great...no monthly charge and will increase your bars about 4 more....I like it a lot...I wouldnt want to pay monthly for this though considering the one I have is free

[sweetnahmah1]

So, I've asked a ton of people about the free calling from verizon to alltell. No one has any clue. Is this in affect right now, or will it start soon? I need to know, and I need proof.

[Rocketfan]

So, I've asked a ton of people about the free calling from verizon to alltell. No one has any clue. Is this in affect right now, or will it start soon? I need to know, and I need proof.

a friend of mine already got an e-mail( from alltel) and i can't access my yahoo e-mails at work....they said something like Feb 15-17th timeframe it would be effective

[JDUB]

my mom called and alltel told her the 17th

[LUconn]

2 alltel store in Lynchburg will be Verizon stores in June. I guess the other ones are closing. But I guess that is pretty much the end of alltel. I'm sure they still have to do some formal switching over with bills and what not, but that's good news for current Verizon customers. I speculate the 3G towers will be here soon enough.

[Rocketfan]

2 alltel store in Lynchburg will be Verizon stores in June. I guess the other ones are closing. But I guess that is pretty much the end of alltel. I'm sure they still have to do some formal switching over with bills and what not, but that's good news for current Verizon customers. I speculate the 3G towers will be here soon enough.

I got a letter, any alltel customer as of May 3rd, is now a Verizon customer. So your next bill will be a verizon one. However i was disappointed because neither side can really get there story straight as to options for current alltel customers. I tried to take my alltel number to verizon. Alltel told me " ohh thats been possible since Feb." Verizon responded " we have no idea what your talking about thats not possible yet" - so i just got a new number, by jumping on my parents family plan. Man... family plans are the way to go, $50 a month savings easily for me.

[Rocketfan]

2 alltel store in Lynchburg will be Verizon stores in June.

I also worry with only 2 stores that this could be another Suncom to Cingular situation. There were lines out the door for what seemed like weeks after that transition. It was crazy!

[FlamingChick]

I got an email stating that I would be a Verizon Wireless customer effective May 30...

[HenryGale]

I found this to be interesting as well...

Is your Alltel cellular phone contract terminating by year's end? Prepare to look for a new cell phone sooner than you might have expected.

With Verizon's purchase of Alltel in January, 10 million Alltel customers will likely see their old phones end up on the junk heap. As Alltel's operations switch to Verizon (now the largest wireless carrier in the country with 89 million subscribers), Alltel customers will be required to decide wether to go with Verizon or some other carrier.

At that point, Verizon says the Alltel customers — except on a "case-by-case basis" — will be required to get new phones. So for any Alltel customers who have held on to those giant, military radio-sized phones, your days are numbered.

http://www.tampabay.com/features/consum ... 998318.ece

[LUconn]

hmm, I don't see why that would be necessary.

[Sly Fox]

This will be done in time for the BB Tour to come to a store near you later this summer.

[LUconn]

Big question on this not being able to change your phone thing: Is alltel still selling phones at this point? Thats kinda dirty if they are. I still see Chad commercials.

[ALUmnus]

This will be done in time for the BB Tour to come to a store near you later this summer.

...which, yet again, does not have wifi. Sometimes I don't get these phone manufacturers.

Big question on this not being able to change your phone thing: Is alltel still selling phones at this point? Thats kinda dirty if they are. I still see Chad commercials.

I wonder if they'll have a grand finale commercial where the verizon guy kills and eats Chad.