Net10 Features

[neh]

What features does Net10 offer. Do they offer mobile web for normal web page viewing? Also, I heard that they use Verizon,Cingular and many more but I thought that Verizon was CDMA and Cingular was GSM so how will the phone be able to use both?

[Quint101]

Wirelessly posted (Q's Mobile Device: Opera/8.01 (J2ME/MIDP; Opera Mini/2.0.4719/1378; en; U; ssr))

Originally Posted by neh

What features does Net10 offer. Do they offer mobile web for normal web page viewing? Also, I heard that they use Verizon,Cingular and many more but I thought that Verizon was CDMA and Cingular was GSM so how will the phone be able to use both?

Net10 uses Cingular, TMobile, or other GSM carrier. I'm not aware of their web offerings, you may want to check them out at net10.com . Net10 doesn't use cdma at all, unlike its parent, Tracfone.

[neh]

When I asked they said that they use CDMA too. I still don't understand how that is possiable.

Dear Customer, Thank you for your interest in Net10Wireless, we are responding to your recent inquiry. The map that is displayed on our web site is an approximation, actual coverage areas may vary, depending on the local carrier. Net10 provides nationwide prepaid wireless coverage by piecing together the best networks from Verizon Wireless, Cingular Wireless, AT&T, ALLTEL and many others. TracFone has created a national footprint covering 99% of the U.S. population, so that whether you are in your home area or traveling, you should be able to receive service, as long as cellular service is available in that area. Should you have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to let us know. Net10 Wireless, Inc.

[neh]

Does anyone understand what they mean?

[Microwave Mike]

I just ordered a Net10 phone myself, and I was wondering the same thing.

I'm just guessing about this. Maybe they offer service over GSM or CDMA in a given area, depending on whichever one the actual network operator uses. If you live in an area where they offer service using a GSM network, they send you a GSM phone. If you live in an area where the offer service over a CDMA network, they send you a CDMA phone. One thing that makes me think this is I've seen a couple different coverage maps by putting different zip codes in at their site. There might be more than two different coverage maps, but I've only seen two that look unique after putting in several zip codes from around the country. I'm guessing one map is if for people who have CDMA phones, and the other is for people with GSM phones.

Again, I'm just guessing. Can anyone confirm this?

[Microwave Mike]

Oh...and about features. I haven't received my phone yet, so I'm going to do some more semi-educated guessing. I couldn't find much on their site about Web features. In there terms and conditions, I did find:

NET10 DATA SERVICES
With certain NET10 phone models, you can download ringtones, graphics, access information services such as news, weather and sports ("Information Services") and utilize multi-media services ("MMS") (ringtones, graphics, Information Services and MMS are collectively referred to as "Data Services") through NET10's Mobile Web ("WAP"). Data Services are additional Services offered by NET10.

Access/Purchase Data Services
In order to download or access NET10's Data Services, your NET10 phone must have active service and sufficient available airtime (minutes). Your NET10 phone will not let you open the browser without an airtime balance of at least 10 minutes.

Each time you access the NET10 WAP with your NET10 phone's browser, 1.0 minute of airtime per minute of access will be deducted from your NET10 phone ("Access Charges"). Access Charges are deducted in full minute increments. WAP access of less than 60 seconds is rounded up to the next full minute.

Access Charges begin when your NET10 phone makes a data connection. This should occur shortly after you open your browser, send or receive a multi-media message (e.g., a picture), initiate a content download, confirm a subscription, view subscribed Information Services or if WAP access is initiated for any other purpose. Access Charges end when the data connection terminates. This should occur shortly after you close your browser, successfully receive or send a multi-media message (e.g., a picture), after a successful content download or after any other closure of a WAP session. The WAP access duration and the related Access Charges are NOT determined from the exact moment you press a button on your NET10 phone to open or close the browser. Airtime minutes may also be deducted for use of other services such as text messaging. No credit is given for dropped calls.

In addition to the Access Charges, there will be a charge each time you select and purchase content to download ("Content Charge") and if you subscribe to an Information Services ("Subscription Charge"). The Content Charges and Subscription Charges vary depending on the type of content and/or subscription. You will be advised of the Content Charges and/or Subscription Charges prior to finalizing your purchase. The total Access Charge will vary depending on the size of the content and the actual time it takes to download the content.

The Data Services you purchase and download may only be used or viewed on the NET10 phone for which they were purchased and cannot be transferred to any other device, including a new or replacement NET10 phone. Data Services are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Purchase Options for Data Services:
You may purchase Data Services either through your NET10 phone's WAP browser or through the Internet (with a personal computer) at www.NET10.com.

When you purchase Data Services from www.NET10.com with a personal computer, the Content Charge shall be shown in both U.S. Dollars and in minutes. You will have the opportunity to select one of two payment options: (1) using a credit card to pay the purchase price shown, or (2) a direct deduction of minutes from your NET10 phone. See Purchasing Data Services With Airtime Minutes below.

How to purchase from the Internet (www.NET10.com):
Go to "Ringtones and More" at www.NET10.com and enter your NET10 phone's serial number (ESN /IMEI). This will take you to the NET10 Data Services content catalog where you can browse, sample and purchase ringtones and/or graphics. After you find a title, and select "Buy", you will then be presented with the two purchase options described above.

How to purchase through your NET10 phone's WAP browser:
Select "BROWSER" on your NET10 phone. Then select "Start Browser" and you will be presented with a menu. When you use your NET10 phone's WAP browser to purchase Data Services, only the minute charge purchase option is available. Credit card payments are not available through your NET10 phone. Note: Ringtones and graphics can only be sampled on the NET10 Internet web site (www.NET10.com).

Purchasing Data Services With Airtime Minutes:
The method for converting Content Charges or Subscription Charges from U.S. Dollars to minutes is based on a dollar-to-minute conversion factor. The NET10 conversion factor is: $1.00 equals 10.0 minutes of airtime.

The costs for Data Services in U.S. Dollars and/or minutes and the dollar-to-minute conversion factor(s) are subject to change without prior notice.

I'm guessing whether Web access is available depends on the network you are using and the phone you have, and that's probably why they don't say much about it on their site. I think Net10 probably uses Cingular in my area, so I'm hoping Web access will be available here. I went ahead and ordered the Motorola V176, which supports WAP 2.0. I've never used the Web from a cell phone, so I figured I'd see what it's all about. I'm expecting it to be fairly useless, but I could be wrong. I don't think I'll use it much because 10 cents per minute is too expensive to surf the Web with no keyboard and on a 2-inch screen, or any size screen really.

[Microwave Mike]

I just looked at this thread. The two map links supplied by Quint101 match the two maps I got using different zip codes. Here are the links again:

http://www.net10.com/images/covmaps2...ile_map_sm.jpg

http://www.net10.com/images/covmaps2..._NATIONMAP.jpg

Looking at this, it makes me think those two maps represent two different GSM bands, and not GSM vs CDMA like I thought. The phone I ordered is supposed to support GSM 850 and 1900. I wonder if it will work in both coverage areas or if a given phone can only be set up to operate in one area or the other. I certainly hope mine will work in both, but then why would they have two maps?

[Quint101]

I think that they have the two maps in case the preferred company (Cingular or other 850 band company) does not have service in the area where the phone is activated. AFAIK, the Net10 phones are capable of working on 850 and 1900; I dont see why it wouldnt work wherever a compatible signal available. If I activated a phone in a 1900 only area (i.e. TMobile) and the phone didnt work in a 850 area, then obviously, it's not the phone but the underlying carrier and its lack of roaming agreements. I hope this makes sense.

[Quint101]

Oh yeah, also, the "Cingular" map has 850 and 1900 on it (since Cingy uses both); the "Tmobile" one appears to have 1900 only.

[Harold938]

i got net10 and my view is that

for 10 cent you can beat

but for that if you call CS and you have to deal with a person

1.with little or no english
2.you ask a question and they have a HEAVY accent
3.you ask a question and you get a recording
4.net10 HQ is in miami but CS is base in india and south america

"suprise suprise "

but hey when i call these let me give you a piece of advice "have some good patience you gonna need it"

[manz9]

Am I tech stupid or Net10 is designed to eat away your purchased minutes? First it would not let me register on line if I didn't use US zip code. I am Canadian currently in Puerto Rico for vacation. Now all my messages from Net10 are in Spanish. Try to find a place that would change the language. GOOD LUCK.

Next was a call to 1-877 number and 20 minutes of roaming charges but Hey what great saving will I have later???

Time came to call home with announcement "Guess what??? No more roaming charges. Got myself a new phone.

Great if I could make it work.

Message to Net 10 Change the name to Net 0

Would I recommend this phone to anyone else, Only when hell freezes over.

[jamdoc]

Hi,
I am a net10 user, presently using a nokia 1600, I want to use a different handset by switching the same sim card to my new phone. when i called the CS i was told that net10 sim is only programmed to work with net10 phones. any ideas where i can find a similar prepaid service where i can use my own phone?

[lbrander2001]

I wrote this on another forum, so copying and pasting it here also for comments.

I've done a bit of searching and talking to some people who deal with various cell phones, compa nies and Plans. I've come to the conclusion that any pay as you go plan, be it At&t, Verizon, Tracfone, etc. goes like this. They suupposedly don't make the money off these plans that they do with some of the other over priced plans they offer. so the end result is that the pay as you go phones only offer minimum, barebones bandwith with their plans, just enough to get some service in some areas, but away from that area your on your own. The so called pay as you go plans may offer roaming for awhile (as per a so called agreement, which thay can cancell /turn off after a short while), to get you hooked on that particular company, then they shut it off so that you'll be tempted to get a better plan from them, after you get fed up with the pay as you go plans. They tell you that this phone or that phone is best or will work with this plan or that, but in the end the service will probably be still lousey and you'll then be paying more for it. Bottom line is money and greed rules the world. All I can say is, if you want a phone, either land line or cell, buyer beware. Companies come out with this and that so called new technology and the systems they have to support it haven't been upgraded to handle it. Thus you have poor service and coverage. Like trying to put a bandaid over a major would. Like Bushes so called stimulous plan. You pay up the nose for service and it goes into someones pocket. If these companies would spend the money on their infrastructure to improve and develpe it, they would have better service and not have to play catch up. You see this time after time in more ways than one. Just look around. Doesn't matter wheather its At&t or the Feds. JMO

[lbrander2001]

The reason I've made the above post is, that I have bought a Tracfone, Motorola W370. I activated over my computer and it worked perfectly from Feb 18th, 08. My mother was having problems with her land line phone and asked about my Tracfone. Showed it to her and explained how it worked and she decided to get one. We got it, ported over her home phone number and activated her phone using my computer at my home. Once activated I took her phone to her on June 10th 08 after charging up the battery, etc. The phone worked fine at my house, but had NO servide at her house, same zip code area. I then checked my phone and NO service to my phone at her home either, where it worked perfectly a few days prior. I've contacted Tracfone CS and sent numerous emails for advice, but nothing as yet to correct the problem. I'm currently trying to see if roaming is activated on the 2 phones we have. We live along the US/Canadian border in northern NY, so wondering if i was possibly picking up Canadian At&t/Cingular towers and now have been somehow blocked. The areas where the phone now doesn't work is along the US/Canadian border, between Ogdensburg, NY 13669 to almost Alexandria Bay NY, 13607 a distance of about 50 miles. As said my own phone worked fine there before and now everything is dead, unless I drive into a larger city along the US side of the border. My mother's phone will work at times and has a 4 to 5 bar signal, but for the most parts she can't make or receive calls. Most calls she gets go to an unactivaated voice mail because there is No service. This has been frustrating for the both of us. Any suggestions or comments about this would be appreciated. lbrander2001.

[lbrander2001]

Hello to all. Finally got an email responce from Tracfone as follows:

Thank you for your interest in TracFone Wireless. We are responding to
your recent inquiry.

We would like to take this opportunity to apologize for any
inconvenience you may have experienced with this issue.

Roaming feature is automatically activated on your phone upon
activation. Please be informed that roaming indicator will not display
on the main screen of your phone if your are in your local calling area
where you activated your phone. Our records indicate that you will be
deducted for a single rate when your phone is in roaming mode.

Should you have any further questions or concerns, please contact one of
our customer care representatives at 1-800-867-7183 . For your
convenience, our representatives are available Monday-Saturday from 8:00
AM to 9:45 PM EST, and on Sunday from 8:00 AM to 6:45 PM EST.

Thank you for being a TracFone Wireless customer. We appreciate your
business.

Sincerely,

TracFone Wireless

[lbrander2001]

I've been talking to another person on another forum and he believes that Rodgers of canada has cancelled it's roaming funtion on all its towers in canada. That may explain why there is No longer any service from the Ogdensburg, NY 13669 area to almost the Alexandria Bay, NY 13607 zip code area along the St. Lawrence River area. It would seem that At&t or someone should either get a better agreement regarding roaming or get more towers in this area or better use of existing towers it may use or lease. This has become just one pain in the butt for people who expect service in this area. Don't expect the problem to be resolved anytime soon , it at all. Take care.