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duoduo · 12-12-2002, 10:17 AM

hi, I never used a cellphone. I am now living in New Haven, CT. Next summer I will live in Boston, but still I need to communicate with family in New Haven. Should I register a service plan now then switch it to Boston next year or just register at that time in Boston. which way works better? Is sprint a good carrier between these two areas?
Many thanks!

crood · 12-12-2002, 12:11 PM

I will depend on what type of plan and your calling patterns. If you go with a regional or national plan that inlcude roaming and long distance, then you need to decide who is calling who. If most of your calls are outbound then it doesn't matter which area code your phone is in. If your relatives will be calling you from a land line and they make up the bulk of your incoming calls, it may make sense to sign up in Connecticut. That way it would be an instate call for them. I've never had to move my phone to another area, but I would imagine your provider would switch your number when you move; if that's what you want.

wakko · 12-12-2002, 1:19 PM

your best bet is to find a provider that will work well in both areas. I assume you'll be going back to new haven occasionally. Just a caution about getting a CT number and moving to boston. I know Sprint for example, has a clause (roughly) saying that if you change areas and you never make a call originating from your home area code they have the right to change your phone number. Meaning, if you never went back to CT to make a phone call, they could force you to change to a boston number. I highly doubt they enforce this, and have not heard of this actually happening to anyone, but I do remember seeing it in print.

bucktim · 12-12-2002, 6:51 PM

I can answer one of your questions for sure and that is that Sprint is NOT a good carrier for the areas you will be using it in, especially Boston. I currently reside in Boston and know a bunch of people who are unhappy with Sprint in Boston. Their signal in Boston is very unpredictable meaning if you are downtown you may get no signal but if you are in a suburb in the middle of nowhere you may have full service. For Boston I'd say stick with Verizon, Cingular, or ATT. I also know that Verizon and Cingular both work decent in the New Haven area, and I am assuming ATT does also. Also decide where you want your phone number to be from (meaning who you want to be able to call you without paying long distance) and get you phone in that area. I know with Cingular, if you relocate out of the calling area you signed up for they will give you another number for free. If you relocate to an area in your home calling area, but in a different area code, they will charge you around $20 to get switch to another number. Hope this helps.

NESkier · 12-13-2002, 4:16 PM

Check out Verizon's local digital plans. If you'res sticking solely to the area you mentioned, that's probably the way to go. You'll get a lot of anytime minutes and unlimited night and weekend minutes if you want, and Verizon's coverage in New England is unmatched. Cingular has a similar plan "Home area plan" or something like that with rollover minutes that you might want to check out as well, but I have very little experience with their coverage in CT. Ask around, coworkers, friends etc, and see who has what in your area.

Jack · 12-13-2002, 11:58 PM

I would have to say try verizon.

Jack

duoduo · 12-14-2002, 11:27 AM

Thank you all! I was thinking of buying Sprint, because it is cheaper. Now I think probably I will use verizon wireless. Any other things I need to know before I go? Do I need extra recharger or extra battery? Or any other a new user might fall into pit without knowing? Happy Holiday to you all!
Duoduo

NESkier · 12-14-2002, 12:23 PM

Nope, no need to get an extra battery unless you're going to be on the road for an extended period of time, like 4 days. The VX10 that I have came with a deskstand charger, battery and holster. I think most phones come with this packet of accessories. If you're on the road a lot, you might want to get a car charger that plugs into your cigarette lighter.

Just one note on Verizon, the deal that includes 1000 mobile to mobile minutes is a little tricky. First of all, they're only mobile to mobile if the other person is using Verizon as well. Secondly, if you use your phone to call another Verizon cell phone on nights or weekends (which are free) Verizon deducts the minutes from your mobile to mobile minutes FIRST, instead of calling them free night and weekend minutes. Just keep it in mind. It's not explained thoroughly on their website or in any of their literature.

Good luck!

rallykid · 12-14-2002, 1:21 PM

Actually, Verizon has fixed the issue on nights and weekends/mobile to mobile. It now deducts from your night and weekend minutes first and then deducts from your mobile to mobile minutes after those are used up. I talked to a rep and they said they had a lof of complaints about it so it is something that Verizon has changed. Therefore, if you are on the unlimited night and weekend package like I am, you only have to worry about your mobile to mobile usage during peak hours.

NESkier · 12-14-2002, 2:13 PM

Wow! That's great. I hope the administrator can post this on an earlier thread in which there was a big debate over how Verizon actually bills . . . Thanks for the update

ScandaLEX · 12-16-2002, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: rallykid
Actually, Verizon has fixed the issue on nights and weekends/mobile to mobile. It now deducts from your night and weekend minutes first and <STRONG><EM>then </EM></STRONG>deducts from your mobile to mobile minutes after those are used up. I talked to a rep and they said they had a lof of complaints about it so it is something that Verizon has changed. Therefore, if you are on the unlimited night and weekend package like I am, you only have to worry about your mobile to mobile usage during peak hours.

I find this interesting, considering Sprint does this the other way around. If you are using mobile2mobile or pcs2pcs, they deduct from them first; it is when those minutes are all used up that they then take from the anytime, or night/wknd....depending on what time of the day it is.

This isnt an issue anymore for SPCS now considering that pcs2pcs is unlimited. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

rallykid · 12-16-2002, 11:53 PM

According to the CSR I talked to it is something that has recently changed. I have unlimited nights and weekends so now the only time I have to worry about burning up mobile to mobile minutes is during peak hours.

ScandaLEX · 12-17-2002, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: rallykid
According to the CSR I talked to it is something that has recently changed. I have unlimited nights and weekends so now the only time I have to worry about burning up mobile to mobile minutes is during peak hours.

With which provider are you referring to when you make this statement? I have been with Sprint for a little under 3 years, so for me this has been the norm.

rallykid · 12-20-2002, 8:37 AM

ScandaLEX - Sorry, I should have clarified, I was referring to Verizon.

12-12-2002, 10:17 AM	#1
duoduo I have arrived! Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	never used cellphone, need help! hi, I never used a cellphone. I am now living in New Haven, CT. Next summer I will live in Boston, but still I need to communicate with family in New Haven. Should I register a service plan now then switch it to Boston next year or just register at that time in Boston. which way works better? Is sprint a good carrier between these two areas? Many thanks!

12-12-2002, 12:11 PM	#2
crood Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 286 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	never used cellphone, need help! I will depend on what type of plan and your calling patterns. If you go with a regional or national plan that inlcude roaming and long distance, then you need to decide who is calling who. If most of your calls are outbound then it doesn't matter which area code your phone is in. If your relatives will be calling you from a land line and they make up the bulk of your incoming calls, it may make sense to sign up in Connecticut. That way it would be an instate call for them. I've never had to move my phone to another area, but I would imagine your provider would switch your number when you move; if that's what you want.

12-12-2002, 1:19 PM	#3
wakko Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 108 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	never used cellphone, need help! your best bet is to find a provider that will work well in both areas. I assume you'll be going back to new haven occasionally. Just a caution about getting a CT number and moving to boston. I know Sprint for example, has a clause (roughly) saying that if you change areas and you never make a call originating from your home area code they have the right to change your phone number. Meaning, if you never went back to CT to make a phone call, they could force you to change to a boston number. I highly doubt they enforce this, and have not heard of this actually happening to anyone, but I do remember seeing it in print.

12-12-2002, 6:51 PM	#4
bucktim Fresh Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 29 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	never used cellphone, need help! I can answer one of your questions for sure and that is that Sprint is NOT a good carrier for the areas you will be using it in, especially Boston. I currently reside in Boston and know a bunch of people who are unhappy with Sprint in Boston. Their signal in Boston is very unpredictable meaning if you are downtown you may get no signal but if you are in a suburb in the middle of nowhere you may have full service. For Boston I'd say stick with Verizon, Cingular, or ATT. I also know that Verizon and Cingular both work decent in the New Haven area, and I am assuming ATT does also. Also decide where you want your phone number to be from (meaning who you want to be able to call you without paying long distance) and get you phone in that area. I know with Cingular, if you relocate out of the calling area you signed up for they will give you another number for free. If you relocate to an area in your home calling area, but in a different area code, they will charge you around $20 to get switch to another number. Hope this helps.

12-13-2002, 4:16 PM	#5
NESkier Fresh Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 36 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	never used cellphone, need help! Check out Verizon's local digital plans. If you'res sticking solely to the area you mentioned, that's probably the way to go. You'll get a lot of anytime minutes and unlimited night and weekend minutes if you want, and Verizon's coverage in New England is unmatched. Cingular has a similar plan "Home area plan" or something like that with rollover minutes that you might want to check out as well, but I have very little experience with their coverage in CT. Ask around, coworkers, friends etc, and see who has what in your area.

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12-13-2002, 11:58 PM	#6
Jack Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,475 Phone(s): Motorola T720 Provider(s): Alltel Devices: Sirius Satellite radio, ipod, laptop, pda Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	never used cellphone, need help! I would have to say try verizon. Jack __________________ Current Plan with alltel 3000 anytime minutes w/nationwide LD $74.95 a month---Waiting not so patiently for the Alltel version of the V710

12-14-2002, 11:27 AM	Original Poster #7
duoduo I have arrived! Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	never used cellphone, need help! Thank you all! I was thinking of buying Sprint, because it is cheaper. Now I think probably I will use verizon wireless. Any other things I need to know before I go? Do I need extra recharger or extra battery? Or any other a new user might fall into pit without knowing? Happy Holiday to you all! Duoduo

12-14-2002, 12:23 PM	#8
NESkier Fresh Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 36 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	never used cellphone, need help! Nope, no need to get an extra battery unless you're going to be on the road for an extended period of time, like 4 days. The VX10 that I have came with a deskstand charger, battery and holster. I think most phones come with this packet of accessories. If you're on the road a lot, you might want to get a car charger that plugs into your cigarette lighter. Just one note on Verizon, the deal that includes 1000 mobile to mobile minutes is a little tricky. First of all, they're only mobile to mobile if the other person is using Verizon as well. Secondly, if you use your phone to call another Verizon cell phone on nights or weekends (which are free) Verizon deducts the minutes from your mobile to mobile minutes FIRST, instead of calling them free night and weekend minutes. Just keep it in mind. It's not explained thoroughly on their website or in any of their literature. Good luck!

12-14-2002, 1:21 PM	#9
rallykid New house = No free time Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Davison, Michigan Posts: 1,305 Phone(s): LG 9700, Palm Pre Provider(s): Verizon, Sprint Devices: 80 Gig iPod, GPS, PDA, Satellite Radio Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	never used cellphone, need help! Actually, Verizon has fixed the issue on nights and weekends/mobile to mobile. It now deducts from your night and weekend minutes first and *then* deducts from your mobile to mobile minutes after those are used up. I talked to a rep and they said they had a lof of complaints about it so it is something that Verizon has changed. Therefore, if you are on the unlimited night and weekend package like I am, you only have to worry about your mobile to mobile usage during peak hours. __________________ You have very successfully added 2 and 2 together and gotten a beaver. You are so far off the mark you have left numbers all together and entered addition with mammals.

12-14-2002, 2:13 PM	#10
NESkier Fresh Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 36 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	never used cellphone, need help! Wow! That's great. I hope the administrator can post this on an earlier thread in which there was a big debate over how Verizon actually bills . . . Thanks for the update

12-16-2002, 11:53 PM	#12
rallykid New house = No free time Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Davison, Michigan Posts: 1,305 Phone(s): LG 9700, Palm Pre Provider(s): Verizon, Sprint Devices: 80 Gig iPod, GPS, PDA, Satellite Radio Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	never used cellphone, need help! According to the CSR I talked to it is something that has recently changed. I have unlimited nights and weekends so now the only time I have to worry about burning up mobile to mobile minutes is during peak hours. __________________ You have very successfully added 2 and 2 together and gotten a beaver. You are so far off the mark you have left numbers all together and entered addition with mammals.

12-20-2002, 8:37 AM	#14
rallykid New house = No free time Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Davison, Michigan Posts: 1,305 Phone(s): LG 9700, Palm Pre Provider(s): Verizon, Sprint Devices: 80 Gig iPod, GPS, PDA, Satellite Radio Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	never used cellphone, need help! ScandaLEX - Sorry, I should have clarified, I was referring to Verizon. __________________ You have very successfully added 2 and 2 together and gotten a beaver. You are so far off the mark you have left numbers all together and entered addition with mammals.

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