#646 and #DATA now give you Data and Text Message info

[Andy]

Hey everyone,

After dialing #646 and listening to your minute usage it will automatically also inform you of your data usage used, including Text messages sent and received.
A new service, #DATA will give you Data information, such as Text Messages used, etc. I just found out a minute ago.
I think that's great news.
Andy

[Critic]

Does it also report on things like number of PIX units used?

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Critic

Does it also report on things like number of PIX units used?

I don't know since I don't use pix messaging anymore now that it's not unlimited anymore...

[EdwardP]

#646 does not work on prepay, however #DATA resulted in a connection to (I think) customer service..."Please hold while we transfer your call...Your call may be monitored for quality purposes."

[Andy]

Hmm...doesn't prepay have a different # number for usage info, etc.?

[EdwardP]

Originally Posted by Andy84094

Hmm...doesn't prepay have a different # number for usage info, etc.?

Other than calling *611 and pressing option 1, I am not aware of any.

Both Cingular's KIC and T-Mobile's prepay plans have special numbers to call which automatically send a request and displays the account balance right in the phone's display. Maybe it's a GSM thing.

I also contacted VZW tonight and asked about Mobile Web on prepay. Not offered, but it was said it was being looked into as a future enhancement to the service.

(I continue to be amazed that since the 3589i managed to successfully download the PRL released on Nov. 15, the phone hasn't malfunctioned. I wonder what else *228 Option 1 did...)

[Andy]

thanks for the info, edward. What malfunctioning are we talking about exactly??
~Andy
P.S. Are the Cingular and T-Mo numbers some #xxx# thing...yeah, that would be a GSM thing

[EdwardP]

Originally Posted by Andy84094

thanks for the info, edward. What malfunctioning are we talking about exactly??
~Andy
P.S. Are the Cingular and T-Mo numbers some #xxx# thing...yeah, that would be a GSM thing

Yes, the #xxx# numbers.

Oh...I was referring to the problems I previously had with the first phone, namely powercycling by itself, the bottom 1/3 of the display going blank, there were also a few occasions with both the first and current (third) 3589i's when the power button wasn't held down long enough, it would cause the outer portions of the display to flash, all that could be seen was a dim white square running around the outer edge of the display. but would have to be in a subdued light situation to see it good and the only way to stop that was to remove the battery, which presumably reset the phone.

None of these problems have occurred since that *228 Option 1 programming last week.

Prepay also offers an audio balance after each call, if you let the party you called hang up first. If the mobile phone hangs up first, you do not get the audio balance.

[Andy]

Edward, what exactly is an audio balance?

I find it hard to believe(I mean I believe what you are saying) that a *228 would fix problems like this. Those problems sound more like firmware/software problems where you'd need to go to a VZW store to have the latest firmware/software flashed into your phone...but hey, as long as it works, right?

~Andy

[EdwardP]

Originally Posted by Andy84094

Edward, what exactly is an audio balance?

I find it hard to believe(I mean I believe what you are saying) that a *228 would fix problems like this. Those problems sound more like firmware/software problems where you'd need to go to a VZW store to have the latest firmware/software flashed into your phone...but hey, as long as it works, right?

~Andy

You sound confused!

Audio balance: At the beginning and (if the other party hangs up first) the end of each call, you hear a recording that tells you the account balance and expiration. The recording at the beginning of the call tells you how many hours/minutes you have for the call. The rec. at the end tells you your account balance in dollars and the number of days before the current service expires.

It is very hard to believe. I had those above mentioned problems with the first phone and the display flashing also with the current phone. But since the *228 Option 1 which also downloaded the new PRL, the display flashing problem ceased. Just before this download, the phone started pulling in 6 or 7 bars for the signal in places where only 3 or 4 bars had done so previously, which I'm sure is a result of new towers being activated in the area. I know Option 2 downloads only the PRL, but Option 1 apparently does more.

There was a PRL update during the first month I had the original phone, which failed to download (50203?), that was in September.

[Andy]

Ah, now I learned something today I've never been a prepay customer in the U.S. so I wouldn't know
Option 1 programs your phone on top of downloading the PRL, but usually doesn't fix phone 'bugs' or problems like the ones mentioned above. If it did fix some of the problems, great! Maybe your phone had something against the old PRL?? I don't know, I'm confused, lol.
Yes, sounds like a new site went up close to your house. Did you field test to see if this is the case?

[EdwardP]

Originally Posted by Andy84094

Ah, now I learned something today I've never been a prepay customer in the U.S. so I wouldn't know
Option 1 programs your phone on top of downloading the PRL, but usually doesn't fix phone 'bugs' or problems like the ones mentioned above. If it did fix some of the problems, great! Maybe your phone had something against the old PRL?? I don't know, I'm confused, lol.
Yes, sounds like a new site went up close to your house. Did you field test to see if this is the case?

RE the September PRL, as late as the week before 50210 came out, VZW indicated 50189 was the latest prepay PRL. Apparently, a prepay PRL related to 50203 was never released.

I've read that some phones have a field-test mode though, but I have not field-tested the 3589i. I know of two towers in my hometown and am within line-of-sight of both of them, they're practically within 50 feet of each other. One is Sprint, the other is AT&T (now Cingular), I suspect that the tallest of the two is AT&T's, the smaller is only half as tall. It's possible that VZW may have begun to lease space on that Sprint tower.

[Andy]

So how did VZW cover your town before they leased space???

Anyway, do you know how to field test on your Nokia, because I could let you know if you're interested(just got to get out my notes, lol).

~Andy