Verizon Express Network questions

[fmcgirt]

I currently have a National Single Rate Plan w/Mobile Web and a LG-4400 phone. I have successfully connected to the internet via QNC from both my laptop and my Palm Tungsten C, however the connections are fairly slow and I am interested in EN (which is available in my zip code) to provide a more usable connection speed.

I also have been told that I cannot add EN to my current NSR plan.

I have looked over the EN plans and as I understand it they are exactly like my NSR plan except I now have access to the EN and my minutes allowance is shared between voice and EN usage according to my own discretion- no fixed amount for either. All roaming and long distance are included whether I am on the Verizon Network or Extended Network or roaming on some other service exactly as on my NSR plan. Are these assumptions correct???

If I decide to go with the Unlimited EN plan, this plan is identical to the normal EN plan except there are no limits on minutes used for either voice or data. Is this correct???

Also if I am in an area with no EN may I still acccess the web with a QNC connection (at lower speeds of course)?? I guess what I am really asking is Mobile Web included in the EN plans for those times one cannot access EN???

Finally, is there a special Customer Service Number I need to call to get my plan changed? I expect that a special User Name and PW is necessary to access EN and perhaps "normal" Customer Service may not be of much help with EN.

Thanks for any help or suggestions,

Frank McGirt
fmcgirt@mac.com

[kyousif]

When I inquired about it a couple months ago they told me the unlimited was strictly for Data. As far as I knew you could add the Express Network to any plan. You can have Data Only, Phone Only or Data and Phone. You had your choice of buying (minutes of data, megs of data or unlimited data). *611 should be able to hook you up, that's who I contacted when I looked into it. Good Luck

[GoodmanR]

The Express Network plans cover everythign on the Americas Choice network, so thats the extended network...

The Unlimited plans are data only.

They do not include mobile web, but you can still connect however you are connecting now. You can also easily configure Mobile Web to work for free (mins only) on your phone, just search the lg forums and youll find thousands of entries.

As of last week Verizon was running a promotion that would allow you to use your America's Choice plan as EN without paying any additional cost, this gives you free nights and weekends. The promotional code here is 1xpp1. If you can still get this I would do that. Youll have to give them the code though, as half the reps dont know about it.

To get your plan changed, call normal customer service, or email them. For support with data, call 611 and select the help with interenet products option.

[fmcgirt]

Thanks for all the responses. The only problem I have with changing to AC from NSR is that we travel a lot and there are places where I need to roam when placing a voice call. But I will have to think about it as the AC plan with EN usage on shared voice and data minutes is tempting.

Frank

[Bugwart]

Frank,

One thing to remember:
Mobile Office (14.4 kbps) is available anywhere that Verizon has digital coverage. EN is not available everywhere yet. EN is CDMA2000 1xRTT. This requires an upgrade to the base stations.

Logically, Verizon has upgraded the larger cities and towns first. Coverage in smaller communities is coming.

If you sign up for EN, you can still use Mobile Office, but you will need to change the modem intitialization strings to switch back and forth. The Verizon dialer should do this for you.

[fmcgirt]

Thanks for the suggestion. I looked at the EN map and sure enough it is not available in the places that we travel to the most so perhaps I will wait until it is more widely available - hopefully by the end of this year.

Frank

[budney]

Why don't you sign up for the Express Network Calling Plans. At least you can use Express Network where it is avalible, since the plan is exactly the same as your NSR plan. I had so much trouble getting that plan when I was with Verizon, because the CS reps & supervisors are clueless about those plans. You may have to keep calling CS untill you get a rep that knows about the plans. Also if I remember right, those plans are located in the NSR plans on rep computers.

[ILUVSOCAL]

"Coverage in smaller communities is coming"

It's already here, much of rural California and Idaho both have 1x service.

[kyousif]

Supposedly here in San Diego they were, are or have sped up the EN speeds any info as to if or when they will or have? San Diego along with a couple other areas were to be the first to have increased network speed deployed. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[TProphet]

Do you know if the 1xpp1 promotional code can be added to an existing AC plan, and/or if it replaces an existing promotion? I already have an unlimited nights/weekends promotion, so is this a second promotion that can be added? I don't want to change to a current AC plan, since I have unlimited 8PM off-peak minutes.

[fmcgirt]

<Why don't you sign up for the Express Network Calling Plans. At least you can use Express Network where it is avalible, since the plan is exactly the same as your NSR plan. >

And that is exactly what I did - once I realized that it is exactly the same as the NSR except it allows EN access minutes to be shared with voice minutes. So it appears to cover all my requirements, EN where it is available, QNC where digital service is available, and domestic roaming and long distance included. It all works too - both from my Mac G4 PB and from my Palm Tungsten C. I set up two connections on each - one for EN and one for QNC - so that I can switch easily between the two.

Thanks to all of you who responded. Your suggestions really helped!!!

Frank

[TProphet]

Well, I called about the AC Express Network promotion. Verizon told me that I could have the promotion, but I would have to change to a current price plan. That would be pretty bad for me, because I would lose my 8:01 off-peak start time; if I were going to do that, I might as well go to a Sprint plan with unlimited PCS Vision. I told the Verizon representative as much, and she spewed forth with a bunch of meaningless platitudes about valuing my business, but that was their policy, etc. (Verizon representatives are generally pleasant, unlike Sprint, but they are certainly not empowered to retain customers).