4900: Why Get PCSVision - What am I Missing?

I use Vision to send pictures to e-mail addresses, or just send e-mails, go to some compatible sites, and that good stuff... it's worth the 10 extra bucks, especially since it's unlimited... The only problem is almost everything that you can download from sprint you have to pay for. The alternatives to that is FutureDial SnapMedia... or the websites on the first link to this forum, those have free downloads, but aren't supported by sprint.

 

I download ringers, images, and programs to my Vision enabled phone for FREE. Besides being free (unlike most of these same things from Sprint), they also don't have an expiration date. Vision is also useful for internet surfing -- news, weather, movie showtimes, email, etc. The unlimited Vision plan means that NONE of this costs anything extra.

You don't need the SnapMedia software or the data cable to do any of this. You download files from these free websites, directly into your phone. The cable and SnapMedia can be used, but I wouldn't buy it until you find something a free web site can't do but it could.

 

CEGiven,
I'm curious what are some examples of programs that you download into your phone? What do some of these cool programs do?

 

Well, games are top on my list. I've always loved Tetris, so SpruceBlocks was a great addition. As far as non-games programs I'm only using one currently: SpruceStopWatch. There was another non-game program I tried, but it didn't work. It was supposed to take a UPC code (number) and tell you stuff about the product.

One category of programs that some overlook are those that are web-based. That is, instead of a Java Midlet on your phone, the program is actually running on a web server somewhere. Then you don't have to worry about memory, horsepower, compatibility, etc. In essence, when you download a game from my site it's all progamatically and dynamically served up. Rather than building static pages, I use a database to store the file names and let the web server create what's needed on the fly.

Then there are the big corporate applications that are web enabled. I'm a systems analyst that support PeopleSoft HR at my company. The PeopleSoft products allow access to their system (human resources, payroll, accounting, inventory, sales, etc.) via web pages. So you can have employees "in the field" using the system via their web enabled phones (e.g., submitting an expense report).

 

If you're like me, the ability to download ringers, games and pictures is not really an issue... for me, that stuff may be "neat" but it falls in to the "who cares?" category since it has nothing to do with the function of the phone as a PHONE. What's really GREAT about PCS Vision is that it allows anyone who travels around with a notebook computer to quickly and easily log in to the PCS network and have very quick wireless web access so that you can get to your email or check a web site using a the "real" software already on your computer (internet explorer/netscape/outlook, etc.). To do this, all you need is the USB cable for your phone and the Sprint PCS CONNETCION software (a FREE download from the Sprint web site)... and the connection is FREE (well, included in your $10/month fee).

Considering that Sprint charges $99/month for unlimited data service for use with a dedicated card like the Merlin, this makes PCS Vision a great value if you need wireless internet access.

 

Read the other threads. It is somewhat in doubt if you are really supposed to be allowed to use the phone as a modem for your laptop on the $10 Vision plan (even though a lot of Sprint reps sold the phone, cable, and service for this express purpose).

 

I'd like to expand on the original question just to satisfy my own curiosity about something. My friend has Sprint Vision service, and a Sanyo 4900; and I know when he downloads ringers from Sprint he has to pay extra for them. He also has to pay extra for text messaging, and for screensavers, although he does have the unlimited Vision plan; which brings me to my question: If he has to pay extra to get these things, even though he has unlimited Vision; does this mean that all Vision will really give you is the wireless internet access for the $10 extra per month? Do you have to pay the $10 extra for Vision in order to be able to pay extra to get the ringtones and screen savers, or do you just need a Vision enabled phone? If someone didn't have any interest whatsoever in wireless internet access, but wanted to download a couple of ringtones and possibly a screensaver; and otherwise just wanted a phone (i.e. voice conversation only), would they not be better off just getting the plan without Vision and paying a little extra money one month for 2 or 3 ringtones and a screensaver? The 4900 is an awesome phone, and has unbelievable reception; and I can see people getting the phone just for the reception who don't really want or need internet access, I'd hate to see people like this throw an extra $90 to $210 away (depending on one or two year contract, minus the 3 free months) for something they won't really use or don't really need. It is a great plan for those who are into the wireless web thing, though; nobody else can touch Sprint in that area.

 

If you download from Sprint's site, you pay extra. Text messaging is included with Vision so your friend shouldn't be getting charged for that. As mentioned above, there are multiple sites that offer free content ( ringers, screensavers, and games ) Personally I love being able to read the latest news each morning while I ride the train to work.

 

Sorry I was mistaken about the text messaging! And he did download the ringtones from Sprint, so I guess that is why he paid for them. But could he have downloaded them if he didn't subscribe to Vision? And can the free ringtones be downloaded to any Vision enabled phone, such as the 4900 and 5300, regardless of whether you actually subscribe to PCS Vision or the regular Free and Clear plan? I have to say, the 4900 is a great phone, it held a Sprint digital signal all the way through the mountains of Southwest Virginia on I-77 and a good part of the way into West Virginia before it started roaming analog, and it had a good analog signal when it started roaming. The only time it completely lost signal was when we were going through 2 tunnels, and one would expect that there. After hearing so many horror stories about Sprint, it was a pleasant surprise.

 

There needs to be some way of getting the files off the web server and to the phone. Currently an internet connection (i.e. Vision for Sprint customers) or a data cable are the only two methods. So you could use just the data cable and SnapMedia software to load stuff onto a phone (although the SnapMedia product doesn't support all the file types that the Sanyo 4900 accepts). Personally, I think Vision is the best way to get ringers/images/programs onto your phone.

Note: ringers, images, and programs are NOT Vision specific. Non-Sprint phones can download these same files as well. Capabilities aren't a Vision thing -- it's a function of the PHONE rather than the cell service. Even amongst Sprint Vision phones, there is variation. For example, the Hitachi P300 supports animated GIF images, but the rest of the Sprint phones don't even support GIF images (let alone animated ones). Each phone has a different screen size and supports a different number of colors, they have different amounts of RAM, etc., etc. So basically, if the 4900 can accept it, you'll be able to find it on the internet somewhere (and probably for free).

 

If you travel around the country and stay in half decent hotels like I do. You would learn that most good hotels have data port connections in your room (some een have T-1 lines). Maybe you want to surf from your car or something?

 

Hey, tell your friend with the 4900 i believe it was, to stop paying for ringer from Sprint! : D check out my site CSComps.com or from his phone just go to wap.cscomps.com. I will be adding lots more ringers and screensavers, and I have a bunch of great links, I reccommend switching your homepage on your phone to mine, because I eliminated all of the boring useless links from sprint! (Also, you can check out, 3gvisioncorrection.com,3gupload.com,myphonefiles.com,tagtag.com and many more!)

 

should the phone be able to see wap sites? When i enter the url i just get sent to google for some reason.

 

VISION is the best... WHY?


- Doesn't use airtime
- Allows free unlimited ringers, games, and application downloads from 3rd party websites
- Doesn't use airtime
- 3 free months


I have found that since I don't use as much airtime, I can lower my plan and this absorb the cost of vision, when I actually have to pay for it.

There are a few drawbacks to vision as some may mention.

 

Yes, it should. The google page usually indicates one of two situations: 1, you typed in the URL wrong or 2, the website no longer exists or is temporarily offline

 

For me, it boils down to one word: Email!

I agree with others that most of the Vision content is simply a curiosity. It's neat, but not essential, and probably not worth the $10. It's irritatingly slow on the phone's browser and content is so-so. Connecting the phone to a PC for heavy-duty browsing definately works, but is almost certainly very likely to kill the golden goose of unlimited Vision.

On the other hand, the free email system is worth every penny of the $10. You can quickly set up a new email address @sprintpcs.com. The phone can send (compose) and receive from this address. Sure it's still slower than a PC, but it works...everywhere. I am a computer field service manager and I've forwarded two older pagers to the phone since activating Vision. Now rather than carrying an alpha pager, a two-way pager, and a phone, all I have on my belt is the beautiful 4900.