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Archive through June 16, 2005

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2005 Dec. ~ 2006 Feb.: Buyers Banter: Cell Phones: Archive through June 16, 2005 users admin

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Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 6:46 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
We are looking for the cheapest (who isn't) one out there. We actually want two. We probably need abut 400 minutes/month. Any good deals out there? Seems to me from what I have seen that Cingular is cheapest? Anyone know?
Thank you!

Kaili
Member

08-31-2000

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 6:53 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kaili a private message Print Post    
Hmmm...I have Verizon but I have a 20% off deal through work. Look on www.lowermybills.com and put in your zip code. They'll pull up services near you and packages. I used to have AT&T then they became Cingular. I'm mad at them because when I switched I was out of contract, but my new billing period had just started so I had to pay the full month for 3 days. Grrr. Are you planning on doing a shared plan where you pay an extra $10 for a second phone? And if so, is it 400 minutes shared or 400 minutes each? Do you care about nationwide or will local plans work?

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 6:54 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Also just heard from dh that a coworker just got cingular and is having problems. We have cingualr now and have LOTS of problems with reception, but they said it was cuz phone itself was 4 years old... hmmm. Any comments are appreciated.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 6:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Well probably about 400 for me and 100 for dh....

Local plans should be okay. We don't go out of state much, but we do go to some counties west of us that Cingular (our current cingular-they say they have a new plan with the new phones) does not reach. Also does not work in WI where we go in the summer several times...

Kaili
Member

08-31-2000

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 7:12 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kaili a private message Print Post    
Verizon family share plans start at $60/month for two lines (each additional is another $10) and with that you get 500 minutes, unlimited IN Calling and free night & weekend home airtime minutes on all lines.

It looks like Cingular is the same price per month for a family plan but they allow rollover of minutes each month and they want a 2 year agreement.

Sprint family plans are expensive. They start at $70/month.

Nextel has kind of a confusing website, but I was looking at "National Team Share Plans" and you can get two people sharing 400 minutes through them for $40/month. You get the nights and weekends through them.

Alltell has it that you add a line for $10 to any plan that's over $60.

I guess you really need to consider mainly coverage areas, but I think you'd be probably pretty well covered no matter what in your area. Also just the other options each company gives (nights and weekends, mobil to mobil, free incoming, etc- for example, Verizon to Verizon calls are always free- and the rollover minutes are nice with Cingular). I used Libertyville's zip code because I don't know exactly where you live but I think it would be about the same coverage anywhere around there.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 7:18 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Kaili (or anyone), know anything about T--mobile? Kaili that link shows a good plan for us thru T-moblie... (zip here is 60554.)

Kaili
Member

08-31-2000

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 7:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kaili a private message Print Post    
Oh! When they firts becaame cingular I wanted a new phone because mine was old and I had to get their new service (GSM or whatever it is). The phone didn't get reception in my apartment. When looking at phones, look for a tri-mode one. Cingular is bad with that because you can only use their towers. Verizon will pick up any tower because of their frequency or whatever. I have a nationwide phone. For the price diference as minor as it is, it's worth it. You don't get stuck with roaming when you drive through the wrong neighborhood where there's another tower.

They probably are right about that phone though because they've switched their technology and the older system is slowly getting replaced. Eventually it won't even work anymore and your friend will have to upgrade to a new phone (and therefore the new packages which are a lot more expensive than they used to be).

US Cellular might be a good one to look at too. They add a line for $15 for local plans and $20 for nationwide. However, the lowest local plan you can do it with starts at $40/month (plus that $15 for the added line) and it's 1000 minutes. The national one is 800 minutes for the same price, but that would be an added $20 for the shared line.

Kaili
Member

08-31-2000

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 7:22 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kaili a private message Print Post    
I'm not at all familiar with them. Look at the coverage area for it- Chicago area looks pretty well covered, but then they look like they focus just on main cities and highways. Alltell I know is focused more on rural areas.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 7:23 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Well I am pretty far from Chicago (avoid the city as much as possible!) I think I am about 50 miles west...

Kaili
Member

08-31-2000

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 7:28 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kaili a private message Print Post    
Hmmm... it's so hard to tell. Your best bet is to ask people in your area how their coverage is and how happy they are with their service. I'd recommend nationwide even if you don't travel a lot for that reason. I went to Arizona last year with a regional Wisconsin plan, made a few short calls and paid a LOT for it. Now I don't have to worry no matter where I go. Consider weekend trips you may take that would be out of your area if you go with local. You never know when you need to make a call.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 7:39 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
 Selected Rate Plan: FamilyTime Basic $49.99 per month  
 

* Plan Minutes: 500
* Weekend Minutes: Unlimited Night & Weekend Minutes
* Contract Term: 12 months
* Long Distance Charge: $0.00
* Roaming Charge: $0.00
* Activation Fee: $35.00
* Additional Minutes: $0.40/min
* Early Termination Fee: $200.00

Does this look good?

Kaili
Member

08-31-2000

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 7:58 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kaili a private message Print Post    
As long as their coverage area works well for you, and that will be enough minutes, it looks good. I like 1 year contract terms. Is that t-mobile? Is the $50 for the first line only or for both lines? Are you ordering online or going to a place to get it? Do you have phone preferences? Anyway, most places will give you a little time to return the phone if it doesn't work for you, if you're not happy with the coverage, etc.

I love my phone- it's an LG picture phone. Tim's Motorola broke before a year was up- the buttons won't work half the time. I always had Nokia before, but wanted a flip phone this time.

Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 8:33 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bob2112 a private message Print Post    
Julieboo: I work with a guy that lives out your way and he has no problems with his T-mobile phone. I have Verizon and have no problems out in the west and far western suburbs (or anywhere, really), but I don't get quite out as far as you do that often.

IMO the only service that you really need to avoid in the suburbs of Chicago is Sprint. Their coverage is terrible and you will have no trouble find former Sprint customers who are very happy with whatever new service they now have.

With the driving laws changing quickly in Illinois, you may want to consider phones that include a speaker phone or some other hands free device.


Kaili
Member

08-31-2000

Thursday, June 16, 2005 - 6:13 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kaili a private message Print Post    
So did you get it??? Or do you know what you're going to do anyway?

Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Thursday, June 16, 2005 - 7:08 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bob2112 a private message Print Post    
 <...can you hear me now???...>


Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Thursday, June 16, 2005 - 7:58 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Hey Kaili, I was just about to come in here and thank you!!! New phones are on their way! Went with a good deal that was on your link! They first tried to give us a 312 area code, but got it resolved and we have our 630. So we should be set. I am so curious to see if this new phone will "be stable" in areas that our old phone always crapped out on us.

Oh, thank you Kaili. And thank you Bob-good to hear the stuff you wrote...

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Thursday, June 16, 2005 - 7:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Yes, I can Bob!

The new phone numbers don't spell anything out... Not nearly as cool as our home number either.

Kaili
Member

08-31-2000

Thursday, June 16, 2005 - 8:23 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kaili a private message Print Post    
Good! I hope it works out for you. What kind of phones did you get?

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Thursday, June 16, 2005 - 8:38 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    

Hmmm, kinda small. Can you see, it is a motorola V188. Anyone know if that is a good phone?

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Thursday, June 16, 2005 - 8:40 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    


Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Thursday, June 16, 2005 - 8:43 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
YIKES I think this is too much phone for me!!! I doubt we will use most of what it has...
And who's gonna teach me how to use it?

The Motorola v188 is a solid performer with durable Motorola quality. This flip phone is super-popular – and with almost 6 hours of talk time, it’s not hard to see why! You’ll enjoy all that talking with a nice color screen and high tech blue accent backlighting. Plus, a convenient external screen tells you who’s calling before you answer. Add in text messaging, voice-activated dialing and built-in speakerphone, and you’ve got one of Motorola’s top performers in the palm of your hand.

Highlights
* Almost 6 Hours of Talk Time!
* Brilliant Color Screen
* External Display Gives You Convenient Caller ID
* Text Messaging and Picture Messaging Capable
* Voice-dialing and Built-in Speakerphone

Specifications
* Data Capable / Use This Phone As A Modem - Yes
* PC Synchronization - Yes
* Mobile Web Browsing - Yes
* USB Cable - Yes, Via USB Cable (Sold Separately)
* Multimedia Messaging - Yes
* Text Messaging (SMS) - Yes, 2-Way with Templates
* Instant Messaging - Yes
* Polyphonic Ringtones - 24 Chords
* Pre-loaded Ringtones - Yes
* Ringer Profiles - Yes
* MP3 Ringtones - Yes
* Picture Caller ID - Yes
* Multiple Languages - Yes
* Games - 3 Preloaded Games, Plus Downloadable
* Customizable Faceplates - Yes, Changeable Front and Back Shells
* Customizable Graphics - Yes
* Customizable Themes - Yes
* Customizable Animated Wallpapers - Yes
* Internal Color Display - 128 x 128 Pixels, 66,536 Colors
* External Display - 96 x 32 Pixels, Monochrome LCD
* Speakerphone - Yes
* Hands-Free Dialing - Yes
* Voice Memo - Yes
* Alarm - Yes
* Calculator - Yes
* Calendar - Yes
* Vibrate - Yes
* Phonebook Capacity - Up to 500 Entries
* Multiple Numbers Per Name - Yes
* Battery Type - LiIon 820 mAh
* Talk Time - Up To 350 Minutes
* Standby Time - Up To 275 Hours
* Application Platform - Java MIDP 2.0
* High-Speed Data - Yes, Via EDGE
* Network Compatibility - GSM 825, 900, 1800, 1900
* Ringtone Types Supported - MP3, MIDI, Motomixer
* Predictive Text Entry - Yes, iTAP
* Built-In Memory - 1.8 MB
* Dimensions - 3.43 in x 1.75 in x 0.91 in
* Weight - 3.26 oz
* Download Protocol - GPRS
* Device Supports Voice Plans - Yes


Kaili
Member

08-31-2000

Thursday, June 16, 2005 - 8:51 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kaili a private message Print Post    
I don't use most of my phone- the contact list, camera (only because it's there), calender, and calculator is about it. I've never used the web connection option because I don't need to have constant internet access (and I don't want to pay for it). I don't email pictures I take, I don't bother with text messages... Looks like a nice phone though. Did you get accessories for them...I see you have speakerphone, but did you get a car charger or anything?

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Thursday, June 16, 2005 - 8:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Yes, it comes with a free car charger. Which is the only way to go in my book. Then again it is smart on T-mobile's part. They can't charge you for calls if you can't make any.... I think it also comes with a "house" charger. Not sure what else to get. Any suggestions?

Halfunit
Moderator

09-02-2001

Thursday, June 16, 2005 - 9:06 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Halfunit a private message Print Post    
Julie, I have the Motorola V262 and I like it a lot. I didn't want a camera, but I did want a speakerphone for hands-free purposes.

This is my fourth Motorola phone since 1997. I keep getting a new phone with each contract renewal, lol. I think I paid $150 for the phone with a $100 rebate, I don't remember the details.

The phone is easy to use - just follow the on screen menu prompts.


Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Thursday, June 16, 2005 - 9:09 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Thanks half! I hope it is easier to figure out than our last phone... I inadvertently put it on low ring and could NEVER figure out how to make it ring any louder. Also could not figure out how to change stored numbers or add more. I am such a non-tech person....