news: Wash Post Story Rates Sprint #3 In Wash DC Area

washingtonpost.com
Focus on the Big Picture: Where the Phone Works


By Rob Pegoraro

Sunday, September 28, 2003; Page F01


Getting a cell phone should be simple.

But competitive markets that run on rapidly evolving technologies rarely
are. Picking a wireless-phone service demands a lot of homework, between the
fine-print-laden price plans, the varied coverage areas and all the add-ons
packaged with voice service, such as text messaging and Web access.

It's easy to focus on the one thing you can instinctively grasp: the phone
itself. But that's a mistake. A cell phone's job is to let you talk to
people, not take pictures or play MP3s. And that happens only where the
phone gets a clear signal.

The most important thing to gawk at in a wireless carrier's brochure or on
its Web site is not the catalogue of phones. Nor is it even the price plans.
Instead, inspect the coverage maps -- both of them.

First, eyeball the map of the Washington area to see the carrier's digital
reach. None of the six firms doing business here (AT&T Wireless, Cingular
Wireless, Nextel, Sprint PCS, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless) cover all
of it. Cingular leaves out the Eastern Shore, Verizon hits a wall west of
the Blue Ridge, AT&T omits a generous chunk of Charles County, and so on.
(Don't forget to ask neighbors and co-workers which services they like.)

Then look at the carrier's nationwide map. You'll see immense gaps that may
overlap the roads you take and the places they lead you to, whether it's a
college, a beach house or Grandma's house.

The second issue to ponder is a wireless carrier's digital dialect. Four
technologies are in use: CDMA ("Code Division Multiple Access," offered by
Sprint and Verizon), GSM ("Global System for Mobile communication," offered
by AT&T, T-Mobile and soon Cingular), iDEN (Nextel's "Integrated Digital
Enhanced Network"), and TDMA ("Time Division Multiple Access," sold by AT&T
and Cingular).

I've written before that, since these standards all provide about the same
voice quality, the differences among them don't matter. That's no longer
true.

Rest of Full Story http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/w...anguage=printer

Vist my new WEBSITE for PALM/PDA Users http://PalmPlace.blogspot.com WIN A
FREE ALUMINUM PALM /CLIE CASE . Ends Midnite on Tuesday

---

› See More: news: Wash Post Story Rates Sprint #3 In Wash DC Area

There was no rating in that article.

--
Chris

Please respond on Usenet or Phonescoop.com


"PDA Man" <[email protected]> wrote in article
<[email protected]>:
> washingtonpost.com
> Focus on the Big Picture: Where the Phone Works
>
>
> By Rob Pegoraro
>
> Sunday, September 28, 2003; Page F01
>
>
> Getting a cell phone should be simple.
>
> But competitive markets that run on rapidly evolving technologies rarely
> are. Picking a wireless-phone service demands a lot of homework, between the
> fine-print-laden price plans, the varied coverage areas and all the add-ons
> packaged with voice service, such as text messaging and Web access.
>
> It's easy to focus on the one thing you can instinctively grasp: the phone
> itself. But that's a mistake. A cell phone's job is to let you talk to
> people, not take pictures or play MP3s. And that happens only where the
> phone gets a clear signal.
>
> The most important thing to gawk at in a wireless carrier's brochure or on
> its Web site is not the catalogue of phones. Nor is it even the price plans.
> Instead, inspect the coverage maps -- both of them.
>
> First, eyeball the map of the Washington area to see the carrier's digital
> reach. None of the six firms doing business here (AT&T Wireless, Cingular
> Wireless, Nextel, Sprint PCS, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless) cover all
> of it. Cingular leaves out the Eastern Shore, Verizon hits a wall west of
> the Blue Ridge, AT&T omits a generous chunk of Charles County, and so on.
> (Don't forget to ask neighbors and co-workers which services they like.)
>
> Then look at the carrier's nationwide map. You'll see immense gaps that may
> overlap the roads you take and the places they lead you to, whether it's a
> college, a beach house or Grandma's house.
>
> The second issue to ponder is a wireless carrier's digital dialect. Four
> technologies are in use: CDMA ("Code Division Multiple Access," offered by
> Sprint and Verizon), GSM ("Global System for Mobile communication," offered
> by AT&T, T-Mobile and soon Cingular), iDEN (Nextel's "Integrated Digital
> Enhanced Network"), and TDMA ("Time Division Multiple Access," sold by AT&T
> and Cingular).
>
> I've written before that, since these standards all provide about the same
> voice quality, the differences among them don't matter. That's no longer
> true.
>
> Rest of Full Story http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/w...anguage=printer
>
> Vist my new WEBSITE for PALM/PDA Users http://PalmPlace.blogspot.com WIN A
> FREE ALUMINUM PALM /CLIE CASE . Ends Midnite on Tuesday
>
>
>

[posted via phonescoop.com]

Look on the right-hand column for "Guide to Wireless Phone Plans".
Click on "Interactive Guide" and then Tab:Service Comparison by Location
and then "View Averages". You need the Flash Player to see it all.

Chris Russell wrote:

> There was no rating in that article.
>

--
Frank Harris in San Francisco with an A460

In article <[email protected]>,
Frank Harris <[email protected]> wrote:

> Look on the right-hand column for "Guide to Wireless Phone Plans".
> Click on "Interactive Guide" and then Tab:Service Comparison by Location
> and then "View Averages". You need the Flash Player to see it all.
>
> Chris Russell wrote:
>
> > There was no rating in that article.
> >
>
> --
> Frank Harris in San Francisco with an A460


The Sprint apologists will now call you a Troll for posting this
information, which confirms what we already know about Sprint's Customer
Service.

"Phill." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> Frank Harris <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Look on the right-hand column for "Guide to Wireless Phone Plans".
> > Click on "Interactive Guide" and then Tab:Service Comparison by
Location
> > and then "View Averages". You need the Flash Player to see it
all.
> >
> > Chris Russell wrote:
> >
> > > There was no rating in that article.
> > >
> >
> > --
> > Frank Harris in San Francisco with an A460
>
>
> The Sprint apologists will now call you a Troll for posting this
> information, which confirms what we already know about Sprint's
Customer
> Service.

Huhhh? Frank's certainly no troll. He's been posting in this newsgroup
since at least 1998. And there was nothing mentioned about customer
service in any of the articles listed.

The only troll here Phillippe is you.

Bob

Thank you, Bob.

Bob Smith wrote:

> Huhhh? Frank's certainly no troll. He's been posting in this newsgroup
> since at least 1998. And there was nothing mentioned about customer
> service in any of the articles listed.
>
> The only troll here Phillippe is you.
>
> Bob

--
Frank Harris in San Francisco with an A460

In article <[email protected]>,
Frank Harris <[email protected]> wrote:

> Thank you, Bob.
>
> Bob Smith wrote:
>
> > Huhhh? Frank's certainly no troll. He's been posting in this newsgroup
> > since at least 1998. And there was nothing mentioned about customer
> > service in any of the articles listed.
> >
> > The only troll here Phillippe is you.
> >
> > Bob

The only TROLLS in here are the apologists that want to deceive folks
into thinking everything is fine with customer service at Sprint.

> Bob Smith wrote:
>
> > Huhhh? Frank's certainly no troll. He's been posting in this newsgroup
> > since at least 1998. And there was nothing mentioned about customer
> > service in any of the articles listed.

Too bad you dont know how to drill down.
Sprint ranked #3

But you'll SPIN it someother way and make me the issue.

"Phill." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> > Bob Smith wrote:
> >
> > > Huhhh? Frank's certainly no troll. He's been posting in this
newsgroup
> > > since at least 1998. And there was nothing mentioned about
customer
> > > service in any of the articles listed.
>
> Too bad you dont know how to drill down.
> Sprint ranked #3

Drill down?
>
> But you'll SPIN it someother way and make me the issue.

On this subject, you do that all by yourself everytime you inject your
CS hate comments when no prior comments were made about CS ...

Bob

In article <[email protected]>,=20
[email protected] says...
> Too bad you dont know how to drill down.
> Sprint ranked #3
>=20

In *coverage*, Philly. Before "drilling down," try reading.

--=20
-+-
R=D8=DF
O/Siris
I work for SprintPCS
I *don't* speak for them.