questions about switching to Verizon

I am in NYC, and travel occasionally, mostly in the NE. I currently have
ATTWS, with a "no longer available" plan which covers the NE, Virginia to
the Canadian border ("no roaming", TDMA and Analog). While this is usually
what I need, if I travel south of Va, then I am stuck with significant
roaming charges. Thus, I am interested in switching to Verizon for a better
plan -- the 400 minute Amer. Choice plan, which, if I understand it
correctly, covers me in all my ATT areas, *and* gives me no roaming
nationally.

I called Verizon, and was told this is no problem. It all sounded pretty
good to me. I also looked at plans and phones on the website. Then I went
to a local Verizon store to look at phones. (I assume it was a company
store, as Verizon phones and brochures were all they had) -- When I told
the salesman I wanted to see flip phones that handled CDMA and Analog, he
proceeded to explain that they didn't have any --- because Verizon is
"phasing out analog". grrrrrrrr. I told him this was of no value to
me. I want phone service -- without obnoxious coverage maps where I have
to figure out where I will actually be able to use my service. He seemed
quite certain of his "forget about analog, it's going away, let's look at a
coverage map to see if you can talk where you go" sales approach. I left..

Please, did I just meet an idiot salesman? Or is Verizon committed to
selling swiss cheese coverage? (if that is the case, then Cingular/ATT would
seem a better choice for me with a GAIT phone)

Second question -- if I do go with Verizon, I would ideally want a reliable
flip phone with long battery life, good fidelity, speaker phone (not
absolutely necessary, but I would like it if possible). Recommendations
will be appreciated.

TIA
albert

---

› See More: questions about switching to Verizon

On Wed, 18 Feb 2004 22:44:02 GMT, albert wrote:

> When I told
> the salesman I wanted to see flip phones that handled CDMA and Analog, he
> proceeded to explain that they didn't have any --- because Verizon is
> "phasing out analog".
>
> Please, did I just meet an idiot salesman?

Yes, you got an idiot! VZ currently sells 11 tri-mode phones (CDMA/Analog)
since they are required for people using their National Single Rate plans.

Analog will be around for awhile.

http://www.phonescoop.com/carriers/carrier.php?c=2

"albert" <albert.h@nospam.net> wrote:

>Second question -- if I do go with Verizon, I would ideally want a reliable
>flip phone with long battery life, good fidelity, speaker phone (not
>absolutely necessary, but I would like it if possible). Recommendations
>will be appreciated.

Others have already indicated that you got an idiot salesman and that,
if fact there are plenty of multi-mode phones with analog coverage. I
wanted to point out to you that LG phones are very popular, but I
wanted to warn you that they have a MISERABLE battery life! I just got
two VX4400B, which is THE most popular Verizon phone, as far as I
know. And I have to charge my battery every other day with very few
calls!

My AT&T TDMA Nokia 8265 was able to stand buy for an entire week and
had a smaller battery than the LG. The problem with most Verizon
phones is that they have these terrible power-hogging color TFT
screens that are targeted at teenagers. A professional who needs a
reliable phone, does not typically need a color screen, sacrificing
battery life.

>did I just meet an idiot salesman?

idiot? no, more like a con man. analog will be around for at least a few
more years.

rbhm

Traveling Man, Andrew W, and Rbh M.,

Thanks for your comments and good advice. I shall continue my looking
around, and be much better informed in the process......

albert


"albert" <albert.h@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:SURYb.16454$aH3.530288@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I am in NYC, and travel occasionally, mostly in the NE. I currently have
> ATTWS, with a "no longer available" plan which covers the NE, Virginia to

On Wed, 18 Feb 2004 22:44:02 GMT, "albert" <albert.h@nospam.net> said
in alt.cellular.verizon:

>Second question -- if I do go with Verizon, I would ideally want a reliable
>flip phone with long battery life, good fidelity, speaker phone (not
>absolutely necessary, but I would like it if possible). Recommendations
>will be appreciated.

If you aren't looking for a free or cheap phone, see if someone at the
store you go to (make sure the store is a Verizon company store, not
an affiliate store) can get you a V60S. Great speaker phone, good
battery life (I get about a 3-4 days on a charge), good receiver. No
color, not many games available - just a cellular telephone.

There are a few Verizon company stores in Manhattan - just look in the
phone book.

As far as coverage goes, All I can tell you about is from LI to North
Carolina, and I almost always have solid coverage. Into NE you'll
have to check with someone else, although I can use some southern CT
cells from the north shore.
--
"Christians, it is needless to say, utterly detest each other. They slander each
other constantly with the vilest forms of abuse and cannot come to any sort of
agreement in their teachings. Each sect brands its own, fills the head of its own
with deceitful nonsense, and makes perfect little pigs of those it wins over to its
side."
- Celsus On the True Doctrine, translated by R. Joseph Hoffman, Oxford University Press, 1987
(random sig, produced by SigChanger)
rukbat at verizon dot net

How many minutes are you planning on using?
Are you planning on using a bunch of weekend or night minutes?
You might want to get the Single Rate plan, if you don't plan on using a
bunch of weekend or night minutes, just to make sure that you don't stray
off into a roaming area.

America's Choice ( AC ) will give you roaming in certain areas so, don't
assume that you are roam free with an AC plan.
Look at the coverage maps between the SR and AC plans and you will see what
I am talking about.

Just FYI...... ;-)

Scotty



"albert" <albert.h@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:SURYb.16454$aH3.530288@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I am in NYC, and travel occasionally, mostly in the NE. I currently have
> ATTWS, with a "no longer available" plan which covers the NE, Virginia to
> the Canadian border ("no roaming", TDMA and Analog). While this is
usually
> what I need, if I travel south of Va, then I am stuck with significant
> roaming charges. Thus, I am interested in switching to Verizon for a
better
> plan -- the 400 minute Amer. Choice plan, which, if I understand it
> correctly, covers me in all my ATT areas, *and* gives me no roaming
> nationally.
>
> I called Verizon, and was told this is no problem. It all sounded pretty
> good to me. I also looked at plans and phones on the website. Then I
went
> to a local Verizon store to look at phones. (I assume it was a company
> store, as Verizon phones and brochures were all they had) -- When I told
> the salesman I wanted to see flip phones that handled CDMA and Analog, he
> proceeded to explain that they didn't have any --- because Verizon is
> "phasing out analog". grrrrrrrr. I told him this was of no value to
> me. I want phone service -- without obnoxious coverage maps where I have
> to figure out where I will actually be able to use my service. He seemed
> quite certain of his "forget about analog, it's going away, let's look at
a
> coverage map to see if you can talk where you go" sales approach. I
left..
>
> Please, did I just meet an idiot salesman? Or is Verizon committed to
> selling swiss cheese coverage? (if that is the case, then Cingular/ATT
would
> seem a better choice for me with a GAIT phone)
>
> Second question -- if I do go with Verizon, I would ideally want a
reliable
> flip phone with long battery life, good fidelity, speaker phone (not
> absolutely necessary, but I would like it if possible). Recommendations
> will be appreciated.
>
> TIA
> albert
>

On Wed, 18 Feb 2004 19:24:03 -0500, Andrew White
<nospamers@allowed.at.all.net> chose to add this to the great equation of
life, the universe, and everything:

>"albert" <albert.h@nospam.net> wrote:
>
>>Second question -- if I do go with Verizon, I would ideally want a reliable
>>flip phone with long battery life, good fidelity, speaker phone (not
>>absolutely necessary, but I would like it if possible). Recommendations
>>will be appreciated.
>
>Others have already indicated that you got an idiot salesman and that,
>if fact there are plenty of multi-mode phones with analog coverage. I
>wanted to point out to you that LG phones are very popular, but I
>wanted to warn you that they have a MISERABLE battery life! I just got
>two VX4400B, which is THE most popular Verizon phone, as far as I
>know. And I have to charge my battery every other day with very few
>calls!
>
>My AT&T TDMA Nokia 8265 was able to stand buy for an entire week and
>had a smaller battery than the LG. The problem with most Verizon
>phones is that they have these terrible power-hogging color TFT
>screens that are targeted at teenagers. A professional who needs a
>reliable phone, does not typically need a color screen, sacrificing
>battery life.

Go to malcomwireless.com and get the extended battery. It's the oem
battery, in the VZW package, for ~1/2 the price. I seem to be getting at
least a week out of mine with maybe one call a day plus a lengthy data call
once during the week and flipping it open to check something or other
several times during the day.

--
David Streeter, "an internet god" -- Dave Barry
http://home.att.net/~dwstreeter
Remove the naughty bit from my address to reply
Expect a train on ANY track at ANY time.
"If you look like your passport photo, in all probability you need the
journey." - Earl Wilson

David S <dwstreeter@spamisnaughty.att.net> wrote:

>On Wed, 18 Feb 2004 19:24:03 -0500, Andrew White
><nospamers@allowed.at.all.net> chose to add this to the great equation of
>life, the universe, and everything:
>
>>"albert" <albert.h@nospam.net> wrote:
>>
>>>Second question -- if I do go with Verizon, I would ideally want a reliable
>>>flip phone with long battery life, good fidelity, speaker phone (not
>>>absolutely necessary, but I would like it if possible). Recommendations
>>>will be appreciated.
>>
>>Others have already indicated that you got an idiot salesman and that,
>>if fact there are plenty of multi-mode phones with analog coverage. I
>>wanted to point out to you that LG phones are very popular, but I
>>wanted to warn you that they have a MISERABLE battery life! I just got
>>two VX4400B, which is THE most popular Verizon phone, as far as I
>>know. And I have to charge my battery every other day with very few
>>calls!
>>
>>My AT&T TDMA Nokia 8265 was able to stand buy for an entire week and
>>had a smaller battery than the LG. The problem with most Verizon
>>phones is that they have these terrible power-hogging color TFT
>>screens that are targeted at teenagers. A professional who needs a
>>reliable phone, does not typically need a color screen, sacrificing
>>battery life.
>
>Go to malcomwireless.com and get the extended battery. It's the oem
>battery, in the VZW package, for ~1/2 the price. I seem to be getting at
>least a week out of mine with maybe one call a day plus a lengthy data call
>once during the week and flipping it open to check something or other
>several times during the day.

Thanks for the suggestion. Would it still fit into the standard
plastic holster that comes with the phone, once I put in the extended
battery?

On Fri, 20 Feb 2004 21:46:55 -0500, Andrew White
<nospamers@allowed.at.all.net> chose to add this to the great equation of
life, the universe, and everything:

>>Go to malcomwireless.com and get the extended battery. It's the oem
>>battery, in the VZW package, for ~1/2 the price. I seem to be getting at
>>least a week out of mine with maybe one call a day plus a lengthy data call
>>once during the week and flipping it open to check something or other
>>several times during the day.
>
>Thanks for the suggestion. Would it still fit into the standard
>plastic holster that comes with the phone, once I put in the extended
>battery?

Yes. If you look at the holster, it has a rectangular indentation that fits
the extended battery. So does the desktop charger. From what I've heard,
aftermarket extended batteries are a different shape and don't fit this
rectangle.

--
David Streeter, "an internet god" -- Dave Barry
http://home.att.net/~dwstreeter
Remove the naughty bit from my address to reply
Expect a train on ANY track at ANY time.
"California has a unique system of government, known technically as the
'Any Random Loon Can Put Any Random Thing On the Ballot If Enough Random
Loons Agree' system." - Dave Barry