National Access on AC Family plan

Hi,

A friend just switched to VZW and activated two new phones on an AC
Family plan. We checked the VZW web site to see what data options the
plan included, as per the discussions going on here. Sure enough,
there was mention of "National Access" among the call forwarding,
voice mail, etc. One other item was "Free Natl In Net Prim".

Three questions:
1. which of the above is the "minutes of use" billing option, and
2. does the "Free Natl In Net Prim" mean MOU only in the
Baltimore/Washington Verizon Wireless area or any Verizon Wireless
area across the country or what?, and
3. does the MOU benefit vary across time-of-day? peak vs. non-peak?

Thanks for your answers and comments. If I hadn't been reading along
here I wouldn't even have known that national access can be had for
minutes-only.
---
"As a solution, I advocate porn!"

"Dirk Diggler" <mrphallus@XR4TU.BITNET>
>
> A friend just switched to VZW and activated two new phones on an AC
> Family plan. We checked the VZW web site to see what data options the
> plan included, as per the discussions going on here. Sure enough,
> there was mention of "National Access" among the call forwarding,
> voice mail, etc. One other item was "Free Natl In Net Prim".
>
> Three questions:
> 1. which of the above is the "minutes of use" billing option, and
> 2. does the "Free Natl In Net Prim" mean MOU only in the
> Baltimore/Washington Verizon Wireless area or any Verizon Wireless
> area across the country or what?, and
> 3. does the MOU benefit vary across time-of-day? peak vs. non-peak?

National Access is the "data" 1xRTT feature and is minutes of use. Browse
for 10 minutes and its the same as making a 10 minute phone call.

Free Natl In Net Prim is the lastest name (I think) for the current
Mobile-to-Mobile
minutes (free). So its free to call from one VZW phone to another VZW phone
provided you are both in net... yada, yada,

-Quick

> > 3. does the MOU benefit vary across time-of-day? peak vs. non-peak?

oops, forgot about question #3.

Minutes Of Use is just that. Its not a "benefit". You have
a plan with allotted minutes, peak/off-peak, etc.

When you make a phone call you use minutes. The time
of day and/or the day of the week determines what "bucket"
those minutes come out of (peak, unlimited, etc.).

Data service (web browsing, etc) is billed/sold in a
variety of ways/plans. You can buy it by quantity
(bytes transfered), flat rate (fixed cost per month
and limited or unlimited use), or you can get it as
MOU. MOU simply means it comes out of your
plan the same as if you were making a phone call.

hope this makes it clear,
-Quick

In article <1080237226.305467@sj-nntpcache-5>,
"Quick" <dhorwitz@NOSPAMcisco.com> wrote:

> Free Natl In Net Prim is the lastest name (I think) for the current
> Mobile-to-Mobile
> minutes (free). So its free to call from one VZW phone to another VZW phone
> provided you are both in net... yada, yada,
>
> -Quick

I wonder... switching over to the IN Network option mentions that you
can call any Verizon customer for free.

I don't remember them mentioning whether the other Verizon customer has
to also be in the IN Network? Anyone know if it's ANY Verizon
subscriber... or ANY subscriber in the same IN Network?

Be good to know *before* the bill comes in...

Fred

--
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits."

"Dirk Diggler" <mrphallus@XR4TU.BITNET> wrote in message
news:0s5660lnc12ecoqf386aequt1ui4gulugi@4ax.com...
> Hi,
>
> A friend just switched to VZW and activated two new phones on an AC
> Family plan. We checked the VZW web site to see what data options the
> plan included, as per the discussions going on here. Sure enough,
> there was mention of "National Access" among the call forwarding,
> voice mail, etc. One other item was "Free Natl In Net Prim".
>
> Three questions:
> 1. which of the above is the "minutes of use" billing option, and
> 2. does the "Free Natl In Net Prim" mean MOU only in the
> Baltimore/Washington Verizon Wireless area or any Verizon Wireless
> area across the country or what?, and
> 3. does the MOU benefit vary across time-of-day? peak vs. non-peak?
>
> Thanks for your answers and comments. If I hadn't been reading along
> here I wouldn't even have known that national access can be had for
> minutes-only.


The "National Access" is the one you are wondering about. Essentially that
is the MOU option. The other "Free Natl In Net Prim" is voice to other
verizon users (has nothing to do with NA).

The MOU (Minutes Of Use) is a description of the effect, not an actual name.
IE the Minutes you are online (whether prime or non-prime) are charged as
Minutes of Use (one minute charged to your plan for one minute used)

"FPP" <fredp@mail.com> wrote in message
news:fredp-27CDDF.13232225032004@28-70.newscene.com...
> In article <1080237226.305467@sj-nntpcache-5>,
> "Quick" <dhorwitz@NOSPAMcisco.com> wrote:
>
> > Free Natl In Net Prim is the lastest name (I think) for the current
> > Mobile-to-Mobile
> > minutes (free). So its free to call from one VZW phone to another VZW
phone
> > provided you are both in net... yada, yada,
> >
> > -Quick
>
> I wonder... switching over to the IN Network option mentions that you
> can call any Verizon customer for free.
>
> I don't remember them mentioning whether the other Verizon customer has
> to also be in the IN Network? Anyone know if it's ANY Verizon
> subscriber... or ANY subscriber in the same IN Network?
>
> Be good to know *before* the bill comes in...
>
> Fred
>


It is free for you MAKING the call, unfortunately, the person RECEIVING the
call, may or may not be charged (EX If they are in a roaming area, they may
be able to get the call that YOU make free, but they will get charged 69
cents a minute!)

On Thu, 25 Mar 2004 09:55:33 -0800, "Quick" <dhorwitz@NOSPAMcisco.com>
wrote:

>National Access is the "data" 1xRTT feature and is minutes of use. Browse
>for 10 minutes and its the same as making a 10 minute phone call.
>
>Free Natl In Net Prim is the lastest name (I think) for the current
>Mobile-to-Mobile
>minutes (free). So its free to call from one VZW phone to another VZW phone
>provided you are both in net... yada, yada,

Thanks, the bit about mobile-to-mobile jibes with something I just
remembered him saying: the freebie is only effective on the primary
(Prim) line.
---
"As a solution, I advocate porn!"

On Thu, 25 Mar 2004 10:06:57 -0800, "Quick" <dhorwitz@NOSPAMcisco.com>
wrote:

>MOU. MOU simply means it comes out of your
>plan the same as if you were making a phone call.
>
>hope this makes it clear,

Yep, thanks!
---
"As a solution, I advocate porn!"

On Thu, 25 Mar 2004 12:26:58 -0800, "Peter Pan"
<Marcs1102NOSPAM@Hotmail.com> wrote:

>The MOU (Minutes Of Use) is a description of the effect, not an actual name.
>IE the Minutes you are online (whether prime or non-prime) are charged as
>Minutes of Use (one minute charged to your plan for one minute used)

Thanks. He's in the process of buying a mobile office kit and he'd
much rather use the 1xRTT service over Quick2Net. Now that it's just
MOU I'm sure he'll make use of it.
---
"As a solution, I advocate porn!"

In article <16m6609qptdufhbdb7vpp79ve4kcjaa7mr@4ax.com>,
Dirk Diggler <mrphallus@XR4TU.BITNET> wrote:
>On Thu, 25 Mar 2004 09:55:33 -0800, "Quick" <dhorwitz@NOSPAMcisco.com>
>wrote:
>
>>National Access is the "data" 1xRTT feature and is minutes of use. Browse
>>for 10 minutes and its the same as making a 10 minute phone call.
>>
>>Free Natl In Net Prim is the lastest name (I think) for the current
>>Mobile-to-Mobile
>>minutes (free). So its free to call from one VZW phone to another VZW phone
>>provided you are both in net... yada, yada,
>
>Thanks, the bit about mobile-to-mobile jibes with something I just
>remembered him saying: the freebie is only effective on the primary
>(Prim) line.

The best I have been able to figure it out, the algorithm for if a call
is considered M2M is:

1) Is the phone in the M2M area as defined for its rate plan? This
is any essentially VZW system in your "home" area. ("Home" is the
U.S. for America Choice, and some smaller area, such as your state,
for local plans.)

2a) If this is the primary phone, then is the other phone a VZW number?
2b) If this is not the primary phone, is the other phone in your family
share group?

If (1) and (2) both are true, the call will be M2M for you.

You can pay extra so that non-primary phones use rule 2a.

The same algorithm has to be applied *independently* to the other phone.

Essentially, *where* the *other* phone is, and what rate plan it is on,
is irrelevant to whether the the call is M2M to *you* (except for rule
2b, obviously).

"CharlesH" <hoch@exemplary.invalid> wrote:

> The best I have been able to figure it out, the algorithm for if a call
> is considered M2M is:
>
> 1) Is the phone in the M2M area as defined for its rate plan? This
> is any essentially VZW system in your "home" area. ("Home" is the
> U.S. for America Choice, and some smaller area, such as your state,
> for local plans.)
>
> 2a) If this is the primary phone, then is the other phone a VZW number?
> 2b) If this is not the primary phone, is the other phone in your family
> share group?
>
> If (1) and (2) both are true, the call will be M2M for you.
>
> You can pay extra so that non-primary phones use rule 2a.
>
> The same algorithm has to be applied *independently* to the other phone.
>
> Essentially, *where* the *other* phone is, and what rate plan it is on,
> is irrelevant to whether the the call is M2M to *you* (except for rule
> 2b, obviously).


My understanding is that if the other caller--even if he's a VZW
customer--has Caller ID blocked, then the call does *not* count for you as
an "In Network" call.

--
D.J., N8DO; FMCA 147762
davidjosborn at sbcglobal dot net

"D.J. Osborn" <davidjosborn@sbcglobally.net> wrote
>
> My understanding is that if the other caller--even if he's a VZW
> customer--has Caller ID blocked, then the call does *not* count for you as
> an "In Network" call.

This I would be very very surprised at. The switch knows
who you are regardless of caller id blocking.

-Quick

"Quick" <dhorwitz@NOSPAMcisco.com> wrote in message
news:1080267898.133140@sj-nntpcache-3...

>
> This I would be very very surprised at. The switch knows
> who you are regardless of caller id blocking.
>

I'd be just as surprised, but this, in combination to the inability to
provide incoming call detail, makes a guy wonder- is it possible that all of
the detail is not making its way into the billing software? True, the
switch does know both parties on a call, but could it be that the billing
software isn't intelligent enough (or have the functionality) to determine
more than the phone is in use when called? Could the billing software rely
on the actual CID information as the only source of identification? In this
case, that would certainly appear to be the case.

FPP <fredp@mail.com> wrote in message news:<fredp-27CDDF.13232225032004@28-70.newscene.com>...

> In article <1080237226.305467@sj-nntpcache-5>,
> "Quick" <dhorwitz@NOSPAMcisco.com> wrote:
>
> > Free Natl In Net Prim is the lastest name (I think) for the current
> > Mobile-to-Mobile
> > minutes (free). So its free to call from one VZW phone to another VZW phone
> > provided you are both in net... yada, yada,
> >
> > -Quick
>
> I wonder... switching over to the IN Network option mentions that you
> can call any Verizon customer for free.
>
> I don't remember them mentioning whether the other Verizon customer has
> to also be in the IN Network? Anyone know if it's ANY Verizon
> subscriber... or ANY subscriber in the same IN Network?
>
> Be good to know *before* the bill comes in...

I heard a radio commercial today stating that the call must be made
FROM the IN-Network coverage area. There's no mention as to how the
whereabouts of the called party factor into it.

I would love to see Verizon's requirements for qualifying a call as
"IN". They say (in various commercials) that you can call any Verizon
Wireless customer - no mention that you have to call them on their
Verizon Wireless phone though. But I'm sure they thought of this, and
it's in there somewhere.

"Scott Stephenson" <scott.stephensonson@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:9L2dnSMPNvzFCP7d4p2dnA@adelphia.com...
>
> "Quick" <dhorwitz@NOSPAMcisco.com> wrote in message
> news:1080267898.133140@sj-nntpcache-3...
>
> >
> > This I would be very very surprised at. The switch knows
> > who you are regardless of caller id blocking.
> >
>
> I'd be just as surprised, but this, in combination to the inability to
> provide incoming call detail, makes a guy wonder- is it possible that all
of
> the detail is not making its way into the billing software? True, the
> switch does know both parties on a call, but could it be that the billing
> software isn't intelligent enough (or have the functionality) to determine
> more than the phone is in use when called? Could the billing software
rely
> on the actual CID information as the only source of identification? In
this
> case, that would certainly appear to be the case.

No. It is the switch that talks (sends billing information) to the billing
software.
If the billing software can determine in-net when caller id is not blocked
then it can determine in-net when the caller id is blocked.

-Quick