Samsung VI660

Alrighty folks, it's about time to dump Verizon. Just cancelled my one line
whose contract was up on Friday; the main line is up in about six weeks.

I was going to get a video phone, but tight finances make that, well, not
an option, and I was told they only take fifteen seconds of video anyhow. So
I'll wait until I have some money to buy a dedicated digital video camera - I
already have a specific model in mind, and there is a Fry's in Anaheim.

I stopped in at Rat Shack today, and looked at what was available. I think
I've decided on the VI-660, which is a basic Vision-capable, SMS-capable
phone with no camera. I like the Vision and SMS capabilities (which are
a must for me!) but what I like best is that this phone has "voice digit"
dialing - you can dial by saying the numbers, meaning the number you're
calling doesn't have to have a voice entry in your phone book. That pretty
much seals the deal for me, as it means I can go completely handsfree when
I call from the road. (Except to hang up the phone, but I generally can
do that without even looking at the phone once I've carried it for a few
weeks.)

The phone is $49.99 after a $150 rebate if I buy directly from Sprint.
It may be $10 or $20 less if I buy it from Rat Shack, but I don't know that
I want to do Rat Shack.

Anyhow, I have some questions.

1. How does this phone perform? I know Sanyos are generally regarded to
be the best Sprint phones in terms of RF and call quality, but I can't
afford a Sanyo right now.

2. The gentleman at Rat Shack said that I couldn't port my number to an
existing line, that I'd have to port it to a new line - I can't port it
immediately, as the number I want to port is on my main Verizon line whose
contract isn't up until 8/14 (and I do not want to wait until then to switch,
since I have significant problems with Verizon's network in one or two places
where I spend tons of time). I'm sure he's misinformed. I just want to confirm
that he's misinformed.

3. The $150 instant rebate applies to a new line of service for an
existing customer, right? I'm not a new customer. Sarah's used Sprint
since the end of '01. I'm deviating from my normal policy here - I generally
never do two-year contracts, but I don't foresee having any trouble with the
service.

4. I can activate the second line separately, can't I? Don't want to
put it on a share plan. Wifey has the perfect plan for her, and it's
not offered anymore, and I don't want to screw her up.

Rob may have already answered a couple of these questions but I just
want to confirm them again. On #2, I'll give Radio Shack the benefit of the
doubt and assume they weren't intentionally telling me what they told me to
sell an additional line. I'm thinking they probably don't encounter situations
like mine often, where a customer activates first and ports later.

Thanks. I hope there are a few 660 users out there that can offer some
good opinions.

--
JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, http://JustThe.net/
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / [email protected]
PGP Key available from your friendly local key server (0xE3AE35ED)
Apple Valley, California Nothing scares me anymore. I have three kids.

---

› See More: Samsung VI660

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]=20
says...
>=20
> 2. The gentleman at Rat Shack said that I couldn't port my number to an
> existing line, that I'd have to port it to a new line - I can't port it
> immediately, as the number I want to port is on my main Verizon line whos=
e
> contract isn't up until 8/14 (and I do not want to wait until then to swi=
tch,
> since I have significant problems with Verizon's network in one or two pl=
aces
> where I spend tons of time). I'm sure he's misinformed. I just want to co=
nfirm
> that he's misinformed.
>=20

There's been a HUGE run of this stuff. That is absolutely WRONG. =20
I've had to deal with three accounts in the past week, and I can't=20
tell where this disinformation is coming from. In the very same=20
screen we use to do "simple" phone number swaps, there is a link to a=20
tool called a "Pre-Port Validator." We click on that, put in the=20
number being ported in, and, once the validator confirms it can be=20
simply added in, we click on "OK". Then we go through all the=20
information about the number being ported in. And form there it's a=20
number swap with just the wait time for the actual port-in to=20
complete.

Now, that's in Customer Care. I don't know how the retail screens=20
look.

Steve, can you do me a favor and email me the store, as precisely as=20
you can, that told you this? Based on what I've seen come in during=20
the past week or so, combined with what you're experiencing, there's=20
a major break in communications going on. Maybe the 3rd party retail=20
systems don't have those functions. I don't know, but I intend to=20
find out.

--=20
R=D8=DF
O/Siris
I work for Sprint PCS
I *don't* speak for them

I hope you don't mind that I answered #2 by itself. That looks like=20
a doozy of a problem, as widespread as it appears to be. So I wanted=20
to give it special attention.

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]=20
says...
>=20
> 3. The $150 instant rebate applies to a new line of service for an=20
> existing customer, right? I'm not a new customer. Sarah's used Sprint
> since the end of '01. I'm deviating from my normal policy here - I genera=
lly
> never do two-year contracts, but I don't foresee having any trouble with =
the
> service.

A new line of service, absolutely. Customer status is irrelevant. =20
If it's a new line, it gets to play like a new customer. Same=20
instant rebate offers.

>=20
> 4. I can activate the second line separately, can't I? Don't want to=20
> put it on a share plan. Wifey has the perfect plan for her, and it's
> not offered anymore, and I don't want to screw her up.

Absolutely. There is no requirement whatsoever to share plans. For=20
a given number of minutes, it's cheaper, certainly. But, for=20
customers with our top credit, they can have up to ten lines, each=20
one running its own minute plans, add-on options, additional=20
services, and so on. They all show up on the same bill, but they=20
process independently.

>=20
> Rob may have already answered a couple of these questions but I just
> want to confirm them again. On #2, I'll give Radio Shack the benefit of t=
he
> doubt and assume they weren't intentionally telling me what they told me =
to
> sell an additional line. I'm thinking they probably don't encounter situa=
tions
> like mine often, where a customer activates first and ports later.

I suspect there's something a bit more to this, Steve, but I'll keep=20
my fingers crossed that you're right.

>=20
> Thanks. I hope there are a few 660 users out there that can offer some
> good opinions.
>=20

Callers in to me seem to like it. And I'm not hearing of many that=20
say they're having problems with it. Realize it's an entry-level=20
Vision flip phone, and I think you'll be fine. Hopefully, someone=20
who actually owns it will give you more.


--=20
R=D8=DF
O/Siris
I work for Sprint PCS
I *don't* speak for them

O/Siris <0siris@spr?ntpcs.com> wrote:

> Steve, can you do me a favor and email me the store, as precisely as
> you can, that told you this? Based on what I've seen come in during
> the past week or so, combined with what you're experiencing, there's
> a major break in communications going on. Maybe the 3rd party retail
> systems don't have those functions. I don't know, but I intend to
> find out.

You have mail!

--
JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, http://JustThe.net/
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / [email protected]
PGP Key available from your friendly local key server (0xE3AE35ED)
Apple Valley, California Nothing scares me anymore. I have three kids.

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]=20
says...
> O/Siris <0siris@spr?ntpcs.com> wrote:
> =20
> > Steve, can you do me a favor and email me the store, as precisely as=20
> > you can, that told you this? Based on what I've seen come in during=20
> > the past week or so, combined with what you're experiencing, there's=20
> > a major break in communications going on. Maybe the 3rd party retail=
=20
> > systems don't have those functions. I don't know, but I intend to=20
> > find out.
>=20
> You have mail!=20
>=20
>=20

Thanks, Steve. Got it. FWIW, I don't think it's Radio Shack's=20
problem this time. I've seen a spate of port-in calls where a newly=20
existing line was expired, and then another new one created to=20
support a port-in. Maybe the system we give them isn't supporting=20
phone number swaps with phone numbers being ported in. Whatever the=20
problem, we need to fix it.

--=20
R=D8=DF
O/Siris
I work for Sprint PCS
I *don't* speak for them