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Topic: Who is you cell phone service provider?

Jennifer Pan
THE JEN!

Posts: 1219
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 04-26-2005 02:17 AM

Count me in on that band wagon. Been cell phone free for months and months, and loving every minute of it.

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Leo Enticknap
Film God

Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 04-26-2005 03:12 AM

Add me to the list of those who've ditched their brainfryers! I eventually got so sick of getting work calls at night and weekends, most of which could easily have waited, that I told work that I'd got rid of the thing and asked them to remove its number from their contact list. This led to a bit of friction, in response to which I pointed out that there was nothing in my contract on the matter but that if work wanted to supply me with a brainfryer I'd be happy to keep it switched on 9-5 Mondays to Fridays.

In fact I didn't totally get rid of it - I changed it to a 'pay as you go' contract (thereby changing the 'phone number in the same transaction) and keep it in the car in case of breakdowns. My 48-mile journey to and from work does pass through areas where it could easily be a 3-5 mile walk to raise help, so I guess this makes sense, and it's costing me virtually nothing. I don't think I've switched the thing on in over a month.

Interesting - when I first got a mobile in 1996, it was very unusual to have one, and most people who did had it mainly for work reasons (me included). Now they reckon that around 80% of the population has one, or around 95% of under 50s. Personally I can't stand the things and am very happy to be one of the select few!

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Monte L Fullmer
Film God

Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 04-26-2005 04:19 AM

...even though I play with NexTEL (due to it being a business fone...) I'm the same way: "I hate the damned thing!!"

Wife always reminds me, when I head off to filmland, if I have my phone, and half of the time it's still in the charger where I want to forget it most of the time when I head out the door.

I agree [Roll Eyes]

you see people with them damned things GLUED to the side of their head, not paying attention to the rest of the world. And on top of it: can't live without it for a second.

Kinda sad when some of man's technologies can turn man into slaves with their own creations. Thus, having no self-control of themselves and can't break away from it - kinda like a bad drug habit.

-Monte

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Mark Lensenmayer
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1605
From: Upper Arlington, OH
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 04-26-2005 07:18 AM

My wife and I have cell phones from Sprint that have been very reliable. We will probably be converting to Verizon now that our contract has expired, because Sprint has made it very confusing to get simple, new phones.

We don't need cameras and games...we just want to communicate!

The phones became essential during the final illness of my wife's father. We were able to be contacted immediately when there were medical emergencies, as neither of us are close to phones during the day. It has also been very handy to deal with service people who need to call during the day.

Our plan is $65 per month for 500 minutes shared. All companies in this area have that as an almost standard price. We get free sprint-to-sprint and after 9:00 and weekends. We have never used more than 200 daytime minutes.

The companies do not seem to offer plans for simple phone service. The Sprint store almost insisted that we get camera phones, which had a $15 per month additional fee that we told them over and over we did not want or need! We quickly left there and got much better information from Verizon. Sprint just does not seem to want our business.

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 04-26-2005 08:30 AM

Rest assured, you can get Sprint phones without cameras. Try looking at the Sanyo line of Sprint phones...both my wife and my boss just recently purchased new non-camera phones.

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Mark Lensenmayer
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1605
From: Upper Arlington, OH
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 04-26-2005 10:15 AM

Thanks, Steve, I thought they MUST have a non-camera phone. But the store I was in practically refused to show them to us, pressing over and over about the camera phones. It was obvious they were not paying any attention to us. We got out of their as fast as we could.

Technically, the Sprint service was always good, but this customer service problem soured us. You would think they would like to hold on to a paying customer.

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William T. Parr
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 823
From: Cedar Park, TX
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 04-26-2005 11:01 AM

quote: Mark Lensenmayer
But the store I was in practically refused to show them to us, pressing over and over about the camera phones. It was obvious they were not paying any attention to us.

Thats because they get special bonuses and incentives to push those particular products and your right there more concerned about making $$$$ then giving you want you want.Check out the Sprint online store for thier complete selection. It is totally hassle free.

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Bill Gabel
Film God

Posts: 3873
From: Technicolor / Postworks NY, USA
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 04-26-2005 11:04 AM

No problems or complaints with T-Mobile here in NYC or when I'm in Southern California. I've been with them since Voice Stream days, 5 years.

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David Stambaugh
Film God

Posts: 4021
From: Eugene, Oregon
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 04-26-2005 11:53 AM

Nobody needs to be a slave to their cell phone unless they choose to. Afraid of getting too many irrelevant incoming calls? Turn the phone off! And be selective on who you give out your number to.

I'm technically on call 24/7 but I make it clear that I turn off my cell phone between about 9PM and 7AM. I also tell people they better have a DAMN good reason for calling me about work-related stuff. And I only give my number out to a select group of people outside of work. Problem solved.

Just because 90% of cell phone users are idiots doesn't make me one too. [Razz]

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Jim Ziegler
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 753
From: West Hollywood, CA
Registered: Jul 99

posted 04-26-2005 01:38 PM

I have been with t-mobile (and its predecessors Voicestream and Arial) for about 9 years now.. They are ok and have resolved most issues.

Explain to me why on itunes I can download an entire song for .99 and use it on 5 different devices, as well as burn it to a CD forever, but with a cell phone you have to pay 2.99 for a 15 second snip of a song for a ringtone and, when you switch phones, you lose the ringtone?

Text messages are useful at times. However, I rarely type them in on the phone, rather, I use AIM, which allows you to send IMs to cell phones.

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Frank Dubrois
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 896
From: Cleveland, OH
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 04-26-2005 01:49 PM

I had Sprint....HAD Sprint. Nothing but billing issues and dropped calls. When a problem arrose, you can expect a 20 min MINIMUM phone call, and then, it usually has to be from a land line. I bought it in case I had car trouble, nothing else. Now I have OnStar...its cheaper, its convienient, I never forget it at home, and never EVER rings.

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 04-26-2005 02:38 PM

Sometime last year, Sprint got good for us...the coverage finally got to the point of few dropped calls. My wife and I now have a "shared" phone plan with unlimited PCS to PCS calls and no roaming charges (They call it free and clear)...that has come in handy on road trips or into WV where the moutains seem to put a hurting on all digital service. My boss had Voicestream...and I had service the whole time on our last road trip...he did not have it hardly any of the time...he now has Sprint...with no camera.

Just tell the sales person, you work in a high-security area where cameras of all types are prohibited (including in the cell phone) and they should show you what is available that is just a phone...always works for me (who can't always bring a camera to all sites).

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 04-26-2005 03:26 PM

At ShoWest and ShowEast, cameras of any kind (including in cell phones) were not allowed in the theatres for screenings.

Kodak offers a variety of camera phone services:

Kodak Mobile Services

Cell Phone Printing

quote:
Get prints instantly with the KODAK Picture Maker from your wireless device (Camera phones, PDAs, etc.)
First, select your favorite images in your camera phone. Next, beam them to the KODAK Picture Maker. In just a few seconds, you'll have real KODAK prints from your camera phone. Available at select retailers.

Cell Phone Picture Tips

quote:
Whether you're a novice or a pro with your camera phone, we've got some tips that will help you take better pictures. Camera phones don't capture enough detail to make high-quality prints, but they're great for spontaneous pictures and sharing through e-mail or the Internet. So grab your camera phone and start experimenting.

Take lots of pictures
Move in close
Shoot at eye level
Watch the light
Use a plain background
Try different angles
Set resolution to high
Discover your camera phone's capabilities
Be courteous
Don't forget your regular camera
Store and share pictures

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Bruce Hansen
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 847
From: Stone Mountain, GA, USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 04-26-2005 06:26 PM

Many years ago, before hand held cell phones, I got one of the old "bag" phones with Bell South (now Cingular). I wanted to be able to have a phone at my boat dock on Lake Lanier (I like to spend time up there), and since I have my own business, it was nice to have a phone in my car. I got the lowest price plan, because I am not a "gabber". I was with Cingular for years, untill they started adding new BS monthly charges about every two months. I got feed up and left them. I went with T Mobile. Their coverage is just about as good as everyone elses, but they don't have a lot of "extra" charges. I only have my phone on when I'm out. I do not leave it on at home. I only give out the number to people who I want to call me, and I don't mind turning it off if I don't want any calls.

Many times I have passed someone on the road that was going rather slowly, only to look over and see them gabbing on the phone. When you're on the road, get off the phone, and DRIVE.

To anyone spending more than $50 per month on a cell phone, stop gabbing on the phone, and get a life! How many people spend $100 or even $200 a month on a cell phone, and then whine about not having any money?

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-26-2005 07:20 PM

quote:
Explain to me why on itunes I can download an entire song for .99 .... but with a cell phone you have to pay 2.99 for a 15 second snip of a song for a ringtone....

I don't think there's a way to put this nicely, but the cell phone people know that if you don't realize that those musical ringtones are obnoxious, annoying and completely unnecessary, then you certainly won't care about paying 3 bucks for one.

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