Well, I have put it off as long as possible and am currently researching a good cell phone and service. I know little about whats out there and would appreciate any advice from you cell phone "power users". What I am interested in is a no frills reliable phone and service. I'm not a phone talker at all so its just something I would use to touch base with people. I purchased a Motorola Star tac 3000 on the GTE plan for a 30 day trial, $25 a month with 100 minutes allowed. It is not digital. Can I do better?
What is a good Cell phone, Suggestions?
- Thread starter Zensho
- Start date
Jeff Thomas
New member
This will be an interesting thread. 
I'm hardly a guru here. But, I did get a Samsung digital, and I'm not at all convinced that digital is truly better than analog. The only advice I'll give is to shop around, from time to time - this market continues to change rapidly in most areas.
I have learned how to make money in the cell phone business:
1. Make sure your customers have lots of dropped calls (apparently a given with today's technology). They'll need to make 2 or 3 calls for every one they want to complete, and they'll never get all the credits they deserve.
2. Promise them 100 minutes for $25, or 400 minutes for $40. It doesn't matter. Their bill will never be anywhere near $25 or $40 anyway, once you add in taxes, roaming charges, information charges and the staff's wine list for the holiday party.
3. Make the bills as complicated as possible, and offer an 800 number for customer service. Make sure you understaff your 800 number, not only saving money, but also weeding out those pesky customers that keep expecting their bill to make sense.
Cell phones today remind me of 8-track tapes in the 70's. Marginally useful.
Sign me as 'Big Fan of Cell Phones in Phoenix'.
I'm hardly a guru here. But, I did get a Samsung digital, and I'm not at all convinced that digital is truly better than analog. The only advice I'll give is to shop around, from time to time - this market continues to change rapidly in most areas.
I have learned how to make money in the cell phone business:
1. Make sure your customers have lots of dropped calls (apparently a given with today's technology). They'll need to make 2 or 3 calls for every one they want to complete, and they'll never get all the credits they deserve.
2. Promise them 100 minutes for $25, or 400 minutes for $40. It doesn't matter. Their bill will never be anywhere near $25 or $40 anyway, once you add in taxes, roaming charges, information charges and the staff's wine list for the holiday party.
3. Make the bills as complicated as possible, and offer an 800 number for customer service. Make sure you understaff your 800 number, not only saving money, but also weeding out those pesky customers that keep expecting their bill to make sense.
Cell phones today remind me of 8-track tapes in the 70's. Marginally useful.
Sign me as 'Big Fan of Cell Phones in Phoenix'.
Dennis Olson
New member
If you travel, SERIOUSLY consider AT&T's "digital one-rate". No roaming/long distance in all 50 states, 500 mins (minimum) per month @ $90/mo. And, no matter WHAT Sprint says, AT&T offers MUCH better coverage nationally. Trust me....
One word of warning about the "digital" debate. An ANALOG phone can be used on many different serive providers. But a digital is LOCKED IN to that specific provier. Period. The freqs and chips used by the phones are proprietary, and CANNOT be altered. This is why the phones are cheap.
Assume the phone is free (even if you gotta pay $100 for it). What you are buying is the SERVICE PROVIDER. Do not forget that.
[This message has been edited by Dennis Olson (edited March 12, 2000).]
One word of warning about the "digital" debate. An ANALOG phone can be used on many different serive providers. But a digital is LOCKED IN to that specific provier. Period. The freqs and chips used by the phones are proprietary, and CANNOT be altered. This is why the phones are cheap.
Assume the phone is free (even if you gotta pay $100 for it). What you are buying is the SERVICE PROVIDER. Do not forget that.
[This message has been edited by Dennis Olson (edited March 12, 2000).]
AT&T gave $3,000,000 to establish a gun control outfit "for the children" run by HCI personnel.
It gave me GREAT pleasure to cancel my AT&T long distance and two cell phone accounts and tell them in GREAT detail (calm, polite, but firm) that after all these years they lost my current and future business (some $3600/year) PLUS the business from my two daughters, their families, and THEIR businesses because of the AT&T assault on our Constitution and the Right to Keep and Bear arms.
Nearly a month later, when I called back to confirm the cancellation of all this business, the AT&T rep who spoke to me confirmed my answer had been forwarded to "the Regional Manager and beyond". Then he said he would tell his brother about AT&T's donation against gun owners. (His brother owns a gun shop!
)
Dennis: "What you are buying is the SERVICE PROVIDER. Do not forget that."
100% true. And what they donate money to is against RKBA. Do not forget that either.
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Either you believe in the Second Amendment or you don't.
Stick it to 'em! RKBA!
It gave me GREAT pleasure to cancel my AT&T long distance and two cell phone accounts and tell them in GREAT detail (calm, polite, but firm) that after all these years they lost my current and future business (some $3600/year) PLUS the business from my two daughters, their families, and THEIR businesses because of the AT&T assault on our Constitution and the Right to Keep and Bear arms.
Nearly a month later, when I called back to confirm the cancellation of all this business, the AT&T rep who spoke to me confirmed my answer had been forwarded to "the Regional Manager and beyond". Then he said he would tell his brother about AT&T's donation against gun owners. (His brother owns a gun shop!
)Dennis: "What you are buying is the SERVICE PROVIDER. Do not forget that."
100% true. And what they donate money to is against RKBA. Do not forget that either.
------------------
Either you believe in the Second Amendment or you don't.
Stick it to 'em! RKBA!
Gunslinger
Moderator
I don't have nor have I ever had a cell phone. However I'm glad I read this thread. Thanks Dennis, I wasn't aware of that about AT&T. Guess what I'll be doing tomorrow? Good bye, AT&T!
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Gunslinger
We live in a time in which attitudes and deeds once respected as courageous and honorable are now scorned as being antiquated and subversive.
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Gunslinger
We live in a time in which attitudes and deeds once respected as courageous and honorable are now scorned as being antiquated and subversive.
Blue Heeler
Moderator
The only good cell phone is a dead one.
go with AT&T's Digital One Rate and a Nokia 6190. I love the phone due to it features:
Lightweight
I get up to 7 hours talk time
A little over 2 weeks standby
Calendar
Calculator
Currency Converter
One touch dialing
etc etc etc etc
Just remember, DON'T TALK AND DRIVE!
have a nice day.
Lightweight
I get up to 7 hours talk time
A little over 2 weeks standby
Calendar
Calculator
Currency Converter
One touch dialing
etc etc etc etc
Just remember, DON'T TALK AND DRIVE!
have a nice day.
digital=bad
analog=good
I talk to people all day long on digital phones. They all sound like the voice signal doesn't quite get converted back from digital to analog when they reach your ear.
Also, it seems that many of them are not full duplex. Full duplex is like your regular land line phone: you and the other person can both talk at the same time and both be heard. With some digital phones, it seems that only one person can talk at a time.
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Help! Help! I'm being repressed!
analog=good
I talk to people all day long on digital phones. They all sound like the voice signal doesn't quite get converted back from digital to analog when they reach your ear.
Also, it seems that many of them are not full duplex. Full duplex is like your regular land line phone: you and the other person can both talk at the same time and both be heard. With some digital phones, it seems that only one person can talk at a time.
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Help! Help! I'm being repressed!
Cell phones. Hmph. Actually, I have nothing against the devices themselves, just the people who go into a manner impaired cone of social awareness detached bliss while using the things.
Be that as it may... mine's a Nokia 5160 with service provided by Cellular One (this is in the CA Bay Area). We got it because my wife was tired of worrying when: A) I was late and B) She heard on the radio that there was an accident on 680 while I was homeward bound.
I've had it since last December and the one time I have used it since then it worked fine :
"Hi, honey. Yeah, I'm in the truck. Somebody screwed the pooch on 680, so I'm gonna be late."
The Nokia is a nice little device. It's compact, fits my hand well and is easily concealable. Hicap batteries are available and easily swapped even during stressful 'late for dinner' call scenarios.
I pay ~$20.00 a month.
Cliff
Be that as it may... mine's a Nokia 5160 with service provided by Cellular One (this is in the CA Bay Area). We got it because my wife was tired of worrying when: A) I was late and B) She heard on the radio that there was an accident on 680 while I was homeward bound.
I've had it since last December and the one time I have used it since then it worked fine :
"Hi, honey. Yeah, I'm in the truck. Somebody screwed the pooch on 680, so I'm gonna be late."
The Nokia is a nice little device. It's compact, fits my hand well and is easily concealable. Hicap batteries are available and easily swapped even during stressful 'late for dinner' call scenarios.
I pay ~$20.00 a month.
Cliff
There may be good reasons to avoid Motorola phones, on the grounds of poor durability. Two of my friends with Motorola StarTacs traded them in for Qualcomm phones after their StarTacs died.
I used to have a Qualcomm QCP820 but then I traded up to a dual-mode StarTac. So far, so good.
Justin
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Justin T. Huang, Esq.
late of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
I used to have a Qualcomm QCP820 but then I traded up to a dual-mode StarTac. So far, so good.
Justin
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Justin T. Huang, Esq.
late of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Jeff Thomas
New member
Another thought - does Marathon provide cell phone service? They are a big supporter of the RKBA, but I didn't think they were in the cellular market ...
I've tried to get my long distance carrier changed to Marathon and I'm having the Dickens of a time. Last word is "We have to have the "PIC" number (... some four digit number) in order to make the change for you sir."
I found out about the AT&T assault on RKBA at A Jewish Dude With A Conservative Attitude. Great site. Staunch defender of RKBA.
I found out about the AT&T assault on RKBA at A Jewish Dude With A Conservative Attitude. Great site. Staunch defender of RKBA.
Georgia Boy
Inactive
Ok, I sell wireless phones, and as far as rates and as far as the service and rates go, that is completely regional. As far as equipment goes, stay away from Motorola, phones, Startacs are overpriced and are a real POS, battery life is terrible. Nokia makes the best phones. The 5100 series is the most common and easy to use, the 6100 series phones have a few more bells and whistles than the 5100 series phones, and to the casual user, the extra cost isnt justified. I use in excess of 3000 minutes a month, and I have a Nokia 5190. Now the choice between digital and analog is easy, go digtal, it will be cheaper, you will get much longer battery life, you will get a clear call as long as you have a signal. You will also be aforded the possibility of additional features not available with analog such as caller ID, call waiting, voice mail, etc... With an analog phone, call clarity is directly depndent on signal strength. Now once you get into digital phones, there is a digital hierarchy, at the top of the list is GSM (Global Service for Mobal Communications), followed by TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access), followed by CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access). First of all, do your homework in your area and find out rates and lengths of contracts if they are required at all. You will also want to look at your coverage area and ask about roaming charges. Don't be fooled by getting a free phone being a better deal, The more willing they are to give you a free phone, the more likely you are to get screwed, so be careful. I hope this helps.
-Georgia Boy
-Georgia Boy
I take it you don't need a companion phone. The best route in my rural area is to go digital for the low rates and go anilog bag phone for the companion. Higher watts and better signal in the boonies. Digital is either there or not. At least with a bag phone I can connect in rural areas with marginal signals!
George Hill
Staff Alumnus
SVT and Georgia Boy is right on the money.
NOKIA makes the best phone there is.
In Europe cell phones are called Nokia like Copiers are misnamed and nicknamed xerox's dispite furious trademark battles. www.nokia.com gives you some good insight into the company and products. If you get the feeling that the Euros get all the cool stuff - your right. The best toys will not ever be available in the US.
But what we do get is still good stuff. Dont look at the 9110 phone/device... you cant have it. Dont look at it!
NOK is the trade sign when your watching the stocks... I mark it as a buy. If that cool stuff comes over to the US - it will BLOW AWAY the others. Motorola, Sony, Mitsubishi, Ericsson all second or third rate. Digital is beautiful if your in the service area. Nokias can run dual mode and switch to analog... So you get the best of both.
To make this gun related - Cell phone is the #3 must have item in your defense kit.
Hey Georgia Boy - try to get the Nokia 9110i here in the states... If you can get one - I want one BAD!
[This message has been edited by George Hill (edited March 13, 2000).]
NOKIA makes the best phone there is.
In Europe cell phones are called Nokia like Copiers are misnamed and nicknamed xerox's dispite furious trademark battles. www.nokia.com gives you some good insight into the company and products. If you get the feeling that the Euros get all the cool stuff - your right. The best toys will not ever be available in the US.
But what we do get is still good stuff. Dont look at the 9110 phone/device... you cant have it. Dont look at it! NOK is the trade sign when your watching the stocks... I mark it as a buy. If that cool stuff comes over to the US - it will BLOW AWAY the others. Motorola, Sony, Mitsubishi, Ericsson all second or third rate. Digital is beautiful if your in the service area. Nokias can run dual mode and switch to analog... So you get the best of both.
To make this gun related - Cell phone is the #3 must have item in your defense kit.
Hey Georgia Boy - try to get the Nokia 9110i here in the states... If you can get one - I want one BAD!
[This message has been edited by George Hill (edited March 13, 2000).]
Alright, after some checking around and what you guys are telling me, I will swap out the Star Tac for a Nokia 5190. Any idea where the best place to buy them is? I've searched the net and it seems most places are selling accessories, not phones. The few places I did find that had Nokias don't have the 5190.
Thanks for all the input so far!
Thanks for all the input so far!
hoosierboy
New member
I am in the cellphone business and I guess if there is a question to be answered, not to bragg but I can probably answer it. First of all you need to know all the carriers in your area. Digital is alot cheaper than analog, but you usually have to buy the phone. Digital phones put out less power than analog phones and since I have a digital phone and drive betweeen cities to get to work I have a magmount antenna for my truck.
If you have good credit get a contract and for the least amount of time possible. The reason is prices drop all the time ands if your in a contract you pay the higher price because thats what you agreed to.
All phones are the same clarity wise. Handheld phones put out 1/2 a watt where a bag phone, which are extremely popular in states like kansas and oklahoma put out 3 watts. The handhelds are portable and small, but have weak signals unless you live in a city. I don't think any phone is better than the others, its just bs. They all put out the same amount of output.
If your still confused got to www.letstalk.com they have info on plans for cellphones. Any questions just let me know.
[This message has been edited by hoosierboy (edited March 13, 2000).]
If you have good credit get a contract and for the least amount of time possible. The reason is prices drop all the time ands if your in a contract you pay the higher price because thats what you agreed to.
All phones are the same clarity wise. Handheld phones put out 1/2 a watt where a bag phone, which are extremely popular in states like kansas and oklahoma put out 3 watts. The handhelds are portable and small, but have weak signals unless you live in a city. I don't think any phone is better than the others, its just bs. They all put out the same amount of output.
If your still confused got to www.letstalk.com they have info on plans for cellphones. Any questions just let me know.
[This message has been edited by hoosierboy (edited March 13, 2000).]