Phone, internet

[azurelunatic]

Since I'm moving, I have to swap over the phone, internet, and electricity to the new place. I'm sort of at a loss for how to do this. Should I stay with the same service providers? Should I ditch the landline, get a cellphone, and keep a bag of emergency quarters for the pay phone by the weight room in case of cellphone failure? Should I go DSL or cable? Should I get VoIP?

I'm thinking that since it's just me, and I'm going to be at work so very much, I might want to go with a cellphone. That way, I'll get the most out of my phone service, my phone can go with me where I wind up going, and I'll be less tied to a location. Who knows, maybe Thalia would get along well with the phone.

I have serious gadget envy of Sis's new phone. I want a shiny little thing with a camera and a color screen and so forth.

Comments

[easalle.livejournal.com]

I think you can get a landline that is just for 911 and such things for free. Other than that if it is just you you will not be tied down to anything if you get a cellphone and wireless internet.

I did not sleep so awesome last night but if you still need me to help with the boxing and stuff just let me know.

[azurelunatic]

I'm working today and I've got that lousy morning shift tomorrow, so boxing today is right out. I shouldn't be up this early, but Dumbass hadn't told his student loan people that he'd moved, sooo... *ring ring*

I told Dumbass's student loan people for him, I finally got pissed enough.

The trouble with wireless internet is that it's got limited range. If Phoenix were nice like some places I've heard of, there'd be wireless access all over (rather than just downtown -- one of the IEEE computer society guys set that up -- and select other places) but wireless service is patchy. Most of the big wireless internet things depend on you spending a lot of time in places like airports and hotels, which is great for the business traveler type, but not so great for someone like me who does the home-work-home-work-home thing all the time.

[amberfox.livejournal.com]

We have Sprint PCS at my house, which we've never had any problems with. They have great customer service when we've needed it. Their phones come with warranties. And they frequently have major discounts on phones for new customers, or for old customers who've had the same phone for a while. They have a decent selection of fancy geek phones; we had trouble finding one that /wasn't/ a camera phone, but Mom and Dad aren't allowed to have them where they work. They sell laptop cards for using WiFi with their network. And of course, if you had Sprint you could talk to me or Ro any time without using your minutes; we both have Sprint phones, and they have in-network calling. (At least, she had Sprint last I knew. I assume she still does.) Oh, and they have unlimited night and weekend calling, which is very handy for geekish nightowls. ^_^

As for the cable vs DSL question, you can't have DSL without a land line. (Well, you can, but it's a bit odd and takes some specific circumstances.) Cable generally gives good speeds and, at least locally, is rather less tempermental than DSL. YMMV, of course; talk to your local geeks to find out how it works there.

[wibbble]

> They sell laptop cards for using WiFi with their network

I'm curious, do you mean that they sell laptop 802.11b/g cards, which are WiFi, or laptop cellular modems, which would give you wireless internet access, but isn't WiFi (and would be /very/ expensive and slow).

[amberfox.livejournal.com]

*shrug* I dunno, honestly. I know the difference, but they call them WiFi, and I don't have the tech details on them to be able to say.

[azurelunatic]

I have an actual WiFi card already. *grin*

[azurelunatic]

That's what I wanna know.

[azurelunatic]

Looks like actual WiFi for their select WiFi service areas, sales of service bundled in with whatever else it is they've got going on.

http://www1.sprintpcs.com/explore/ueContent.jsp?scTopic=wirelessLaptopAccess

[wibbble]

Probably not much use - it'll be all airports and hotels and aimed at people in suits. Still, if the fee isn't much and you're going with them anyway, it might be worthwhile.

Starbucks have a wireless thingy, although it looked expensive. All the pay-for wireless thingies are expensive. :o(

Yay for uni-provided access, is all I can say.

[azurelunatic]

Have you got linkage to the Sprint wireless internet thinger? Sprint's who I was considering, actually, because a) advertisement for SHINY PHONE, b) Darkside's got Sprint ...

[amberfox.livejournal.com]

Hit up http://sprintpcs.com/ for information on plans, phones, special offers, etc. The card-y-type thingies are on this page. (Damn, I hope that works.)

[azurelunatic]

Link works. I shall Investigate.

[tygerr.livejournal.com]

If you go cell-only, make darned sure that your new place *always* has adequate signal on the cell provider's network.

[azurelunatic]

We get decent signal here -- there is a close cell tower.

[wibbble]

With the US market as it is, I'd probably go for the shiny-fun mobile phone, and whatever broadband worked out as most suitable/cheapest. Between companies like Vondage (did I spell that right? tired) and Skype, traditional land-lines aren't needed so much.

[azurelunatic]

What I might do is go cell and cable for now, and then add VoIP later, I'm thinking Vonage.

[norabombay.livejournal.com]

I am required by my building to have a land line, so theoretically I can buzz people in. Since the last person to know how to program the buzzer quit a year ago? And I was never programed in?

I have DSL. This also is because my house is not wired for cable. There is a cable sticking out a hole in the closet, the rest is splitters across the apartment. My Cable is not all that good. Excuse me. At all good.

My advice: If you get at all decent cell phone service by your house, get a cellular phone and a cable modem. This way you can talk anywhere you want, and for somebody who takes a lot of public transit, it can be a lifesaver in case of emergency.

Then get cable and a cable modem. Essentially, you get an excuse to get cable.

I have been with SprintPCS for about 5 years now. If not longer. I have not had any major problems with them, especially since I let them know how I felt about the phone refund issue (ie, I have access to the upperlevel customer service line).

Please note that as a home phone replacement, you can get 500 anytime min for $40 a month, and for an extra $5 have nights start at 7. Add to that unlimited nights and weekends, and you will never have to worry about min's. Or instead of $5 for the early nights, it's $5 for unlimited in network.

The cell is worth it, as you can call family on night and weekend for essentially free.

My brother pays $70 a month for a cell phone modem attached to his laptop. He's online 24 hours a day anywhere on earth. But I think that you will be happier with a nice phone and a cable modem.

Then keep some quarters about. You live in high enough density housing that if you need to call 911 there is somebody next door/downstairs with a phone.

[azurelunatic]

I keep quarters about in a large container because that is the only thing the laundry machines take. I need something with at *least* 200 minutes/week, because I know how much Darkside and I talk on the phone (we've been getting busier lately, so it's less, but we still talk around an hour a week minimum on normal weeks, and more when we can), and I know I'm going to be talking to other people too.

But since he and I do most of our talking on the weekend, and I'm generally too busy during the day to be doing much talking to anyone, I'm thinking that one of the Free & Clear plans would work -- during the day I'm either at work (and therefore can conduct almost any necessary call through the work landlines), asleep (and therefore not using the phone) or on one of my days off (which may or may not also be a weekend). The night & weekend upgrade that lets you start the night minutes 2 hours earlier each night looks great on the surface, but when two-year contracts wind up in the mix, and my income is somewhat variable, I kind of back away somewhat.

But the option that lets me make unlimited calls to phones on the network sounds fuck-all shiny, because my bondmate, last I checked, has Sprint PCS for his provider, and a good fraction of the rest of my cybercoven has same. So. Hee.

On the other hand, it looks like a one-year contract is already a given if I sign up for this, and I do know that I do talk on the phone a LOT...

[norabombay.livejournal.com]

Easy answer:

You sign a year's contract to pay _at Least_ as much as the phone requires.

At any time whatsoever, you can call sprint, or go to the store, and change the contract to get more minuites. It's easy to move up to the next level plan.

They have no problem with signing up for more.

I find that 500 min between 7 am and 9pm monday through friday is enough. Unlimited nights weekends, and in plan calling should cover the rest.

And if it's not, you go in, and up the number.

And little sprint secret? The plans are about $5 cheaper online than in the store.

[azurelunatic]

Hee!

Then I should probably totally go with the $35 a month thinger, and bump up as needed. *grin* And find out from Darkside/his dad/his mom just what service they do have to see if it's in-network, because then he'd possibly feel better about calling me more often, silly blonder halves!!!