Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

So I'm trying to make some choices...I want to get portable WIFI in
Manhattan for my laptop. Apparently VZW doesn't offer WIFI only
access. It's either air card or nothing. The air card costs $90 per
month plus the usual unknown taxes, surcharges, etc. Considering they
have WIFI all over Manhattan, it seems that not offering this service
is ridiculous. Then again, given VZW's recent incompetence this
doesn't surprise me. You can't keep believing that customers will
continue to buy into the same "but we have the best quality service by
far" diatribe indefinitely.

Cingular and tmobile both offer service. However, it seems exorbitant
to pay $40/month for WIFI that works only in specified areas and I'm
sure there are better deals out there. I do know that Sprint's air
cards are also in limbo right now since new cards are coming out, much
faster, etc. and current cards are not available anywhere.

What are all of you doing? Unless the service seems practical, getting
locked into a one year contract is not really a good decision,
especially with new air cards and protocols. I'm trying to balance the
WIFI vs. air card decision and am a little challenged since the
limited WIFI seems to cost so much... at the moment. Thanks for
sharing your knowledge and opinions.

Mike

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

I just found the following. The folks at Verizon Wireless are so dumb.

http://www.pcworld.com/news/articl [...] 647,00.asp

Given that tmobile is cleaning up at Starbucks around the city,
Verizon has the ability to offer the same service for less. Instead,
it's all going away by June 30th. Per a DSL rep I spoke to, the other
services may not be fully available by then and that customers should
use other services that provide access. Well... once I go to tmobile
or another company, I'm not coming back to VZW so fast you genuises!

I'm guessing that when Verizon has it's air card services available at
high speed (maybe they do) it will be at a far higher price than
competitors. I'm sure the $80 won't get you as far as Sprint -- one
reason I'm moving my wireless phone to Sprint too. No need to pay
three times the amount for virtually the same service...

Anyone using these services?

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

JSOUL dot com wrote:
> I just found the following. The folks at Verizon Wireless are so dumb.
>
> http://www.pcworld.com/news/articl [...] 647,00.asp
>
> Given that tmobile is cleaning up at Starbucks around the city,
> Verizon has the ability to offer the same service for less. Instead,
> it's all going away by June 30th. Per a DSL rep I spoke to, the other
> services may not be fully available by then and that customers should
> use other services that provide access. Well... once I go to tmobile
> or another company, I'm not coming back to VZW so fast you genuises!
>
> I'm guessing that when Verizon has it's air card services available at
> high speed (maybe they do) it will be at a far higher price than
> competitors. I'm sure the $80 won't get you as far as Sprint -- one
> reason I'm moving my wireless phone to Sprint too. No need to pay
> three times the amount for virtually the same service...
>
> Anyone using these services?

You better consider asking a lot of q's before you waste your money.. I've
been using wifi and running several hotspots for years, and guess what..
they are usually FREE (unless you get something like tmobile that will ONLY
connect with their hotspots rather than the millions of others out there).

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

On Wed, 8 Jun 2005 12:48:51 -0700, "Peter Pan"
<PeterPanNOSPAM@AkamailNOSPAM.com> wrote:

>JSOUL dot com wrote:
>> I just found the following. The folks at Verizon Wireless are so dumb.
>>
>> http://www.pcworld.com/news/articl [...] 647,00.asp
>>
>> Given that tmobile is cleaning up at Starbucks around the city,
>> Verizon has the ability to offer the same service for less. Instead,
>> it's all going away by June 30th. Per a DSL rep I spoke to, the other
>> services may not be fully available by then and that customers should
>> use other services that provide access. Well... once I go to tmobile
>> or another company, I'm not coming back to VZW so fast you genuises!
>>
>> I'm guessing that when Verizon has it's air card services available at
>> high speed (maybe they do) it will be at a far higher price than
>> competitors. I'm sure the $80 won't get you as far as Sprint -- one
>> reason I'm moving my wireless phone to Sprint too. No need to pay
>> three times the amount for virtually the same service...
>>
>> Anyone using these services?
>
>You better consider asking a lot of q's before you waste your money.. I've
>been using wifi and running several hotspots for years, and guess what..
>they are usually FREE (unless you get something like tmobile that will ONLY
>connect with their hotspots rather than the millions of others out there).

I don't know of any free wifi hotspots, especially not in NYC. Like
others, you can jack into hotspots in several areas by jumping onto
unsecured wireless routers (not me, of course.) However, you can only
do that on luck and nothing reliable or definite.

Verizon's used to be "free" to its DSL customers. However, Verizon
Wireless is apparently turning them all off so that they can hook
customers into their $80 (plus hidden costs) per month aircard
services.

At the moment I just signed up for a free day of tmobile's hotspot
usage and may do it for a month until I figure out where I'm going to
be. I don't know where all the spots are and I hope it's not only in
Starbucks stores but also in other places around NYC. Anyone have
suggestions?

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Not sure where you got your T-mobile info, but, I have the 29.90 unlimited
data plan usable at all T-mobile "hotspots" (Starbucks, FedEx-Kinkos, etc).
Works at T-1 speeds. I like it. There sure are lots of Starbucks and
Kinkos around . There are numerous other locations too, bookstores, etc.
I don't now them all.

I'd prefer an VZW add-on plan but there is no such thing as reasonable
prices.

-Frank

"JSOUL dot com" <tkdREMOVESPAMinthecity@yahSPAMoo.com> wrote in message
news:9g5ea152etjg8e7hbsau6k9ut1n75pcnpa@4ax.com...
> So I'm trying to make some choices...I want to get portable WIFI in
> Manhattan for my laptop. Apparently VZW doesn't offer WIFI only
> access. It's either air card or nothing. The air card costs $90 per
> month plus the usual unknown taxes, surcharges, etc. Considering they
> have WIFI all over Manhattan, it seems that not offering this service
> is ridiculous. Then again, given VZW's recent incompetence this
> doesn't surprise me. You can't keep believing that customers will
> continue to buy into the same "but we have the best quality service by
> far" diatribe indefinitely.
>
> Cingular and tmobile both offer service. However, it seems exorbitant
> to pay $40/month for WIFI that works only in specified areas and I'm
> sure there are better deals out there. I do know that Sprint's air
> cards are also in limbo right now since new cards are coming out, much
> faster, etc. and current cards are not available anywhere.
>
> What are all of you doing? Unless the service seems practical, getting
> locked into a one year contract is not really a good decision,
> especially with new air cards and protocols. I'm trying to balance the
> WIFI vs. air card decision and am a little challenged since the
> limited WIFI seems to cost so much... at the moment. Thanks for
> sharing your knowledge and opinions.
>
> Mike
>
>

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

It's $40 per month, month to month, with tmobile, $30/mo. for a one
year commitment. I'll have to check the locations in NYC and see how
extensive they are. Thanks for your comments and yes, VerizonWireless
has no clue what reasonable wireless Internet access prices should be.

On Wed, 8 Jun 2005 17:03:05 -0600, "Frankster" <Frank@SPAM2TRASH.com>
wrote:

>Not sure where you got your T-mobile info, but, I have the 29.90 unlimited
>data plan usable at all T-mobile "hotspots" (Starbucks, FedEx-Kinkos, etc).
>Works at T-1 speeds. I like it. There sure are lots of Starbucks and
>Kinkos around . There are numerous other locations too, bookstores, etc.
>I don't now them all.
>
>I'd prefer an VZW add-on plan but there is no such thing as reasonable
>prices.
>
>-Frank
>
>"JSOUL dot com" <tkdREMOVESPAMinthecity@yahSPAMoo.com> wrote in message
>news:9g5ea152etjg8e7hbsau6k9ut1n75pcnpa@4ax.com...
>> So I'm trying to make some choices...I want to get portable WIFI in
>> Manhattan for my laptop. Apparently VZW doesn't offer WIFI only
>> access. It's either air card or nothing. The air card costs $90 per
>> month plus the usual unknown taxes, surcharges, etc. Considering they
>> have WIFI all over Manhattan, it seems that not offering this service
>> is ridiculous. Then again, given VZW's recent incompetence this
>> doesn't surprise me. You can't keep believing that customers will
>> continue to buy into the same "but we have the best quality service by
>> far" diatribe indefinitely.
>>
>> Cingular and tmobile both offer service. However, it seems exorbitant
>> to pay $40/month for WIFI that works only in specified areas and I'm
>> sure there are better deals out there. I do know that Sprint's air
>> cards are also in limbo right now since new cards are coming out, much
>> faster, etc. and current cards are not available anywhere.
>>
>> What are all of you doing? Unless the service seems practical, getting
>> locked into a one year contract is not really a good decision,
>> especially with new air cards and protocols. I'm trying to balance the
>> WIFI vs. air card decision and am a little challenged since the
>> limited WIFI seems to cost so much... at the moment. Thanks for
>> sharing your knowledge and opinions.
>>
>> Mike
>>
>>
>

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

JSOUL dot com wrote:
> It's $40 per month, month to month, with tmobile, $30/mo. for a one
> year commitment. I'll have to check the locations in NYC and see how
> extensive they are. Thanks for your comments and yes, VerizonWireless
> has no clue what reasonable wireless Internet access prices should be.
>

I think they might. Consider if you aren't able to park yourself in a
hotspot you get this exciting service level:

The T-Mobile Internet plan uses General Packet Radio Service (GPRS).
GPRS is a slow-speed wireless data service (up to 56 Kbps) that enables
you to access Internet and e-mail service wherever T-Mobile has coverage.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

JSOUL dot com <tkd__in__the__city@REMOVE_yahoo_SPAM_.com> wrote in
news:tmoea1detv3ilb3ngbgc78m6bqobfo81vg@4ax.com:

> I don't know of any free wifi hotspots, especially not in NYC. Like
> others, you can jack into hotspots in several areas by jumping onto
> unsecured wireless routers (not me, of course.) However, you can only
> do that on luck and nothing reliable or definite.

Many of the public parks (Bryant, Bowling Green, City Hall, the one on 23rd
and Madison and others) have free hotspots. Check out www.nycwireless.net
for others.


> > Verizon's used to be "free" to its DSL customers. However, Verizon
> Wireless is apparently turning them all off so that they can hook
> customers into their $80 (plus hidden costs) per month aircard
> services.

It may have been free for DSL customers, but, the info on their web site
always said something like "free for now... but we may charge for this in
the future" or some such verbiage.

They recently dropped the cost of their National Access unlimited plan to
$59. This is not the higher speed Broadband service, which still costs $80.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
J O E L

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Try Boingo -- $21.95/month for unlimited access. You can check their
website for NYC locations.

"JSOUL dot com" <tkdREMOVESPAMinthecity@yahSPAMoo.com> wrote in message
news:9g5ea152etjg8e7hbsau6k9ut1n75pcnpa@4ax.com...
> So I'm trying to make some choices...I want to get portable WIFI in
> Manhattan for my laptop. Apparently VZW doesn't offer WIFI only
> access. It's either air card or nothing. The air card costs $90 per
> month plus the usual unknown taxes, surcharges, etc. Considering they
> have WIFI all over Manhattan, it seems that not offering this service
> is ridiculous. Then again, given VZW's recent incompetence this
> doesn't surprise me. You can't keep believing that customers will
> continue to buy into the same "but we have the best quality service by
> far" diatribe indefinitely.
>
> Cingular and tmobile both offer service. However, it seems exorbitant
> to pay $40/month for WIFI that works only in specified areas and I'm
> sure there are better deals out there. I do know that Sprint's air
> cards are also in limbo right now since new cards are coming out, much
> faster, etc. and current cards are not available anywhere.
>
> What are all of you doing? Unless the service seems practical, getting
> locked into a one year contract is not really a good decision,
> especially with new air cards and protocols. I'm trying to balance the
> WIFI vs. air card decision and am a little challenged since the
> limited WIFI seems to cost so much... at the moment. Thanks for
> sharing your knowledge and opinions.
>
> Mike
>
>

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

JSOUL dot com wrote:
I don't know where all the spots are and I hope it's not only in
> Starbucks stores but also in other places around NYC. Anyone have
> suggestions?

Since you said you have a notebook (to put the aircard in), why not look
into the 802.11 a/b/or g Cardbus/pcmcia cards and see just how many there
are around, and who owns/runs them, near where you will be and if you are
worried about paid or not? See who has the ones nearest where you are mostly
at....

The WiFi (802.11 stuff) is estimated to currently have about 30 MILLION open
nodes/waps in the US at the moment (tmobile runs about 3000 of them out of
that 30 million)

If nothing else, check the newsgroup alt.internet.wireless.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

> The T-Mobile Internet plan uses General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). GPRS
> is a slow-speed wireless data service (up to 56 Kbps) that enables you to
> access Internet and e-mail service wherever T-Mobile has coverage.

This is bullshit. I have timed T-mobile's Hotspot speed using
broadbandreports.com. They have full T-1 speed at each location. I can do
downloads and uploads at 1.5Mbps consistently. T-1s don't have the overhead
of the typical DSL circuit where a 1.5Mbps advertised link only provides
about 1.2 or 1.3Mbps. And only one way at that. The upload on DSL is
usually throttled to around 856kbps max.

As for locations. Here in Denver, Colorado there are 50 Hotspot locations
within 50 miles.

Check your own City here:

http://locator.t-mobile.com/locato [...] tLocations

-Frank

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Correction... the site in the link I posted below only shows 50 max. on any
search. Turns out, in Denver, there are 18 Hotspots within 2 miles radius.
31 Hotspots within 5 miles and 50 (or more) within 20 miles. Plenty for me!


-Frank

"Frankster" <Frank@SPAM2TRASH.com> wrote in message
newsqOdnXOpuaXyOTrfRVn-2A@giganews.com...
>> The T-Mobile Internet plan uses General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). GPRS
>> is a slow-speed wireless data service (up to 56 Kbps) that enables you to
>> access Internet and e-mail service wherever T-Mobile has coverage.
>
> This is bullshit. I have timed T-mobile's Hotspot speed using
> broadbandreports.com. They have full T-1 speed at each location. I can
> do downloads and uploads at 1.5Mbps consistently. T-1s don't have the
> overhead of the typical DSL circuit where a 1.5Mbps advertised link only
> provides about 1.2 or 1.3Mbps. And only one way at that. The upload on
> DSL is usually throttled to around 856kbps max.
>
> As for locations. Here in Denver, Colorado there are 50 Hotspot locations
> within 50 miles.
>
> Check your own City here:
>
> http://locator.t-mobile.com/locato [...] tLocations
>
> -Frank
>

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

"Frankster" <Frank@SPAM2TRASH.com> wrote:

>> The T-Mobile Internet plan uses General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). GPRS
>> is a slow-speed wireless data service (up to 56 Kbps) that enables you to
>> access Internet and e-mail service wherever T-Mobile has coverage.
>
>This is bullshit. I have timed T-mobile's Hotspot speed using
>broadbandreports.com. They have full T-1 speed at each location. I can do
>downloads and uploads at 1.5Mbps consistently. T-1s don't have the overhead
>of the typical DSL circuit where a 1.5Mbps advertised link only provides
>about 1.2 or 1.3Mbps. And only one way at that. The upload on DSL is
>usually throttled to around 856kbps max.

Right, but he was talking about the non-hotspot (wifi) t-mobile service.
The phone network based service is reputed to be slow.



--
Jack Hamilton
California
--
<> Qui vit sans folie n'est pas si sage qu'il croit.
<> François VI, duc de La Rochefoucauld

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

I think you are correct. I had a very good connection in Starbucks
today on my "test" 24 hour period. It's extremely usable for email and
basic web surfing. I don't know how many hotspots there are in NYC and
I'll have to check. While we all joke about the ubiquitous Starbucks
they still aren't everywhere and sometimes not where you'd like them
most, e.g. the parks areas.

Thanks for the good news. For now I'm not thrilled with $40 per month
but at least there will be no air charges and there may be enough of
them to keep me happy. There is none at my local Cosi though... ah
well...

On Wed, 8 Jun 2005 20:17:51 -0600, "Frankster" <Frank@SPAM2TRASH.com>
wrote:

>Correction... the site in the link I posted below only shows 50 max. on any
>search. Turns out, in Denver, there are 18 Hotspots within 2 miles radius.
>31 Hotspots within 5 miles and 50 (or more) within 20 miles. Plenty for me!
>
>
>-Frank
>
>"Frankster" <Frank@SPAM2TRASH.com> wrote in message
>newsqOdnXOpuaXyOTrfRVn-2A@giganews.com...
>>> The T-Mobile Internet plan uses General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). GPRS
>>> is a slow-speed wireless data service (up to 56 Kbps) that enables you to
>>> access Internet and e-mail service wherever T-Mobile has coverage.
>>
>> This is bullshit. I have timed T-mobile's Hotspot speed using
>> broadbandreports.com. They have full T-1 speed at each location. I can
>> do downloads and uploads at 1.5Mbps consistently. T-1s don't have the
>> overhead of the typical DSL circuit where a 1.5Mbps advertised link only
>> provides about 1.2 or 1.3Mbps. And only one way at that. The upload on
>> DSL is usually throttled to around 856kbps max.
>>
>> As for locations. Here in Denver, Colorado there are 50 Hotspot locations
>> within 50 miles.
>>
>> Check your own City here:
>>
>> http://locator.t-mobile.com/locato [...] tLocations
>>
>> -Frank
>>
>

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

On 9 Jun 2005 00:47:31 GMT, Joel <jr@ATjraskin.com> wrote:

>JSOUL dot com <tkd__in__the__city@REMOVE_yahoo_SPAM_.com> wrote in
>news:tmoea1detv3ilb3ngbgc78m6bqobfo81vg@4ax.com:
>
>> I don't know of any free wifi hotspots, especially not in NYC. Like
>> others, you can jack into hotspots in several areas by jumping onto
>> unsecured wireless routers (not me, of course.) However, you can only
>> do that on luck and nothing reliable or definite.
>
>Many of the public parks (Bryant, Bowling Green, City Hall, the one on 23rd
>and Madison and others) have free hotspots. Check out www.nycwireless.net
>for others.

Good info although most of these hotspots are not anywhere near
midtown or uptown and are scattered around the boroughs. It's only 123
spots and not all are operational with many in the same spot. Bryant
Park doesn't seem to be on the list any more...

>> > Verizon's used to be "free" to its DSL customers. However, Verizon
>> Wireless is apparently turning them all off so that they can hook
>> customers into their $80 (plus hidden costs) per month aircard
>> services.
>
>It may have been free for DSL customers, but, the info on their web site
>always said something like "free for now... but we may charge for this in
>the future" or some such verbiage.
>
>They recently dropped the cost of their National Access unlimited plan to
>$59. This is not the higher speed Broadband service, which still costs $80.

I called them today. They are moving all their service to EVDO
apparently. As would be the case with VerizonWireless, I read the fine
print next to the $80 per month broadband access and the number (1)
tag says that you also pay .25 per minute for Quick 2 Net. Cost will
be astronomical and likely in the hundreds of dollars per month...

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

On Wed, 8 Jun 2005 18:44:56 -0700, "Peter Pan"
<PeterPanNOSPAM@AkamailNOSPAM.com> wrote:

>JSOUL dot com wrote:
> I don't know where all the spots are and I hope it's not only in
>> Starbucks stores but also in other places around NYC. Anyone have
>> suggestions?
>
>Since you said you have a notebook (to put the aircard in), why not look
>into the 802.11 a/b/or g Cardbus/pcmcia cards and see just how many there
>are around, and who owns/runs them, near where you will be and if you are
>worried about paid or not? See who has the ones nearest where you are mostly
>at....
>
>The WiFi (802.11 stuff) is estimated to currently have about 30 MILLION open
>nodes/waps in the US at the moment (tmobile runs about 3000 of them out of
>that 30 million)
>
>If nothing else, check the newsgroup alt.internet.wireless.

Great suggestion. Will do that.

Addressing your other points, my neighbor's WiFi is open but it is
inaccessible from the street. In most areas, unless you can jack into
an open router there is no free wifi. In many cafes you won't be able
to connect (or you will but won't be assigned an IP address.) So
while I appreciate the statistics, that's all they are -- estimated
statistics but no practical, reliable usage. The best I heard so far
was tmobile's plan in NYC since VerizonWireless is apparently shutting
down all their spots.

I've just found out that VZW's aircard will likely cost in the
hundreds of dollars per month (you pay air charges too.) I'm wondering
what others pay on Sprint and Cingular and whether anyone has heard of
upcoming deals. I mostly need it for email with occasional surfing.
Full broadband speed is not necessary.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Peter Pan wrote:

> You better consider asking a lot of q's before you waste your money.. I've
> been using wifi and running several hotspots for years, and guess what..
> they are usually FREE (unless you get something like tmobile that will ONLY
> connect with their hotspots rather than the millions of others out there).

It depends. Companies ARE a