Somewhat OT: What can break on a cell phone?
in [Design]
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From: Joerg on 12 Jul 2010 16:11 Charlie E. wrote: > On Mon, 12 Jul 2010 08:57:39 -0700, Joerg <invalid(a)invalid.invalid> > wrote: > >> Joel Koltner wrote: >>> "Joerg" <invalid(a)invalid.invalid> wrote in message >>> news:89v6osFn4pU1(a)mid.individual.net... >>>> Joel Koltner wrote: >>>>> Joerg wrote: >>>>>> Ok, I don't know the cell phone carriers in Canada but what would you >>>>>> do with an unlocked phone in the US? >>>>> 1: Take it to other countries with you, swap the SIM card... >>>> If you have a pricey tri-band phone. >>> Yes, although "pricey" is kinda relative... you can get some very nice >>> tri- or quad-bnad phones in the $100-$300 range used, for instance -- >>> and for people already paying, e.g., $50-$100/mo for fancy "all you can >>> eat" voice/text/data/etc. plans, the handset isn't a particularly >>> significant cost. >>> >> Ok, in that cost range it really doesn't matter. For this kind of money >> you can even buy a new one: >> >> http://www.amazon.com/LG-KF350-Unlocked-Tri-Band-Bluetooth-International/dp/B002C73XJY >> >> >>>> Mine is CDMA-only. In the US low-minute users like me don't have much of >>>> a choice. AFAIK when you need voice-only there are only T-Mobile and >>>> AT&T with major GSM networks and when I inquired their pre-paid deals >>>> didn't quite stack up. >>> When this was last discussed I seem to recall the deal was that even the >>> least expensive prepaid plans had you ponying up >=$10/mo... whereas >>> you're currently paying $5/mo, is it? >>> >> $15 every 90 days to be exact. That includes any and all fees, taxes and >> whatnot. This amount buys 83.3 airtime minutes. Which I typically do not >> use up so they have piled up over the years. They don't expire if you >> keep the account active. >> >> >>>> How's that for ditching the landline: A neighbor signed on the dotted >>>> line, IIRC that locked him in for two years, then found out that GSM at >>>> his house is between zero bars and one bar. Like what I have now. He had >>>> to mount a yagi on his roof so now he has a cell phone with a cord. >>> Most carriers at least give you a week or so grace period -- that's >>> pretty poor that he was locked in immediately. >>> >> I think that was in the days before CA mandated a 30-day back-out. Most >> business people then keep the service anyhow because it ties into all >> sorts of other features they need, or think they need. >> >> >>> I was in a comparable situation when I moved from Albany to Corvallis >>> some years ago, but since I was already something around a year into a >>> two-year contract, there was no grace for me. >>> >>> Although I ended up being OK with just a dipole rather than needing a >>> Yagi -- a lot of the problem apparently was just foil insulation in the >>> walls. (It was a rental.) >>> >> We have the same problem. Foil-backed insulation even in inner walls. >> >> >>>> I wonder, for voice-dialing does the phone then switch between Kiwi >>>> accent and north-western? :-) >>> No, but the voicemail systems do! :-) >>> >> In Europe I had a bilingual answering system. Had to. The voice in >> English had a distinct accent where a German-speaker could immediately >> pinpoint the originator to be from the city of Duesseldorf. > > Joerg, > Don't you have a Radio Shack within driving distance? You should be > able to get a new phone there for $20 and have it added to your old > account immediately? > > Ok, they have a bare bones for just $10! > Certainly not out here. The local Radio Shack has become a cell phone store. But those guys in there will probably only look at you if you sign up for that "bargain" $69.95 plan and two years. There is another one up in the hills but AFAIK they don't stick VirginMobile phones. Anyhow, seems I just can't use it in the village anymore, south of Hwy 50 it worketh :-) -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/ "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam. Use another domain or send PM.
From: crasic on 12 Jul 2010 20:51
On Jul 11, 5:43 pm, Joerg <inva...(a)invalid.invalid> wrote: > Joel Koltner wrote: > > Joerg wrote: > >> Ok, I don't know the cell phone carriers in Canada but what would you > >> do with an unlocked phone in the US? > > > 1: Take it to other countries with you, swap the SIM card (since pretty > > much all U.S. carriers have, let's say, "highly opportunistic" rates > > while travelling outside the U.S.), and still have access to all your > > same applications, contacts list, etc. Very nice compared to having two > > phones... > > If you have a pricey tri-band phone. > Regards, Joerg This isn't 1999, Almost every gsm phone is quad/tri band. Even the RAZR was triband and you can pick those up for free with a minimal- contract plan. I have a 50 dollar ("subsidized" price) samsung which is quadband. -crasic |