[geeks] Opinions on T-Mobile and Verizon

[Shannon Hendrix]

On Nov 24, 2007, at 7:27 AM, James Fogg wrote:

> The CDMA network is the old TDMA network, which is the old AMPS  
> (analog)
> network. It's the oldest system and has been continuously expanded  
> from
> it's beginnings 20 years ago. The GSM network is far newer, and the
> providers are financially much smaller and not willing to invest in

...but I thought GSM was just a modification of TDMA and another  
related technology?

>> From what I have read, they don't lock the phones up as
>> much, and almost all unlocked phones work with their service as well.
>
> And, does it matter? Most things you want to do can be done with a
> work-around. VZ has begun to welcome using a cell phone as a modem,
> sometimes even by Bluetooth (more often by USB). I find only children
> use the big pay-for features like sending photos, watching videos and
> continual TXTing.

Um, not what I mean.

When I say locking features, I mean things like this:

- updating your address book with your computer
- downloading phone data (pictures, timers, etc) to your computer

In other words, basic features which are useful, especially for  
integration with your computer, that they turn off to try and rip you  
off.

I'm not talking about sending photos and enhanced cell network  
functions, just things the phone as a basic bluetooth/USB device  
should be capable of.

>> On a related note: cell data plans cost too much.  Are there
>> any decent phones out there with WIFI?
>
> I'm not sure what you are trying to accomplish here. If you have WiFi,
> just use a laptop (I know, big and heavy).

It's not the size, it is the cost.

I was just thinking of wireless data for simple remote terminal use,  
and maybe a chat room since my company does use that a lot.

Mostly I'm just curious.

> are there in a tiny package. I use a business Treo and as a pocket
> access device it's cute, but they all *suck* and are hard to use
> compared to a laptop. After the gee-wiz factor fades they are a  
> distant
> second-choice option.

That's how I've found things.

I actually do use the iPod for some PDA features, but don't really  
want to do actual work with them.

My primary use of a PDA back when I carried a Visor was just having  
data I needed in my pocket, and filling out forms for quick data entry  
when I was out doing something.

I found it impossible to use for anything more extensive than that,  
and it was frequently difficult just to make the form entry database  
software on them work.


-- 
Shannon Hendrix
shannon at widomaker.com