 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
Also on Friday, in a shocking turn of events, I bought a new mobile
phone. And it didn't cost £300. I was quite surprised about that.
Actually, it's kinda weird. You can buy the phone for £80. Or you can
buy the phone plus a SIM card that you're going to throw in the bin for
£40. WTF?
Suffice it to say, I how have a completely working but unused SIM card
as well as a new phone. ;-)
The phone is a Nokia 2760. (It was the only flip phone in the entire
shop that said Nokia on it.) I say "phone"... In truth it is of course a
telephone. You use it to make phone calls. However, it seems to be under
the sad delusion that it's a video camera, or perhaps some sort of MP3
player... Very odd.
Still, at least it's a Nokia. Among other things, that means it has a
menu system that normal human beings can actually, like, *use*. With
stuff grouped together *logically*, and even in a sensible ordering,
with the most commonly used stuff at the top and so on. It also means
you aren't forced to use that retarded "predictive text" thing that my
last phone had and you couldn't get rid of.
In addition, this phone has a colour display. I'm not really sure how
that's useful, but it's certainly more pretty. It even appears that I
could change the background image on it to... say... some POV-Ray
creation. That is, if I had some way of getting the data into the phone.
(It looks like the only way to do that would be to possess some kind of
Bluetooth interface device.)
Best of all, you can adjust the volume on this phone to the point where
phone calls are actually *audible*! You can *hear* what the other person
is saying to you! I cannot begin to emphasize how useful this is. My old
phone had a volume adjustment, but it didn't go up nearly high enough.
You can hear it in a library, but if there is even a tiny amount of
background noise, you just can't hear a damn word.
Actually, this phone has a "speaker phone" mode, where anybody within a
few feet can hear it. Which is an interesting idea. Just don't
accidentally trigger this feature while trying to use the phone
normally! ;-)
The phone is roughly the same size as my old one. Maybe slightly bigger.
But it's thinner. And it doesn't have an arial sticking out of it to
prevent you removing it from your pocket. And it actually appears to be
fairly solidly built, so it's hopefully not going to *break* in five
minutes flat.
My old phone had such a flimsy hinge that it eventually wore out. And
the arial soon snagged on things and got cracked and broken. And now
much of the silver paint has worn off, revealing the off-white plastic
underneith. And worst of all, the battery life has declined to the point
where the phone is nearly unusable. My new phone looks a tad more
solidly built, so at least it shouldn't fall apart quite so quickly.
Well anyway, at the end of the day, it's a telephone. You use it to make
and receive telephone calls. (And the odd SMS.) Unless to social life
takes a dramatic upward turn, I doubt I'll ever use this device all that
much. Still, at least it plays Soduku. (No, I'm not kidding...)
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
Invisible <voi### [at] dev null> wrote:
> The phone is a Nokia 2760.
I was expecting a computer nerd like you to buy the Nokia E70.
(And if you weren't so anti-Apple, the iPhone.)
(While it doesn't beat the iPhone in any way, I just love the design
for a keyboarded phone. When closed, it looks and feels like a regular
old-style cellphone. When opened it has a full qwerty keyboard, and
space-optimal at that.)
--
- Warp
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
Warp wrote:
> I was expecting a computer nerd like you to buy the Nokia E70.
Maybe it wasn't on the shelves of the particular shop I happened to be
standing in? I didn't exactly scour the country. I just happened upon a
half-decent looking phone and bought it. ;-)
Hmm, that's interesting. Googling the model number, I get pictures of 3
or 4 apparently different devices. However, none of them appears to have
a way to cover the keypad, so if it was in the shop, that'll be why I
didn't buy it.
> (And if you weren't so anti-Apple, the iPhone.)
Very shiny, but I wonder how many seconds it'll stay like that once it's
been in my pocket with sharp keys jangling around in there, and once
I've put my greasy fingers all over it. ;-)
Also, being Apple, I imagine it tries to be an entire digital
entertainment system. (With a price to match.) I just want a telephone.
You know, to make phone calls with.
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:
> Hmm, that's interesting. Googling the model number, I get pictures of 3
> or 4 apparently different devices. However, none of them appears to have
> a way to cover the keypad, so if it was in the shop, that'll be why I
> didn't buy it.
I don't think you get the idea. The phone closes (like if it was a lid),
after which it looks like a regular old-fashioned cellphone. The qwerty
keyboard is then inside. Here's a better picture of the phone, in its
normal and opened states (and an in-between state when being opened):
http://www.handy-discount.de/nokia/nokia_e70_silber.jpg
> > (And if you weren't so anti-Apple, the iPhone.)
> Very shiny, but I wonder how many seconds it'll stay like that once it's
> been in my pocket with sharp keys jangling around in there
The glass is very hard. And why would you put any device in the same
pocket as some metallic sharp objects?
> and once I've put my greasy fingers all over it. ;-)
Do you seriously think they didn't think about that? The glass surface
is specially laminated with exactly that in mind.
> Also, being Apple, I imagine it tries to be an entire digital
> entertainment system. (With a price to match.)
It's actually one of the most popular handheld game consoles nowadays.
It has several cool features for games: Not only the touchscreen, but
it can detect its own orientation with respect to the ground with a
gravitometer (which allows the game to react when you tilt the device)
as well as an accelerometer, which allows the game to detect if you
move the device and do something accordingly.
From what I have heard the gravitometer is very accurate, allowing it
to detect even small changes in tilting (in all possible directions).
> I just want a telephone.
> You know, to make phone calls with.
Why not use the same device for other fun things as well?
--
- Warp
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
> And why would you put any device in the same
> pocket as some metallic sharp objects?
I only have a limited number of pockets usually, so my phone always goes in
the same pocket as my keys.
After daily use for over 2 years, the only signs of wear on my current Nokia
is the silver Nokia logo on the back starting to flake off. Given that
phones are only designed to last for a couple of years, I think that's
pretty good given how badly I treat it ;-)
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
scott wrote:
> After daily use for over 2 years, the only signs of wear on my current
> Nokia is the silver Nokia logo on the back starting to flake off. Given
> that phones are only designed to last for a couple of years, I think
> that's pretty good given how badly I treat it ;-)
Heh. I wonder - do they deliberately design phones to break after a
while? (After all, this presumably will encourage you to buy a new one,
which is much more profitable.)
Also... how come phones don't cost £300 each any more?
Or is that related to the previous? ;-)
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
> Heh. I wonder - do they deliberately design phones to break after a while?
Not as such, but all the testing is designing to simulate 2 years "in the
wild". Hence the phones are designed to pass these tests and nothing more
(although in practise it's always a bit/a lot more). For instance we have
to ensure the brightness of our displays remains above a certain limit after
what Nokia have decided is 2 years use. After that they don't care what
happens.
> Also... how come phones don't cost £300 each any more?
They didn't use to either, my first phone was a Motorola brick for 80 GBP,
and my second was a Nokia 3310 for around the same price. Of course if you
want the latest all singing all dancing phone, it does, and always has, cost
a lot more. There have always been cheap ones available though.
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
>> Heh. I wonder - do they deliberately design phones to break after a
>> while?
>
> Not as such, but all the testing is designing to simulate 2 years "in
> the wild". After that they don't care what happens.
Fair enough...
>> Also... how come phones don't cost £300 each any more?
>
> They didn't use to either, my first phone was a Motorola brick for 80
> GBP, and my second was a Nokia 3310 for around the same price. Of
> course if you want the latest all singing all dancing phone, it does,
> and always has, cost a lot more. There have always been cheap ones
> available though.
Interesting. I was told (I mean, this was a while ago) that if you sign
up to an expensive monthly contract, they throw in the handset for free,
but if you buy the handset on its own, it's hundreds of pounds. So I was
quite surprised to go into a shop and find a handset for only £40.
Also, what's with all these "locked" phones? What's all that about?
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
Invisible wrote:
> Also on Friday, in a shocking turn of events, I bought a new mobile
> phone. And it didn't cost £300. I was quite surprised about that.
I'm still one of those folks who refuses to get a cell phone. (Actually,
I have a cheap prepaid one for emergencies, but that doesn't count).
Don't know about the UK, but I just think they're way overpriced here
and I have no intention of getting into a contract. And I don't like
their practices, the cell phone culture, etc.
And get off my non-existent lawn!
--
This shepherd asks his dog to please go and round up the sheep and see
how many there are...
The dog obediently rounds up the sheep and tells the boss, "there are 40
sheep out there."
The shepherd says, "Are you sure? I thought there were only 37"
The dog sheepishly says, "But I rounded them up."
/\ /\ /\ /
/ \/ \ u e e n / \/ a w a z
>>>>>>mue### [at] nawazorg<<<<<<
anl
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
Invisible wrote:
> Also, what's with all these "locked" phones? What's all that about?
It keeps you from using the phone with a different carrier. Since the
carrier subsidized the phone, they "lock" it to keep you from buying a
cheap phone from them and then using it without paying back the subsidy.
--
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:
> Invisible wrote:
> > Also, what's with all these "locked" phones? What's all that about?
> It keeps you from using the phone with a different carrier. Since the
> carrier subsidized the phone, they "lock" it to keep you from buying a
> cheap phone from them and then using it without paying back the subsidy.
IIRC, that's illegal in Finland. (Which is the reason why the Finnish
release of the iPhone has been so postponed.)
--
- Warp
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
Mueen Nawaz <m.n### [at] ieeeorg> wrote:
> I'm still one of those folks who refuses to get a cell phone. (Actually,
> I have a cheap prepaid one for emergencies, but that doesn't count).
> Don't know about the UK, but I just think they're way overpriced here
> and I have no intention of getting into a contract. And I don't like
> their practices, the cell phone culture, etc.
Don't know about how things are where you live, but at least here
cellphones are *by far* the cheapest way to own a phone line. A landline
is nowadays a lot more expensive than a cheap cellphone connection.
Especially if you don't call a lot (like in my case) it can be *ridiculously*
cheap. (My last cellphone bill was something like 23 euros. And the bill was
for the last 6 months. I actually just changed to an even cheaper contract,
so the bills will lower even from that.)
It can be very handy when your few friends can contact you anytime
anywhere.
--
- Warp
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
Warp wrote:
> IIRC, that's illegal in Finland. (Which is the reason why the Finnish
> release of the iPhone has been so postponed.)
Probably. It's a pretty annoying practice. I believe the politicians are
putting restrictions on it here, and in theory the GSM standard (IIUC)
says you're not allowed to do this either. (It would kind of defeat the
main purpose of having a SIM to start with.)
--
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
On Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:32:27 -0400, Warp wrote:
> Don't know about how things are where you live, but at least here
> cellphones are *by far* the cheapest way to own a phone line
In the US this is typically not the case, or hasn't been until recent
years. I know my mom only has a cell phone now, but she's got a pretty
good plan. Understanding cell phone plans in the US requires a degree in
advanced mathematics in many cases.
Oddly enough, gym memberships also tend to have very complicated pricing
options IME.
Jim
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
Jim Henderson wrote:
> In the US this is typically not the case, or hasn't been until recent
> years.
Yeah. When 96%+ of the households are already wired for land lines, it's
pretty cheap to get a land line connection. Cell phone prices are
coming down because of the competition here, but the whole confusopoly
of pricing is bizarre.
I saw an ad just this morning, describing how you could sign up for a
plan that would let the parents dynamically limit the number of text
messages and minutes the children could have. As in, "you didn't pass
your math test, so you only get 20 minutes of cell phone this month."
The cynical part of me immediately assumed that the phone would continue
to allow calls, and the parents would just get charged overage fees. :-)
--
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
On Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:59:15 -0700, Darren New wrote:
> Jim Henderson wrote:
>> In the US this is typically not the case, or hasn't been until recent
>> years.
>
> Yeah. When 96%+ of the households are already wired for land lines, it's
> pretty cheap to get a land line connection. Cell phone prices are
> coming down because of the competition here, but the whole confusopoly
> of pricing is bizarre.
Yeah. I don't even know what rate plan I'm on (I think it's a fixed plan
since that's the corporate standard and it's paid by the company - which
is why I don't know) + unlimited data for the BES service.
The thing that's surprised me is how much prices have increased for
landline and cable services in the last few years.
> I saw an ad just this morning, describing how you could sign up for a
> plan that would let the parents dynamically limit the number of text
> messages and minutes the children could have. As in, "you didn't pass
> your math test, so you only get 20 minutes of cell phone this month."
> The cynical part of me immediately assumed that the phone would continue
> to allow calls, and the parents would just get charged overage fees. :-)
I wonder if that's how it really would work; that'd make for a quick
sale, but not a lot of retention. Thing is, many business people seem to
only think of the quick sale.
Jim
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
Warp wrote:
>
> IIRC, that's illegal in Finland. (Which is the reason why the Finnish
> release of the iPhone has been so postponed.)
>
It's illegal in Finland, except for 3G phones.
And the locking is pretty far useless. If you can get the people to make
eg. 24-month contract (after which, at least in Finland, you have to
offer to open the phone), they will pay you the same money, even if they
used competitors SIM-card (which makes it stupid to use competitors SIM,
while it costs more, so...).
--
Eero "Aero" Ahonen
http://www.zbxt.net
aer### [at] removethiszbxtnetinvalid
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
Warp wrote:
...
> It has several cool features for games: Not only the touchscreen, but
> it can detect its own orientation with respect to the ground with a
> gravitometer (which allows the game to react when you tilt the device)
> as well as an accelerometer, which allows the game to detect if you
> move the device and do something accordingly.
> From what I have heard the gravitometer is very accurate, allowing it
> to detect even small changes in tilting (in all possible directions).
...
I would think that the gravitometer and the accelerometer is
the same thing.
It can be done with ICs like this:
http://www.hitachimetals.com/product/sensors/accelerometer/
From the key features lists:
Capable to detect "Static(Tilt) and "Dynamic"
--
Tor Olav
http://subcube.com
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
Tor Olav Kristensen wrote:
> I would think that the gravitometer and the accelerometer is
> the same thing.
It does make for some funky apps.
http://iphoneappreviews.org/mach-dice-holographic-dice-simulator/
--
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
Warp wrote:
> From what I have heard the gravitometer is very accurate, allowing it
> to detect even small changes in tilting (in all possible directions).
The accuracy is impressive, particularly noticeable on this game:
http://labyrinth.codify.se/
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
Darren New wrote:
> http://iphoneappreviews.org/mach-dice-holographic-dice-simulator/
Woah.
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
> Interesting. I was told (I mean, this was a while ago) that if you sign up
> to an expensive monthly contract, they throw in the handset for free,
Yes, usually, and the handsets you can choose from will be determined by the
contract. Obviously if they are only going to get 15 GBP from you for 12
months they are not going to offer you a 400 GBP handset for free.
> but if you buy the handset on its own, it's hundreds of pounds.
For certain handsets, yes, but there have always been cheaper ones.
> Also, what's with all these "locked" phones? What's all that about?
The phone will only work with a SIM card from a certain network, so you
can't take out your vodafone SIM card and put in an O2 one. Usually allows
you to buy the phone cheaper, as the network it is locked to can expect more
money from you than if they sold you an unlocked phone. Of course some
phones can be unlocked (although this is getting harder and harder recently)
so you might be able to buy a cheap subsidised phone, unlock it, then either
use it with another (cheaper) network, or sell the handset on ebay ;-)
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
> Yeah. When 96%+ of the households are already wired for land lines, it's
> pretty cheap to get a land line connection.
But then how much do you have to pay monthly just to keep the land line
connection turned on? Here it's usually between 5 and 20 euros. On the
other hand, most mobile phone operators will sell you a SIM card for some
very small amount (usually 10-20 euros) that then only requires that you pay
for exactly the calls you make, no monthly charges or any other costs (apart
from buying a handset initially of course). If you don't make many calls,
the mobile phone option works out much cheaper.
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
>> Interesting. I was told (I mean, this was a while ago) that if you
>> sign up to an expensive monthly contract, they throw in the handset
>> for free,
>
> Yes, usually, and the handsets you can choose from will be determined by
> the contract. Obviously if they are only going to get 15 GBP from you
> for 12 months they are not going to offer you a 400 GBP handset for free.
Well, currently I spent about £20 a year. (Do you know how many text
messages you can send with £20?)
>> but if you buy the handset on its own, it's hundreds of pounds.
>
> For certain handsets, yes, but there have always been cheaper ones.
OK. Well it's only what I've heard - that you *must* sign up to a
contract otherwise the handset you need to access the network is
impossibly expensive. I don't know if that was ever the case or if the
person in question just got their facts wrong...
>> Also, what's with all these "locked" phones? What's all that about?
>
> The phone will only work with a SIM card from a certain network, so you
> can't take out your vodafone SIM card and put in an O2 one. Usually
> allows you to buy the phone cheaper, as the network it is locked to can
> expect more money from you than if they sold you an unlocked phone. Of
> course some phones can be unlocked (although this is getting harder and
> harder recently) so you might be able to buy a cheap subsidised phone,
> unlock it, then either use it with another (cheaper) network, or sell
> the handset on ebay ;-)
The phone I purchased is locked to T-Mobile. You also have to buy a
T-Mobile SIM card and put £10 credit onto it before the handset will
work. But after that, you can put any (T-Mobile) SIM card into the phone.
It's just as well I'm already with T-Mobile, eh?
It does seem like a hell of a song and dance just to get the same
handset at half the price though...
I guess this explains the vast cottage industry of "phone unlocking"...
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
> OK. Well it's only what I've heard - that you *must* sign up to a
> contract otherwise the handset you need to access the network is
> impossibly expensive. I don't know if that was ever the case or if the
> person in question just got their facts wrong...
The phone shop makes commission for every monthly contract they sell...
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
scott wrote:
>> Yeah. When 96%+ of the households are already wired for land lines,
>> it's pretty cheap to get a land line connection.
>
> But then how much do you have to pay monthly just to keep the land line
> connection turned on? Here it's usually between 5 and 20 euros.
It's in dollars here. And if you don't make many calls, it's usually
maybe $2 to $3 per month. There are special rates for poor people here,
since it's all very regulated.
> other hand, most mobile phone operators will sell you a SIM card for
> some very small amount (usually 10-20 euros) that then only requires
> that you pay for exactly the calls you make, no monthly charges or any
> other costs (apart from buying a handset initially of course). If you
> don't make many calls, the mobile phone option works out much cheaper.
Here, yes, you can get some $10 prepaid service or some such, and it's
$0.10 to $0.25 per minute for the calls. Assuming you get connectivity
where you need it. I don't remember what the cheapest prepaid
phone-itself costs, but I think it's low tens of dollars, if my vague
memory serves. Of course, the minutes expire if you don't use them fast
enough, so there is some minimum level you have to pay on that too, at
least in the USA.
--
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
> Of course, the minutes expire if you don't use them fast enough, so there
> is some minimum level you have to pay on that too, at least in the USA.
AT&T (previously Cingular) offers pre-paid phones with rollover
and 90 days. The lowest value card to renew the service is $15.
The call rates are 50 cents a minute, + $1 a day use.
If you don't use the phone much, and renew it before the end of
service to keep your rollover, this ends up being a good deal (~$5 month).
It's probably not the best if you use it more often.
My brother is considering dropping Verizon, they have poor
coverage in Sitka, AK. He can't get on-line at all, and the
voice calls cut out.
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
Warp wrote:
> Don't know about how things are where you live, but at least here
> cellphones are *by far* the cheapest way to own a phone line. A landline
> is nowadays a lot more expensive than a cheap cellphone connection.
Where I live, I was getting a $12/mo for having a landline, and 5 cents
for each (local) call (cheaper in the daytime). Total would be under
$20/mo. Or you could pay about $22/mo to get unlimited local calls. If I
wanted to make long distance calls, I'd have to use a prepaid card (say
2-3 cents/minute), or get a long distance plan. I used to make lots of
long distance calls, but rarely do now.
With a typical cell phone plan, you can call anywhere in the country
and get "charged" the same. Most people either have to pay $30 + taxes
(comes to about $35) or if they talk as much as I do/did, they'll have
to opt for a $40 + tax (about $46/mo). Keep in mind that these prices
are with the contracts - which are now often 2 years instead of 1 year.
Even with lots of long distance calls, I wouldn't hit the $35 that
you'd get with the cheapest reasonable cell phone plan.
Prepaid phones here are no good if you talk quite a bit, or even a
moderate amount. I think the cheapest I've seen is 10 cents a minute,
with a requirement of a minimum $10/mo. I have one that only requires
$20 for every three months, but the per minute charge is much more
(hence only for emergency purposes).
I have neither. I have a VoIP line. Can call anywhere in the country.
Unlimited minutes. $20/mo. Good quality - no one can tell.
> Especially if you don't call a lot (like in my case) it can be *ridiculously*
> cheap. (My last cellphone bill was something like 23 euros. And the bill was
> for the last 6 months. I actually just changed to an even cheaper contract,
> so the bills will lower even from that.)
That's ridiculously cheap. Over here, if you're not on prepaid, you'll
pay almost that much for one month (with, say, only 300 daytime minutes
per month). As I said, prepaid is expensive here and not a viable option.
> It can be very handy when your few friends can contact you anytime
> anywhere.
That's the cell phone culture part I was complaining about.
I 'm not big on being connected. I don't do IM (used to, quit it years
ago). And I really don't want to be called when I'm driving, in a queue
somewhere, or walking to work, or at work. I could turn the cell phone
off, but that would require turning it on and off far too often in one
day. More irritatingly, at least over here, people won't understand a
person like me who has a cell phone, carries it around, but has it off
most of the time. But if I have a landline, they totally understand.
If cell phones were cheaper than all other options, I'd likely get it
and keep it at home.<G>
Cell phones are quite convenient when arranging things with friends
(e.g. picking people up, etc). And I do use my cell phone for that
purpose, as that requires only a few minutes (i.e. less than 10) a week.
Otherwise, it stays off. Which is convenient, because I dislike having
to charge stuff up often (cell phones, PDA's, etc).
--
BASIC isn't; C stands for Confusing...
/\ /\ /\ /
/ \/ \ u e e n / \/ a w a z
>>>>>>mue### [at] nawazorg<<<<<<
anl
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
Tim Attwood wrote:
> AT&T (previously Cingular) offers pre-paid phones with rollover
Shouldn't that be:
AT&T (previously Cingular (previously AT&T))?
> and 90 days. The lowest value card to renew the service is $15.
> The call rates are 50 cents a minute, + $1 a day use.
> If you don't use the phone much, and renew it before the end of
> service to keep your rollover, this ends up being a good deal (~$5 month).
> It's probably not the best if you use it more often.
I use Virgin Mobile. When I signed up, they required $20 for every 3
months, with rollover. The first ten minutes on any given day was 25
cents each, with 10 cents/minute for each minute after those ten on that
day.
I think now their plan is just a fixed 17 cents/minute (still $20 every
3 months with rolling).
It may be cheaper depending on your usage. Suits me fine. Only once did
I exceed those $20 in a 3 month period.
--
BASIC isn't; C stands for Confusing...
/\ /\ /\ /
/ \/ \ u e e n / \/ a w a z
>>>>>>mue### [at] nawazorg<<<<<<
anl
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
"Mueen Nawaz" <m.n### [at] ieeeorg> wrote in message
news:48b639a9@news.povray.org...
> Cell phones are quite convenient when arranging things with friends (e.g.
> picking people up, etc). And I do use my cell phone for that purpose, as
> that requires only a few minutes (i.e. less than 10) a week. Otherwise, it
> stays off. Which is convenient, because I dislike having to charge stuff
> up often (cell phones, PDA's, etc).
Mobile/cell phones are just SO handy for emergencies. Anything else is
a waste of time and money imo.
(Apart from talking to friends of course... ;))
~Steve~
Post a reply to this message
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
