I'm very pleased
Written: Aug 12 '03
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Pros: Very clear, easy to read bill, free sprint to sprint features, very clear sound quality
Cons: no sms messaging for cross platform, too many inboxes and redundant features
The Bottom Line: Good coverage, clear voice, web, sprint to sprint and numerous other things make it a great buy. If your a text message freak, stay away unless everyone has sprint.
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| jnoschese's Full Review: Sprint Mobile Phone Service in New York |
I hate cell phones, but it's one of those things that I need. I will try my best to talk as little as much about my actual phone and previous service, and try to focus on just "SprintPCS."
Since I hate talking on the phone, my main reason of owning a cell phone is simply for text messaging, and when I'm not in my normal area, like traveling for business.
I've had other service for about 6 years and have finally decided step into the new millenium and change my long hated service and my Nokia 8260 phone that was slowly falling apart. My biggest problem before was roaming. For some reason I talk on the phone when I'm not in town, otherwise I barely use my minutes. Maybe because I'm around the people I need to talk to...
Phone Usage
SprintPCS phone usage is excellent. The sound quality of the voice is probably much clearer than my regular land line phone. Very professional level sounding. I was quiet impressed. In fact, I have my phone on the lowest sound level possible, and I have somewhat of a hearing problem from loud stereos and walkman's.
Got A Signal?
One big part of when I'm traveling is that either I can't get a signal, or I'm roaming, or wait-- maybe I'm extended area. Well, whatever the case, it's all "roaming" to me. I understand that Extended area means i'm on my network, just not in my area, but, I seemed to be flipped with a $600 bill with my old service because I was roaming. I even get that when it said my own providers plan.
Sprint makes it very simple, along with my phone. I can set my phone so that if I'm roaming, it won't even look for another network, but I wanted to give it a test. I went to some of the places I normally "can't" get a signal, and was able to get a signal. This included, certain spots on the beach, "the black holes in a friends house," and the ultimate-- Penn Station underground waiting for the LIRR to depart. While never previously able to get a signal down there, there are some people who are able to. I don't even want my phone on when I'm on the train because I hate when people talk on theres, but, I just wanted to see what we got. Well, I wasn't able to get Sprint's service, but I was able to roam down there, which is 50% improved over before.
Web-Enabled Phones
I felt that this was a big part. A friend of mine who currently lives in Colorado (more on this later) has had SprintPCS for quiet a long time now. I've seen him use the web a little bit, and it would be a nice added feature to have.
I find it to be somewhat slow, but useful. Nowadays everything seems to be WAP enabled, so it's getting pretty easy to find your favorite websites converted from the HTML to WML markup language. One of them being MapQuest @ http://wireless.mapquest.com/wml. I find this could always be helpful when in the middle of no where and need some quick directions. It's very easy to find news, weather and other things online as well. Sprint's homepage is filled with plenty of those types of things plus with intergration of Yahoo's Suite and AOL's Instant Messenger. Not meant to be used as a laptop, the graphics are as good as your phone is, and speed is a little better than 56k modem with a full 4 bars-- on my current phone.
Other neat tricks I think is a nice feature is with a USB cable, I can connect my phone to a laptop and get use the cell phone as a modem creating a cell phone modem and getting internet access virtually anywhere.
Text Messaging
The text messaging is horrible, simply put. Based from a previous phone using SMS, this service does not have that. Sprint sets you up with what seems like 18 different email addresses, going into different mailboxes. I'm very tech savvy and even I get confused with what inbox I really want to use. "PCS Mail," which I really don't enjoy to use, doesn't even give my phone notification I received a new message. However, "Short mail" does, but it's a little bit tidious to and you have to setup your contacts again, even syncing your contacts with Sprint's website, puts them in PCS Mail which I consider a dead feature since it doesn't notify my phone.
Text Messaging a SprintPCS friend is a different story. It works in the exact same fashion as my old phone and SMS phones. In fact, It's even better. I can send a picture I just took, a voice memo, AND a text message at the same time, very easily and quickly like it should be. You would think I could just send a message like that to a non sprintpcs customer, but it doesn't seem to work that way.
Camera Features
Ahh.. Camera features-- very nice feature. I love this about my phone, but I'm not sure if the problem lies in my phone or the service at this point. Again, I'm confused with what accounts do what and where my things are actually saved. My phone actually features a picture wallet where I can store the images on my phone, but can't move them out of there back to my sprintpcs account. Otherwise, I have two areas where my pictures are stored, and things tend to get confusing when I have 3 of the same pictures "on my phone"--or are they.
SprintPCS to SprintPCS
Two of my friends who have SprintPCS, both live far away from me. One in Colorado, the other in Florida. I talk to them both all the time, and for an extra $5 a month, I'm able to talk to them for as long as I want. I save so much money this way, and you could too-- as long as everyone has Sprint..
The Plans/Rates
The rates are....good. I won't go into pricing because it's always changing. It seems the rates and plans get better as you go into higher priced areas, so sharing a plan with someone might be the way to go, although I'm living cheaper with this phone than my other phone already, and I know exactly what I'm paying for. My old service couldn't even spell my name correctly, even after the 3 times I told them to fix it.
Customer Support
I haven't really had to deal with them yet. I called once on my phone, which was built into my phone. My call was answered in less than 2 minutes, and all I needed to do was changing my plan from 1 year to 2 year contact so I could get the bigger rebate. No big deal and worked out ok for me, so I can't really comment too much in this area.
Over your minutes?
I have to say another thing about my old service was it was nearly impossible how to figure out how many minutes I had left in my plan and then my bill two months later would be 8 million dollars-- Sprint makes it a snap by viewing it directly on its website via your phone. This is an excellent feature. I know when and where I can use my phone without going over.
In The End
In conclusion, I have to say that I'm very happy with the service. I've updated myself with a color screen, a fun little camera, nice sounding ringtones I can actually make myself-- web services which means I can virtually get to ANYTHING in the world if I need to, a cheaper plan, crystal clear sound, and I can find service when I need it.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 50
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Epinions.com ID:
jnoschese
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Location: Long Beach, NY
Reviews written: 68
Trusted by: 5 members
About Me:
Insane New Yorker with a knack for electronics
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