Nextel - Your One Device Solution!
Written: Apr 03 '01 (Updated Aug 28 '01)
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Pros: Direct Connect, Unlimited wireless web, Wireless email, Cost effective for heavy users of airtime.
Cons: The Direct Connect feature does NOT work outside your area. Phones only work on Nextel.
The Bottom Line: Nextel? You may have heard a lot of bad comments about this service. So had I. This deserves a second look though. Much better coverage and service than average.
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| mas90guru's Full Review: Nextel Mobile Phone Service in Hartford |
I recently found a Nextel i1000 Plus phone for $19.99 on Buy.com and decided to try out this service.
I signed up for the 400 minute a month plan. So far I've been rather pleasantly surprised. I live in Glastonbury, Connecticut and wasn't sure what the coverage would be, but it has been much more solid than what I expected.
The rates that are charged by Nextel are near the higher end of the scale - but they have started to offer some good plans. They presently (as of August 2001) are offering 200 bonus minutes on plans over $49/month -- which makes their per-minute fees more in line with competitors.
Whether this service works for you depends entirely on your location. If you have good solid coverage you'll love it. Unfortunately there is not way to really tell if you will like the service without trying it. I think Buy.com offers the least expensive phones to try Nextel and I think you have a 30 day return period.
I had read MANY comments about how difficult it was to get through to Nextel customer service - but unless I just happened to hit it right -- I called 3 x and didn't wait more than 5 minutes on any of those calls (weekdays).
UPDATE 5-31-2001
Well I went and got another Nextel phone so that I could direct connect. So far I have to say after two months I am very pleased with this service. You read a LOT of bad information about how terrible the service footprint is -- but where I travel it has been very good. The direct connect has been very reliable. I have subscribed to the Nextel unlimited incoming call plan which I believe is giving me the equivalent of a 1,500 minute per month plan for $79.
UPDATE 8-28-2001
I am up to three phones on this plan. The Direct Connect feature now allows you to contact users outside your company. By the end of 2002 you should be able to Direct Connect with anyone nationwide. I purchased the i85 and i55 phones and like them. I think the better phone is the i85 for not much more reason than it has speaker phone and styles (ways to change settings like ring volume, tone - quickly). Otherwise the two phones seem identical. Coverage all over has been great. I took the phone to Lake Winnipesauke NH and Palm Springs CA and Martha's Vineyard all without any service interruption (except the direct connect doesn't work).
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): $19
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Epinions.com ID:
mas90guru
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Member: Wayne Schulz
Location: Glastonbury, CT
Reviews written: 56
Trusted by: 9 members
About Me:
Glastonbury CT Technology Consultant for MAS90 and MAS200 accounting software.
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