A scathing review of Sprint PCS Vision: If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
Written: Jan 10 '03
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Pros: Fair reception, the original wireless-web plan was great. Unlimited wireless-web with the new Vision plan.
Cons: Unlimited web minutes don't get you very far when the web doesn't WORK.
The Bottom Line: Sprint: Leave well enough alone! Basic wireless web was GOOD. Vision... is NOT.
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| lizzamay's Full Review: Sprint Mobile Phone Service in Los Angeles |
I've been a Sprint PCS user since September of 2001. When I originally got it, I was thrilled with my new service and my precious SCH-8500 phone. I got a plan with lots of minutes, because most of my cell-phone time was spent surfing the wireless web, checking email, and chatting with friends on AIM-mobile. I'll admit it -- I'm a geek.
My phone started acting up a bit, though -- probably because I'm a klutz -- so I decided to get a new one. However, I couldn't find a new SCH-8500, and besides, I wanted the newest technology! So I bought the SPH-A500 -- you know, that color one with the polyphonic sound and stuff. I figured it'd be a blast -- the new phone was enabled with SprintPCS's new Vision feature, which was apparently supposed to be some sort of upgrade to the wireless web service. How WRONG could I be? Let me count the ways.
First, Vision is NOT set up with AOL Instant Messenger. I lost the ability to contact my friends instantly via the web; sure, text messages are great -- but AOL worked better for me.
Second, you have to access the web to retrieve text messages sent to you from other cell phones. This would be fine, except the web doesn't actually WORK half the time. I get lots and lots of errors.
Third, Yahoo doesn't seem to like Vision either. On my old phone I pulled all my email into Yahoo via POP3 access. When I tried it on the new phone, it wouldn't access Yahoo even though it was linked on the main "email" page. I tried going to mobile.yahoo.com and that didn't work either. Finally a Sprint Customer Service rep told me to use wap.yahoo.co.uk or something to that effect. The old Yahoo didn't make me log in every time. The new one does. Blech.
Fourth... SPEAKING of logging in. Do you remember those little papers you'd get passed to you in elementary school? They'd have, "How to keep an idiot busy -- turn over." written on both sides. You remember, right? When I try to log into SprintPCS webmail (using the phone), I get a login screen. I log in, and it shows me how many messages I have in my mailbox. I click on the inbox. It gives me another login screen. I log in. It shows me how many messages I have in my mailbox. I click on the inbox. It gives me another login screen. Are we noticing a pattern here? Ultimately I wind up checking my SprintPCS mail on my home computer, which kind of defeats the purpose of having SprintPCS mail, doesn't it?
Fifth, just about the only thing that ALWAYS works on the phone is the access to downloadable ringtones and games. This is lovely, except that you have to pay $1 to $5 for every download ($1-$2 for ringtones, and $3-$5 for games). Even THIS would be lovely, except that games carry a 30 to 90 day expiration date. Thus, you have to pay to download games, some of which you could previously play online (true, you had to fork over minutes to play, but that's what nights and weekends were for!), AND you have to pay every couple months if you want to keep your access to the game! Seems like a money-mongering scam to me.
Sixth -- back to that connection thing. As I've told Sprint reps time and time again, unlimited wireless web doesn't do you any good if the wireless web service doesn't actually WORK. More often than not, whatever page I try to access is either "unavailable" or generates an error -- and mind you, these are pages linked through the Vision home page. As I mentioned before, the only pages that consistently work are the ones that involve sucking more money out of my wallet.
I could go on and on with all my gripes regarding Vision, but I think you get the point.
I'm also a little bit irked by this "Claire" character, introduced by SprintPCS a while back in order to -- I don't know, make people think they were talking to a real person so they wouldn't actually ASK to talk to a real person? In the old days I could call *2, and hit zero to talk to an agent. Now I have to listen to this computer-generated politeness for at least a minute or two, and then I have to press zero several times until FINALLY she says, "Okay, let me get someone to help you!" And when I finally DO get on the phone with a rep, their usual line goes something like this:
"We're working on that, ma'am."
"We're still smoothing out bugs."
"Hmmm. I don't know what to tell you."
"Everything should be working within a month or two."
Gee. Thanks.
*Please note that my ratings only apply to Vision and not to basic PCS service*
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): n/a
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Epinions.com ID:
lizzamay
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Member: Lisa, aka Lizza
Location: Southern CA
Reviews written: 88
Trusted by: 147 members
About Me:
I was gone... but I'm back!
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