Wireless Phone Options
We tackle the wireless mess and discuss devices, service plans, and more.James A. Martin
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Feature: Untangling Wireless Phone Options
Ever since number portability kicked in last November, wireless phone service providers have been scrambling to keep subscribers from defecting with increasingly competitive offers. That's the good news.
The bad news? All those new offers make it more difficult than ever to figure out which provider to choose, which phone will best suit your wireless voice and data needs, and which service plan to pick.
It's as if instead of "Can you hear me now?" the cell phone companies are asking, "Do you have even the slightest clue what we're saying?"
So join me now for what I hope will be a few moments of clarity.
Which Provider?
If you're itching to switch providers, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Consumer Satisfaction Leader: Verizon Wireless routinely ranks highest in customer satisfaction surveys.
In the February issue of Consumer Reports, Verizon Wireless ranked highest in each of the 12 metro areas covered in its survey of some 31,000 subscribers to the magazine's Web site. Verizon Wireless was tops in Consumer Reports' similar survey the year before.
Verizon Wireless also ranked number one in a J.D. Power & Associates recent survey of overall customer satisfaction.
Customer-Service Issues? At the opposite end of the customer satisfaction scale, AT&T Wireless, Cingular, and Sprint PCS were among the bottom dwellers in the 12 metro areas surveyed by Consumer Reports. Sprint PCS and T-Mobile were last in the J.D. Powers & Associates survey.
Most Complaints: In another recent report, AT&T Wireless was the leader--in consumer complaints. According to information from the Federal Communications Commission obtained by The Wall Street Journal, AT&T Wireless had the most complaints about everything from billing to number portability, followed by Sprint PCS, T-Mobile, Cingular Wireless, and Nextel. The company with the fewest complaints? No surprise here: Verizon Wireless.
Nobody's Perfect: Even though Verizon Wireless came out best in all three surveys, it didn't escape complaints, either. In fact, the Consumer Reports survey found that overall consumer satisfaction with wireless services is below average, compared to other services the magazine tracks, such as cable TV. Verizon Wireless simply had fewer complaints compared to its rivals.
Survey results don't always tell the whole story, of course. But when surveys conducted by three different and respected entities come to similar findings, that's worth paying attention to. My contract with AT&T Wireless expires soon, and you can bet I'll be taking a long look at Verizon Wireless.
The Consumer Reports Web site is for paid subscribers. But USA Today's Web site has a story about the Consumer Reports survey results. And you can check out the J.D. Powers & Associates ratings for providers in your area.
Which Device?
Picking a wireless phone is a tough decision. You'll want to ask yourself the following questions: Are you primarily in need of a mobile phone, with occasional access to e-mail and Web browsing? Then check out the Web-enabled cell phones that your carrier--or the one you're defecting to--offers. Do you send and read lots of e-mail on the run, even more than you use a phone? Take a look at some PDA/phone devices that PC World editors have reviewed recently. The combo devices listed below offer e-mail and Internet capability as well as voice services
PalmOne Treo 600. Offered by AT&T Wireless, Cingular, and Sprint PCS for about $500 to $700 depending on plan. This mobile phone/digital camera combo comes loaded with a Web browser, e-mail, and DataViz Documents To Go 6.0. Add an external keyboard and it's a notebook alternative, too.
T-Mobile Sidekick. Offered by T-Mobile for about $250, this gadget looks rather like a tiny laptop, with its flip-up screen and thumb keyboard. In addition to its telephone capabilities, it delivers e-mail, Web browsing, and a digital camera in a fun, slick package. The Sidekick can't sync with the Palm OS or Microsoft Outlook, however.
RIM BlackBerry 7210/7230. Each model sells for about $400: The 7210 is offered by AT&T Wireless; the 7230 (which supports European and Asian wireless services) is available from T-Mobile. Either version is worth considering for CrackBerry addicts who want e-mail and voice services in one device.
Questions to Ask
Wireless phone plan rates are all over the map, varying by geographic region, carrier, type of service, and so on. Here are a few things to consider before you sign up for a plan:
What is the length of the contract? Pay close attention to this, because some of those sweet new deals on handsets and service plans require a two-year commitment instead of the once-standard one-year agreement.
Will the phone work overseas? If this is important to you, shop for a world phone that operates on the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) and/or GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) technologies. Those frequencies are standard in Europe and many other countries and are increasingly being adopted in the U.S. by wireless carriers. Also, you'll need to sign up for an international calling plan.
What's involved in porting a wireless phone number? By now, some of the initial wrinkles in number portability have been ironed out. But be sure to read "Tips and Tricks for Number Portability" for tips and tricks on taking your number with you.
Additional Resources
Your Turn
Are you particularly happy with your wireless phone provider? Is there a wireless voice/data device you can't live without it? Send me your stories.
Notebooks & Accessories
News: HP Updates Its DVD Writer
Hewlett-Packard has updated its popular Dc3000 device, an external VHS-tape-to-DVD burner, with the new DVD Moviewriter Dc4000. The Dc4000 writes at 8X speeds on DVD+R and DVD-R media and at 4X speeds on DVD+RW and DVD-RW media. The DVD burner will be available this spring for $299.
News: EMachines Notebooks Accelerate Into the Fast Lane
EMachines' latest notebooks feature 64-bit mobile processors from Advanced Micro Devices. The chips promise significantly faster speeds in handling data-intensive tasks such as audio encoding and games than the still-standard 32-bit processors. The top model, the M6807 ($1649), also ships with a DVD±RW drive, weighs about 7.5 pounds, and includes a six-in-one media reader, among other features. EMachines notebooks are sold at Best Buy and Circuit City.
PDAs & Gadgets
News: One-Stop Shop for PDA Styli
Styluscentral.com has tons of PDA styli and multifunction pens available, along with other accessories such as cases and keyboards. The site promises that all products are 100 percent satisfaction guaranteed, though I couldn't find any specific details about returns and exchanges. There's a toll number to call with questions, though: 401/738-8000, extension 3.
News: Fossil PDA Watch Is Late
The release of Fossil's Palm OS-based smart watch, originally expected to be available by mid 2003, is now due for release by this summer, the company says. The watch that was due last year has been abandoned in favor of a less expensive, more powerful model, the company says.
News: Backing Up Without a Computer
The Kanguru Solutions' Kanguru FC-RW sounds like one more reason to leave my notebook at home when I travel. The FC-RW is a portable device that can back up files from seven different flash media types, such as Sony Memory Stick, Secure Digital, and MultiMediaCard, onto CD. Without needing a computer, the $200 flash card reader/CD burner lets you back up flash card files (such as digital camera images) onto CD. Then you can erase the files on your flash cards and snap more photos. When connected to a PC's USB 2.0 or 1.1 port, you can also use the FC-RW as an external flash card reader or CD burner, the company says.
Wireless
News: Power on the Run
Mobile phones--particularly models with built-in cameras and gorgeous color screens--can drain battery power quickly. Compact Power Systems' portable Cellboost, a disposable recharger that weighs less than an ounce, can provide an additional hour of talk time and up to 60 hours of standby time, according to the company. The company sells rechargers for Motorola, Nokia, Samsung Electronics, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications, LG Electronics, and Siemens handsets. You can find them for $6 at Buy.com.
Review: IM on the Go
PDAapps' Verichat application provides wireless Palm OS users with instant messaging access to IM pals on AIM, ICQ, MSN, and Yahoo, says PC World reviewer Denny Arar. You don't have to be in the application for it to know when you're online and inform your buddies, either. Just launch the app, switch to another program, and you'll be buzzed when somebody sends you an IM. You can try the program for free for 15 days. After that, an annual subscription is $25 for the first year and $20 thereafter.
Suggestion Box
Is there a particularly cool mobile computing product or service I've missed? Got a spare story idea in your back pocket? Tell me about it.