[Vision2020] Cell Phones . . . and Pocket PC GPS

[Saundra Lund]

In part, Pat Kraut wrote:
"I use a cell TracPhone."

Thanks, Pat & everyone else who shared their wisdom & experiences!

Unfortunately, I'm still cell-phone-less.

I think Pat & Donovan both shared their comments about TracFone, and I also got
a few private responses with all kinds of helpful information, including some
more positive comments about TracFone.  That option sounded like it might be
perfect for my needs, and they actually had a phone I thought I could live with.

And, I have to say I'm jealous of those of you who've had good luck with
TracFone because my luck was worse than terrible  :-(  After purchasing three
different phones from two merchants in 24 hours, running back & forth to make
the exchanges, spending time waiting for three batteries to charge, and spending
about four hours on the Web and landline phone trying to get the darn thing
activated, I've given up.

Supposedly, all *three* of the phones I purchased were defective.  TracFone's
solution was to have me send the phone to their warehouse (on my dime, no less)
and they'd send me a new phone via a slow boat from China about five days after
they received the defective phone.  That was unacceptable to me, which is why I
tried three different phones in less than 24 hours.  And, none of the three
could be activated because they are "defective" -- I'm wondering if they are
having problems with quality control or what!

Today, I have to return the third phone to one store & the accessories to the
first store.  I'm really hoping I won't be stuck with the useless prepaid
minutes I purchased -- they won't do me any good without a phone that can be
activated.  They are supposedly non-refundable, but I'll see about that!

So, while I'm very glad for those of you for whom TracFone works well, I have to
give it a BIG thumbs down.

I spent way too much time researching other options today once it became clear
that TracFone just isn't going to work for me.  And, I've a couple of more
questions I'm hoping some might be able to answer for me.

First, does anyone know if Qwest Wireless is available here?  If I'm going to
have to bite the bullet and pay for monthly service (and that's not something
I've decided yet -- I may just bag the whole idea), it looks like they might
have a plan I could be happy with.  And, while I got some great private
comments, no one mentioned Qwest.  So, does anyone know if it's available here?

Second, it seems to me I read "something" "somewhere" about Verizon requesting a
zoning variance to put a tower, I think, up here, maybe near the water tower in
the Lyle Rotary Park on E Street.  Does that sound familiar to anyone?  If so,
I'm confused because when I was trying to find out about Verizon Wireless today,
their Web site said that service isn't available for our ZIP code.  Can anyone
clarify this for me?

Finally, one of the reasons I was thinking about getting a cell phone is because
I travel a fair amount, and pay phones aren't always easy to find -- and when I
do find them, they aren't always in areas where I particularly want to be out of
the car alone.  And, as some people know, I have a negative sense of direction,
so it's not at all rare for me to get lost and need to call for directions
<sigh>.

So, one option I've been considering after my dismal failure with TracFone is
forgetting all about a cell phone and instead getting a GPS-type thing to use
with my Pocket PC.  Has anyone used those, and if so, what do you think of what
you use?

That option wouldn't address my desire for a cell phone for emergencies, but . .
. 


TIA,
Saundra Lund
Moscow, ID

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do
nothing.
-Edmund Burke



-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com] On
Behalf Of Pat Kraut
Sent: Saturday, August 07, 2004 10:06 PM
To: vision2020
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Cell Phones

I use a cell TracPhone. There is an initial cost getting the phone (at
Walmart, $50.00) Then I buy a card for the time on the phone. No bills, no
mail about it. I add the new time on line and occasionally get an email from
them but no spam. It is great in the van when going to Spokane. I highly
recommend them.
Pat
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Saundra Lund" <sslund at adelphia.net>
To: <Vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 7:48 AM
Subject: [Vision2020] Cell Phones


> Visionaries:
>
> In some ways, I'm a techno-geek, but not in other ways.  Perhaps I'm the
last
> person in America (at least, according to my daughter), but I have
resisted the
> cell phone revolution to the core of my being.  While I could understand
how one
> might come in handy a few times a year, and I've always seen the benefit
of
> having one for emergency use, I was unwilling to pay a monthly charge for
> something I'd use so little.  Too, I've known people who had cell phones
going
> way back to the early days when having one didn't necessarily mean being
able to
> make a connection due to geographical challenges.
>
> However, I've been told that reception is better and now there are
pre-paid
> calling cards so someone like me willing to purchase the cell phone isn't
> shelling out a good chunk of change monthly for something that will be
used
> *very little*.
>
> Can anyone shed more light on this for me?
>
>
> TIA,
> Saundra Lund
> Moscow, ID