"jeff" <jeff_philNOSPAM@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:108recb56sj2qae@corp.supernews.com
> "Peter Pan" <Marcs1102NOSPAM@Hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:c6k90s$css2h$1@ID-190045.news.uni-berlin.de...
>>
>> If you are talking aircard in extended network areas, no it sometimes
>> (usually when you want it to) doesn't work. Hard to tell if it will
>> or won't. For instance, I was in South Carolina on Alltel and it
>> worked, but when in Saginaw Michigan, it didn't. You may want to
>> look on verizons website at a national access map, it is much
>> smaller area than Americas choice, but should give you some idea of
>> area that it may work in.
>>
>
> I don't understand. Saginaw, Michigan is and always has been a native
> Verizon coverage area from the days of Airtouch. It's certainly not
> extended network. Do you mean there are areas that Verizon owns the
> towers themselves but does not provide data service? I had thought
> the difference between America's Choice and National Access was that
> National Access was just Verizon's native towers, while America's
> Choice included their roaming partners.
>
> -Jeff

Yes, at the time I was in Saginaw, I was on Thumb Cellular, not verizon,
which at that time (a few years back) was extended network. I have no idea
if it is data capable now, just know it wasn't in 1999. The SC was about a
year ago (lake Murray area, near Columbia SC). Bottom line for me is that
you never actually know until you try it if it shows as extended. With some
PRL's, Alltell shows as extended, but with some it doesn't.

Jeff,

If you are interested in aquiring mobitex service, may I suggest you contact
Joe Foley at Cingular Interactive. His number is 732 602 5541. I'm sure he
can assist you with any questions, and most probably, will be able to hook you up.

CAT


"jeff" <jeff_philNOSPAM@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:<108ofl6339m30b9@corp.supernews.com>...
> I run a business and need to be able to access my company's web admin server
> when customers call. Unfortunately sometimes they call at times when I'm not
> anywhere near a computer, so I would like to be able to access my web server
> on a PDA. I need a full blown web browser that can handle SSL connections,
> not some cheesy WAP browser.
>
> I live out in the boonies in Michigan's Thumb area. The only towers
> available here that I am aware of are Thumb Cellular (CDMA), Dobson Cellular
> One (GSM), and Nextel (IDEN). Also, there is Cingular's Mobitex data service
> out here, but they don't have voice cellular service in the area and refuse
> to sign me up. (I could use a fake billing address I suppose.)
>
> I use Verizon Wireless for my voice calls, which works great because Thumb
> Cellular is a free "extended network" area on America's Choice. (Where as if
> I signed up through Thumb Cellular locally I'd be roaming on Verizon and
> wouldn't get any freebies like nights and weekends or anything when I go
> anywhere). I don't think that Thumb Cellular has any sort of data service
> offering beyond just SMS text messaging, and since it's an extended area I
> imagine you can't use Verizon Express Network here either. I don't know if
> Dobson Cellular One does anything, but I don't really care either because
> their service is crap.
>
> I commonly go away on weekends and things, so I am interested in trying out
> this "Express Network Minutes of Use" thing that some of the Verizon people
> keep talking about. I mean, if it just uses my minutes and I have free
> weekend minutes when I'm down in the Verizon area on weekends, I might as
> well use it. Right?
>
> Can I get online with a PDA out in the Thumb area with my Verizon phone
> service while roaming as extended network on Thumb Cellular? I mean, I know
> you can't use the "express network" here, but can I get online with say a
> modem call to my ISP or something? If so, I could just use that for now
> until my usage gets to a point where I'd need to get it on a seperate plan.
>
> Eventually I would like to be able to talk on the phone at the same time as
> surfing the net (so that I can access the customer's account info on my PDA
> while I'm talking to them on the phone). That would mean a whole seperate
> rate plan wouldn't it? Obviously in that case, I'd like to get something
> that would allow me to use it both in the Thumb area as well as outside the
> Thumb, so I don't think Verizon would be a good choice for that... Unless
> they offer a good deal on roaming data service, if such a thing is even
> available.
>
> Otherwise, I guess I'll have to get either Cingular's Mobitex service which
> is a total rip on the prices -- don't they charge by the killobyte? Or, I
> could get Nextel's packetstream thing but that sounds rather expensive. Is
> there any other options?
>
> What PDA can I use with these things? Is there a device that would work with
> both Verizon and with Nextel? I'm thinking... Nextel has one of those PCMCIA
> card jobies to use with their service. Until I get to using it enough to
> require it's own rate plan, I could maybe plug the PDA into my Verizon phone
> for now? Would that work?
>
> If I get stuck paying per the minute or per killobyte, on either Cingular
> Mobitex or Nextel PacketStream, could I still use the free weekends on
> Verizon Express Network Minutes of Use on the same PDA?
>
> Thanks,
> Jeff