The Consumer's Guide to Wireless Phones and Service Plans

Everything You Need to Choose the Right Brandwith the Right Feature Sets for Your Needsbull Complete Coverage of All Major Vendor Phones

and Service Plans Including Nokia MotorolaSprint EricssonVerizon ATampT WirelessNextel and More

bull Answers Your Questions About Family PlansRoaming Packages and Prepaid Plans

bull Tells You What ldquoFree Long Distancerdquo Really Means and Deciphers Misleading or Confusing Service Plans

GetConnected IncJeff McLaughlinBeverly LeDonne

Consumerrsquos Guide to

1 YEAR UPGRADEB U Y E R P R O T E C T I O N P L A N

solutio n s s y n g r e s s c o m

With more than 1500000 copies of our MCSE MCSD CompTIA andCisco study guides in print we continue to look for ways we canbetter serve the information needs of our readers One way we dothat is by listening

Readers like yourself have been telling us they want an Internet-based service that would extend and enhance the value of ourbooks Based on reader feedback and our own strategic plan wehave created a Web site that we hope will exceed your expectations

Solutionssyngresscom is an interactive treasure trove of usefulinformation focusing on our book topics and related technologiesThe site offers the following features

One-year warranty against content obsolescence due tovendor product upgrades You can access online updates forany affected chapters

ldquoAsk the Authorrdquo customer query forms that enable you topost questions to our authors and editors

Exclusive monthly mailings in which our experts provideanswers to reader queries and clear explanations of complexmaterial

Regularly updated links to sites specially selected by our edi-tors for readers desiring additional reliable information onkey topics

Best of all the book yoursquore now holding is your key to this amazingsite Just go to wwwsyngresscomsolutions and keep this bookhandy when you register to verify your purchase

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve your needs Andbe sure to let us know if therersquos anything else we can do to helpyou get the maximum value from your investment Wersquore listening

wwwsyngresscomsolutions

165_cell_ aFMqk 111201 157 PM Page i

165_cell_ aFMqk 111201 157 PM Page ii

GetConnected Inc

Jeff McLaughlin

Beverly LeDonne

165_cell_ aFMqk 111201 158 PM Page iii

Syngress Publishing Inc the author(s) and any person or firm involved in the writing editingor production (collectively ldquoMakersrdquo) of this book (ldquothe Workrdquo) do not guarantee or warrant theresults to be obtained from the Work

There is no guarantee of any kind expressed or implied regarding the Work or its contentsTheWork is sold AS IS and WITHOUT WARRANTY You may have other legal rights which varyfrom state to state

In no event will Makers be liable to you for damages including any loss of profits lost savings orother incidental or consequential damages arising out from the Work or its contents Becausesome states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidentaldamages the above limitation may not apply to you

You should always use reasonable care including backup and other appropriate precautionswhen working with computers networks data and files

Syngress Mediareg SyngressregldquoAsk the Author UPDATEregrdquo and ldquoCareer Advancement ThroughSkill Enhancementregrdquo are registered trademarks of Syngress Publishing IncldquoMission CriticaltraderdquoldquoHack Proofingtraderdquo and ldquoThe Only Way to Stop a Hacker is to Think Like Onetraderdquo are trademarksof Syngress Publishing Inc Brands and product names mentioned in this book are trademarks orservice marks of their respective companies

KEY SERIAL NUMBER001 H3N5A7S9C9002 M93C5S5SB2003 CMN23CBN25004 JRN21AEN54005 DEN55KJN81006 ACS26DMD27007 QRD34MNB54008 D94H97S983009 EMS36JVP35010 W2KNOAD147

PUBLISHED BYSyngress Publishing Inc800 Hingham StreetRockland MA 02370

The Consumerrsquos Guide to Wireless Phones and Service Plans

Copyright copy 2002 by Syngress Publishing IncAll rights reserved Printed in the United Statesof America Except as permitted under the Copyright Act of 1976 no part of this publicationmay be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means or stored in a database orretrieval system without the prior written permission of the publisher with the exception thatthe program listings may be entered stored and executed in a computer system but they maynot be reproduced for publication

Printed in the United States of America

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0

ISBN 1-928994-52-0

Technical Editor GetConnected Inc Freelance Editorial Manager Maribeth Corona-EvansCo-Publisher Richard Kristof Cover Designer Michael KavishAcquisitions Editor Catherine B Nolan Page Layout and Design Reuben Kantor Indexer Rich Carlson Copy EditorAdrienne Rebello

Distributed by Publishers Group West in the United States and Jaguar Book Group in Canada

165_cell_ aFMqk 111201 158 PM Page iv

Syngress Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the following people for their kindnessand support in making this book possible

Karen Cross Lance Tilford Meaghan Cunningham Kim Wylie HarryKirchner Kevin Votel Kent Anderson and Frida Yara of PublishersGroup West for sharing their incredible marketing experience andexpertise

Mary Ging Caroline Hird Simon Beale Caroline WheelerVictoriaFuller Jonathan Bunkell and Klaus Beran of Harcourt Internationalfor making certain that our vision remains worldwide in scope

Annabel Dent of Harcourt Australia for all their help

David BucklandWendi Wong Daniel Loh Marie Chieng LucyChong Leslie LimAudrey Gan and Joseph Chan of TransquestPublishers for the enthusiasm with which they receive our books

Kwon Sung June at Acorn Publishing for his support

Ethan Atkin at Cranbury International for his help in expanding theSyngress program

A special thank you to Janis Carpenter at PGWThank you for yourexcellent service and all your kind words Janis

165_cell_ aFMqk 111201 158 PM Page v

165_cell_ aFMqk 111201 158 PM Page vi

We would like to thank three special GetConnected customer servicegurus for their help in compiling the information for this bookMartinVeronica and Ali have been working tirelessly to make sure ourcustomers get all the answers they need to make their telecom pur-chase painless and simpleTheir industry expertise is truly a hugeadvantage that our customers enjoy when researching and buying anytelecom servicemdashthey know all from wireless to DSL to long distanceThey are inspirational in their ability to switch from one incrediblycomplex topic to the next without missing a beat

We also could not have completed this work without the supportof the entire team at GetConnected From our marketing staff to ourprogrammers everyone here has devoted themselves to the mission offinding the right type of communication services for every customerwho comes to our site and making sure everyone has the best infor-mation possible to choose the best service for their hard-earnedmoney

Special thanks to the co-founders of GetConnected IncTracyLawrence and Sasha NovakovichThese two had the vision to createan electronic resource to help consumers get the most telecommuni-cations service for their moneyWe are proud to be able to extendtheir vision into this Guide for wireless consumers

Thanks and Acknowledgments

165_cell_ aFMqk 111201 158 PM Page vii

165_cell_ aFMqk 111201 158 PM Page viii

About GetConnected Inc

Founded in 1999 GetConnected Inc provides a suite of softwaretools that facilitate the sale of wireless broadband local phone longdistance cable and satellite television services

The Telecommunications Deregulation Act of 1996 was the cata-lyst for a proliferation of telecommunications services which madethe process of selecting the best providers and plans a daunting taskfor consumersThe Internet offered a tremendous opportunity forconsumers to easily find and compare all options available to themand make the right choice through an informative and intuitive elec-tronic shopping processThe Internet was also the ideal medium tohelp telecommunications service providers cost effectively acquirecustomers wwwGetConnectedcom resulted from the confluenceof these three market forces

Named by Newsweek as one of the 103 Best Web Sites and by PCWorld as Best Cell Phone Site GetConnectedcom the showcase ofthe GetConnected functionality is an easy-to-use Web site thatempowers users with the information necessary to help them selectthe services that best meet their individual needs In addition to beinga source of the most comprehensive and accurate information avail-able the GetConnected site shopping technology and transactionprocessing capability make the purchase process simple and straight-forward Consumers are shown all plans products and special offersavailable in their area GetConnectedcom also provides highly intu-itive and interactive wizards and bill calculators that allow the user tocustomize searches and make it easier to locate and buy the mostsuitable plansThe end result Consumers get the most for theirtelecommunication dollar

GetConnected Inc offers consumers and small businesses access toits services directly through its Web site wwwGetConnectedcom andthrough a network of partner Web sites Consumers will also be able toaccess the GetConnected telecommunication shopping services in pri-vate labeled applications at retail where GetConnected will power theshopping experience and order processing for its retail partners

165_cell_ aFMqk 111201 158 PM Page ix

165_cell_ aFMqk 111201 158 PM Page x

Contributors

Jeff McLaughlin is the Senior Director of Wireless Partnerships forGetConnected Inc and is part of the senior management team Hehas been in the wireless industry since 1994 working for wireless car-riers wireless vendors and wireless agents Jeff is responsible forsecuring partnerships with all the wireless service providers forGetConnected and for leading the strategic wireless initiatives withcarriers manufacturers and other wireless industry players Prior toGetConnected Jeff was Director of Corporate Marketing for BostonCommunications Group Inc a leading provider of prepaid servicestechnology to wireless carriers and Business Products Manager forATampT Wireless one of the leading wireless carriers in the UnitedStates He received his MBA from Seattle University and his BSfrom Northeastern University Boston MA

Beverly LeDonne is the Senior Director of Content Services andBusiness Operations for GetConnected Inc and is part of the seniormanagement team Beverly is responsible for implementing new part-nerships and leading innovative initiatives in data management andpresentation Prior to GetConnected Beverly managed 200 employeesand an over $30 million PampL as Division Manager atAPCOAStandard Parking the largest parking management serviceorganization in the United States She received her MBA fromLouisiana State University and her BA from Thomas More CollegeMerrimack NH

Leslie Kiddie is the eCommerce Product Manager forGetConnected Inc Leslie is currently responsible for company-wideproduct management including specification and site and systemmetric analysisAs one of GetConnectedrsquos first employees she laid thegroundwork for identifying what wireless data should be collected andpresented to consumers She also created the initial process fordefining tools and Web functionality to help GetConnected customersshop for wireless plans and products Before joining the GetConnected

165_cell_ aFMqk 111201 158 PM Page xi

xii Contributors

team Leslie worked as a research analyst for Harris Interactive inRochester NY Leslie earned her BS in Communications from JamesMadison University HarrisonburgVA

James Parmakian is Manager of Content and Creative Initiativesfor GetConnected Inc and has been involved in the Internet industrysince 1998 James is responsible for creating and maintaining wirelessand other product and service plan images and information on theGetConnected network of sites He also develops creative for the sitemarketing outreach efforts and co-brand site development Prior toGetConnected James developed and executed strategies for leadingInternet companies including iVillagecomAboutcom and Officecomat Cone a leading public relations firm James received his BS fromBoston College Chestnut Hill MA

Melissa Paulsen has been instrumental in developing new function-ality to create an intuitive shopping experience as Content Manager forGetConnected Inc Melissarsquos efforts help getconnectedcom usersquickly find the most appropriate wireless plans and other telecommu-nications services Melissa is currently responsible for establishing andmaintaining service plan promotion and static data (including variousresources tools and companyservice provider overviews) throughoutgetconnectedcom and for itrsquos partnersrsquoWeb sites She earned herdouble-major BA in Psychology and Social Rehabilitation with a con-centration in Education from Assumption CollegeWorcester MA

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_ aFMqk 111201 158 PM Page xii

Using PrepaidWireless

Prepaid wireless is agreat way to get awireless phone with nocredit history no creditcard and for a shortperiod of use

Foreword xxiii

Part IGeneral Information 1Chapter 1 How to Choose a Wireless Phone and Service 3

Introduction 4In the Beginning

An Introduction to Wireless 5The Basics 6The Digital Age 6

Getting Started 7Assessing Your Coverage Needs 8

Your Friends Are Your Best Resource 9Which Comes First the Phone or

the Service 9What Features Do You Need in a

Wireless Phone 10What about the Technical Side of

the Phone 11Usage Considerations 11

Your Day-to-Day Use 12The Bottom Line Understanding Cost 13

How Much to Spend on the Phone 13How Much to Spend on the Rate Plan 14

Bargain Shopping Understanding Promotions 14Bells and Whistles Looking at Accessories 15Making Sense of It AllThe Phone and

Plan for Me 16Summary 17Quick Reference 18

Contents

165_cell_ bTOCqk 111201 159 PM Page xiii

Exploring Internet-Ready Phones

The Samsung N200Internet-Ready Phone

xiv Contents

Chapter 2 Analog DigitalmdashWhatrsquos the Difference 21

Introduction 22Evolution of the Wireless Phone 22Exploring Analog Technology 24Examining Digital Technology 26The Pros and Cons of Digital 26

Advantages of Digital Phones 27Disadvantages of Digital Phones 28

Summary 29Quick References 29

Chapter 3 CDMA to TDMAmdashDigital Terms and Basic Definitions 31

Introduction 32Code Division Multiple Access 33

Benefits of CDMA 34Global Systems for Mobile

Communications 35Benefits of GSM 35

Time Division Multiple Access 36Benefits of TDMA 37

Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio 37Benefits of ESMR 38

Service Providers and Technologies 38Summary 40Quick References 40

Chapter 4 Wireless Data and the Wireless InternetmdashDo I Need It 43

Introduction 44What Is the Wireless Internet 44

How Does It Work 44What Kind of Phone Do I Need 47What Services Can I Get from

the Wireless Carriers 49What Services Can I Get from Third Parties 50

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_ bTOCqk 111201 159 PM Page xiv

UnderstandingWireless Phones

Phones on the markettoday fall into threecategories

bull Single Mode bull Dual Modebull Tri-Mode

wwwgetconnectedcom

Wireless Data and Fax 51Summary 53Quick References 53

Part IIEquipment 55Chapter 5 The Components of a Wireless Phone 57

Introduction 58The Basics 58

Display Screen 59Antenna 59Menu Selection and Scroll Keys 60Other Keys 60Battery 61Jacks 61

A Beginnerrsquos Guide to Phone Features 62Standard Features 62Features Requiring Service 65Advanced Features Requiring Service 66

The Cutting Edge 67Summary 69Quick References 69

Chapter 6 Guide to Wireless Phones 71

Introduction 72Size and Weight 72

Large Phones 72Medium-Sized Phones 74Small or Compact Phones 75

Networks Available 76Single Mode 76Dual Mode 76Tri-Mode 76

Case Design 77Traditional Style 77Flip Style 78

Contents xv

165_cell_ bTOCqk 111201 159 PM Page xv

xvi Contents

Color 78Cost 80Talk Time and Standby Time 80Popular Wireless Phones 81

The Ericsson R289LX 82The Kyocera QCP-2035 83The Kyocera QCP-6035 84The Mitsubishi T250 85The Motorola i1000plus 86The Motorola i2000 87The Motorola i550plus 88The Motorola i700plus 89The Motorola V2397 90The Nokia 3360 91The Nokia 5165 92The Nokia 6160 93The Nokia 8260 94The Panasonic Allure 95The Panasonic Versio 96The Samsung N200 97The Samsung Uproar MP3 98The Sanyo SCP-5000 99The Sanyo SCP-6000 100The Sprint Touchpoint 1100 101The Sprint Touchpoint 2100 102Sprint Touchpoint 2200 103The Sprint Touchpoint 5200 104

Chapter 7 Accessories for Your Wireless Phone 107

Introduction 108Hands-Free Kits 108Cases and Belt Clips 109Chargers 111Batteries 113Faceplates 113Summary 114Quick References 114

wwwgetconnectedcom

Exploring WirelessPhone Batteries

There are threestandard wirelessphone batteries

bull NiCad An oldertechnology withsome technicalproblems

bull NiMH A newertechnology that doesnot suffer frommemory effects

bull Li-Ion A long lastingand light batterythat does not sufferfrom memory effects

165_cell_ bTOCqk 111201 159 PM Page xvi

Contents xvii

Part IIIService Plans and Rates 117Chapter 8 Understanding Service Plans 119

Introduction 120Understanding Basic Plan Structures 121

Local Plans 121Regional Plans 123National Plans without Roaming Charges 123National Plans with Roaming Charges 124

Breaking Down Wireless Plans and Fees 124Additional Plan Features and Fees 127

The Prepaid Option 128Summary 131Quick References 131

Chapter 9 Service Providers and Service Areas 133

Introduction 134What Services Are Available to You 134

Wireless Service Providers 134Finding Service Providers in Your Area 135

Service Areas 136Local Coverage 136Regional Coverage 139National Coverage 139

Quality of Service 140Why Is Service Quality Inconsistent 141Who Has the Best Service 142

Wireless Carrier Directory 144Verizon Wireless 145Cingular Wireless 146ATampT Wireless 147Sprint PCS 148Nextel 149Alltel 150VoiceStreamreg 151US Cellular 152Qwest 153

wwwgetconnectedcom

Comparing ServiceProviders

Verizon Wireless

bull 28000000subscribers

bull 26 market sharebull Web site http

verizonwirelesscom

165_cell_ bTOCqk 111201 159 PM Page xvii

Exploring DomesticRoaming Options

As with any othercalling feature pricesand options fordomestic roaming varyby where you live andwhich service provideryou choose If you arethe type of person thattravels within theUnited States quiteoften you should lookfor a plan that offersthe following

bull Coverage with noroaming costs in thecities and townsfrom which you willbe making your calls

bull Low roaming costsper minute withroaming coverage inall the areas towhich you will travel

bull A service that willwork when outsideyour home area at alltimes Some newwireless services offerunlimited local callingfor a flat fee permonth but do notoffer the ability toroam outside of yourlocal area

xviii Contents

Triton PCS 154Western Wireless 155Dobson Communication Corp 155Telecorp 155Century Telephone 155Centennial Cellular 155Rural Cellular Corporation 155Cricket 156Cincinnati Bell Wireless 156

Summary 157Quick Reference 157

Chapter 10 Traveling Your Domestic and International Roaming Options 159

Introduction 160What Is Roaming 160Domestic Roaming Options 161

ATampT WirelessATampT Digital One Rate Plans 162

Sprint PCS Real Nationwide Long Distance 163

Verizon Wireless National SingleRateSM 163

International Roaming Options 164Nextel WorldwideSM 165ATampT WorldConnectreg Service 166VoiceStream 166WorldCell 166

Guide to International Wireless Carriers 167Summary 169Quick References 169

Chapter 11 Understanding Special Deals and Promotions 171

Introduction 172Types of Promotions 172

Service Credits 172Rebates 173

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_ bTOCqk 111201 159 PM Page xviii

Contents xix

More MinutesldquoSign Now and Get 1000 More Minutesrdquo 173

Free Advanced ServicesldquoGet One Year of MusicPlayer Free (A $120 Value)rdquo 173

Contract Length-Based IncentivesldquoSign Up for a One-Year Contract and Get Free Long Distancerdquo 174

Free AccessoriesldquoSign Up Now and Get a Free Headset Kitrdquo 174

Helpful Hints 175Limited Time Offer 175Plan Restrictions 175Phone Restrictions 175Minutes 175Services Yoursquoll Never Use 176

Part IVLooking Ahead 179Chapter 12 Frequently Asked Questions 181

Introduction 182Frequently Asked Questions about Phones 182

What are the differences between analog and digital phones 182

What is the difference between PCS and cellular 182

What is Third Generation 183What is a dual-band phone 183What battery has the longest life

NiMH or Li-Ion 183What is the difference between

talk time and standby time 183Frequently Asked Questions about

Service Rates and Plans 183Why is the quality of my wireless

service sometimes inconsistent 184

wwwgetconnectedcom

Answers to YourFrequently AskedQuestions

What Is the Differencebetween PCS andCellular

bull Phones that operateon a PCS system(personalcommunicationsservice) use digitaltechnology and offeradvanced featureslike caller ID

bull Cellular phones useeither digital oranalog technologyor both

165_cell_ bTOCqk 111201 159 PM Page xix

xx Contents

Which wireless carrier has the best signal strength 184

What is roaming 184If it is called a nationwide plan then

why are there roaming charges 184What plans do not charge for

roaming 185How do I know which mode my

phone is in 185What do peak and off-peak hours

indicate 185How do service providers count

anytime minutes versus evening and weekend minutes 185

Do I get charged when people call me 185Does it use up my minutes when I

call other wireless phones 186When I call my voice mail am I

using my minutes 186What is considered a long distance call 186

Are toll free number calls free 186What is the farthest I can call from

my wireless phone 186Can all cellular phones be used

worldwide 187More Frequently Asked Questions 187

Can I just keep the phone I have and change plans 187

Can I change my service plan at any time 187

Can I keep my phone number if I move or switch wireless carriers 187

If I donrsquot like my phone numbercan I change it 188

Do I have to sign a contract 188Why do I need a credit card to

buy a phone 188Are rebates for phones instant or

mail-in 188

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_ bTOCqk 111201 159 PM Page xx

Contents xxi

Chapter 13 The Future of Wireless Communications 189

Introduction 190As Use Increases Prices Fall 190What to Consider before Throwing

Away Your Home Phone 191Wireless as the Only Communications

Network 192Combining All Your Devices 1933GmdashThe Third Generation of Wireless 194Summary 195Quick References 195

Appendix A Glossary of Wireless Terms 197

Appendix B How to Use the GetConnectedcom Web Site 209

Introduction 210Home Page 210Wireless Home Page 211

Havenrsquot Decided Which Plan Is for You Start Here 212

Picking a Plan 213Browsing by Plans 213

Picking a Phone 215Browsing by Phones 215

Choosing Accessories 216Your Shopping Cart 218Ordering at GetConnected Inc 218Checklist 219

Index 221

wwwgetconnectedcom

Using Wireless

The average monthlycost for wireless use isaround $40 but variesfrom less than $20 forlittle use to over $100for heavy use

AboutGetConnectedcom

wwwGetConnectedcom sells a variety oftelecommunicationservices from wirelessphones to high-speedInternet to longdistance service

The GetConnectedcom Home Page

165_cell_ bTOCqk 111201 159 PM Page xxi

165_cell_ bTOCqk 111201 159 PM Page xxii

Telecommunications consumers are paying between 50 and 500 toomuch every month for the services that keep them in touch in-tune andinformedWhy would anyone pay $030 per minute for long distance whenthey could pay just $005 The answer is because there has not been a goodway to determine the correct services based on the way you use yourphone or your high-speed Internet access or your wireless phone

The Consumerrsquos Guide to Wireless Phones and Service Plans will help youdetermine what you need in a wireless phone and service planThe infor-mation in this Guide is compiled from the data that GetConnected Inccollects directly from the wireless service providers and the tools that wehave developed to help direct you to the perfect plan and phone On ourWeb site wwwGetConnectedcom you can easily compare the data side byside and use these tools to optimize your choices Both on our Web site andin this book we help lead you through the maze of offerings based on howyou will use your phone to make sure that you spend wisely to take advan-tage of todayrsquos great wireless services

There is no reason that you should buy a $200 phone and pay $75 permonth if you only need to use your phone in the case of an emergencyAreyou a techno-savvy road warrior or a minimalist Do you need a wirelessphone that lets you read and send e-mail or do you just need it to call forroadside assistance Will you use your phone only as you drive around yourtown or will you need it to work in Paris All these questions will beanswered to make sure you buy the phone and service plan that are rightfor you

Wireless is everywheremdashif you donrsquot own a wireless phone you haveprobably used one If you havenrsquot used a wireless phone you most certainlyhave seen people using themThe number of people in the United States whoown wireless phones is well over 100 million and growing steadilyAt around40 to 50 US market penetration we are actually behind most Europeancountries In Finland the home country of Nokia the leading wireless phonemanufacturer over 70 of people own wireless phonesTodayrsquos wirelessphones can give you access to the Internet e-mail your calendar from work

Foreword

165_cell_ cForewardqk 111201 200 PM Page xxiii

xxiv Foreword

and even the documents you keep on your computer every dayThe com-bination of voice and data services is quickly evolving wireless phones intopocket-sized all-in-one communications and productivity tools

GetConnected is committed to helping you shop for compare andbuy the perfect telecommunications services mdashincluding all your wirelessneeds Our team of wireless experts who made this book possible con-tinually upload information from numerous carriers and monitor the Webto make sure that we have the latest information on wireless phones rateplans accessories and promotionsThe combination of wwwgetcon-nectedcom and this Guide will help you buy a wireless phone and ser-vice plan that will meet your needs but wonrsquot break your wallet

Special thanks to Bev Leslie James Melissa and Jeff for all their hardwork compiling current information for this book and for alwaysfocusing on ways to help consumers select the perfect wireless phone andservice planAfter all that is GetConnectedrsquos missionmdashto help you findand buy the telecommunications services that fit your needs

So whatever your needs are for wireless service this Guide willhelp point you to the correct purchases In order to see the most up-to-date offers from all major wireless service providers in the UnitedStates be sure to check wwwgetconnectedcomWhile you are therehave a look at the other great telecommunications offers for high-speedInternet access (DSL and cable modems) long distance local phonesatellite TV and handheld PDAsmdashwe can definitely help you get themost for your telecommunications dollar

Enjoy this Guide to Wireless and do not hesitate to referenceGetConnectedcom for the latest rate plan product pricing and promo-tion information as you get closer to your purchase

Sasha Novakovich Tracy Lawrence President amp Co-Founder CEO amp Co-FounderGetConnected Inc GetConnected Inc

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_ cForewardqk 111201 200 PM Page xxiv

General Information

Part I

165_cell_C01qk 111201 148 PM Page 1

165_cell_C01qk 111201 148 PM Page 2

Quick References in this chapter

In the Beginning An Introduction to Wireless

Getting Started

Assessing Your Coverage Needs

What Comes First the Phone or theService

Usage Considerations

The Bottom Line Understanding Cost

Bargain Shopping Looking at Promotions

Bells and Whistles Looking at Accessories

Making Sense of it All The Phone and Planfor Me

Summary

Quick References

How to Choose aWireless Phoneand Service

Chapter 1

165_cell_C01qk 111201 148 PM Page 3

4 Chapter 1 bull How to Choose a Wireless Phone and Service

IntroductionThe only answer to the question ldquoWhich wireless phone should I buyrdquois unfortunatelyldquoIt dependsrdquoThere are so many choices out there todaythat the only way to select the perfect phone for you is to look at manydifferent factorsmdashput yourself in the middle of the process and figure outhow you will use the phone where and when you will make most ofyour calls and how much you want to spend

The first thing to realize is that the phone is only as good as thenetwork on which it works In the ldquoold daysrdquo of wireless a single phonewould work on either of the two cellular networks So when youplunked down your $1000 for that huge phone and another $80 permonth with wireless carrier A if you did not find their service to yourliking you could walk across the street to their only competitor andswitch to the competitorrsquos network using the same phoneThat doesnrsquotwork any more

In the early 1990s competitors for the two original cellular compa-nies started to spring upmdashthey were called PCS or PersonalCommunication Services carriersThe only difference between cellularand PCS is that cellular started out transmitting your call using analogtechnology and PCS started out using all digital transmissions Cellularcompanies have all gone over to digital technologies (see Chapter 2ldquoAnalog DigitalmdashWhatrsquos the Differencerdquo for more information onanalog versus digital technologies) so there really is no differencebetween the original cellular carriers and the newer totally digital PCScarriers any more One of the things that digital technology allows thecarriers to do is to sell phones that will work only on their networkmdashsothe days of walking across the street to sign up on someone elsersquos net-work with the same phone are pretty much gone

Thinking about making the switch to wireless full time andditching your home phone completely Well you are not alone but youare among a small group of techno-savvy users who are foregoing thewires for the freedom of wirelessAnd why not If you buy a wirelessplan with 3000 minutes of use included you have to use them sometime right Just beware the pitfalls discussed in Chapter 13ldquoTheFuture of Wirelessrdquo So what factors do you need to consider whenbuying that perfect wireless phone There are basically six steps that wewill detail in this chapter

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C01qk 111201 148 PM Page 4

wwwgetconnectedcom

1 Look for service providers with Coverage in your areamdashWhere will you use your phone and which wireless carrier hasthe best service there

2 Choose the wireless Phone you want andor needmdashDo youneed all the latest options or do you just need to make calls inan emergency

3 Make sure you know how you will Use your wirelessphonemdashHow many minutes will you use each month and atwhat time of the day will you use the most minutes Will youcall locally or long distance

4 Be aware of how much buying and using wireless will CostmdashHow much are you willing to spend on the monthly serviceand on the phone

5 Look for special PromotionsmdashAre there any great deals outthere that will get you the best deal for the right phone andplan

6 Donrsquot forget your AccessoriesmdashWill you need to use aheadset for your car do you need a belt clip or extra batteries

COMPARING SERVICE PLANS AND PHONES

For the latest information on wireless service plans and phonesand to compare them side by side log on towwwGetConnectedcom

In the Beginning An Introduction to WirelessThink of the walkie-talkie as the electronic equivalent of taking yourfirst step For many of us it was our first introduction into the world ofwireless technology Bewildering and exciting but more importantlyproof that even at an early age humankind possessed some sort ofinherent need to find new ways to communicateThe walkie-talkie waswildly successful

How to Choose a Wireless Phone and Service bull Chapter 1 5

165_cell_C01qk 111201 148 PM Page 5

Fast-forward a few years and wersquove grown into a more dependableadult version of the walkie-talkie called the cordless phonemdasha trueintroduction to what has permeated our lifestyles at home work andplay But limitations of physical distance prevented us from taking thecordless on the road until miraculously the cellular or wireless phoneappeared and now itrsquos a vicious game of catch-up to understand whatwireless means to the average Joe

The BasicsTodayrsquos cellular service operates on much the same principle as our ear-lier walkie-talkie devicesYour voice is still transmitted through the airfrom point A to point B but thatrsquos where most of the similarities end

With cellular technology messages sound clearer travel farther andare received by the second party (with a little luck) as if we were nextdoorAnd itrsquos all done through a network built by breaking a geographicregion into small areas called cells which include the cellular antennasCalls are transmitted from the antenna to the wired telephone systemuntil it reaches the target audience on the other endThe term cellular isoften used to refer to ldquotraditional cellularrdquo or analog technology (AMPSor Advanced Mobile Phone Service) which utilized a network built at800 MHz by two service providers or carriers in each marketThissimply means that 800 MHz is the wavelength or frequency at whichyour voice travels from your phone to the antenna It also assures you thatwhether calling from the beach or from a traffic jam potentially life-altering commands like ldquohalf pepperonirdquo will be heard at the other end

The Digital AgeJust when you think that yoursquove got a pretty good handle on what analogis all about digital technology joins the partyThis essentially means asecond wireless technology new terminology products and services yetanother learning curve as well as up to five or six new competitors ineach market But the principle between analog and digital remains basi-cally the sameThe two most significant differences are that calls nowtravel at a frequency of either 800 MHz or 1900MHz and unlike analogthe digital network breaks down the senderrsquos voice into binary codetransmits it as data and reassembles it on the other endThese digital net-works usually are referred to as Personal Communications Service (PCS)

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C01qk 111201 148 PM Page 6

networks although the traditional cellular carriers also offer digital ser-vice and sometimes call their digital service PCS alsoThe relevance ofthese changes to the every-day consumer is that this break-through affectseverything from call quality to network access and features like caller IDInternet access and extended battery life

Getting StartedGetting fitted for a wireless service provider plan and a compatiblephone is as easy as doing some painless homework before you buyWersquove made the following descriptions as clear as possible for you tounderstand before you make an educated buying decision get hookedup charge your battery and get ready for the air wavesTo make sureyou have all the latest up-to-date phone and plan information youshould use online resources like wwwGetConnectedcom the leadingcommunication resource with exhaustive lists of plans and services thatempower you the user to make the right decision for your lifestyle

CHOOSE A SERVICE PLAN THAT BEST MEETS YOUR

DAY-TO-DAY NEEDS

How many calls will I make each day Where will I callmdashlocal orlong distance Will I travel out of my local area with my phone DoI need my phone to act as a pager also Make sure your serviceplan and your phone meet your day-to-day needs

Usage When will you use your phone This can be a realmoney-saving decision Most wireless networks operate at ornear capacity during peak business hours and carriers typi-cally charge users for every second they tie up a circuit If youuse your cellular phone heavily at night and on weekendsmany carriers cater to that need by offering off-peak specialsof 300 500 or even 1000 minutes of evening and weekendcalling for a nominal fee with the purchase of a standard ser-vice planThese packages can be real money savers if used asintended but beware different providers define peak off-peak and weekend hours differently

wwwgetconnectedcom

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TravelingRoaming Do you travel a lot If you traveloutside of your localhome area or service provider net-work you can incur roaming charges which means a sur-charge will be applied for calls made and received while outof your home area and your local rate plan costs no longerapplyThe good news is that most carriers have plans thatcover beyond your local calling area From regional plans(ie NortheastWest Coast etc) to national plans themonthly fees generally are based on the size of the coveragearea and though more expensive each month than localplans these plans can be worth it if you expect to incurexpensive roaming fees

Traveling Abroad US digital phones are mostly incom-patible with worldwide networks except for parts ofMexico and Canada where some of the same technologystandards are used If your phone has analog capability (ieit is an analog-only or dualtri-mode phone) it could workin some Caribbean countries although it may not receivecalls Europe and parts of Asia use mainly a standardizeddigital network called GSM Phones built with GSM tech-nology can access the network regardless of the callerrsquoscountry of origin although each wireless carrier has theirown charges for roaming into other countries and thephone has to be programmed to work at the frequency ofthat country

Assessing Your Coverage NeedsYou may have seen the coolest phone being used by your best friendyesterday but unless you have wireless coverage where you are going touse your phone it may end up being an expensive paperweightThereare many ways to find out which wireless carriers offer service in yourareamdashTV and newspaper ads junk mail and inserts and online sitesthat show you the coverage maps for each company (see Chapter 9ldquoService Providers and Service Areasrdquo for detailed maps)The problemwith all these indicators of the companies that say they offer service atyour house is that you donrsquot truly know how their service works whereyou want it to work just by looking at a map

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C01qk 111201 148 PM Page 8

wwwgetconnectedcom

Your Friends Are Your Best ResourceThe best way to tell who has the best coverage where you need it(home school work downtown etc) is to talk to your friends Even ifyou call each wireless carrier in your area (up to seven or eight compa-nies) they will of course tell you that they have the best coverageexactly where you need itmdasheven though they may have minimal cov-erage thereThere is nothing more frustrating than buying a phonewith a zillion included minutes for $25 per month when you cannotuse it anywhere you want to use it

The questions to ask your friends about their wireless phonesshould be about their experiences with their phones specifically whereyou want to use yoursAsk if the calls were clear or if they were hard tohear (a sign of poor coverage)Ask if they had trouble making the calland received many busy signals (a sign of low capacitymdashnot manypeople can make calls at the same time) Here are some starting places

1 Can you use your phone in your house

2 Can you use your phone in your office

3 Can you use your phone in school

4 Does your call ever get disconnected or ldquodroprdquo when you aretravelingmdashif so where

5 Can you use your phone reliably any time of the day or doyou get busy signals at certain times like heavy commutertimes (7 AM to 9 AM or 430 PM to 7 PM)

6 Does your phone work where you travelmdashfor example if youtake trips to the mountains the beach the mall and so on

Which Comes First the Phone or the ServiceShould you look for a phone first or a rate plan and wireless carrierThe problem with buying a phone first is that you donrsquot know if it willwork on the network that gives you the best coverage Having said thatit is common for people to see a phone being used by a friend or co-worker or on TV or in a magazine and to be completely fixated onbuying that phoneThatrsquos not a problemmdashjust realize that it may limit

165_cell_C01qk 111201 148 PM Page 9

the places you can get the best use out of your phone If yoursquove got tohave that really cool red phone that you saw Billy using then that ishow you need to start shopping

Buying the wireless phone that is perfect for you is a big piece ofgetting into wirelessYou can spend lots of money on a wireless phonewith all the latest features or you can get a phone that is practicallyfree with limited bells and whistlesThe options seem to be limitlessmdashlarge phones small phones phones with speaker phones built inphones that can surf the WebThe choice is yours Look at

Size Weight Color Networks available

Features

If you do not have any specific phone in mind you should do alittle research to make sure you are buying a phone that will suit yourneeds Chapter 6ldquoGuide to Wireless Phonesrdquo describes some of thephones available in the United States right now but as with any elec-tronic device there are new models coming out all the time so be sureto check wwwGetConnectedcom for the latest phones available

What Features Do You Need in a Wireless PhoneWhen choosing a phone or a service provider the same is truemdashaskyour friends People who have wireless phones are great resources whenyou are looking for a phoneAsk them how the phone works whetherit is too heavy if you can see the numbers on the screen easily and soon Be sure to think about all the things you can do with a wirelessphone and whether those things are important to you (see Chapter 6ldquoGuide to Wireless Phonesrdquo) Here is a short list of the features that youmay want to use with your new phone

Wireless Internet Access The ability to look at certain Websites

Short Message Service (SMS) and E-Mail The ability tosend and receive short messages and text e-mails

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165_cell_C01qk 111201 148 PM Page 10

Speaker Phone Some phones allow you to use them as aspeaker phone

Two-way Radio Service Nextel offers a ldquopush to talkrdquo ser-vice that lets your phone work like a walkie-talkie for quickcheap conversations between two or more people

Downloading Different Ring Tones You can customize theway your phone rings from a popular song to a classical hit

What about the Technical Side of the PhoneWhen you are looking at a phone you also want to make sure its tech-nical specifications meet your needsThese are things like the expectedbattery life the ability to add a headset the size of the screen and moreYou can see all the details of each phone at wwwGetConnectedcombut here is a short list of what you should consider

Size considerations including the height and the weight of thephone

Expected battery life for talk time and standby time Lines of text and characters per line on the screen (how big

the screen is and how big the numbers are on the screen) Internet capabilities Messaging capabilities

Usage ConsiderationsThe most important thing to understand but the toughest to figure outis how you will use your phone If you do a little simple planning nowyou will save some money in the selection of your monthly service planWill you use it only when you get a flat tire and need to call for helpOr will you use it from dawn to dusk as your only phone Will you calllong distance or just locally How about international calls

Rate plans offer the most confusing set of choices yetmdashpeak timeoff-peak time long distance included roaming costs wireless data andso onTo make sure that you buy the service that you need you needto look at how you will use your phone and make sure that you buyonly what you needThe majority of wireless users do not even comeclose to using the minutes that the service providers give them in their

wwwgetconnectedcom

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rate plan How can you possibly use 3000 minutes on your wirelessphone It is nice to have all these minutes just in case but if you canpay $10 less per month you can save $120 per year

Your Day-to-Day UseWhen you really think about it you can pretty much tell when whereand how you will be using your phone Set up a schedule based onyour use that will follow the basic parameters of the wireless rate plans

How many peak minutes of calling do you need (typicallybetween 700 AM and 700 PM)

What are your needs for off-peak minutes of calling (701 PM

to 659 AM and sometimes all day Saturday and Sunday) What percent of your calls will be local calls What percent of your calls will be long distance

How often do you think you will use your phone when youare outside of your local calling area (roaming)

An example of such a schedule can be seen in Table 11

Table 11 Sample Schedule Illustrating Potential Phone Use

Peak Hours Off-Peak Hours

Weekdays 4 calls 2 calls

Weekends mdash 8 calls

Times Days per Week x 5 days (2 x 5 days) + (8 x 2 days)

Total Calls per Week 20 calls 26 calls

Times 4 Weeks per Month = 80 calls 104 calls

Times 2 Minutes (avg call length) = x 2 x 2

Total Monthly Minutes 160 minutes 208 minutes

Local Calls (70 of all calls) 112 minutes 146 minutes

Long Distance Calls (30 of all calls) 48 minutes 62 minutes

Percent Roaming Use (10 of all calls) 16 minutes 21 minutes

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C01qk 111201 148 PM Page 12

wwwgetconnectedcom

You can put the information from Table 11 into the Wireless Wizardat wwwGetConnectedcom to see all the latest service plans that matchyour intended useYou can also use this information to make sure that anyrate plan you are considering has all the minutes you need to use whenyou need to use them how you intend to use them and where you intendto use them For this example make sure that there are at least 160 min-utes of peak minutes 208 off-peak minutes and that the costs for long dis-tance and roaming are not too high if they are not included Some planswill include long distance and roaming minutes so you donrsquot have to payanything extra but the majority of plans charge extra for each

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more details on service plans see Chapter 8 ldquoUnderstandingService Plansrdquo or visit wwwGetConnectedcom

The Bottom Line Understanding CostWhen you are considering cost while picking the perfect phone andplan realize that there are many different costs involved phone costmonthly service plan cost activation fee cancellation fee long distanceroaming overage costs (using more minutes than are provided in yourrate plan) See Chapter 8ldquoUnderstanding Service Plansrdquo for full detailsFirst you need to have a feeling for the basics that constitute the majorcosts the phone and the rate plan

How Much to Spend on the PhoneWhen looking at the phones available you will see phones that are free oreffectively free with rebates and credits (see Chapter 11ldquoUnderstandingSpecial Deals and Promotionsrdquo) and you will see phones that are veryexpensive which can act as two-way pagers personal digital assistants andmay even wash your car if programmed correctly Free phones almostalways have a required contract or length of service agreement of one ortwo years If you are looking to get into wireless on the cheap then a freephone may work for you even with the contract If you want your phoneto send e-mail cruise the Web and play Beethoven when it rings you will

165_cell_C01qk 111201 148 PM Page 13

have to pay from $100 on up for the phone For the details on the wirelessphones see Chapter 6ldquoGuide to Wireless Phonesrdquo

How Much to Spend on the Rate PlanEvery month you will be charged for your wireless use If you staywithin your allowed minutes then you will pay the expected amountthat you sign up for (plus some taxes and fees that are charged by all car-riers usually a few dollars) but if you use more minutes than allowed inyour plan you will be billed for the extra minutes at premium pricesand get a bill potentially much higher than you expectThat is why it isimportant to think about your use prior to signing up for your service

You can spend as little as $20 or so and as much as $200 or moreper month based on the amount of use you will have Check outwwwGetConnectedcom for the latest in phones and service plans

WHAT ABOUT PREPAIDPrepaid wireless is a great way to get a wireless phone with nocredit history no credit card and for a short periods of use Prepaidis perfect for

Students and children Gifts (no long-term contract needed) Short-term use for example when you need a phone for

three months Very little monthly use (be careful to make sure the

minutes donrsquot expire)

For more information on prepaid wireless see Chapter 8ldquoUnderstanding Service Plansrdquo

Bargain Shopping Understanding PromotionsEvery wireless service provider offers promotions throughout the yearto entice you to sign up for serviceThey may offer a free phone a spe-cial weekends-free package or free accessoriesWhen you are lookingto sign up for service and have an idea of which service you think you

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C01qk 111201 148 PM Page 14

want which phones work on that service how you will use the phoneand how much you are willing to pay you need to look at the availablepromotions Sometimes these promotions can save you hundreds of dol-lars over the life of your wireless use But beware of promotions that arenot exactly what you are looking for such as those that may tie youinto a long term contract offer features that you wonrsquot use or add min-utes that you could never use even if you are on the phone everywaking moment

For a complete breakdown on promotions see the details inChapter 11ldquoUnderstanding Special Deals and Promotionsrdquo and get thelatest available promotions from wwwGetConnectedcom

Bells and Whistles Looking at AccessoriesThe last things to consider when buying your new phone are the acces-sories that you may need to make it perfect for youAsk yourself thesequestions to determine if you need these accessories

Will I use the phone while driving If Yes get a car kitor a headset (many phones already come with some sort ofhands-free head set so be sure not to buy an extra if it isincluded)

Will I use the phone a lot while driving If Yes then geta car charger or a car kit

Do I need to use my phone for long times while awayfrom my charger If Yes then buy an extra battery andmake sure it is a long-life battery

Will I need to charge my phone in more than oneplace If Yes then buy an extra charger for your office orhome

Will I need to carry my phone with me all the timeIf Yes then buy a leather case for protection with a clip or abelt clip that hooks onto the battery

Do I want to personalize my phone with differentcolors If Yes then buy a phone that has faceplates and afaceplate to your likingmdashthere are many colors available forsome of todayrsquos popular phones

wwwgetconnectedcom

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For more information on the myriad of accessories available forwireless phones refer to Chapter 7ldquoAccessories for Your WirelessPhonesrdquo

Making Sense of It All The Phone and Plan for MeSomdashconfused Buying wireless is not a simple process designed tomake sure you get the phone and service plan that you needAll wire-less carriers try to differentiate themselves from their competitors andby doing so they do not make it simple to compare their plans to othersimilar plansThe information in this guide will help you make an edu-cated purchase for the rate plan that fits your needs and the phone thatwill do all that you need it to doWhy pay for a $60 plan when youonly need a $40 plan Why buy a $200 phone when all you need is a$40 phone These are the questions that we help you figure out

Many of the points in this book are based on offers and rate plansthat are available at the time of this writingWireless carriers changetheir offers frequently so the best thing to do after realizing how youwill use your plan and phone is to log onto the Internet and visitwwwGetConnectedcom to make sure you see the most up-to-dateinformation

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C01qk 111201 148 PM Page 16

wwwgetconnectedcom

SummaryAs you can see there are many things to consider when buying the perfectwireless phone and service for you It is not hard it just takes a littlehomework and researchThe important thing to remember is thatalthough there are many confusing options by realizing how you will useyour phone and what your main needs are and by using online tools likewwwGetConnectedcom you can buy the perfect plan and phone

Table 12 shows you the basic categories of phone users as well asthe basic parameters for the phones and the plans that you should keepin mind while you are reading this book and selecting the wirelessproducts that are right for you

Table 12 Guidelines for Equipment and Services for VariousTypes of Users

If You Are Then You Should Get a And a

A techno-savvy National rate plan Digital phone with road warrior with roaming wireless Internet

included two-way messaging and speed dialing

Always on the Local rate plan Digital phone with go shuttling lots of minutes caller ID lots of battery the kids or with of use life and car chargera working parent

A student with Prepaid rate plan Wireless phone that no credit history with some extra works in the areas or buying for a prepaid cards neededmdashschool home student mall etc

A security-minded Very low-priced Phone that will work motorist who will rate plan with anywhere and a car chargeruse the phone minimal minutesonly in an emergency situation

165_cell_C01qk 111201 148 PM Page 17

Quick ReferenceIn the BeginningAn Introduction to Wireless

The walkie-talkie started the wireless revolution

Wireless phones began with analog cellular service

Digital technology has taken wireless to new heights

Getting Started

Do a little homework to understand how you will use yourwireless phone

Where will you use your phone and which wireless carrierhas the best service there

Make sure you know all the service providers in your area

Ask your friends who they use and what they think

The important places to have coverage are where you livework go to school and travel

What Comes First the Phone or the Service

Do you need all the latest options or do you just need tomake calls in an emergency

If you must have the coolest phone go ahead

Figure out if you need all the features or if you just need abasic phone

Make sure the technical aspects of the phone match yourneedsmdashbattery life screen size etc

How many minutes will you use each month and at whattime of the day will you use the most minutes Will you calllocally or long distance

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C01qk 111201 148 PM Page 18

Figuring out when where and how you will use your phoneis the most important piece

Take a few minutes to look at the number of calls you willmake when you will make them and to and from where

Plug your expected use in online tools and Wizards to see themost current plans that fit your needs

How much are you willing to spend on the monthly serviceand on the phone

Be aware of all the costs including activation fees taxes andoverage costs

Make sure the phone you must have is not too expensive

Keep your monthly service fee under control by choosing theplan correctly

Are there any great deals out there that will get you the bestdeal for the right phone and plan

Take a look at the latest promotions to make sure you arenrsquotmissing out

Donrsquot fall for a promotion you donrsquot need

Make sure the promotion doesnrsquot tie you into a long-termcontract if you donrsquot want one

Will you need to use a headset for your car do you need abelt clip or extra batteries

If the phone is perfect make sure it has the accessories youneed

Donrsquot buy accessories that are already included in the packagewith the phone

Check the promotions to see if some accessories are free

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C01qk 111201 149 PM Page 19

Making Sense of It AllThe Phone and Plan for Me

There are many options out there but you can make sense ofit all

Buying the perfect phone and rate plan for you just takes alittle time

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C01qk 111201 149 PM Page 20

Analog DigitalmdashWhatrsquos theDifference

Evolution of the Wireless Phone

Exploring Analog Technology

Examining Digital Technology

The Pros and Cons of Digital

Summary

Quick References

Chapter 2

165_cell_C02qk 111201 150 PM Page 21

22 Chapter 2 bull Analog DigitalmdashWhatrsquos the Difference

wwwgetconnectedcom

DID YOU KNOWA wireless phone is a radio It operates with a transmitter and areceiver to make sure you can hear the message coming in and theother person can hear you

IntroductionRemember the days before cellular phones when the only methods ofcommunicating while on the road were by using walkie-talkies or CBradios That equipment was so restrictive that you could call only oneor two select people within a very short distance (under 50 miles)Well believe it or not that wasnrsquot all that long ago Mobile communi-cation has increased dramatically in popularity and availability in thelast 20 yearsThis can certainly be credited to the ever-improvingever-expanding wireless technology

There are many types of wireless technologies available throughoutthe nationWhat are they Whatrsquos the best technology for your needsDo you need more than one And what do all those terms meananyway In this chapter we will answer these questions for you

Generally speaking wireless technology can be broken down intotwo categories analog and digitalAnalog has been around the longestand as a result has a more expansive coverage area than digital Digital isa fairly new technology and therefore it may not be available in all ruralareas However digital wireless is growing rapidly and its coverage areais expanding everyday If digital technology is not available in your areatoday you could possibly wake up tomorrow and learn that it is

Of course digital wireless is not the end-all and be-all of wirelesstechnology It does have its restrictionsWe will examine the pros andcons of both analog and digital technologymdashand let you decide whichis best for you

Evolution of the Wireless PhoneWireless phones work using technology similar to CB radios AMFMradios and walkie-talkies However they are a bit more complex and

165_cell_C02qk 111201 150 PM Page 22

Analog DigitalmdashWhatrsquos the Difference bull Chapter 2 23

as a result they are better suited to fit todayrsquos needs for communica-tions on the gomdashstaying in touch no matter where you are A simpleway to explain it is to compare a wireless phone to a CB radio or awalkie-talkie

Both CB radios and walkie-talkies are simplex devicesThis meansthat two people that communicate on a CB radio talk on the same fre-quency but only one person can talk at a timeA wireless phone is aduplex deviceA duplex device uses two frequencies One frequency isused for talking and a second separate frequency is used for listeningAmong many other uses a wireless phone (or duplex device) allowsboth people on a call to talk at once Not only does the wireless phoneeliminate the need to use terms such as ldquoRogerrdquo and ldquoover and outrdquobut also more importantly makes the flow of the conversationsmoother From a userrsquos standpoint talking on a wireless phone feelsmuch like talking on your home phoneThe only difference is that youcan be a hundred miles from any city house or telephone pole

Wireless technology is based on the car-mounted police radios ofthe 1920s Mobile telephone service became available to private cus-tomers in the 1940s In 1947 Southwestern Bell and ATampT launchedthe first commercial mobile phone service in St Louis Missouri butthe Federal Communications Commission (FCC) limited the amountof frequencies available which made only 23 simultaneous phone con-versations available within a service area (the mobile phones offeredonly six channels with a 60 KHz spacing between them)Unfortunately that spacing schema led to very poor sound quality dueto cross-channel interference much like the cross talk on wirelinephonesThe original public wireless systems generally used single high-powered transmitters to cover the entire coverage area In order to uti-lize the precious frequencies allotted to themATampT developed an ideato replace the single high-powered transmitters with smaller strategi-cally placed transmitters throughout the metropolitan area calls wouldswitch between transmitters as they needed a stronger signalAlthoughthis method of handling calls certainly eased some of the problems itdid not eliminate the problem altogether In fact the problem of toofew voice channels plagued the wireless phone industry for several years

The main problem was that demand always seemed to exceed supplySince the FCC refused to allocate more frequencies for mobile wirelessuse waiting lists became ATampTrsquos temporary solution as the companystrove for the technological advances necessary to accommodate

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C02qk 111201 150 PM Page 23

everyone For example in 1976 there were less than 600 mobile phonecustomers in New York City but there were over 3500 people on thewaiting listsAcross the United States at that time there were nearly45000 subscribers but there were still another 20000 people on waitinglists as much as 10 years long Compare this situation to todayrsquos whereservice providers give away free phones and thousands of minutes to gaincustomersWireless technology has come a long wayThe term ldquocellularrdquodescribes how each geographic region of coverage is broken up into cellsWithin each of these cells is a tower or antenna a radio transmitter andcontrol equipment Early wireless transmission operated at 800 MHz onanalog signals which are sent on a continuous waveAnalog signals arecovered in more detail later on this chapterWhen a customer presses theSEND button on their wireless phone the first signal sent allows the net-work to identify the caller as a recognized customer then it verifies thathe or she is a customer of the service with an active account and finds afree channel to place the call to the other party

Personal Communication Services (PCS) operating at 1900 MHzfollowed years later PCS refers to the digital wireless services that agiven wireless carrier can bundle together for the user Services like mes-saging paging and voice mail are all part of the PCS environment Mostof the wireless carriers in the United States offer PCS services even thecarriers that operate at 800 MHz or the original analog frequency Somewireless providers began looking into digital technology as a way toincrease the number of customers that could use their networks simulta-neously thus increasing the number of customers they could add to theirnetwork (basically digital signals are encoded voice delivered by bit-streams which is described more fully later in this chapter) Some wire-less providers are using digital signals to send not only voice but alsodata Digital signals are based on three technologies Code DivisionMultiple Access (CDMA)Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) andGlobal System for Mobile Communication (GSM)A more detaileddescription of these technologies can be found in Chapter 3ldquoCDMA toTDMAmdashDigital Terms and Basic Definitionsrdquo

Exploring Analog TechnologyIn the early 1980s the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)approved the first analog wireless telephone standard known as AdvancedMobile Phone Service (AMPS)The term ldquowirelessrdquo often is used to

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C02qk 111201 150 PM Page 24

refer to ldquotraditional wirelessrdquo analog or AMPSAnalog utilizes a networkbuilt at 800 MHzThis simply means that 800 MHz is the wavelength orfrequency at which your voice travels in a continuous wave between thewireless phone and the closest antenna at those frequenciesTo put thisinto perspective an FM radio functions at between 88 and 108 MHz

An easy way to think about analog voice signals is to realize thatwhen you talk to another person in the same room your voice arrivesin his or her ears using analog voice wavesThe sounds you make travelthrough the air as a continuous analog sound waveThe biggest differ-ence between talking to your friends in person and over an analogwireless phone is the frequency at which your voice is transmitted

So in a sense analog was the pioneer for todayrsquos wireless tech-nologyAs with any new productivity enhancing technology it quicklybecame popular among business professionals traveling salespeople andpeople who needed to be in touch wherever they were Since thenew-found mobility of communications was primarily a business toolthe prices were well out of reach for the every day consumerFortunately for American consumers in 1996 the FCC put theTelecommunications Act into effect which would increase competitionfor all telecommunications services including adding up to six or sevennew wireless carriers in all major marketsTo learn more about wirelesscarriers and their coverage refer to Chapter 9ldquoService Providers andService Areasrdquo

Advanced Mobile Phone service or AMPS was the original cellulartechnology used in the United States It offered basic voice serviceand would connect a wireless phone user to the closest cellulartower by sending the conversation over the airwaves in a contin-uous flow or analog sound wave This was a great starting pointbut it had many limitations A version of AMPS known asNarrowband Advanced Mobile Phone Service (NAMPS) incorporatessome digital technology to allow the system to carry about threetimes as many calls as the original version Even though it uses dig-ital technology it is still considered analog AMPS and NAMPSoperate in the only 800-MHz band and do not offer many of thefeatures common in digital wireless service such as e-mail andWeb browsing For more information on AMPS refer to Chapter 3ldquoCDMA to TDMAmdashDigital Terms and Basic Definitionsrdquo

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C02qk 111201 151 PM Page 25

Examining Digital TechnologyJust when you think that yoursquove got a pretty good handle on whatanalog is all about digital technology joins the partyThis essentiallymeans a second wireless network new terminology new products andservices and yet another learning curve But the principle betweenanalog and digital remains basically the sameThe most significant dif-ference is that unlike analog the digital network does not send outyour voice on a continuous wave through the air but breaks downyour voice into binary code (0rsquos and 1rsquos) transmits it as data andreassembles it on the other endThese digital networks are usuallyreferred to as Personal Communications Service or (PCS) networks(Refer to Chapter 3 ldquoCDMA to TDMAmdashDigital Terms and BasicDefinitionsrdquo for more information on the various types of digitaltechnologies) The relevance of these changes to the every-day con-sumer is that this breakthrough affects everything from call quality tothe number of people who can access the network in any geograph-ical area and to features like caller ID Internet access or extendedbattery life

Digital wireless phones use the same radio technology as analogphones but they use it in a different way Analog systems use thesignal between the phone and the wireless network mostly on a one-to-one basis (one channel for one call) Digital networks allow mul-tiple calls per channel or frequency which allows the wireless carrierto offer service to more people in their coverage area Some of thedigital technologies have increased the number of people who cantalk at the same time by six to ten times that allowed by analog sys-tems So in a nutshell digital technology is more efficient thananalog

The Pros and Cons of DigitalAs with any comparison there are pros and cons to each itemWhenchoosing between digital or analog the most important thing toremember is that analog is an established technology it has beenaround long enough and is available in most areas even very rurallocations However established is not always goodmdashthere is alwaysroom for improvement Digital wireless uses newer technology

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C02qk 111201 151 PM Page 26

although it may not be available everywhere it offers many featuresthat are unavailable to analog customers Because of the advancedtechnology that digital wireless uses it is the primary service beingoffered today to customers by almost all wireless carriersThe fol-lowing lists break down the pros and cons for digital technology andcan help you decide whatrsquos best for you

Advantages of Digital Phones

Clarity Digital wireless calls are often clearer than analogwireless calls

Capacity By enabling more calls to use the same bandwidthdigital technology reduces the busy signals that occur onanalog networks when too many people attempt to use theirphones at the same time

Value Digital plans tend to offer cheaper bundled minutesthan the analog alternatives because the wireless carrier hasmore bandwidth on digital than on analog

Better Phone Choices Because digital wireless can utilizemore advanced features than analog most digital phones comewith innovative features (like a calendar calculator and wire-less Internet capabilities)The popularity of digital phones hasalso created an increased demand for phones resulting in morephone choices for the consumer

Battery Life Digital wireless phones generally have alonger battery life than analog phonesThis explains whydigital phones are usually smaller and come with more talktime than analog phones Analog phones have to be in activemode all the time which drains the battery digital phonescan use a standby or sleep mode which saves battery use

Security Digital technology breaks your voice into zerosand ones before it transmits it through the air making itinherently more secure than analog technologyThis makes itmore difficult for anyone to eavesdrop on your wireless calls

Extra Features In general digital networks tend to offer thecustomer more network feature options like Caller IDTextMessaging and even Web surfing

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C02qk 111201 151 PM Page 27

Disadvantages of Digital Phones

Coverage In the United States the networks are still relativelyyoung and do not offer a coverage area as comprehensive as theanalog networks

Single Band Phones Some digital phones operate onlyon the digital network that is the primary network of thecarrierThese phones are great when they are in the digitalcoverage of the carrier but will not be able to make orreceive calls when outside of the digital network forexample when in a rural area on vacation or while travelingin nonpopulated areas

Roaming Fees Some wireless carriers offer their low per-minute cost or included minutes only while you are oper-ating on their digital network which may be only in ametropolitan area and the immediate surroundingsWhenyou drive outside that area you are using roaming minuteswhich are more expensive and often are not included inyour monthly service fee

Digital Sound Problems Although digital sound quality hasdramatically improved since its introduction you are likely tofind areas on the edges of the digital coverage area where thesound is like calling from under water or where your call willjust be disconnected Sometimes that is better than the analogstatic but other times it can be just as frustrating

wwwgetconnectedcom

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SummaryAlthough the coverage areas when using analog is still superior to thecoverage you will find on a digital phone the advantages of a digitalphone far surpass those of an analog phoneThe majority of wirelessphones available offer a secondary mode of operation on the analognetwork to make sure you have as much coverage as possible which isan important factor when looking at phonesThere is nothing worsethan spending $200 on a phone that offers the latest in digital capabili-ties only to have it not work as soon as you leave the highway

Quick References Evolution of the Wireless Phone

Wireless phones work on technology that is similar to that ofCB radiosAMFM radios and walkie-talkies

A cellular phone is a duplex deviceThis means it can sendand receive voice signals at the same time so you donrsquot haveto talk like you are on a walkie-talkie

With wireless technology messages sound clearer travel far-ther and are received by the person you are calling as if youwere next door

In the early 1980s the FCC approved the first analog wirelesstelephone standard known as AMPS

Analog was the pioneer for wireless technology

Analog wireless sends your voice in a continuous wave fromyour phone to the closest tower and forwards it to the otherparty

Just when you think that yoursquove got a pretty good handle onwhat analog is all about digital technology joins the party

Digital wireless phones use the same radio technology asanalog phones but they use it in a different way

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Digital wireless sends your voice as 0rsquos and 1rsquos from yourphone to the closest tower and reassembles it to send it to theother party

In a nutshell digital is more efficient than analog

Digital networks are often clearer than analog wireless

Digital phones generally have a longer battery life than analogphones

Analog still has more coverage for calling from more places

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CDMA to TDMAmdashDigital Terms andBasic Definitions

Code Division Multiple Access

Global Systems for MobileCommunications

Time Division Multiple Access

Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio

Service Providers and Technologies

Summary

Quick References

Chapter 3

165_cell_C03qk 111201 152 PM Page 31

32 Chapter 3 bull CDMA to TDMAmdashDigital Terms and Basic Definitions

IntroductionAs wireless technology becomes more and more popular serviceproviders and wireless providers will offer their customers more andmore advanced features Since the introduction of digital into the cel-lular world the possibilities seem endlessAlthough analog technologythe original wireless technology continues to be the most expansivenetwork available it is being challenged by digital technology as digitaltechnology offers superior abilities to better serve the consumer One ofthe major problems with digital wireless today is the sheer number ofdigital wireless service providers that exist For the average customerknowing what the different types of digital services are what servicesthe different providers have to offer and why one service provider isbetter or worse than the other is almost impossible

The only thing that matters to most people buying wireless is thatit works clearly and consistently and is relatively inexpensiveReasonable expectations but when someone ventures online or into awireless store to buy a wireless phone and service plan they are con-fronted with so many similar choices that it can be overwhelming andquite confusingThe reasons that the wireless carriers moved fromanalog to digital or built their networks using only digital are many butthe most compelling reason is that digital allows them to offer moreMore features More customers per channel of frequency allocated bythe FCC More seamless use across the country Just plain more

Early mobile telephone systems allowed only one conversation perfrequency which was very limiting to the carriers in terms of howmany customers they could serveThere was nothing that could reallybe done based on technology that did not allow for frequencies to bereused in any single geographical area However the demand for wire-less phones has led to systems whose design is based on the reuse offrequencies One of the first services to design a frequency reuse planor cellular plan was the Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS)

Before AMPS there were a limited number of channels available forwireless phones the towers to transmit and receive the signal from themobile units were designed to cover large geographic areas so as to limitthe number of towers and to lower costs However this resulted in verylow user density and crippled the systems in highly populated areasAMPSwas designed to allow frequencies to be reused in a smaller geographicarea thereby increasing the available user density Digital technologies

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CDMA to TDMAmdashDigital Terms and Basic Definitions bull Chapter 3 33

expanded on the reuse of frequency to allow each channel to carry threesix and even ten times as many calls as the older systemsThe ability totake a personrsquos voice break it down into 0rsquos and 1rsquos and reassemble itwhen it got to a tower enabled each bit of frequency to be used for manyvoice calls and for passing data back and forth across the network

The types of digital service that have evolved in the United Statesand around the world vary from each other mostly in technical waysbut also in some very customer-affecting waysThere are four types ofdigital systems is the United States

Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Time Division Multiple Accessing (TDMA)

Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio (ESMR)

The differences of the types of digital service are discussed in theremaining sections of this chapter

COMPETING DIGITAL STANDARDS

Wireless carriers are always trying to find the best way to optimizetheir networks with new technologies while making sure that once acustomer is on their network it is tough for them to leave for thecompetitor In the early days of wireless the cellular providers all gottogether so the story goes and agreed to move from their analogsystems to a common digital standard This would allow for simplecustomer roaming and migration from one network to another thuscreating the easiest solution for the consumer Immediately after thehands were shaken to agree on this one standard the carriers allstarting making their own arrangements and vendor choices basedon different standards including TDMA GSM and CDMA and thesimplicity that once existed in the analog world quickly ended

Code Division Multiple AccessCode Division Multiple Access (CDMA) is often referred to as themost interesting but hardest to implement method of carrying wirelessservices CDMA systems have no channels but instead encode each callas a coded sequence across the entire frequency spectrum Each conver-

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sation is modulated in the digital domain with a unique code thatmakes it distinguishable from the other calls in the frequency spectrum

CDMA is the newest of the multiple access technologies it is notyet as widely used but is showing great promise CDMA does notdivide the allocated block of frequencies into individual channels Itassigns a unique code to each signal and then combines all the signalsinto a single large channelThe receiver receives the integrated signaland uses the same code just to process the desired signal CDMA isgaining popularity as a third-generation (3G) wireless phone tech-nology because it is very efficient at utilizing bandwidth plus it isnatively very secure because all conversations are uniquely encoded

The fact that CDMA shares frequencies with neighboring wirelesstowers allows for easier installation of extra capacity since extracapacity can be achieved by simply adding extra cell sites andshrinking power levels of nearby sitesThe downside to CDMA is thecomplexity of deciphering and extracting the received signals espe-cially if there are multiple signal paths (reflections) between the phoneand the wireless tower (called multipath interference)As a resultCDMA phones are sometimes more expensive than other digitalphones and CDMA antenna site equipment is three to four times theprice of the other digital network equivalents

Benefits of CDMA CDMA networks cover more wireless users in the United States thanany other digital standard and include benefits such as

Advanced features like caller ID text messaging Voice clarity and overall call quality The ability to filter out background noise and interference Fewer dropped calls (as compared to analog) Improved security and privacymdashthe digitally encoded spread

spectrum transmissions minimizes eavesdropping Α large number of customers who can share the same radio

frequencies The greatest customer capacity of network equipment for

low cost Less battery power (when compared to analog)

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Global Systems for MobileCommunicationsGlobal Systems for Mobile Communication (GSM) is the maintechnology used by the international digital wireless systems how-ever GMS is used only by a small percentage of wireless carriers inthe United States GSM is interesting in that it uses a modified andfar more efficient version of TDMA (explained later in thischapter) GSM keeps the idea of timeslots on frequency channelsbut corrects several major shortcomings Since the GSM timeslotsare smaller than TDMA they hold less data but allow for data ratesstarting at 300 bits per secondThus a call can use as many times-lots as necessary up to a limit of 13 kilobits per secondWhen a callis inactive (silence) or can be compressed more fewer timeslots areusedTo facilitate filling in gaps left by unused timeslots calls do fre-quency hopping in GSMThis means that calls will jump betweenchannels and timeslots to maximize the systemrsquos usage A controlchannel is used to communicate the frequency hopping and otherinformation between the antenna tower and the phone

The architecture used by GSM consists of three main componentsa mobile station a base station subsystem and a network subsystemThese components work in tandem to allow a user to travel seamlesslywithout interruption of service while offering the flexibility of havingany device used permanently or temporarily by any user Utilizing thethree separate components of the GSM network this type of communi-cation is truly portableA user can place an identification card called aSubscriber Identity Module (SIM) in the wireless device and the devicewill take on the personal configurations and information of that userThis includes telephone numbers home system and billing informa-tionAlthough the United States has migrated towards CDMA andTDMA as the premier mode of wireless communications a large partof the world uses GSM

Benefits of GSMGSM networks cover the most wireless users around the world and thetechnology is gaining favor in the United States because of the fol-lowing benefits

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Provides integrated voice high-speed two-way data fax andshort message services capabilities

Offers advanced features such as caller ID text messaging Offers superior voice clarity and overall call quality Provides personal identification tied to a Subscriber

Information Module (SIM) card that can be used in multiplephones not tying the user to one phone

Offers voice privacy Uses less battery power (when compared to analog) Enables a single technology handset to work around the world

where GSM is available (as long as the frequencies are acces-sible by the handset)

Time Division Multiple AccessTime Division Multiple Access (TDMA) divides wireless conversationsby frequency and time to increase the capacity of the networkTDMAuses a single voice channel for multiple calls by taking each callbreaking it into timed sections of a digital transmission to the towerand reassembling the call based on the timeslot For example call A hasall its parts put into timeslot A call B has its parts put into timeslot Band each are sent in one transmission to the tower where the calls areput back together for transmission to the other partyTDMA was oneof the original digital systems used and has gone through many revi-sions to make sure it utilizes the network to the best of its abilitiesBased on a limited number of timeslots for each call in a channelTDMA has no accommodations for silence in a telephone conversa-tion In other words once a call is initiated the channeltimeslot pairbelongs to the phone for the duration of the call

Each channel using TDMA technology for wireless calls is furtherdivided into timeslots Each timeslot is assigned to a different userThetransmitter transmits information for all timeslots at the same frequencyand the receivers receive all the timeslots but listen only to the timeslotthey have been allocatedThe net effect is that the efficiency of thechannel is increased by a multiple of the number of timeslots that arebeing used Most common second-generation TDMA phone systemsuse three timeslots

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wwwgetconnectedcom

Benefits of TDMATDMA was one of the first technologies to expand analogrsquos voice capa-bilities beyond one call per channelTDMA has many other benefits

Provides advanced features like caller ID text messaging Economizes bandwidth Provides voice clarity and overall call quality even over long

distances Is difficult to decode therefore only minimal eavesdropping is

possible Uses less battery power (when compared to analog) Offers voice privacy

Enhanced Specialized Mobile RadioEnhanced Specialized Mobile Radio (ESMR) systems use digital radiotransmissions similar to other digital technologies Spread-spectrummodes such as frequency hopping are common One major differencefrom other networks is that in an ESMR system connections betweenusers is almost instantaneous compared to the typical delays required todial and set up a call in a public cellular networkThis capability allowsthe ESMR carrier to offer walkie-talkiendashlike services on its network aswell as cellular callingThis is a great advantage for large work groupswho need to be in constant contact with just a touch of a button forexample a construction crew ESMR services also allow customers tocontact many people at the same time much like a CB radio thus cre-ating a multiple person ldquocallrdquo

Examples of ESMR networks include Ericssonrsquos Enhanced DigitalAccess Communications System (EDACS) Motorolarsquos IntegratedDispatch Enhanced Network (iDEN) and the Nextel System

Delivery and courier services which depend on mobility and speedalso typically employ ESMR for voice communications between thedelivery vehicles and the officeThe technology consists of a dispatcherin an office plotting out the dayrsquos events for the driverWhen the driverarrives at his location he radios the dispatcher and lets him know hislocationThe benefit of ESMR is its ability to act like a CB radioallowing all users on one channel to listen while still allowing two users

165_cell_C03qk 111201 152 PM Page 37

to communicate personallyThis arrangement allows the dispatcher tocoordinate schedules for both pick-ups and deliveries and to track thedriverrsquos progress Drivers with empty loads can be routed to assist back-logged drivers Drivers that are on the road can be radioed if a customercancels a deliveryThis type of communication benefits delivery servicesin two major areas saving time and increasing efficiency

Benefits of ESMRESMR is a unique digital service that allows the user a couple ways tocommunicate including

Push-to-talk features that operate like walkie-talkies allowusers to talk directly to another person without a delay in set-ting up the call

Group calling allows users to talk to many people at one time

Digital transmissions assure privacy

Two-way data features are available

International systems allow the use of one handset anywherethe service is available

Service Providers and Technologies Now that wersquove covered the basic digital technology offerings you maybe wondering which service providers or wireless carriers offer whichservicesTo help you make sense of this wersquove provided the leading ser-vice providers and their offerings in Table 31

Be aware that Table 31 is not a complete list of US wireless ser-vice providers

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wwwgetconnectedcom

Table 31 Service Providers and the Technologies That They Offer

Wireless Technology

Service Provider CDMA TDMA GSM ESMR

ATampT Wireless

Cingular Wireless

Nextel

Qwest Wireless

Sprint PCS

SunCom

Verizon Wireless

Century Tel

NTELOS

PrimeCo

US Cellular

Cincinnati Bell Wireless

VoiceStream Wireless

165_cell_C03qk 111201 152 PM Page 39

SummaryDigital technology is quickly outpacing analog with its advanced fea-tures incredible battery life and voice qualityThe limitation of cov-erage for each of the four types of digital coverage in the United Statescan sometimes be overcome by using a wireless phone that has digitalservice and analog capabilities in order to maximize the places in theUS where the phone will workThe differences between the types ofdigital available to consumers is tough to discern so the best way tojudge which one is best for you is to consider the features coverageand quality of that digital coverage in your location

Quick References

CDMA networks cover more wireless users in the UnitedStates than any other digital standard and include benefitssuch as

Advanced features like caller ID and text messaging

Most capacity of all digital networks

Secure calling

Global Systems for Mobile Communications

GSM networks cover the most wireless users around theworld and the technology is gaining favor in the United Statesbecause of the following benefits

Provides integrated voice high-speed two-way datafax and short message services capabilities

Enables a single technology handset to work aroundthe world where GSM is available

SIM card feature keeps subscriber information

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TDMA was one of the first technologies to expand analogrsquosvoice capabilities beyond one call per channelTDMA hasmany other benefits

Secure calling

Economizes bandwidth

ESMR is a unique digital service that allows the user a coupleways to communicate including

Directly connect to other users like a walkie-talkie

Talk to groups of people like a CB radio

Two-way data

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165_cell_C03qk 111201 152 PM Page 42

Wireless Data andthe WirelessInternetmdashDo INeed It

What Is the Wireless Internet

How Does It Work

What Kind of Phone Do I Need

What Services Can I Get from the Wireless Carriers

What Services Can I Get from ThirdParties

Wireless Data and Fax

Summary

Quick References

Chapter 4

165_cell_C04qk 111401 432 PM Page 43

44 Chapter 4 bull Wireless Data and the Wireless InternetmdashDo I Need It

IntroductionImagine that the four hours you spent sitting in the airport waiting fora delayed flight yesterday could have been as productive as being in theoffice sitting at your desk Instead of getting friendly with the airportbartender you could have been browsing the 80 unread e-mails in yourinbox checking your stock portfolios or even looking up directions tothat impending business meetingYes you can do all this in the palm ofyour hand as long as you have the right phone and access to theWireless Internet

What Is the Wireless InternetLike millions of others around the world you use the Internet fromyour home or work computer every day to communicate with friendsfamily and co-workers check your stocks keep up with the news andweather make travel plans get directions and check movie timesMissing e-mail messages updates on your stocks or some news you justneed to know can be detrimental to your personal and professional lifeHow would you like the freedom of leaving the office for a while butstill being connected to the world around you

Thanks to the Wireless Internet you can get away from the officefor a bit while maintaining complete control over the information thatmatters most to youAnswer e-mail check sports scores and news allfrom the palm of your hand

The Wireless Internet gives your phone a dual personalitymdashone forvoice and one for dataAll the data that you need every day may very wellbe available to you by using your wireless phoneThe Wireless Internet letsyou read reply forward and manage your e-mail It helps you to be moreefficient when you are on the run or when you need to access informa-tion while you are away from the officeThere are many software compa-nies today that are creating applications to allow you to see all the datathat you use at work through your wireless phoneAlthough the informa-tion will not be presented in a format that your are familiar with you willbe able to access and manipulate itmdashread it fax it e-mail it delete it

How Does It WorkPerhaps the most important factor in the birth of Wireless Internet hasbeen the immense growth of wireless phones in the last few yearsWith

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Wireless Data and the Wireless InternetmdashDo I Need It bull Chapter 4 45

digital wireless networks expanding at record pace a solid foundationfor Wireless Internet services was established In 1997 Nokia MotorolaEricsson and Phonecom came together to create the WirelessApplication Protocol (WAP) because they believed a universal standardwas critical to the successful implementation of the Wireless InternetWAP uses Wireless Markup Language (WML) which includes theHandheld Device Markup Language (HDML) developed byPhonecom (now called OpenWave after their merger withSoftwarecom)The wireless phones are also equipped with a piece ofsoftware called a micro-browser which is analogous to the Web browseryou use to access the Internet from your home or work PCThemicro-browser allows you either to enter a Web address or to click on apage link which will then bring you to that page

Most wireless phones have data transfer rates of 144 kbps or lessCompared to a typical home PC 56 kbps modem cable modem orDSL connection (100 kbps+) wireless speeds are much slowerWirelessInternet content is typically text-based so the time it takes to downloadcontent is less than if the page were loaded with graphicsAnd althoughyou donrsquot get the graphical beauty of the Internet you are able to gainaccess to the information that matters to you most while on the goAcomparison of a typical Web page and its wireless Web counterpart canbe seen in Figures 41 and 42

The relatively small size of the liquid crystal display (LCD) on awireless phone certainly presents another challenge Most Web sites aredesigned for a resolution of 640 by 480 pixels which is ideal forviewing on a desktop or laptop computerThe page simply will not fiton wireless phone displays which average 150 by 150 pixelsAlso themajority of wireless devices use monochromatic screens Pages are moredifficult to read when the text and background colors become similarshades of grayWAP takes each of these limitations into account andprovides a way for pages to be displayed for optimal viewing capabilitieson a wireless phone screen

New applications are being developed to allow more graphics to bedownloaded onto wireless phones Given the limitations of the phonescreen the normal graphics you are used to will not appear on yourphone Some phones and wireless services can accept wireless bitmappictures (WBMP) which offer a taste of things to come in the deliveryof images to wireless phones albeit not a high resolution full-color ani-mated picture like yoursquod see on your home computer

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There are many steps involved in accessing a Web page throughyour wireless phone

1 The handset establishes a connection with its base station

2 Once this connection is set up the micro-browser initiates aconnection to a WAP gateway predefined in the phonersquosconfiguration

wwwgetconnectedcom

Figure 42 Yahoo Home Page Tool Bar on the Typical WirelessPhone Screen

Figure 41 Yahoo Home Page Tool Bar on the Typical ComputerScreen

165_cell_C04qk 111401 432 PM Page 46

3 The micro-browser requests a URL from the WAP gatewayThis is done via a compact binary encoded request

4 The gateway translates this request into an HTTP request andsends it over the wired Internet to the specified content server

5 The content server responds by sending a page of WML con-tent which may also contain WMLScript (similar toJavaScript) and special graphics in WBMP format

6 The gateway compresses the response into a special binaryformat optimized for low-bandwidth networks and thensends it back to the micro-browser It also compiles anyWMLScript found in the response

7 The micro-browser decodes the compressed signal andattempts to display it if possible

Donrsquot worry if this seems like too much informationmdashthere aremany steps involved in getting information from the Web to your smallwireless phone screen Each step along the way may vary slightly basedon the kind of content you are requesting and the kind of phone youare usingAs the Wireless Internet matures there will be fewer steps thatvary from the wired Internet thus allowing any device to access theonline information in virtually the same way

What Kind of Phone Do I Need To access the Wireless Internet you will need to get an Internet-readyphoneThese phones currently range in price from $100 to $500Three examples of Internet-ready phones can be seen in Figures 4344 and 45

For a more complete sampling of Internet-ready phones refer toChapter 6 ldquoGuide to Wireless Phonesrdquo

Wireless Internet service also enables users to connect their laptopsto the Internet without plugging into the phone socket in the wallYoucan purchase a separate cable that will allow you to connect to theInternet using your phone as your modemThe range of prices for

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wwwgetconnectedcom

Figure 43 The EricssonR289LX Internet-Ready Phone

Figure 44 The SamsungN200 Internet-Ready Phone

Figure 45 The Mitsubishi T250 Internet-Ready Phone

165_cell_C04qk 111401 432 PM Page 48

these kits covers the spectrum from $20 to $200 depending on the kitand its accompanying services Often using your phone as a modemwill use minutes on your monthly rate plan but sometimes you need toget an additional rate plan specifically for data

What Services Can I Get from the Wireless Carriers Thanks to the advancements made in wireless phone technology overthe past few years virtually every large wireless service provider nowoffers Wireless Internet service to their customers some including basicWireless Internet for no additional charge with others charging anadditional monthly fee in addition to monthly service plan charges

Some of the standard Wireless Internet services available includestock quotes show times restaurant reviews and door-to-door direc-tions right from your Wireless Internet-ready phoneWireless Internetservices that come standard on Internet-ready phones are pretty muchlimited to the basic services at this point but are expanding all the timeMany companies are creating new ways to use the Wireless Internetfrom all Internet-ready phones to allow the user to customize thephone for Web surfing Some of the services available today includeweather sports scores news headlines horoscopes e-mail notificationand calendar reminders

The one feature that all Wireless Internet users love is the ability tohave e-mail access in their back pockets Check your e-mail wheneverand wherever you wantmdashwhile watching your daughterrsquos soccer gameor at the top of a mountain Some wireless carriers e-mail packagesallow you to print your e-mail simply by faxing the e-mail to thenearest fax machineThis is very handy if you need a copy of an inven-tory list or directions to hand to someone else

Each wireless carrier will have slightly different services thatcome with their Wireless Internet package so be sure to look for onethat fits your needs If you only want to casually cruise the Web thenlook for one that is free or has a low per-use cost If you will dependon your wireless phone for data as much as voice make sure that thedata coverage that you will receive is of similar quality as the voicecoverage that you expect Also make sure that the e-mail use that youwant is what is available Most e-mail accounts that reside behind a

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firewall (for example Exchange or Lotus enterprise applications) canbe tricky to access with your wireless phone It is easier to direct youwireless phone to standard Internet e-mail accounts called POP3 e-mail

What Services Can I Get from Third PartiesMaking a Web site accessible to a wireless device is quite a challenge Sofar only a small portion of sites approximately 15 million of the morethan one billion Web sites provide any Wireless Internet contentAs theuse of Web-enabled wireless devices grows you can expect increasingnumbers of Webmasters to create wireless content for their Web sites toget the attention of the new wireless Web surfers

TOP WIRELESS INTERNET PORTALS

These portals are the most popular available to send customizedinformation via the Wireless Internet straight to your wirelessphone

Yahoo (httpmobileyahoocom) MSN Mobile (httpmobilemsncom) America Online (httpdevicesaolcommobile) Excite (wwwexcitecominfoexcite_mobile) Vindigo (wwwvindigocom)

Wireless carriers are partnering with many Internet contentproviders to add value to their customerrsquos Wireless Internet experienceMany of the content providers allow users to download simple contentfor specific items like weather or airline schedules and the other itemsmentioned earlier Many of the top names on the Internet are creatingcustomized areas for wireless users to access their own customizedinformation wherever they are whenever they want itThe wireless car-riers are partnering with these portals to keep their customers accessingtheir Wireless Internet often adding to the value that they bring to thewireless experience

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Portals that lead the Internet are hoping to get the same advantageon the Wireless Internet and attract the new generation of Internetusers to their wireless areas New names are trying to lead the charge inthe Wireless Internet and take a piece of the customer base away fromthe established Web leaders by enhancing the experience beyond whatthe existing Web portals are doingThe future of Wireless Internet islooking to be a great one for what will be available with increaseddownload speeds graphics color and interactive access like games withmultiple players

Wireless Data and FaxAn increasing number of digital phones can now be used as if theywere modemsTherefore with a data cable you can use your phoneand a laptop to connect to your usual Internet service provider(AOL Earthlink etc) while on the roadThese phones can also beused for receiving faxes as long as your laptop has a fax softwareapplication

If you want to use your wireless phone as a modem you need toask yourself the following questions

1 Does the phone I want to buy have data orand faxcapability

When you are purchasing a phone make sure the phone isDataFax CapableThis will assure you that your phone willbe able to operate as a modem

2 Does your wireless service provider offer that function

There is usually a low monthly cost associated with the dataservice However since you will most likely be using yourplan minutes to access the Internet on your computer theonly charges you should incur would be for long distance(if not included with your plan) or additional minutes (ifyou exceed your included plan minutes) In any case youshould check with your wireless service provider prior toaccessing the Internet on your computer with your wirelessphone

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3 What data speed is supported on the network towhich you want to subscribe and what kind of datatransfer is it

This is a very important question because not all types of net-works allow for the same data speeds and they donrsquot use thesame methods of transferring dataWireless carriers use eithercircuit-switched data transfer or packet-switched data transfermeaning that the network either ties up a single channel foryour data to be transmitted or it sends the data in smallpackets from one end to the other using multiple channelsThe difference is that typically packet-switched data is fasterand more reliable since the network has the ability to detectcorrupted data streams when a packet is missing and can cor-rect itself or ask your computer to fix it whereas circuit-switched data either will be working or it will notmdashthechannel will be on or off If the channel turns off in themiddle of a data transmission typically you have to start allover again

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SummaryThe Wireless Internet is basically a subset of the wired InternetYoushould remember that accessing the Internet with your cellular phonedoes not give you to the same amounts of computer memory pro-cessing power or monitor space as your desktop computer does soyour experience will be quite a bit differentWhen you use your wire-less phone as a modem from your laptop to access the Internet youcan see the same things you do when plugged in at work or at homeit just takes a bit longermdashand is more prone to need reconnection

Wireless phones are still basically meant to do one primarythingmdashallow you to talk to any one any time from anywhereTheaddition of data capabilities is something that is incredibly useful formany people and is adding to the overall features that you can get withyour wireless phone purchasemdashbut the ability to toss your computer isstill years awayYou can increase your productivity access informationthat is critical to you and keep in touch with e-mail and short mes-sages using your wireless phone many users become quickly addictedto this capability

Do you need the Wireless Internet If you are the type of personwho always needs to be in touch and know what is going on with youre-mail and electronic calendar but you also need to be in two or threeplaces at once then yes you should strongly consider the addition ofthe Wireless Internet to your cellular phone service plan

Quick ReferencesWhat Is the Wireless Internet

Τhe Wireless Internet adds Internet access to your wirelessphone

Use your phone to see short pieces of information likeweather news and sports

You can access your e-mail from your phone so that you willalways be in touch

How Does It Work

Your wireless phone uses a Wireless Internet standard and amicro-browser to access the Web

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C04qk 111401 432 PM Page 53

Internet pages are written in a new language (WML orWMLScript) that is viewable on wireless phones

Internet content is sent to the phone as text without graphicsdue to slower speeds and smaller screens than the wiredInternet

Many phones are available that include a micro-browser andthe ability to access the Web

Prices for phones with Wireless Internet Capabilities areapproximately $100 to $500

Wireless carriers have a number of options but primarily usestandard content providers with a preset selection of sites

Stock quotes weather movie times directions and sportscores are all examples of information that is available frommost wireless carriers who offer Wireless Internet access

E-mail and short message service are two-way data messagingoffers from wireless carriers

What Services Can I Get from Third Parties

Wireless portals are expanding the number of sites you can view

Currently Internet search engines are developing searchengines that will allow you to search the Web for informationfrom your wireless phone

Connecting your wireless phone to your laptop can give youaccess to the Internet with the same look and feel as thewired Internet just a bit slower

Faxing to and from your laptop using your wireless phone as amodem can be a life saver if you are stuck on the road andneed to get some work done

Make sure your phone can act as a modem and that yourcomputer can handle dialing out over a wireless device

wwwgetconnectedcom

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Equipment

Part II

165_cell_C05qk 111401 435 PM Page 55

165_cell_C05qk 111401 435 PM Page 56

The Componentsof a WirelessPhone

The Basics

A Beginnerrsquos Guide to Phone Features

The Cutting Edge

Summary

Quick References

Chapter 5

165_cell_C05qk 111401 435 PM Page 57

58 Chapter 5 bull The Components of a Wireless Phone

IntroductionChoosing the right phone for you is important For many people a wire-less phone is a constant companion and fashion accessory For others awireless phone is a functional device that they dig out when they need toplace a call Determining how you feel about your phone will make iteasier to decide which features are more or less important to you

The main components that make a phone more or less attractiveare size standard features advanced features and accessory optionsTheprice of a phone usually is determined by these componentsThesmaller the size and weight of a phone the more expensive it tends tobeThe more advanced features (like wireless Internet access) the phonehas the more expensive it tends to beAccessory options such as higherquality batteries interchangeable faceplates hands-free kits and batterychargers donrsquot change the initial price of the phone but they do impactthe bottom-line price

Wireless carriers tend to offer at least one less expensive basicmodel phone with their plansThat phone is usually a good qualityphone with standard features an average weight and an average batteryThe sectionldquoA Beginnerrsquos Guide to Phone Featuresrdquo will detail whatyou can expect to get from that type of phone

Every wireless carrier will also offer a ldquohotrdquo new phone that has thelatest and greatest everythingmdashand is the most expensiveThese phonesare typically the latest innovation in size (palm size) exterior appeal(stainless steel) advanced features (MP3 players) or a combination ofthese componentsThe sectionldquoThe Cutting Edgerdquo will review todayrsquoslatest novelties

If you want more than the basic phone but donrsquot need as much asthe hot phone there are plenty of options Knowing what the compo-nents do will help you buy the phone that works best for you and thatfits into your budget

The BasicsThe Ericsson R289LX is one of the most popular phones todaybecause it offers many of the best features for a reasonable price Figure51 shows the Ericsson R289lX and calls attention to the various ele-ments you will find on most wireless phonesThese elements aredescribed in further detail in the following sections

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The Components of a Wireless Phone bull Chapter 5 59

Display Screen Screen Size If you plan to use the phone for wireless

Internet applications then a larger multiline screen is amust Look at how many lines of text can fit on a screenand how many characters per line Also be sure to check ifyou are able to read the letters on the screen or if they arejust simply too small

Monochromatic versus Color Displays Most wirelessphones have monochromatic (ie black and white all amberor all green) displays but there are a growing number ofphones that offer color LCD displaysWireless phones withcolor screens use more memory and are more expensive theyare the cutting edge of wireless phone display technology

Antenna Antennas are internal fixed or extendable Extendable antennas must befully extended to give you their maximum rangeThe best kind of

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Figure 51 The Basic Components of All Cellular PhonesIllustrated Using the Ericsson R289LX

165_cell_C05qk 111401 435 PM Page 59

antenna depends on where you use your phone and how strong thecoverage is in that area Most of the time an internal or fixed antennaworks just fine but when you are at the edge of a wireless carrierrsquos cov-erage area you may get better quality from a phone with an extendableantenna

Menu Selection and Scroll Keys The look and feel of the menu selection and scroll keys varies by phonemodelThe usability of these keys is very important if you plan to useyour phone for Internet surfing or for text messaging

Scroll Keys Let you quickly surf through menus submenusand phone books

Menu Selection Keys Let you choose the option that iscurrently displayed above the key

Phone Menu Lets you customize your phone to make ityour ownmdashfor example the sound of the ring the volume ofthe earpiece or the key pad when you press the numbers andso onThe phone menu is where you will find all these set-tings every phone is slightly different as to how the menu islaid out and displayedThe userrsquos manual for your phone willwalk you through all the selections

Other Keys To save on size most keypads have multiple functions Many featuresare available through the menus but shortcuts and certain basic func-tions are available only by pressing the keys in a certain order Forexample to lock your keypad you may press 0 or to speed dial anumber you may press 8 Reading the userrsquos manual that comes withthe phone will explain exactly how this works for the phone youchoose

Keypad Letters When you use a wireless phone to sendtwo-way messages or e-mail you enter the text using yourkeypad Each number corresponds with certain letters forexample A B and C are on the 2 key In order to type a Cinto your phone you press the 2 key three times

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Clear Key Most phones have a key that will allow you toerase the last number or letter you entered (usually labeledCLR) Press the CLR button once to remove the last digitentered or hold it down to erase the entire entry

Message Key Most digital phones are able to receive textmessages and will also display when you have a voice mailwaiting for youThe message key will allow you to accessthese messages for review

PREDICTIVE TEXT ENTRY

Many wireless phones are loaded with software that helps you typewords with fewer keystrokes Tegic (wwwtegiccom) is one com-pany that offers software called T9 (wwwt9com) which helps youuse the nine keys on your phone to type thousands of words bypressing each number key only once instead of up to three timesWhen you are typing many short messages using your phone it ismuch easier to use predictive text entry software than continuallytyping the number keys

Battery The quality of the battery will determine the talkstandby time of yourphone Generally phones are sold with a standard battery that gives youan average talkstandby time Extra batteries can be bought as acces-sories and upgraded later so we do not recommend making thetalkstandby time of the standard battery the decisive factor in deter-mining which phone you choose to purchase (see Chapter 7ldquoAccessories for Your Wireless Phonerdquo)

Jacks If you plan on charging your phone in the car or using a hands-freeaccessory then you want to make sure that the phone model that youpurchase will support these kinds of accessoriesA quick way to verifycompatibility is to make sure the jacks for these accessories are physi-cally available

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Hands-Free Jack Some phones require a special attachmentfor using a head set or a hands-free device Others accessoriesoften offer a standard plug that will work with many differenttypes of phones

Charger Jack (or connection) Most phones will have anumber of charger types available (standard charger rapidcharger and car adaptor charger)They each have advantagesso if you want a specific charger make sure the phone supports it

A Beginnerrsquos Guide to Phone Features No one can decide for you which features are more important thanothers However knowing what the features are can help you decide foryourself if it is something that you will never use or something youcanrsquot live without Since the type of features a phone has is directly pro-portional to the amount it may cost you reviewing the list of featureswill help you decide between the $400 phone and the $40 phoneAndwhen you are comparing similar phones the one that has the right fea-tures for you is the one you want

Standard Features Standard features tend to vary by phone manufacturer (such asMotorola or Nokia) and model rather than by wireless service carrierA Nokia 8200 model offered by Cingular will have the same standardfeatures as a Nokia 8200 model offered by ATampT Wireless (eventhough they use different networks) How the different wireless car-riers choose to highlight and advertise those features can vary widelyThe following features are in alphabetical order and are available onmost phones currently on the market Some very basic phones maynot have all of these features

Automatic Redial Let your phone do the work for youAwireless phone with automatic redial will continually dial acall until you get through to the number you are attemptingto reach

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Battery Level Indicator Canrsquot remember when youcharged your battery last This indicator is usually fixed onthe first screen so you always know how much power youhave left

Calculator Always have a calculator handy Great for splittingthe bill at restaurants

CalendarReminder Set up reminders for important meet-ings birthdays and such

Call Log Tracks recently dialed received and missed callsThe number of calls stored varies by phone but is usuallybetween five and twenty

Clock Leave your alarm clock at home Most phone clocksalso have an alarm feature

Display Own Phone Number Great for when you firstget your phone and are updating all of your friends and familyon your new number but you just canrsquot remember it

External VolumeRinger Control Turn the volume ofyour ringer up when you are outside turn it down when yougo out to dinner or to the movies

Games Every manufacturer has their own games installedThese are great for occupying free moments while waiting inline for example

Incoming Number Storage This is a quick and easy wayto add phone numbers to your phone bookWhen you get acall choose this option and add the name later

Keypad Lock Allows you to lock the keypad so you donrsquotaccidentally make a call while your phone is in your bag orpocket Especially useful for ldquonon-fliprdquo phone designs

Last Number Recall Did you hang up too soon Last-number recall allows you call the person right back withouthaving to find the number again

Message Indicator Lets you know if you have a numerictext or voice message waiting

Numeric Paging Use your cellular phone as a pager noneed to carry around two devices

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PersonalizedCustom Ring Tones Set your ring to what-ever makes you happyYou will always be able to tell itrsquos yourphone Or program a different ring for each of your favoritecallers so you can tell who is calling before you even findyour phone In addition to the standard tones many Web sitesalso offer downloadable rings that increase your options (forcompatible phones)

Phone Book (size varies) Every phone has some type ofphone bookThe most basic phone books allow you to storeabout 20 phone numbers with namesThe most advancedphone books allow you to store over 100 entries with businesscard information e-mail addresses and up to four contactnumbers per entry

Security Lock Password-protect your phone so that onlyyou can use it Most phones let you do this manually orautomatically Advanced phones let you password-protectsections of your information (like your phone book) A nicefeature to have in case you accidentally leave your phonesomewhere

Signal Strength Indicator Like the battery indicator thisindicator is usually fixed on the first screen so you alwaysknow how good you can expect your reception to be

Speed DialingOne-Touch Dialing This feature allowsyou to program certain keys to dial frequently called numbersKeeps the fumbling to a minimum when you are on the goor in a hurry

Vibrate Mode Similar to the ring volume the vibrate modeis considered most polite when you are at the movies or otherplaces where discretion is advisedVibrate mode can also workbetter than ring volume in extremely loud places like con-certs Depending on the manufacturer vibrate can be a func-tion of either the phone or the battery If it is the battery youcan always upgrade later

Volume Controls Allows you to turn up the volume forlow talkers and turn down the volume for loud talkersThemost advanced phones have a built-in function that modulatesthe volume for you

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Features Requiring Service All of the following features are considered standard features on mostphones but they also require your service carrier to provide the serviceThese services can be included or they can have a per-use monthlycharge depending on the wireless service plan you choose So in orderto use any of the following features you need to check your phonemodel and your service plan

Call Forwarding Allows you to send calls to another phonenumber when your wireless phone number is unavailable(turned off out of range or busy) Depending on the primaryuse of your phone you can use this feature to redirect calls toyour office or home and make sure your callers are alwaystaken care of

Call Waiting If you prefer to take your calls as they come inyou can use call waitingThis feature notifies you if anothercaller is trying to get through when you are already on thetelephoneThen you can put the first caller on hold whileyou take the other call switch between the two callers or endone call to take the other Or you can ignore the tones andlet the second caller be forwarded to your voicemail

Caller ID Lets you see whorsquos calling before you answer Onmost models it also works with your phone book to provide aname if you have programmed the name into your phone book

Emergency Calling Every network uses 911 for emergencycalls Some phones also have preprogrammed ldquohotrdquo keys thatallow one-touch dialing for personal emergenciesAccordingto the FCC as long as you are in an area that has any wirelesscoverage at all and regardless of the activation status of yourphone your 911 call will be placed

Roaming Indicator This on-screen indicator lets you knowthat you are entering an area where you will be charged addi-tionally for your calls It is up to the wireless carrier to decideif they provide this service or not

Three-Way Calling Need to make plans with more thanone person Three-way calling lets you conference in twoother phones so you donrsquot have to call anyone back More

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advanced phones have multi-party calling allowing you toconference with up to five additional phones

Voice-Activated Functions Talk to your phone and it doeswhat you tell it toThis feature can be as limited as the abilityto dial certain numbers or it can retrieve your sports scoreupdates depending on the phone model

Voicemail Allows people to leave you a message when yourphone is unavailable (turned off out of range or busy)Thisfeature can let you be a one-person office if you prefer not toforward your calls

Advanced Features Requiring Service These features are available on a growing number of phones Everymanufacturer and every wireless carrier offers at least one phone thatallows you to use the following featuresThe usability and availability ofthese features gets better every year So if one of these features is inter-esting to you but not the right thing now check back next year and seehow it has improved

Text Messaging or Short Message Service (SMS)Allows you to exchange short alphanumeric messages withother phones wireless devices or PCs If you plan to use thisfeature often make sure you get a phone with a comfortablekeypad and large enough display area Some text messagingservices are only for receiving messages so if you want to sendmessages make sure it is two-way capable

Wireless Internet Access (WAP) Allows you to surf theWeb in a manner of speaking Sites that have created WAPinterfaces let you get the basics of what you need includingweather stocks news and scheduled updates May also allowyou to access e-mail depending on the phone model andplan Keypad ergonomics and display screen size will play abig part in how much you like this feature (See Chapter 4ldquoWireless Data and the Wireless InternetmdashDo I Need Itrdquo formore information)

DataFax Capable Allows you to use your phone as amodem or a fax if your wireless carrier supports this service

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Speeds are available up to 144 Kbps but they vary by wirelesscarrier (see Chapter 4ldquoWireless Data and the WirelessInternetmdashDo I Need Itrdquo for more information)

The Cutting EdgeThese features are available on a limited basis now but they will bewidely available soon enough Most of these features exist around theidea of combining your wireless phone with your Palm or other PDA(see Chapter 13ldquoThe Future of Wireless Communicationsrdquo) so youend up with a phone Palm and Internet access in one device that goeseverywhere with you

Business Card Exchange Allows you to use the infraredport on your phone to send or receive data from other com-patible phones or handheld devices

Currency Converter Think of it as an advanced calculatorthat helps you travel smart If you are an international travelerthis could be a very handy feature

Infrared This is the physical feature that allows you to do allthat data beaming back and forth Check around theperimeter of the phone for a little red plastic rectangle

MP3 Player This type of phone is a two-for-one bargainYouonly have to carry around one device and you get all your callsand can listen to your favorite tunes in between calls

Multicolor Display Screen Right now the colors beingoffered are basic red blue green yellow Some phones letyou switch from color to color for a monochrome viewOther phones let you highlight certain features using thecolors For example your Momrsquos number could be in redyour best friendrsquos number in green and your incoming stockupdates can be in blue As the wireless Web applicationsbecome more advanced color may become more necessary

Picture Messaging Allows you to store and send smallimages with your text messagesThe phone model may havesome pre-entered images already loaded

Real-Time Clock Never have to set your clock againmdashletyour phone connect to the Internet and fix itself

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Speaker Phone Capability Eliminates the need for ahands-free set allowing you to do other tasks while you talk

Sync Your Phone with a Palm or PC Whether you enteryour data on the go or in the office once you sync you willhave all of the information you need in all the places you useitThis option requires additional software and may requireadditional hardware

To Do Lists Helps you keep up with your daily tasks It alsocoordinates with your calendar

Voice Memo Recorder Need to remember something butdonrsquot have time to enter it Use your phonersquos memo recorderand leave yourself a message for later

Predictive Text Input Sure sending text messages surfingthe Web and using your phone as your Palm sound great buthow are you going to enter all that data One short-cut is tosync with your PCThe other is to have this feature predictivetext input Using a stored dictionary the phone ldquoguessesrdquo whatword you are typing in and lets you finish it fasterThis fea-ture also lets you insert certain words or phrases by using hotkeys you program yourself

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SummaryThe features available on a wireless phone are one way to differentiateone phone from another If you know the difference between the fea-tures you can quickly scan the lists of features and decide if a phone isworth the price for youYou wouldnrsquot pay more for a car because itcomes with a steering wheel and you shouldnrsquot pay more because aphone offers different ring tones

Knowing your preferences and potential uses is also important Ifyou just need a phone that wonrsquot break and wonrsquot break your walletany phone with standard features will suit your purposes If yoursquore theperson on your block that always has the latest gadgets then wirelessWeb access is a must-have for you and your eye will be wanderingtoward the PDA phones If you are looking to combine all your devicesinto one then you are definitely looking at the cutting-edge phones

Quick ReferencesThe Basics

The basic physical features of a phone are the same frommodel to model

The way different models package these features varies greatly(see Chapter 6ldquoGuide to Cellular Phonesrdquo)

Certain physical features like display screen can cause thephone to be more expensive if the screen is especially large ormulticolor

Most phones have these features in some capacity

Standard features vary from manufacturer to manufacturerrather than by wireless carrier

Standard features include automatic redial phone book bat-tery level indicator and more

In order to get these common features not only do you needa compatible phone but you also need a wireless plan thatsupports the service you are looking for

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The wireless plan may charge additional fees for these service-based features

Other features include call waiting voice mail and three-waycalling

These features also require service support from your wirelesscarrier but they are available only in certain phone models

These features are improving all of the time

Service-based features also include text messaging andWireless Internet

The Cutting Edge

These features are the latest technology advances for phones

Be prepared to pay more for these features

Look here if you are trying to combine multiple devices (egyour phone and your PDA) into one

These features include MP3 player sync with your PC andspeaker phone

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Guide to WirelessPhones

Size and Weight

Networks Available

Case Design

Talk Time and Standby Time

Popular Wireless Phones

Summary

Quick References

Chapter 6

165_cell_C06qk 111401 437 PM Page 71

72 Chapter 6 bull Guide to Wireless Phones

IntroductionYou have several options when selecting a phone that fits your pricerange and with enough features to suit your lifestyle there are manydiverse styles of phonesThe form color and size of the phone youcarry can serve as a reflection of your character and speak volumes tothose around you as to what type of person you are

As current general rules dictate the most popular phones areextremely small thin or lightweightThese days it seems that just asone manufacturer creates the smallest lightest or thinnest phone thereis another company developing a phone that claims to be even better

In addition to phones varying in size and weight many phones letyou change the appearance of the phone by letting you change thefaceplateThe ability to make such transformations makes it feel as ifyou have an entirely different phone by spending only a small amount

With so many options the decision as to which style of phone isright for you is a difficult one to make In this chapter we explore thevariety of options that are available hopefully making the choice clearerfor you

Size and WeightFor the past couple of years phones have become smaller and smallerto the point where it has become almost miraculous that even smallerphones are being produced In the 1980s wireless phones ranged in sizefrom 8 to 12 inches However as with all technology engineers devel-oped methods of creating even smaller phones to the point we are attoday where we can tuck our phones away in a shirt or pants pocketand forget about it

Large PhonesSurprisingly enough any phone that is more than five inches in length isconsidered largeAdditionally these phones are usually the heaviestphones on the market with most weighing more than six ounces Largersized phones may not necessarily be heavier than smaller phones how-ever since several manufacturers are creating new phones that are longbut extremely thin and light If size or weight is a strong concern for youa small- or medium-sized lightweight phone which offers similar featuresin a much more manageable size may be a better option for you

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Guide to Wireless Phones bull Chapter 6 73

Some of the phones that are classified as large often are used inpromotions as free phones but others like the Kyocera (shown inFigure 64) are the most advanced phones on the market today and canbe as expensive as $500 Figures 61 through 64 depict the most pop-ular types of todayrsquos large phones

Figure 61 Motorola i700 86 oz 52 inches

Figure 62 Ericsson R289LX61 oz 51 inches

Figure 63 Nokia 5165 60 oz 52 inches

Figure 64 Kyocera QCP 603574 oz 56 inches

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Medium-Sized PhonesA phone that is four to five inches long and three to five ounces inweight qualifies as medium-sizedThese phones are typically in themiddle price range and have many of the latest features Some exceptionsare phones that include the latest and greatest features like the ability toload and play MP3 music Figures 65 through 68 are indicative of themedium-sized phones that are most common with the general public

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Figure 66 Samsung N200 47 oz 43 inches

Figure 67 Touchpoint 210046 oz 48 inches

Figure 68 Samsung UproarMP3 Phone 42 oz 42 inches

165_cell_C06qk 111401 437 PM Page 74

Small or Compact PhonesAny phone shorter than four inches is considered to be small or com-pact In addition to being the smallest sized phones on the market theyare usually the lightestYou will find many of the cutting edge featureson these phones including color screens and the ability to load picturesthat can pop up on the screen when certain people call you Figures 69through 611 illustrate some of the more popular compact phones avail-able today

wwwgetconnectedcom

Figure 611 Touchpoint 5200 37 oz 34 inches

165_cell_C06qk 111401 437 PM Page 75

Networks AvailableMost of the phones available today are digital phones but if theyoperate only on a single digital frequency and not on the more ubiqui-tous analog network you may end up with a phone that works only invery limited areas Phones on the market today fall into three cate-gories

Single Mode Dual Mode

Tri-Mode

For more information regarding analog and digital technologies seeChapter 2ldquoAnalog DigitalmdashWhatrsquos the Differencerdquo

Single Mode Some of the newest digital phones being introduced support only asingle digital network because the manufacturer wanted to get it tomarket quickly to make sure they got the newest coolest phone on theshelf firstAll manufacturers produce single mode phones But theproblem may be that itrsquos cool when it works downtown but if you tryto use it when driving to your house in the suburbs you may be out ofluck Before purchasing a phone remember to check the phonersquos speci-fications or ask a customer service representative to explain the phonersquosmode to make sure it will work everywhere you need it to work

Dual ModeMany digital phones are dual mode that is they work on two net-worksmdashdigital and analog Some of the phones that are available as dualmode actually work on three networksmdashfor example the 800 MHzanalog network the 800 MHz digital network and the 1900 MHz dig-ital networkThese phones will allow you the most use because theyare most likely to find an available network wherever you are

Tri-Mode A small number of phones available today are called tri-modeThismeans that they work on three frequencies 800 MHz analog 1900MHz US digital and another international digital frequencyTri-mode

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phones are the ones that will work overseas in many countries aroundthe world

Case DesignIn addition to varying dramatically in dimension and weight wirelessphones also differ greatly in their overall body styleAll phones fall intoone of two categories

Traditional

Traditional Style Roughly 75 percent of wireless phones fall under the traditional designcategory incorporating a one-piece design with keypad and screen inplain view and accessible at all times Nokia originally popularized thetraditional body style and has incorporated this design into most of thephones it sellsThe traditional-style phones vary dramatically in size inweight Figures 612 through 614 are good examples of the mostcommon traditional style

wwwgetconnectedcom

Figure 612 The Nokia 5165 Figure 613 The Motorola i2000

165_cell_C06qk 111401 437 PM Page 77

Flip StyleFlip style phones feature a cover that either partially or completelyencloses the phone in the closed positionThe flip feature can serveas an answer or end call function and protects the keypad andor dis-play screen depending on the size of the flip Almost all flip phonescan be classified as compact or small in terms of their size andweight Some of the most common flip phones can be seen inFigures 615 through 617

ColorBermuda blue gecko green red pepper brushed aluminum With somany options available it is hard to decide which color will suit youbestA phone that looks really fashionable when you purchase it maylose its appeal as the months pass One consolation is that there are sev-eral phones available (ie Nokia 3360 Nokia 8290 and Kyocera QCP-2035) that allow you to change the faceplate of the phone virtuallygiving you a brand new phone for just a fraction of the price (SeeChapter 7ldquoAccessories for your Wireless Phonerdquo for more informationon faceplates)

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Figure 614 The Ericsson R289LX

165_cell_C06qk 111401 437 PM Page 78

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Figure 617 The Samsung N200

Figure 615 The Motorolai1000

Figure 616 The Touchpoint1100

165_cell_C06qk 111401 437 PM Page 79

CostPhone prices range from free to $600 with most of the phones aver-aging between $100 and $200The prices that you see are the retailprices which include the requirement to sign up for a service planwhen buying the phone If you are looking to buy a phone without aservice plan the prices tend to be higher

In fact there are few places where you can buy a phone withoutthe service plan attached today Phones that cost $200 with a servicecontract typically carry a list price of $500 if you would like to pur-chase the phone without a designated service plan Cellular serviceproviders pay a rebate to retailers in exchange for a service contract andretailers pass on the cost savings to customersmdashas long as the servicecontract remains in the deal

You pay a premium for tiny lightweight models whether they are dig-ital or analogWireless phones that sell for under $100 are on the budgetplanThese phones are typically larger and heavier with minimal featuresalthough they generally perform just as well as phones that are moreexpensive Mid-priced phones in the $100 to $250 range are smaller andlighter with extended-life batteries alphanumeric text messaging direc-tory features and more High-end phones sell for $400 and up and offerthe latest features the smallest designs and the most attractive styling

Talk Time and Standby TimeDepending on how often you plan to use your phone talk time andstandby time amounts are something that you should definitely considerwhen selecting a wireless phone If you are traveling across the UnitedStates do you want your phone to run out of power when you reachMissouri Of course not However if you plan on using your phoneonly for short conversations and have the ability to recharge the phoneevery evening then talk time and standby time will not be as big of aconcern for youTalk time is the actual amount of time spent on con-versation and standby is the time a phone is on and ready to receive acall Digital phones are more efficient and have longer talk and standbytimes than analog phonesA battery that offers 110 minutes talktime50 hours standby time in analog mode might deliver more thanthree hours talk time or eight days standby when used with a digitalphone If the battery runs out it simply turns off the wireless phoneuntil you recharge it or you are able to replace the battery with a fully

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charged oneA longer talk time could save you a lot of time and frus-tration but if you do not talk on your phone a lot it could be unneces-sary Batteries generally have a range from 60 to 600 minutes for talktime Standby time ranges from 2 to 484 hours

Another thing to remember when you look at the talk time andstandby time for a battery or phonemdashvery seldom do you use only talktime or only standby time you typically use a combination of the twoJust as your carrsquos mileage is better on the highway your phonersquos batterylasts longer while you are not talking (standby) But always beware justlike your carldquoyour mileage may varyrdquo from what the manufacturerstates in the specifications

Popular Wireless PhonesThis section will allow you to browse through the specifics for manyphones on the market (in alphabetical order) so you can compare themside-by-sideWersquove taken some of the more popular wireless phones avail-able today and provided you with the following details for each phone

Service Provider Price Weight Height Mode Internet Ready

Text Messaging Capabilities

Remember however that manufacturers are always creating newphones and that the phones and prices displayed in this section are thecurrent offerings New models may be released to the general publicand prices for consumers are subject to change

This section shows some of the phones available from a few wire-less carriers so you can see the wide variety of phones and pricesout there today For a complete list of currently available phonescheck wwwgetconnectedcom because the phone models andprices change often

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C06qk 111401 437 PM Page 81

The Ericsson R289LX

Service ProviderATampT Price $9999 Weight 6 ounces Height 63 inches ModeTri-mode Internet ReadyYes

Text Messaging CapabilitiesYes

wwwgetconnectedcom

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The Kyocera QCP-2035

Service Provider Sprint PCS Price $9999 Weight 44 ounces Height 51 inches ModeTri-mode Internet ReadyYes

wwwgetconnectedcom

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The Mitsubishi T250

Service ProviderATampT Price $9999 Weight 7 ounces Height 56 inches ModeTri-Mode Internet ReadyYes

wwwgetconnectedcom

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The Motorola i1000plus

Service Provider Nextel Price $14999 Weight 54 ounces Height 45 inches Mode Single Mode Internet ReadyYes

wwwgetconnectedcom

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The Motorola i2000

Service Provider Nextel Price $19999 Weight 79 ounces Height 50 inches ModeTri-mode Internet ReadyYes

wwwgetconnectedcom

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The Motorola V2397

Service ProviderATampT Price $4999 Weight 38 ounces Height 51 inches ModeTri-mode Internet Ready No

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The Nokia 3360

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The Nokia 5165

Service ProviderATampT Price $7999 Weight 6 ounces Height 52 inches ModeTri-Mode Internet Ready No

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The Nokia 6160

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The Nokia 8260

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The Panasonic Allure

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The Panasonic Versio

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The Samsung N200

Service Provider Sprint PCS Price $17999 Weight 47 ounces Height 43 inches Mode Dual Mode Internet ReadyYes

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The Samsung Uproar MP3

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The Sanyo SCP-5000

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165_cell_C06qk 111401 437 PM Page 99

The Sanyo SCP-6000

Service Provider Sprint PCS Price $29999 Weight 23 ounces Height 50 inches Mode Single Mode Internet ReadyYes

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The Sprint Touchpoint 1100

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Sprint Touchpoint 2200

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wwwgetconnectedcom

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wwwgetconnectedcom

SummaryThere are many things to evaluate when deciding on the wirelessphone for youThe height weight features and price are just some ofthe things to consider when making your decision

Quick ReferencesSize and Weight

For the past several years phones have become smaller andsmaller

Large phones are five or more inches in length and usuallyweigh more than six ounces

Medium phones are four to five inches in length and weighthree to five ounces

Small or compact phones are less that four inches long andusually weigh less than four ounces

Networks Available Most of the phones available today are digital phones but if

they operate on only a single digital frequency and not on themore ubiquitous analog network you may end up with aphone that works only in very limited areas Phones on themarket today fall into three categories

Single mode Dual mode Tri-Mode

Case Design In addition to varying dramatically in dimension and weight

wireless phones also differ greatly in their overall body styleAll phones fall into one of two categories traditional or flip

Color Phones come in many different colors

If you want to be able to change the color of your phonepurchase one that allows you to change the faceplate

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Phone prices range from free to $600 with most of thephones averaging from $100 to $200

Most wireless phones must be purchased with a service planto get the retail pricing buying a phone without a plan cancause the price to skyrocket

Talk time is the actual amount of time spent talking on yourphone it ranges from two to eight hours depending on thephone

Standby is the actual amount of time can be phone on andready to receive calls it ranges from 50 to 300 hoursdepending on the phone

Compare phones by service provider price weight heightmode Internet capability and text messaging capability

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Accessories forYour WirelessPhone

Hands-Free Kits

Cases and Belt Clips

Chargers

Batteries

Faceplates

Summary

Quick References

Chapter 7

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108 Chapter 7 bull Accessories for Your Wireless Phone

IntroductionWhen you are deciding on the wireless phone you want to buy youmay want to consider what kind of accessories you will needDepending on how you use your phone certain accessories like ahands-free kit or a cigarette lighter adapter could come in quite handyIf you are a fashion conscious individual you may want to buy a colorfulfaceplate or a light-up antennaWe especially recommend using a hands-free kit in the car because talking on the phone while driving can proveto be quite dangerous and has even been outlawed in certain cities

The accessories shown here are just a small number of the totalaccessories availableWe have broken them down into categories so youcan get an idea of the types of accessories you may want to add to yourphone purchaseThe prices vary based on the model of phone and themanufacturer of the accessory Once you choose your phone howevermake sure that the accessories you want are available for it before youactually make the purchase

Hands-Free KitsGiven recent national legislation outlawing operation of a wirelessphone while driving hands-free kits quickly have become the mostpopular type of accessory Simple hands-free kits include an earpiece

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Figure 71 The Nokia Hands-Free Kit

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Accessories for Your Wireless Phone bull Chapter 7 109

and microphone allowing you to talk on your phone without usingyour hands Kits start at $20 and come in a variety of styles Simplehands-free kits come in a variety of styles so it is important to check allyour options before purchasing Many phones also come with a hands-free earpiecemicrophone so check to make sure you do not buy one ifyou donrsquot need to Figures 71 and 72 show two the more popularhands-free kits and car kits available today

Car hands-free kits sometimes require professional installationand include a microphone that typically attaches to a visor a speakerthat is mounted near the dash a cradle that holds the phone and ajunction box where all cords connect Prices range from $180 to$300 for these more sophisticated kits depending on the phone andfeatures

Cases and Belt Clips Cases protect a phone from dust and moisture while still allowing youto operate the phone Dust and moisture can seep into your phone andpossibly ruin its inner circuitry Cases are especially helpful if you knowthat you will be submitting your phone to regular abuse because theyabsorb some of the shock or cover the screen to prevent it fromcracking if dropped Some cases cover the entire phone others simplyprotect the screen or keypad Holsters are another kind of case that cliponto your belt Simply slide your phone in and out while the holsterremains fastened securely to your belt clipThese cases usually cost $10to $20 on average

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Figure 72 The Samsung Car Hands-Free Kit

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Belt clips provide easy access to your phone when receiving a callMost belt clips also offer swivel features that allow you to access yourphone more easily Holsters also cost between $10 and $20 Figures 73through 75 show different types of carrying cases the more commontypes of belt holsters can be seen in Figures 76 and 77

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Figure 73 The Nokia Full-Phone Case

Figure 74 The Samsung Full-Phone Case

Figure 75 The Nokia Semi-Phone Case

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Chargers Phones are usually sold with standard AC battery chargers that you canplug into the wall in your home or office Rapid travel chargers cancut charging times in half Charging times vary based on the type ofphone and batteryA typical rapid battery charger can charge alithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery used with a digital phone in two hourscompared to four hours with a standard charger Rapid chargers forthe car plug into the cigarette lighter adapter and can often provide a

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Figure 76 A Nokia Belt Clip

Figure 77 A Samsung Belt Clip

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full charge in two hours Phones can often charge and be used forconversation simultaneously although the charging time lengthenswhen the phone is in useThe price range for standard rapid andvehicle chargers is between $15 and $30 Different types of chargerscan be seen in Figures 78 through 710

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Figure 78 A Nokia Car Charger

Figure 79 A Nokia AC Battery Charger

Figure 710 A Nokia Desktop Charger

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Batteries All wireless phone batteries are rechargeableA rechargeable battery canaccept 200 to 400 recharges before it needs to be replaced Having aspare charged battery ensures that you will always be able to make andreceive callsAccessory batteries range from about $25 for a standard-life battery to $80 for an extended-life lithium-ion battery Batterycapacity is measured in talk time or standby time Digital phones con-sume less power than analog phones because the digital phones havethe ability to use the power they require more economically Extendedlithium-ion batteries offer the best performance usually allowing fivehours talk time or one to two weeks standby in digital mode

The following is a breakdown of the three standard wireless phonebatteries nickel cadmium (NiCad) nickel metal hydride (NiMH) andlithium-ion (Li-Ion)

NiCad This is an older technology and has some technicalproblems Memory effect also known as ledges can reducethe capacity of the battery if it is charged repeatedly withoutbeing fully discharged In addition the battery must be dis-posed of properly because it is an environmental hazard

NiMH A newer technology that does not suffer frommemory effects like the NiCad battery It also holds a chargelonger then the NiCad

Li-Ion A long lasting and light battery that does not sufferfrom memory effects It is however more expensive than theother battery types

Faceplates If yoursquore the type of person who likes to change looks at a momentrsquosnotice then a phone with the ability to change faceplates is the choicefor you Faceplates allow you to feel like you have a new phonewithout having to shell out the cashThere are many different colorsand designs for many models of phones If you want to be blue one dayand have tiger stripes the next you can with certain phones Look tosee if the phone you are interested in has changeable faceplates to besure you can customize your look Faceplates usually cost under $20and come in a variety of colors and textures

wwwgetconnectedcom

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SummaryJust as there are many wireless phones from which to choose there areeven more phone accessories to consider buyingThe basic categories ofaccessories will help you determine if you need or want accessoriesSometimes the accessories you want are necessities like a car charger ifyou use your phone while on the road Other times accessories can bejust for fun like a faceplate that has your favorite college logo on itAndwireless phone accessories make great gifts tooYou will get a standardcharger and a battery with your phone although you may get more like ahands-free earpiece If you want added convenience or added personaliza-tion for your phone then add some accessories when you buy your phone

Quick ReferencesHands-Free Kits

Simple hands-free kits include an earpiece and microphoneallowing you to talk on your phone without using yourhandsThese kits start at $20 and come in a variety of styles

Car hands-free kits sometimes require professional installationand include a microphone that typically attaches to a visor aspeaker that is mounted near the dash a cradle that holds thephone and a junction box where all cords connect Prices rangefrom $180 to $300 depending on the phone and features

Cases protect a phone from dust and moisture while allowingyou to operate the phone

Belt clips provide easy access to your phone when receiving acall

Prices for cases and belt clips range from $10 to $20

Chargers

Phones are usually sold with standard AC battery chargers

Car chargers are available if you spend time on the road

Rapid travel chargers can cut charge time in half

Charging times vary based on the type of phone and battery

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Batteries

All wireless phone batteries are rechargeable

A rechargeable battery can accept 200 to 400 recharges beforeit needs to be replaced

Batteries range from about $25 for a standard-life battery to$80 for an extended-life lithium-ion battery

Faceplates

Faceplates allow you to feel like you have a new phonewithout having to shell out the cash

Faceplates are usually under $20 and come in a variety ofcolors designs and textures

wwwgetconnectedcom

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Service Plans and Rates

Part III

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165_cell_C08qk 111401 441 PM Page 118

UnderstandingService Plans

Understanding Basic Plan Structures

Breaking Down Wireless Plans and Fees

The Prepaid Option

Summary

Quick References

Chapter 8

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120 Chapter 8 bull Understanding Service Plans

IntroductionChoosing your wireless phone is only one part of the puzzlemdashtheother piece is the wireless service or rate plan Shopping for a wirelessplan can be an extremely overwhelming experience especially if it isyour first timeThere are so many plans to choose from so manydetails so many ldquogreat offersrdquo to take advantage of Understanding howplans are structured how they are priced and how your usage patternsfit into these plans should help you find the best plan for you

Service plans have gone through some major changes over theyears Originally you would buy a rate plan which would charge youfor simple network access and for every minute you used to talk onyour wireless phoneYou would be charged extra for long distance callsand if you wanted to use your phone while driving across the countryforget it You could use your phone when you were far away fromhome but you needed to carry a huge book with you full of 800 num-bers to call based on where you were and on whose network youwould come up onmdashand then you would be charged incredible ratesper minute to make a callThat was early roamingmdashthankfully it is awhole lot easier now and a whole lot less expensive

As wireless carriers are merging and forming more national net-works the nature of plan structures are also changing and becomingmore affordableThis affordability can be customized depending onhow you use your phone as many service providers now offer differentflavors of wireless rate plans

All-inclusive plans which offer one rate for all calls made orreceived on that specific wireless carrierrsquos network

All-inclusive plans which offer one rate for all calls made orreceived on any wireless carrierrsquos network

Regional and local rate plans with agrave la carte selections forlocal calling minutes

Long distance calling Middle of the day calling Weekend calling

International calling

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Understanding Service Plans bull Chapter 8 121

Basically there is something for everyone which is why you needto understand what this all means and how you will use your phone inorder to select the plan that is perfect for you

Understanding Basic Plan StructuresAfter years of changing plan structures around wireless service providersseem to have agreed for the time being that offering three types of plansmakes the most senseThe three general types of plans are

Local plans Regional plans

National plans available with or without roaming charges

Choosing the right type is key to getting the most for yourmoneyAlthough a local plan may offer you the most minutes perdollar it may not be the best plan for you if you travel frequentlyChoosing the best service plan for you will require you to understandwireless plans as well as to understand how when and where you planto use your phone Refer to Table 81 for a quick comparison of thedifferent types of plans

Local PlansThe service area (see Chapter 9 ldquoWireless Carriers and Service Areasrdquofor more information) for a local plan is usually your metropolitanarea and immediate surrounding areas For example a user with alocal plan in the Boston area would likely be able to make and receivecalls from inside the Boston metropolitan area and some of the sur-rounding areas (some may include areas in Rhode Island NewHampshire and Connecticut) without being charged extra feesWhenusing your phone outside of your service area you will be charged aroaming fee Some wireless providers will charge you a regionalroaming fee and a higher national fee depending on where you areYou should make sure you check out both the service area androaming rates of the plans you are considering Additionally if you aremaking calls to places outside of your calling area you will be chargeda long distance fee

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Table 81 A Side-by-Side Look at Types of Wireless Phone Plans

Local Regional National National NextelPlans Plans Plansmdash Plansmdash VoiceStream

No Fees With Fees

Coverage Your metropolitan Greater coverage All of Anywhere on Anywhere onarea and some than local plansmdash the US the wireless their networksurrounding usually include carrierrsquos (most major areas most of the network metropolitan

surrounding (most major areas)states (ie metropolitanNortheast and coverage may surroundinginclude all states areas)from Maine down to DC)

Roaming Per-minute Per-minute No roaming Per-minute Your phoneCharges roaming fees fees charged feesmdashyour roaming fees will not work

for any minutes for any included for calls made if you are offused outside of minutes used monthly anywhere that the networkyour local outside of minutes is not on thearea your region can be used wireless carrierrsquos

anywhere network if you you can can get a signal get service your phone will

work on

Long Per-minute fees Free long Free long Free long Depends onDistance for any long distance for distance for distance if the the planmdash

distance call no calls made from calls made call is made some plansmatter where you within your from from the include freeplace the call coverage area anywhere network long distance(some wireless but will have per-minute and some docarriers are now per-minute fees fees for calls notoffering pro- for calls made made off themotions for free from outside networklong distance your coveragefor calls made areafrom within your coverage area)

Who If you plan to If you travel These are the Good value if Nextel appeals Should use your phone mostly regionally most expen- you plan to to businessUse for local calling and plan to sive plans use your phone users becauseIt primarily around use your phone when looking mostly in major of their Direct

town these are when you travel at the price metropolitan Connectgreat plans and these are appro- per included and surround- Minutes include the most priate for you minute but ing areas which allowsminutes per dollar per minute they if you plan you to use

are more to use your your phone asexpensive than phone all over a walkie-talkielocal plans but the country on which is veryit may be a consistent inexpensiveworth it basis this will per-minute

end up being VoiceStream your best has great option plans with

any-time min-utes for theirnetwork

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wwwgetconnectedcom

REALLY LOCAL WIRELESS

Cricket Communications is a unique wireless provider as they pro-vide only local service (currently in some areas of AZ AR CO GAID KS NM NC OK PA TN UT and WA) For around $30 Cricketgives you unlimited local calling Long distance charges are addi-tional per-minute fees Other wireless carriers are starting to offerservices similar to Cricketrsquos such as NorthCoast PCS in Clevelandso this idea is catching on and may make sense if you use yourphone only in your local area Another use for these types of wire-less services are for use as a second phone line in your homeinstead of adding another home phone number

Regional PlansRegional plans are the next level of service plansThey will be slightlymore expensive per minute than a local plan but it may be wellworth it for youThe service areas for these plans include most ofyour region for example most of the Northeastern states orSoutheastern states If you travel and plan to use your phone in thestates surrounding yours these plans are probably appropriate for youYou will not be charged any roaming fees within your service areaand you will not be charged long distance fees for making long dis-tance calls from within your service areaYou will be charged bothroaming and long distance fees (when applicable) for calls made fromoutside of your service area

National Plans without Roaming ChargesNational plans (such as ATampTrsquos Digital One Rate plans CingularrsquosNation rate plans or Verizonrsquos SingleRate plans) are examples of rateplans with no additional roaming charge anywhere you make or receivecallsThese plans allow you to use your phone anywhere to call any-where without being charged roaming or long distance fees Eventhough these plans are the most expensive plans per minute they maybe well worth your money if you travel extensively or make a consider-able number of long distance calls per month

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National Plans with Roaming ChargesSome wireless carriers offer national plans with no roaming charges orlong distance fees when you are anywhere in the United States on theirnetwork (for example Sprint PCS)This is different from the othernational rate plans in that if you go outside of that wireless carrierrsquos net-work into another network where you can make calls you will becharged roaming feesThis means that if you plan to use your phonemostly in metropolitan areas where the wireless carrierrsquos network isestablished you will not be charged any additional fees If you plan touse your phone outside of their coverage areas you will be chargedroaming feesThese national plans can be an excellent value if you willbe traveling across the country on the wireless carrierrsquos network Just besure to check the coverage for the cities to which you plan on traveling

NEXTEL AND VOICESTREAM NATIONAL PLANS

Nextel and VoiceStream are a little bit different as well They likeSprint have built their network in most major metropolitan areasTheir current phones do not have the ability to work on an analognetwork or other digital technology so if you go off of their net-work you cannot make or receive calls

Breaking Down Wireless Plans and FeesEvery wireless plan has some basics associated with it that you shouldunderstand Each plan has a monthly fee a number of included min-utes and additional fees when you use your phone above what isincluded in your monthly plan For example a typical wireless phoneplan (with local coverage) has a monthly fee of about $30 to $40 andmay include 400 local minutesYou would be charged additional fees(say $025 per minute) if you use more than your allotted monthlyminutes if you make any long distance calls (another $025 perminute) or if you make any calls from outside of your coverage area(roaming fees of maybe $060 per minute) So that $30 to $40 plan canend up costing you a great deal more if you donrsquot understand your planand what it includes (see Table 82)

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Table 82 A Generic Monthly Bill for Wireless Service

ABC Wireless Company

123 Main StWireless City USA 12345 Questions Call us at 800-555-1122

BILL DATE 8212001PERIOD 072101 thru 082001ACCOUNT 22222222PHONE 123-456-7899

DETAIL OF ACCOUNT SUMMARY

PAYMENTS723 5499Total Payments 5499cr

DETAIL OF CURRENT CHARGES

PlanmdashRegional Plan $4999Monthly Fee $4999450 minutesPeak $035 Off-peak $035

Monthly Service ChargesMonthly Service - 072101 thru 082001 4999

Total Monthly Service Charges 4999

HOME USAGE CHARGESMinutes Rate

Included in Plan - Peak 193 (x) 000 000Included in Plan - Off-Peak 257 (x) 000 000Billed Peak 4 (x) 035 140Billed Off-peak 4 (x) 035 140Total Air Charges 458 280Directory Assistance Charges 129Total Home Usage Charges 409

ROAMING CHARGES (calls placed outside the home service area)Roaming Usage Charges 504Roaming Surcharges 420Total Roaming Charges 924

OTHER CHARGES AND CREDITS

Federal Universal Service 046Total Other Charges and Credits 046

TAXESFederal 237State 395Total Taxes 632

TOTAL CURRENT CHARGES 7010

Previous pay-ments on youraccount

A summary ofyour currentplan

Your basicmonthly fee

A breakdown ofthe minutes thatyou used If youused more min-utes than areincluded in yourplan you willsee that here

Roaming feesmdashyou will oftenbe charged perminute in addi-tion to anoverall sur-charge forroaming

Federal charges

Grand Total

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wwwgetconnectedcom

Here are the things to look at when selecting your rate plan

Included Minutes Every plan has a number of minutes thatyou are allotted per month Usually the greater the number ofminutes included the greater the monthly fee Some plansbreak their included minutes down further to let you knowwhen you can use them (ie anytime versus off-peak orweekend minutes) Make sure you understand how these timeperiods are broken down

Monthly Fee This is the basic cost for one month of service Additional Per Minute Fee You will be charged a per-

minute fee after you have used all of your included minutesThese fees can be as much as $045 a minute so they can addup quickly Some service providers have ways you can checkto see how many minutes you have remaining on youraccount for the month but others do not

Roaming Fees These depend on the coverage of the planyou choose but you will be charged for using your phoneoutside of your service areaYou will be charged a per-minutefee and possibly a monthly roamer fee (usually around $3)when you use your phone while roaming

Long Distance Fees Again depending on your plan youwill be charged a per-minute fee for making calls to numbersoutside of your service region

ALWAYS UNDERESTIMATEWireless providers will often allow you to upgrade your plan if youconsistently use more minutes than your monthly allowance Youmay be required to renew your contract when you do this but itwill probably be worth your while However they will not usuallyallow you to downgrade your plan to a cheaper one If you are notsure which plan to go with always go with the less expensive plan

10 SECONDS = 1 MINUTEMost service providers have one-minute billing increments Thismeans that on your bill a ten second call counts as one minute

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wwwgetconnectedcom

YOUrsquoRE NOT STUCK

Yoursquore not stuck with the long distance service (and rates) thatyour wireless provider offers Ask the wireless sales representativeor customer service agent for other wireless long distance carriersto see if you can save some money Also there are companies thatare similar to ldquodial-aroundrdquo or 10-10 services from your homephone These companies can help cut your wireless long distancebill and can help you make affordable international calls

Additional Plan Features and FeesThere are many of other plan features that may be included in your ser-vice plan or you may choose to add onto your service plan Each ser-vice provider offers a different set of features and will include differentfeatures with their plansThe following includes a fairly standard list offeatures to consider with your plan

Activation Fee Most service providers will charge you aone-time fee when you set up your service usually along thelines of $25 to $50

Cancellation Fee Most wireless providers will also chargeyou if you want to end your service before the end of yourcontractThis can be as much as $150 to $250 so make sureyou know what it is before you cancel

Taxes Depending on what state you live in you will have toadd a couple dollars of taxes onto your monthly bill as well asa universal service fee

Voice Mail Most service providers include some sort ofvoice mail service in their plans Enhanced voice mail servicemay cost you extra howeverAnd consumers should keep inmind that some service providers deduct minutes from yourincluded minutes when you check your voice mail from yourphone

Caller ID The ability to see the number of the personcalling without answering the phone Being able to screenyour calls can be a time and money saver

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Call Waiting The ability to receive incoming calls while onthe phone

Call Forwarding The ability to send incoming calls toanother number Even though the ldquoabilityrdquo to do this is ofteninclude in your plan you may be charged for the airtimewhen using it or pay an additional per minute fee

Three-Way Calling The ability to speak with two partiessimultaneously

Wireless Internet Access The ability to access Internet-based messages news and information from your phone

Text Messaging The ability to receive textual messages onyour phonersquos screen

Directory Assistance Per-Call Fee Charging $099 percall to call directory assistance is typical

Mobile-to-Mobile Calling Some service providers offerspecial rates for placing calls to other mobile customers ontheir network

Handset Insurance Most service providers offer you theoption to pay a monthly fee for insurance that will allow youto replace your handset for free if it is lost or stolen

International or Certain Country Calling Most wirelesscarriers will restrict your calls to destinations in the UnitedStates Some are adding the ability to call Canada or Mexicofor a low monthly fee plus your minutes of use

CONSERVE YOUR MINUTES

To conserve your minutes you may want to check your voice mailfrom a landline Even though voice mail may be included in yourplan the airtime will probably be deducted from your monthlyminutes

The Prepaid OptionIf you truly need a phone only for emergency uses (or very limiteduse) it may be a good idea to consider prepaid plans (see Table 83)

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With prepaid plans you donrsquot have a monthly fee or blocks ofmonthly minutes Instead you purchase a package of minutes to use atyour convenienceWhen you run out of minutes you purchase moreOne downfall of prepaid plans is that you will end up paying moreper-minute in lieu of the monthly fee you would be paying with astandard plan For most wireless providers the more minutes you pur-chase at once the lower the ldquoper-minuterdquo cost will be (ie a $25 refillcard may work out to about $035min while a $100 card may workout to about $025minute) Additionally the minutes that you pur-chase wonrsquot last forever Most often they will expire in two to threemonths

Table 83 A Sample of Service Providers and Their Prepaid Plans

Service Name of Provider Prepaid Service Summary of Service

ATampT Wireless Free2Go WirelessSM Offers both local and national coverageMinutes sold in $25 $50 $100 or $200denominationsPer-minute rates range from $015 to$035 per minute for the local plan(depending on denomination purchased)Per-minute rates range from $025 to$065 per minute for national plan(depending on denomination purchased)

Cingular Cingular Local coverage (no long distance chargesWireless Wireless for calls made from within home coverage

Prepaid to US Mexico or Canada)Roaming is $195 per minuteMinutes sold in $10 $20 $30 $40 $50and $100 denominationsPer-minute rates range from $030 to$050 per minute depending on denomina-tion purchased

Verizon [FREEUP] Prepay National coverage (on the Verizon WirelessWireless Service [FREEUP] Network)

Roaming is $099 per minute off of thenetworkMinutes sold in $30 $50 $75 $150denominationsWeekday per-minute rates range from$025 to $035 per minute (depending ondenomination purchased)Night and weekend per-minute rates are$010 per minute

wwwgetconnectedcom

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FOR THE CREDIT-CHALLENGED

All wireless service providers will run a credit check on you whenyou order their service Depending on what their criteria is andwhat your credit history is you may be required to have someonecosign your account you may have to give them a deposit or youmay be denied service Prepaid plans however do not require acredit check so this may be a good option for you

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C08qk 111401 441 PM Page 130

SummaryWireless service providers generally offer three types of service planswith three types of coverage local regional and nationalWithin eachof those types service providers offer plans with different numbers ofincluded minutes (the more minutes the higher the monthly fee) Someplans will include basic plan features Beyond that you will be chargedadditional fees for extra features for using more minutes than are inyour plan or for roaming or long distance charges

Quick References

Local Plans You can use your included monthly minutes inyour local area and will be charged roaming and long distancefees outside of that

Regional Plans Your coverage area is larger than that oflocal plans (usually most of your surrounding states)You willbe charged for roaming outside of your region

National Plans Your coverage area is the whole UnitedStatesYou will not be charged any roaming or long distancefees regardless of where you are for some national plans andyou will pay extra only when you go outside of the wirelesscarrierrsquos network for other national plans

All plans have a basic monthly fee that includes a number ofallotted minutes every monthYou will be charged for usingmore minutes than are included in your plan

You will be charged roaming fees for making calls while out-side of your coverage area

You will be charged long distance fees for making calls toareas outside of your coverage area

Your plan will include some basic features like voice mail andcaller IDYou may be charged monthly for other features

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C08qk 111401 441 PM Page 131

The Prepaid Option

Prepaid plans are a good idea if you plan to use your phoneonly in emergencies or on a very limited basis

Prepaid plans allow you to pay as you go so when you runout of minutes you buy more

Prepaid plans cost more per-minute than standard monthlyplans

wwwgetconnectedcom

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Service Providersand Service Areas

What Services Are Available to You

Service Areas

Quality of Service

Wireless Carrier Directory

Summary

Quick References

Chapter 9

165_cell_C09qk 111401 618 PM Page 133

134 Chapter 9 bull Service Providers and Service Areas

IntroductionSo now you understand what wireless service plans are all about howthe plans are structured and how you will be billed (for more informa-tion see Chapter 8ldquoUnderstanding Service Plansrdquo) Finding out whatservice providers offer service in your area what kinds of services theyoffer and which one has the best coverage is a tough task Each serviceprovider in your area will offer slightly different kinds of service Itrsquosimportant to do your research to figure out which one will best meetyour needs

What Services Are Available to YouIn most major cities in this country you will find that you have any-where between three and eight wireless providers from which tochoose Each of the service providers available in your area received(bought) licenses from the FCC to offer wireless service in your areaand then built the wireless network from the ground up Some of thewireless carriers have been around for 20 years and some have beenaround only for four or five yearsAlthough all networks are designedto maximize the quality of each call made by the wireless customerssome of the areas that supposedly are covered by the wireless carrierhave less than complete coverageThere are many factors that deter-mine if the coverage area will be satisfactory or unsatisfactorymdashthetopography of the area the number of users that will be using the net-work and the distance that the users are away from the closest tower

Because each wireless carrier has built their own network you willnever find two wireless networks with the same voice quality in thesame placeThe quality of service varies from service provider to serviceproviderThe quality of service from one provider will also vary fromcity to city as wireless carriers have developed their networks morecompletely in some areas more than others It is important that youresearch the quality of service of the service provider that you are con-sidering since you probably will be committing yourself to the servicefor a year or so

Wireless Service ProvidersThere are a multitude of wireless service providers out theremdashactuallybetween 350 and 400 licensed wireless carriers Some service providers

wwwgetconnectedcom

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Service Providers and Service Areas bull Chapter 9 135

you will recognize immediately some service providers you may neverhave heard of Some offer national service some regional and someoffer only local service in just a few marketsTable 91 lists some of thetop service providers and what kind of coverage they offer with theirplansThis table also shows what kinds of rate plans are available fromthe wireless carriersA more complete service carrier directory can beseen later in this chapter

Table 91 Service Providers and the Types of Rate Plans They Offer

Service Provider National Regional Local Rate Rate Rate Plans Plans Plans

Alltel Yes Yes Yes

ATampT Wireless Yes Yes Yes

Cingular Wireless Yes Yes Yes

Cricket Communications No No Yes

Nextel Yes No Yes

Sprint PCS Yes No No

Triton PCSSunCom Yes Yes Yes

US Cellular Yes Yes Yes

Verizon Yes Yes Yes

VoiceStream Yes Yes Yes

These carriers offer national rate plans that use networks through agreements with other carriersin many major metropolitan areas

These carriers are considered national carriers with their own networks in the majority of thetop metropolitan areas in the United States

Finding Service Providers in Your AreaSimply paying attention to advertising is an easy way to figure out whooffers wireless service in your areaWersquore sure that you have noticedhow inundated you are with ads for promotions and special offers onwireless service in your areaTo find out if a specific service provideroffers service in your area call them directly or visit their Web siteYoucan also visit wwwgetconnectedcom to find this information Hereyou can enter your ZIP code and see all of the service providers andplans that are available your area

wwwgetconnectedcom

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Service Areas The FCC defined the coverage areas and how they are broken downfrom city to city when it sold licenses to the service providers Eachmetropolitan and rural area of the United States was mapped out andgiven a number Each wireless carrier knows within which areas itcan sell service and where they cannotThe networks that the wire-less carriers have built have been based on where they are licensed tosell service and on their ability to cover those areas with their wire-less signal

You are probably used to seeing service areas represented by cov-erage maps which show you what areas are covered by your serviceplan and what areas are roaming areas (for more information onroaming see Chapter 10 ldquoTravelingYour Domestic and InternationalRoaming Optionsrdquo)These coverage maps typically show areas wherethe wireless carrier offers service and areas where they will offer ser-vice in the future Although it is great that the service providers areexpanding their service areas it will not help you if you live or workin one of these future areas Also know that some maps represent theareas where the wireless carrier allows you to use your phonewithout getting charged roaming fees but other maps representwhere the service provider has built its networkThe differencebetween these two types of rate plans are often referred to as ratemaps versus coverage maps

Local CoverageFigure 91 shows an example of a coverage map that represents the ser-vice area for an ATampT Wireless local calling plan in Boston MA

In this example the shaded area from Washington DC to Mainerepresents the home coverage area for the Boston service areaThis isthe area where your included monthly minutes can be used Outside ofthis area you would be charged roaming fees In this case there is onlyone per-minute roaming rate which would be charged anywhere onthe map that is outside of the shaded states Some service providers willcharge you different roaming rates when you are outside of your homeservice area but still in your general region than they will if you areroaming outside the regionYou will also notice that there are someareas on this map where there is no wireless service at all shaded in

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wwwgetconnectedcom

Figure 91 Sample Coverage Map Depicting the ATampT Wireless LocalCalling Plan for Boston MA

This map is a general representation of coverage Coverage areas shown are approximate Actualcoverage depends on system availability and capacity system repairs and modifications customersequipment terrain signal strength weather conditions and other conditions

165_cell_C09qk 111401 618 PM Page 137

wwwgetconnectedcom

Figure 92 Sample Coverage Map Depicting the ATampT Wireless NortheastRegional Calling Plan

165_cell_C09qk 111401 618 PM Page 138

dark gray (for example in northwestern Maine)These are areas wherethere is no wireless system built that will work with the technology ofATampT Wireless phones

Regional CoverageFigure 92 shows an example of a coverage map for a regional plan forthe northeastern United States from ATampT Wireless

Notice the differences between the shaded area of this map andthat of the local planThe shaded area is still the home coverage areabut this area is much larger extending from North Carolina to MaineAnd again areas outside of the shaded area would be charged roamingfees with the darkest gray areas not offering any service

National CoverageSome service providers offer national coverageThis means that theyhave built their networks across a good part of the country and offerservice in most major metropolitan areas or they have agreements withother service providers in areas where they have not built their net-work Over the past year or so there has been a trend among wirelessservice providers to merge and become larger national providersTheseservice providers are able to offer wireless customers all-inclusivesingle-rate plansThe Yankee Group one of the leading telecommunica-tions industry analyst companies estimates that national serviceproviders account for about 75 percent of all wireless subscribers in theUnited States Figures 93 through Figure 96 represent some of thewireless service providers who have a national network and offernational coverage service plans

Verizonrsquos map (which can be seen on page 140) is not a map ofwhere your wireless phone will work but rather a map to showwhere your wireless phone will be charged the rates you signed upfor under their Single Rate plans There are still areas of thecountry where you will not be able to make or receive calls

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Quality of ServiceAny wireless phone user will tell you that they do not always have per-fect service One of the trade-offs between being able to use yourphone while driving is that the science of wireless is not perfectEveryone occasionally must deal with dropped calls dead spots in cov-erage and weak signals But if you do your research to find out whichof the service providers in your area have the best service you can min-imize these annoyances

wwwgetconnectedcom

Figure 93 ATampT Wireless National Network

165_cell_C09qk 111401 618 PM Page 140

Why Is Service Quality InconsistentYour service quality may vary from time to time based on a number offactors including but not limited to the weather your distance from atower and large obstacles (such as buildings) which cause service inter-ference If you travel extensively you may also find that call qualityvaries from city to city as service providers are still expanding their net-works and they have done so at different rates in different citiesYou

wwwgetconnectedcom

Figure 94 Sprint PCS National Network

165_cell_C09qk 111401 618 PM Page 141

may notice that on your drive to work for example that your recep-tion gets fuzzy in the same place everydayThis may be because as youare driving you are driving away from one service tower and into theservice of another towerThe area where you are ldquohanded off rdquo fromone tower to the next may not have very strong service Or you maynotice areas in large buildings where you cannot get service (eg theelevator basement or even areas behind some hills and mountains)Thesignal cannot penetrate through the thick walls and sometimes hastrouble reaching phones in the ldquoshadowrdquo of a hill or mountain

Who Has the Best ServiceThis is a tricky question because the answer is different in every cityAnd the answer may even be different depending on where you live or

wwwgetconnectedcom

Figure 95 Verizon Wireless National Rate Map Representing Where TheirNational Rates Are in Effect

Verizon Wireless is a trademark of Verizon Trademark Services LLC SingleRate is a service mark ofCellco Partnership dba Verizon Wireless

These rate maps show where rates apply and are NOT depictions of actual service availability orwireless coverage The mapped territory contains areas with no service Wireless service is subjectto network and transmission limitations including cell site unavailability particularly in remoteareas Alaska has limited service Customer equipment weather topography and other environ-mental considerations associated with radio technology also affects service

165_cell_C09qk 111401 618 PM Page 142

around a cityThe best way to find out who has the best service is toask friends and neighbors who use their phones in the same places youplan to use yours Even though one service provider is known forhaving great service in your city they may not have the best service inyour immediate area or where you need to use your phone (ie if youcanrsquot get service in your house or on your drive to work you mayhave a slightly different opinion of their service) Keep in mind thatyou will not find a service provider that has perfectly complete cov-erage and that all service providers are working to expand andimprove their networks

wwwgetconnectedcom

Figure 96 Cingular Wireless Service National Coverage Map

Where to find Cingular Wireless nowWhere to find Cingular Wireless in the future

Current coverage area depicted in graphical representation shows approximate licensed coveragearea of Cingular Wireless Actual coverage may vary due to terrain weather signal strength cus-tomer equipment and other factors Clarity and reception may be diminished by obstruction suchas buildings and foliage No guarantee of coverage is available

165_cell_C09qk 111401 618 PM Page 143

Wireless Carrier Directory This section includes a sampling of the major wireless carriers in theUnited StatesWireless carriers are presented by numbers of subscribersand percentage of market share

The data in this section came from each of the service providerrsquosQ2 2001 financial press releases Web sites and directly from thewireless carrier Market share percentage is based on number ofsubscribers compared to all subscribers in the United States at theend of Q2 2001

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Verizon Wireless 28000000 subscribers 26 market share

Web site httpverizonwirelesscom

Figure 97 depicts the Verizon Wireless National Rate Map (repre-sents where their national rates are in effect)

wwwgetconnectedcom

Figure 97 The Verizon Wireless National Rate Map

165_cell_C09qk 111401 618 PM Page 145

Cingular Wireless 21200000 subscribers 19 market share

Web site wwwcingularcom

Figure 98 illustrates the coverage area for Cingular Wireless Service

wwwgetconnectedcom

Figure 98 Cingular Wireless Coverage Map

165_cell_C09qk 111401 618 PM Page 146

ATampT Wireless 16400000 subscribers 15 market share

Web site wwwattwscom

Figure 99 shows the coverage areas for the ATampT Wireless nationalnetwork

Figure 99 The ATampT Wireless National Network

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Sprint PCS 12823000 subscribers 12 market share

Web site wwwsprintpcscom

Figure 910 shows the completely digital Sprint PCS NationalNetwork

Figure 910 The Sprint PCS National Network

This map is a general representation of coverage Coverage areas shown are approximate Actualcoverage depends on system availability and capacity system repairs and modifications customerrsquosequipment terrain signal strength weather conditions and other conditions

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C09qk 111401 618 PM Page 148

Nextel 7680000 subscribers 7 market share

Web site wwwnextelcom

Figure 911 is an approximation of the national coverage offered byNextel

Figure 911 Nextelrsquos Nationwide Coverage

The coverage area shown on the Nextel Nationwide Coverage map is an approximation Actualcoverage may vary

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C09qk 111401 618 PM Page 149

Alltel 7040000 subscribers 6 market share

Web site wwwalltelcom

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C09qk 111401 618 PM Page 150

VoiceStreamreg

5280000 subscribers 5 market share

Web site wwwvoicestreamcom

The VoiceStream Wireless National Network map can be seen inFigure 912

wwwgetconnectedcom

Figure 912 VOICESTREAMreg Wireless National Network

VOICESTREAMreg is a registered trademark of VoiceStream Wireless Corporation its subsidiariesandor affiliates

This map is a general representation of coverage Coverage areas shown are approximate Actualcoverage depends on system availability and capacity system repairs and modifications cus-tomerrsquos equipment terrain signal strength weather conditions and other conditions

165_cell_C09qk 111401 618 PM Page 151

US Cellular 3294000 subscribers 3 market share

Web site wwwuscccom

The national US Cellular Network can be seen in Figure 913

SpanAmerica is US Cellularrsquos national rate plan name

Figure 913 US Cellular National Network

US Cellular Licensed Markets

SpanAmerica National Coverage

Map depicts an approximation of coverage area Actual coverage may vary

wwwgetconnectedcom

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Qwest 1000000 subscribers Less than 1 market share

Web site wwwqwestwirelesscom

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C09qk 111401 618 PM Page 153

Triton PCS 560652 subscribers Less than 1 market share (based on the number of total US

subscribers) Web site wwwsuncomcom

Triton PCS is an affiliate of ATampT Wireless and sells service underthe brand name of SunCom

The Triton PCS (aka SunComATampT) network is illustrated inFigure 914

wwwgetconnectedcom

Figure 914 Triton PCS National Coverage Map

165_cell_C09qk 111401 618 PM Page 154

Western Wireless 1210000 subscribers Less than 1 market share Web site wwwwesternwirelesscom

Dobson Communication Corp 1068430 subscribers Less than 1 market share Web site wwwdobsonnet

Telecorp 823000 subscribers Less than 1 market share Web site wwwsuncom1com

Century Telephone 780000 subscribers Less than 1 market share Web site wwwcenturytelcom

Centennial Cellular 761000 subscribers Less than 1 market share Web site wwwcentennialcomcom

Rural Cellular Corporation 660000 subscribers Less than 1 market share Web site wwwrccwirelesscom

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C09qk 111401 618 PM Page 155

Cricket 472000 subscribers Less than 1 market share Web site wwwcricketcommunicationscom

Cincinnati Bell Wireless 415000 subscribers Less than 1 market share Web site wwwcbwirelesscom

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C09qk 111401 618 PM Page 156

SummaryThere are most likely a handful of service providers that offer wirelessservice in your area Each will offer a variety of different service plansfrom which to choose with different types of coverage and serviceplans It is important to understand the coverage area on which yourservice plan is based to make sure that you are not charged more thanyou are expecting when you use your phoneThe quality of service youwill get when using your wireless phone will also vary from serviceprovider to service provider from city to city and from place to placewithin a cityYour best resource in finding good coverage is to talk topeople who use the service in those areas so do your homework beforesigning up with a service provider

Quick ReferenceWhat Services Are Available to You

There are between three and eight service providers whooffer service in most major metropolitan areas

Quality of service will vary from service provider to serviceprovider and from city to city

Service providers offer different kinds of coverage and dif-ferent kinds of service plans

Service Areas

Wireless plans are based on service areas that are defined bythe FCC who licensed the rights to the wireless carriers

Service areas are represented by coverage maps showing theareas that the wireless carriers have built their networks tocover with their signal

Check out coverage maps closely to make sure you under-stand your service area and also understand that some wire-less carriers present their maps as rate maps showing whereyou can expect to pay their rates if you have coverage tomake a call

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C09qk 111401 618 PM Page 157

Quality of Service

Factors such as weather your distance from a tower and largeobstacles (such as buildings) can cause your service quality tovary

Quality will also change as you get ldquohanded off rdquo between ser-vice towers

All service providers have dead spots in their coverage orareas where their signal doesnrsquot reachTalk to friends andneighbors to make sure you will have coverage where youwill need it

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C09qk 111401 618 PM Page 158

Traveling YourDomestic andInternationalRoaming Options

What Is Roaming

Domestic Roaming Options

International Roaming Options

Guide to International Wireless Carriers

Summary

Quick References

Chapter 10

165_cell_C10qk 111201 218 PM Page 159

160 Chapter 10 bull Traveling Your Domestic and International Roaming Options

IntroductionDo you travel a lot If you travel outside of the home calling area orzone of your local service provider network you can incur roamingcharges which means a surcharge will be applied for all calls you eithermake or receive from your wireless phoneThe charges will vary fromwireless carrier to wireless carrier but are explained in the details of allservice plans

When you travel in the United States you can make calls fromalmost anywheremdashthe only question is if you will be charged extra forthe call or if it is covered in your rate plan National rate plans usuallyinclude roaming charges so you donrsquot have to pay any extra for callingfrom far away from your home Regional calling plans usually includeyour regionmdashthe Northeast the Northwest and so on as defined byyour service provider and calls from those areas are usually at no extracost Local calling plans however tend to allow calls only from yourimmediate local areamdashyour city or surrounding townsmdashand when youtravel a few states away or to the other side of the country you willhave to pay extra per minute to make and receive wireless calls

If you try to use your phone outside of the United States thechances are that it probably will not workThere are a few exceptionsto that rule based on three factors

The country that you are in The service provider that you have

The type of phone that you use

The types of services and wireless phones you can use outside ofthe United States is presented later in the chapter

What Is RoamingWhen you use your phone outside of your local calling area (as defined byyour service provider) you are roaming on another wireless providerrsquos net-workAirtime minutes used when roaming are generally not part of yourbasic calling plan Check your service providerrsquos plan details to determinewhen you are roaming and how you are charged for these calls (seeChapters 8 and 9 for more on service providers and service areas)

On the display screen of most digital phones a symbol will indicatewhen you are roamingThe symbol will vary from phone to phone but

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Traveling Your Domestic and International Roaming Options bull Chapter 10 161

typically will be ROAM Extended Area R or some other indicatorthat is different than when you are in your home area

Roaming was one of the most challenging issues the cellular phoneindustry faced in the early daysThe goal was simple a phone that couldbe used anywhere in the United States or the world where a compatiblenetwork is availableThe difficult part is getting various systems to com-municate and pass routing and billing information to each other

When the initial cellular carriers built their networks they enabledwireless phones from other networks to operate on their network onlyafter dialing a special roamer port toll-free number prior to dialing thephone number you wanted to call So in order to use your Dallas-basedphone in San Francisco you would need to look up the roamernumber dial it listen for another dial tone and then dial the complete11-digit phone number for whom you wanted to callAnd your billmay not reflect the charges for your call for a couple monthsThe chal-lenge of making the ability to roam seamless and keep the billingsimple did not happen until years after the cellular carriers launchedtheir serviceThe fees associated with roaming included a high daily ormonthly fee and a high per-minute fee which varied by location

Domestic Roaming OptionsVirtually every service provider offers domestic roaming options regard-less of which service plan you select (Go to wwwGetConnectedcomfor a comprehensive listing of plans available in your area) Howeverthere are always exceptions to the rule For example Cricket does notoffer roaming service Once you are outside of their coverage area thereis no serviceAnother example is Nextel who offers service on theirnetwork across the United States and around the world however youcannot use their phones where they do not have coverageThis has todo with the type of network their phones work onmdashthe newer digitalnetworks are not as widely available as analog networks which are thedefault networks for many who travel outside their areasThis is a goodthing to keep in mind as you research your roaming options

When you are using your phone outside of your home area youwill most likely not even notice that you are roaming unless you see aroaming symbol on your phone as mentioned previouslyThe soundquality usually remains the same as when you are using your phonefrom your local calling area In some isolated areas in the country your

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C10qk 111201 218 PM Page 161

wireless carrier may not have an agreement with whoever the local car-rier is to allow seamless roaming calls and you may end up being con-nected to a roaming call serviceThese services usually start off with amessage like ldquoThank you for calling Wireless ExpressWe are happy toplace your wireless call for $195 per minute Please enter your creditcard number nowrdquoAt this point you have to decide if this call is reallyimportant enough to pay $195 per minute for Sometimes it is worththe extra per-minute fee especially in emergency situations when youreally need to get a call through

As with any other calling feature prices and options for domesticroaming vary by where you live and which service provider youchoose If you are the type of person that travels within the UnitedStates quite often you should look for a plan that offers the following

Coverage with no roaming costs in the cities and towns fromwhich you will be making your calls

Low roaming costs per minute with roaming coverage in allthe areas to which you will travel

A service that will work when outside your home area at alltimes Some new wireless services offer unlimited local callingfor a flat fee per month but do not offer the ability to roamoutside of your local area

The following sections offer some additional details for the top sellingservice providers and some of their roaming options to give you an idea ofwhat they offer Refer to Chapter 9ldquoService Providers and Service Areasrdquofor a listing of service providers and their domestic coverage maps

ATampT Wireless ATampT Digital One Rate PlansThese plans are great for frequent travelers

No roaming feesmdashyou can be on anywhere in the UnitedStates where digital service is available

There are no additional domestic long distance charges forcalls made to anywhere in the United States from anywhere inthe United States

A digital multi-network phone is required

Total minutes included vary from 450 to 2000 minutes permonth

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Refer to Chapter 9 for more information on wireless service plansor visit the ATampT Digital Wireless Web site at wwwattwscom

Sprint PCS Real Nationwide Long DistanceSprint PCS plans have consistently added more customers per quarterthan any wireless carrier in the United StatesThey are great forsomeone that travels around the country and needs coverage in majormetropolitan cities and their surrounding towns Sprint PCS currentlycovers over 300 metropolitan areas across the United States Featuresinclude the following

Sprint PCS plans work in any Sprint PCS coverage areaacross the countryThis means on any plan you can call toanywhere in the United States from your mobile phone andyou can call from any city in the United States that SprintPCS has covered

Nationwide long distance is included when calling from theSprint PCS network

Roaming is not included when off of the Sprint PCS net-work but no roaming fees apply when you are on their net-work anywhere in the United States

Roaming is $039 per minute outside Sprintrsquos network withinyour home area and $069 per minute outside Sprintrsquos net-work outside of your home area

Included minutes vary from 40 to 3000 minutes per month

Refer to Chapter 9 for more information on Wireless Service Plansor visit the Sprint PCS Web site at wwwsprintpcscom

Verizon Wireless National SingleRateSM

Verizon offers national plans (SingleRate) that are very similar in struc-ture to the ATampT Digital One Rate plans

Verizon offers the largest coverage area in the United Statesand is the largest wireless carrier with the most customersYoucan call from anywhere there is digital or analog service how-ever a tri-mode phone is required in order to get full servicewith the Verizon Wireless national plans

wwwgetconnectedcom

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Nationwide long distance is includedmdashcall to anywhere inthe United States from anywhere in the United States

Nationwide roaming is includedmdashwith a tri-mode phonecustomers can call from anywhere in the United States thatanalog or digital service is available

Refer to Chapter 9 for more information on Wireless Service Plansor visit the Web site at wwwverizonwirelesscom

International Roaming Options Now that you know what to look for in order to make calls across theUnited States what about taking your wireless phone outside of theUS This brings us to international roaming which is quite bit morecomplicated than domestic roaming

The challenge that was overcome to allow seamless roamingacross the United States was simple in comparison to the ability totake your phone with you around the worldThe United States wire-less carriers all operate on the same frequencies as licensed by theFCCmdasheither the cellular or 800 MHz frequencies or the PCS or1900 MHz frequenciesmdashbut they do not operate using the same dig-ital technologies So where your phone will work across the countryis dependent on the network that your phone usesmdashCDMA GSMor TDMA In many areas of the world the type of network is not theproblem since the GSM standard is the primary technology for deliv-ering cellular service to people in foreign countries However theGSM frequency used for wireless phones internationally differs fromthe frequencies on which GSM operates within the United StatesThe European frequency is at 900 MHz but the US GSM fre-quency is at 1900 MHz Even GSM carriers in the United States likeVoiceStream have trouble operating in Europe unless the customerbuys a phone that works on both the US frequency and theEuropean frequencyThe customer will be able to use that phoneonly in specific parts of the world For instance South Americaworks primarily on TDMA and many other areas use CDMA (seeldquoGuide to International Carriersrdquo later in this chapter)

wwwgetconnectedcom

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The basics of using your wireless phone around the world are thefollowing

The phone must operate on the network where you plan ontraveling

Expect to be charged extra for calls made and received whileabroad

Some international offers require a different phone than theone you use in the United States which you typically lease

When you use your phone in other countries your level ofservice may not be what you have come to expect in theUnited States with instant connections and simple dialingyou may need to dial additional numbers and call throughoperators when you need to make calls

Per minute fees vary by country and service provider Fees could vary depending on whom you callYou may be

charged one fee for placing calls to another cellular phoneand be charged a different fee for placing calls to traditionallandline phones

The countries where you will be able to use your interna-tional wireless phone will vary greatly from wireless carrier towireless carriermdashcheck the details of the international plansfor each wireless carrier

Many US-based service providers offer international roaming(including NextelVoiceStreamWorldCell and ATampT Wireless whichare all discussed next) If you are looking specifically for a wireless planwith international roaming options you may be limited to specificplans or need to have the international calling plan added to your reg-ular service plan at an additional per month fee

Nextel WorldwideSM

Nextel offers a wireless phone the Motorola i2000plus which worksanywhere in the world where Nextel has a working network (currentlyover 80 countries) For more information you should visit their Web siteat wwwnextelcomphone_servicesworldwideNWWservicesshtmlYou do not have to have a separate phone a different phone number or

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165_cell_C10qk 111201 218 PM Page 165

a different billThere are additional charges to use your phone over-seasmdasha specified flat rate per minute based on the country you are inAnyone trying to reach you can just dial your wireless phone numberand your phone will ring wherever you are in the world on Nextelrsquosnetwork making this one of the simplest international offers

ATampT WorldConnectreg ServiceATampT Wireless (wwwattwirelesscom) offers a program called ATampTWorldConnect that lets you use your existing wireless phone accountand phone number in many countries around the world but not yourwireless phoneATampT will lease you a GSM phone which will be pro-grammed to receive calls from people dialing your regular wirelessphone numberThe charges show up on your monthly billThis serviceis available in many countries across EuropeAsiaAfricaAustralia LatinAmerica and the Middle EastThe ability to use your existing phonenumber and pay for the international use on your normal wireless billallows you to change few things before traveling abroad

VoiceStreamVoiceStreamrsquos (wwwvoicestreamcom) network uses the GSM standardwhich is the most prevalent standard around the world If you buy awireless phone from VoiceStream that is capable of operating on theGSM frequency in other countries as well as in the United States forexample the tri-mode Ericsson World Phone then you can use thesame phone here and in many places around the world If you are acurrent VoiceStream customer you can also rent a tri-mode phone foryour international travels if you do not have oneThe calling patternsmay change from country to country and the rate will be based onwhere in the world you are but the charges will all show up on yourregular bill and you do not need to have a separate phoneVoiceStreamhas recently merged with Germanyrsquos Duetsche Telecom which willprove to increase the global roaming capabilities for anyone travelingbetween here and there

WorldCellThere are some companies that have created partnerships with wirelesscarriers around the world and will rent or sell you a phone that will

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165_cell_C10qk 111201 218 PM Page 166

work in over 100 countriesThese services are available for weekly ormonthly use and are available for ordering right over the Web or thephone

WorldCell (wwwworldcellcom) offers many types of phones thatwill work around the globe and lists the prices for calls from manycountries as roughly between $1 and $3 per minuteAs with the otherinternational roaming options the typical user will be a business personwho needs to be in touch wherever he or she is or a vacationer whowants the security he or she enjoys at home with a wireless phone inthe glove boxWorldCell service is a great way to make sure you are intouch while globetrotting

Guide to International Wireless CarriersTable 101 shows 20 of the top countries in the world for wireless usebased on number of customersThe wireless carriers in the countriesand the type of network they operate are listed next to the countryThenetwork standards that each country offers will dictate if an interna-tional phone from the United States will work in that country

This is a partial list so check with the US wireless carrier for a listof countries where their international offers work before you makeplans to travel with your wireless phone

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C10qk 111201 218 PM Page 167

Table 101 The GetConnectedcom Guide to the Top 20 Countriesfor Wireless Use

Country Wireless Carrier(s) Wireless Network(s)

Argentina CTI MovilPCS Mobicom AMPS CDMA TDMABellSouth International Personal Telefonica Unifon

Australia Cable amp Wireless Optus Hutchison AMPS CDMA GSMTelecommunications OneTel Telstra Vodafone Australia

Brazil Too many wireless carriers to list CDMA TDMA

Canada Rogers ATampT Wireless Bell Mobility AMPS CDMA GSM Microcell Telus TDMA

China China Mobile China Unicom AMPS CDMA GSMTACS

France Bouygues Telecom France GSM NMT RCTelecom Mobiles SFR Orange

Germany Duetsche Telecom Mobile E-Plus GSMMobilfunk Mannesmann Mobilfunk Viag Interkom

Italy Blu Omnitel Pronto Italia TIM GSM TACSWind Telecom

Japan Astel Group DDI Pocket Telephone CDMA PDC PHS Group J-Phone NTT DoCoMo TACS

Mexico Iusacell Pegaos Portatel del AMPS CDMA GSM Surestes Telcel Unefon Baja TDMACellular Mexicana Cedetel Movitel del Noroeste Norcel

Netherlands Ben Nederland Dutchtone KPN GSM NMTMobile Libertel-Vodafone Telfort Mobile

Portugal Optimus Telecel TMN C-450 GSM

South Africa MTN Vodacom GSM

South Korea KT Mcom KTF LG Telecom Shinsegi AMPS CDMATelecom SK Telecom

Spain Airtel Amena Telefonica Moviles GSM TACS

Sweden Comviq Europolitan Telia Mobile GSM NMT

Taiwan Chungwa Telecom Far EasTone AMPS GSMTelecom KG Telecom Mobitai Communications Taiwan Cellular TransAsia Telecom

Turkey Aria Telsim Turkcell GSM NMT

United BT Cellnet One2One Orange GSM TACSKingdom Vodafone

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C10qk 111201 218 PM Page 168

SummaryRoaming per-minute fees can be pricey (typically $035 to $1 perminute plus long distance charges in the United States and up to $3+ per minute internationally) If you plan on making a significantnumber of calls to your family back in New York while on yourmonth-long trip to London and you have a domestic wireless planbe prepared for a big bill that month and you may have to carry adifferent wireless phone than the one you use at home As wirelessservice becomes more and more popular across the globe interna-tional calling and roaming will become more available and lessexpensiveYou can make calls from almost anywhere in the worldusing a satellite phone but the cost of the phone (up to $1500) andthe calls per minute (approximately $2) may not make it the bestoption for you

Quick ReferencesWhat Is Roaming

Roaming is the ability to use your wireless phone beyondyour home area

Additional fees will apply if you do not sign up for a plan thatincludes national roaming

Some networks allow national roaming without roaming feesonly on the wireless carrierrsquos network others allow no-feeroaming anywhere you can get a signal

ATampT Wireless provides a large coverage area which equalsminimal roaming fees

Sprint PCS covers most major metropolitan areas in thecountry but roaming fees apply when on analog networks

Verizon Wireless provides the most coverage of any wirelesscarrier and national rate plans that cover almost everywhere

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C10qk 111201 218 PM Page 169

Nextelrsquos i2000 phone can be used domestically or internation-ally

With ATampT Wireless WorldConnect you can keep yournumber and your account and get a GSM phone

With VoiceStream you can purchase a tri-mode world phoneso you can call your friends and families while travelingthroughout much of the world

With WorldCell you can lease a phone for the time you needto use it while abroad

From Argentina to the UK wireless is booming around theworld

wwwgetconnectedcom

165_cell_C10qk 111201 218 PM Page 170

UnderstandingSpecial Deals andPromotions

Types of Promotions

Helpful Hints

Summary

Quick References

Chapter 11

165_cell_C11qk 111201 221 PM Page 171

172 Chapter 11 bull Understanding Special Deals and Promotions

IntroductionThere are many types of promotions to look for when signing up forwireless servicemdashnot just one-time freebies that you get for signing upfor a new service planWireless carriers offer rebates service creditsmore minutes free advanced services free accessories and additionalincentives for signing longer contractsThese promotional offers can becombined with offers from the wireless phone manufacturers and offersfrom the retailer Finding the right promotion can significantly changethe value of a plan over the length of a contract

What about the fine print Every promotion has fine print and wire-less promotions are no exceptionThe promotions always have expirationdatesThey are available only on some plans or certain planphone com-binationsThey give you free features that work only with advancedphonesThe additional minutes may all be during off-peak hours whenyou are more likely to be sleeping than using your phone

How do you sort through it all Relax sit back and read throughthe following tips and tricks from veteran wireless phone researchers

PROMOTIONS AT GETCONNECTEDCOM

All of the promotions you will see on the home page and throughoutthe site are promotions that are currently available throughwwwGetConnectedcom If you click on any of the promotions it willlead you to the plan(s) that are eligible for that promotion

Types of PromotionsFirst you want to determine the types of promotions that are beingoffered to you to by the service providers to see which ones may makeyour wireless service cost less and which ones you will not need or willnot useThe following types are the most common but creative mar-keting teams are always working on new ones

Service CreditsService credits are similar to rebates but the dollar amount is creditedautomatically to your bill Sometimes the service credits are spread outover a certain length of time to ensure that you stay with the service

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Understanding Special Deals and Promotions bull Chapter 11 173

Because service credits are applied automatically to your bill servicecredits are more valuable to you than rebates as they require no efforton your part to redeem from the service provider

RebatesRebates range in dollar value but they have one thing in commonYouhave to send in the required information (receipts wireless phonenumber etc) to get them Many rebates also have length-of-servicerestrictions that require you to have your service activated for a certainnumber of days or months before you can send it in Rebates are a greatway to get you to buy but they should be only a part of your decisionespecially if you are not certain that you will get around to sending it inAnd donrsquot forget to send in the rebate or the value for you goes to zero

More Minutes ldquoSign Now and Get 1000 More Minutesrdquo This could be a great valuemdashbut then again maybe notThere aremany questions to answer before you can decide

Is it 1000 minutes each month or 1000 minutes over a one-year contract

Are the 1000 minutes anytime minutes or just night andweekend minutes

Are the 1000 minutes only in your local coverage area or any-where on the network

Are long distance calls included

Are incoming calls included

After you know the answers to all of those questions you candecide if a free minute promotion is important to you or not

Free Advanced Services ldquoGet One Year of MusicPlayer Free (A $120 Value)rdquo Are you already planning on buying the more expensive phone that sup-ports this service If so then this is a great deal for you If not then thispromotion doesnrsquot mean anything to you Other advanced services thatare promoted this way include Wireless Internet access or text messaging

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Contract Length-Based Incentives ldquoSign Up for a One-Year Contract and Get Free Long Distancerdquo These types of promotions offer a variety of incentives but they allhave one thing in common you have to sign a one- or two-year con-tract to get them First you have to decide if you are willing tocommit to a single service provider for a year or more If you arenrsquotwilling to sign a long-term agreement then you should stop looking atthese promotions If signing a service agreement of an extended periodof time is not a problem for you then you should examine the detailsof what the service provider is actually offering youThe mostcommon incentives are free standard features such as long distancemobile-to-mobile calling minutes or additional rebates If you weregoing to choose one of these options anyway then this could be agreat deal for you

Free Accessories ldquoSign Up Now and Get a Free Headset KitrdquoThese types of promotions offer you a tangible incentive but make sureyou know the real value of what you are getting Many headsets can bebought for prices as low as $999 if you shop around Is the serviceprovider offering you a free rapid charger All phones come with a bat-tery charger otherwise how would you be able to keep using itEveryone loves free stuff but view these types of promotion as gravyafter you have decided what service plan and phone you really need

COMBINING PROMOTIONS

Q Can I get more than one promotionA Absolutely Unless the promotion says ldquonot available with otheroffersrdquo it can be combined with other promotions for which theplan or phone qualifies

Q Why donrsquot they just make it all one big offer A Frequently the offers are from different sources one fromthe wireless carrier one from the phone manufacturer and onefrom the retailer Also different types of promotions may berunning over different time periods

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Helpful HintsReading the fine print is key for all promotionsWireless carriers usepromotions to sell more of a certain type of plan or more of a certaintype of phoneYou need to know what the restrictions on the promo-tion are so that you can make sure your service plan choice qualifies forthe promotion in question Otherwise you could be disappointed onceyou get your first bill

Limited Time OfferYour wireless account will most likely need to be activated prior to theexpiration date not just ordered in order for you to qualify for the pro-motion If you waited until the last minute and something holds upyour order you could lose out on the promotion

Plan RestrictionsPlan restrictions refer to promotions that are valid only on plans with a certain monthly fee level and aboveThe promotion may befurther restricted to only local or only regional plans Sometimes it isjust as important to understand what the restrictions on the promo-tion are to truly understand what the promotional offer means to theconsumer

Phone RestrictionsSome promotions are valid only if you buy a particular name brand ormodel phone with a service plan within a certain price range Or thepromotion may be for a service that is supported only on certainphonesThis is usually the case with features that are supported onadvanced phones only

MinutesHow many minutes are too many If you could talk for 24 hoursstraight you could use up 1440 minutes Unless you are a teenagerthatrsquos almost impossible More conservatively if you talked for six hoursevery weekend in a month you would use up 1440 minutes Beforeyou get overly impressed by the number of free minutes that you areentitled to with the special offer do the math

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The restrictions on the minutes are also important to check Unlessthe minutes fit into your already determined usage times and patternsthey wonrsquot be valuable to you

Services Yoursquoll Never UseCanrsquot pass up free long distance Think again If you donrsquot call anyoneoutside of your metro area you wonrsquot get a lot of value Free mobile-to-mobile minutes Are your local friends on the same network If nottry another promotion Free Wireless Internet service Is your phonecompatible Have you tried it out to see if the usability will work foryou The Internet service has been available for several years but if youarenrsquot comfortable with the limitations you wonrsquot use it

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SummaryPromotions are geared to get you to buyThey are supposed to looklike great deals and great values and sometimes they are Servicecredits and rebates are guaranteed great values Depending on how youplan to use your phone a promotion can increase the overall value ofyour new plan More minute promotions are like a free upgrade if themore minutes fit your already determined usage patterns Contractlength incentives are great deals as long as you arenrsquot planning onmoving out of town next month If you have already decided that youneed certain features or accessories then these types of promotionswill be helpful to you

The important thing to remember is that you should put your basicneeds before the promotions that make your heart raceThink of pro-motions as extra values rather than as the main reason you are buyingAplan that meets your everyday needs will save you more money thanfree stuff that you never use

Quick References

Types of Promotions

Money Back Service credits and rebates put the cash back inyour pocket

Free Services Getting a little something extra for nothing isalways enticing but make sure it is something that you want

Free Products Shop around to find out the real value of theproduct being offered

Helpful Hints

Read the fine print

Check the expiration dates

Make sure it is a feature or service that fits in with yourplanned usage patterns and works with your phone choice

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165_cell_C11qk 111201 221 PM Page 178

Looking Ahead

Part IV

165_cell_C12qk 111201 222 PM Page 179

165_cell_C12qk 111201 222 PM Page 180

Frequently AskedQuestions

Frequently Asked Questions about Phones

Frequently Asked Questions about ServiceRates and Plans

More Frequently Asked Questions

Chapter 12

165_cell_C12qk 111201 222 PM Page 181

182 Chapter 12 bull Frequently Asked Questions

IntroductionEverybody has questionsWersquoll give you the low down on some of themost frequently asked questions that our customer care experts answerdailyThen you can be the expert

Frequently Asked Questions about PhonesWhen you look at the hundreds of phones that are on the markettoday you are going to have questions about themThe previous chap-ters gave an overview of the basics and differences Here we will listsome of the most common questions with the short answers

What are the differences between analog and digital phones

Analog phones operate by sending and receiving signals in acontinuous sound wave digital phones send and receive mes-sages by converting sounds and voices into numeric code

Analog phones generally are less expensive than digitalphones but the service is usually more costly

Analog phones have shorter talk and standby times than dig-ital phones

Analog phones offer more complete coverage in rural areas Digital phones offer better voice quality Digital phones have a longer battery life Many digital phones also work on analog networks

For more information on this topic please refer to Chapter 2

What is the difference between PCS and cellular

Phones that operate on a PCS system (personal communica-tions service) use digital technology and offer advanced fea-tures like caller ID

Cellular phones can use either digital or analog technologyor both

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Frequently Asked Questions bull Chapter 12 183

What is Third Generation The Third Generation (3G) mobile devices and services are the nextwave 3G will provide the capacity for online real-time transfer ofinformation regardless of time and place For example you will be ableto send images or participate in live video conferencing by using your3G mobile communications device

What is a dual-band phoneA dual-band phone is a PCS phone (digital) that can operate on analogcellular networks when it is out of range of PCS network antennas

What battery has the longest life NiMH or Li-IonLithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries tend to offer the longest talk times andstandby times in a lightweight packagemdashand tend to be the mostexpensive Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries are the reliablestandard that offer average talk times (2 to 5 hours) and standby times(24 to 48 hours)

What is the difference between talk time and standby time Talk time is the amount of time you spend conversing on your wire-less phone either making outgoing calls or receiving incoming callsStandby time is the amount of time that you have your phone on butare not actually talking on itYou do not have three hours of talk timeand thirty hours of standby time on one battery you have either threehours maximum to talk or thirty hours maximum to be on standby

Frequently Asked Questions aboutService Rates and PlansEven after you know all about the different rate plans services optionsand features you may still have a few questions that you want clarifiedIf this is the case you are not alone

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Why is the quality of my wireless servicesometimes inconsistentYour service quality may vary from time to time based on a number offactors including but not limited to the weather your distance from atower and large obstacles (such as buildings) causing service interference

Which wireless carrier has the best signal strengthIt dependsAs mentioned earlier the quality of your service will dependon where you live work and playYour best resources for this questionare your friends and familyThey can tell you first hand what theirexperience with a network in your area has been

What is roamingWhen you use your phone outside of your local calling area (asdefined by your wireless carrier) you are roaming on another wire-less carrierrsquos network Airtime minutes used when roaming are gener-ally not part of your basic calling plan Check your wireless carrierrsquosplan details and coverage maps to determine when you are roamingand how you are charged for these calls Most wireless carriers alsosend an indicator to your screen display to tell you when you areroaming

If it is called a nationwide plan then why are there roaming chargesNationwide plans tend to have no roaming charges if you are in yourwireless carrierrsquos network area If you wander over to another wirelesscarrierrsquos network then you may incur roaming charges

Although many of the nationwide wireless carriers have extensivephysical networks built they donrsquot have every square inch of the UnitedStates covered So you could have a nationwide plan based in New YorkCity and when you travel to Dallas San Francisco and Des Moines youmay have no roaming chargesThen when you take a day trip to ruralPennsylvania you wind up with roaming charges Itrsquos not how far awayyou go but exactly where you go

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What plans do not charge for roamingFind the plan that covers the areas in which you travel and you will beall set If you are trying to find a plan that has absolutely no roamingcharges ever then look for a service plan that will work with phonesthat can work on digital and analog networks and which states thatthere are no roaming fees on any network

How do I know which mode my phone is inYour phone display will have an indicator or symbol to show if you arein a digital or analog mode

What do peak and off-peak hours indicatePeak hours refer to the hours of highest wireless phone usageTypicallypeak minutes are billed at a service planrsquos highest rate Conversely off-peak hours refer to the hours of the lowest wireless phone usage andare billed at lower rates

Peak and off-peak times vary significantly by wireless carrier Checkthe details to know for sure Peak hours typically are between the hoursof 7 AM and 7 PM Monday through Friday Off-peak hours includethe weekends some holidays and the hours from 7 PM to 7 AM duringthe week

How do service providers count anytime minutes versus evening and weekend minutesIf you call during peak times you will be using your anytime minutes Ifyou call during off-peak times you will be using your evening andweekend minutes If you call during peak times and talk straight throughto off-peak times the minutes you talk during peak time are countedtoward your anytime minutes and the minutes you talk during off-peaktime automatically switch over to your evening and weekend minutes

Do I get charged when people call meYesYou are billed for the amount of airtime minutes that you useregardless if the call is incoming or outgoing However some serviceproviders have a feature that offers a free first minute of incoming calls

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Does it use up my minutes when I call other wireless phonesSometimes Some service providers also offer a mobile-to-mobile fea-ture for a monthly feeThis nice benefit allows you free local calls toother users of your service providerrsquos wireless phone service If you calla wireless phone on another network you will be charged the samenumber of minutes as if you called a regular phone number

When I call my voice mail am I using my minutesIt depends on the wireless carrier and the planWhen you call toretrieve your voice mail messages you may be charged airtime minutesYou will need to read the fine print or call customer service to verifythis on a carrier-by-carrier and plan-by-plan basis

What is considered a long distance callA wireless call is considered to be long distance if it is placed to anumber outside of your local calling area (which is defined by your ser-vice provider) Make sure yoursquore familiar with the boundaries of yourservice providerrsquos coverage map and local calling area

Are toll free number calls freeNoYou will not be charged a long distance charge to call a toll freenumber however you will be charged airtime for the minutes you areusing your phone to call the toll free number

What is the farthest I can call from my wireless phoneYou can call any phone number around the world with some wirelesscarriers but many restrict international calling Read the details of theservice plan to see if international calling is allowed at all or if there isan extra monthly fee to allow it

Can all cellular phones be used worldwide NoTo be able to place a call while you are outside the United Statesyou must have a wireless phone that is designed for use on the network

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in the country where you will be traveling Most countries have someform of wireless phone service but the phone that you use in a countrymust be compatible with the prevalent technology in that country Forexample GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) is mostcommonly used in Europe and some phones sold in the United Statescan work on the European network

More Frequently Asked Questions Still have some questions left The answers are in here somewhere

Can I just keep the phone I have and change plansWe recommend buying a phone at the same time you buy your plan tobe sure that your phone is technologically compatible with your planFor example if you currently have an analog phone but you switch to adigital calling plan your analog phone will be uselessAlso the phonemust be programmed for a specific wireless provider So if you switchwireless providers your previous phone will not work

Can I change my service plan at any timeIf you purchased your current phone in the past year and you wantto switch to a different plan that your current wireless carrier isoffering you should be able to do that by contacting your wirelesscarrier directlyThere may be additional fees depending on the wireless carrier

Can I keep my phone number if I move or switch wireless carriersNoWhen you move or switch wireless carriers you will receive a newphone numberThe exception would be if you keep the same wirelesscarrier and move within the same area codemdashthen you may be able tokeep the same number

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If I donrsquot like my phone number can I change itYes If you do not like your assigned phone number you can call yourwireless carrier and ask for a new phone numberThere may be a feecharged for this service depending on the wireless carrier

Do I have to sign a contractUsually but not alwaysAlthough most wireless carriers have a standardone-year contract length there are wireless carriers who still havemonth-to-month services availableThere may be an additionalmonthly charge if you do not sign a one-year contract On the otherside there are frequently incentives (promotions and additional services)if you are willing to sign up for a two-year contract

Why do I need a credit card to buy a phoneIf you want the convenience of purchasing online (or by phone) youwill need a credit card because computers donrsquot take cash If you donrsquothave a credit card but you are over 18 and donrsquot have bad credit thenyou can usually go to a retail store with two forms of ID and get set up

Are rebates for phones instant or mail-inIt depends on the promotion Most rebates do need to be mailed in bya certain date to get the credit or checkWireless carriers try to distin-guish between types of rebates by highlighting immediate credit pro-motions as instant service credits or instant rebates

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The Future ofWirelessCommunications

As Use Increases Prices Fall

What to Consider before Throwing AwayYour Home Phone

Wireless as the Only CommunicationsNetwork

Combining All Your Devices

3GmdashThe Third Generation of Wireless

Summary

Quick References

Chapter 13

165_cell_C13qk 111201 227 PM Page 189

190 Chapter 13 bull The Future of Wireless Communications

IntroductionMarket analysts estimate the number of mobile phone users worldwide atjust fewer than 500 million and projections place that number at around125 billion within the next five years In the United States alone thenumber of wireless customers is well over 110 million People are alsostarting to dispose of their home phones in favor of wireless phones

These staggering numbers can mean only one thing wireless net-works are destined to rival the traditional phone services that Ma Bellhas been maintaining since before the turn of the centuryAnnoyingno-signal messages will go the way of the switchboard operatorRoaming will cease to have anything to do with complex billing issuesand everyonemdashyou me that guy who thinks wireless phones are thedownfall of society and culturemdashwill carry a wireless phone

The remaining hurdles for everyone to forsake their home phonesin favor of wireless are reliability coverage features and cost Cost isbecoming less and less an issue as wireless phones and services arebecoming more affordable and comparable to home phones Coverageareas for wireless services in residential areas are getting better in bothservice areas and quality of service however coverage is still an issue formany individuals in overly remote or rural locationsThe reliability ofwireless service is increasing as coverage areas are increasing and thefeatures available on wireless phones are rivaling those available on yourhome phone

As Use Increases Prices FallThe cost of an average wireless minute continues to drop bringing itcloser to the cost of an average minute of use from your home phonebut with the additional features being offered to consumers the averagemonthly wireless bill may soon increaseAs these per minute prices getcloser together more and more people will abandon their home phonesaltogether and go purely wirelessToday according to the Yankee Groupthe leading telecommunications industry analysts approximately 2 to 4percent of people polled say they are using only wireless phonesThatnumber is a 100 percent increase from last year and is expected to con-tinue to grow exponentially year

Average monthly wireless bills are approximately $40 but thatnumber varies greatly between the wireless carriersWireless carrierslike Nextel who promote directly to business users have the highest

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The Future of Wireless Communications bull Chapter 13 191

average monthly service fee around $70Wireless carriers who have ahigh percentage of prepaid wireless users have lower average monthlyservice fees which could run anywhere from $20 to $30As wirelesscarriers start to add more and more minutes to their rate plans theaverage cost per minute of use will continue to fall and the $30 you payfor your home phone will be an expense you can easily replace with a$30 monthly service fee for a phone that you can take anywhere

The average monthly mobile bill has decreased between 7 and 10 per-cent per year for the past decade making mobile phones an increasinglypractical investmentAs that trend continues it begs to ask the questionldquoWhy bother owning two phones at allrdquo In many instances owning amobile phone has become more economical than owning only a landline

However the trend of lower average per-minute costs for wirelesshas not escaped notice of the wireless carriers who are adding new fea-tures to their wireless services and charging customers extra to usethem thereby trying to increase the revenue that the wireless carrierssee on a monthly basis So if you go totally wireless and want to sende-mails from your phone you will pay extra for that which only makessensemdashadded features for added cost

What to Consider before ThrowingAway Your Home PhoneBefore becoming the savvy unencumbered and entirely mobile indi-vidual that you aspire to be consider the following

Clarity Donrsquot toss out your big button classic until you arecomfortable that wireless service will function normallythroughout your homeTry a call from the bedroom with thedoor closed check your voice mail from the basement sit inyour closet Even give it a try from the bathroomTherersquosnothing worse than missing a call while brushing your teeth

Internet Access Despite the busy signal or instant voicemail that tells friends and family they have been forsaken forthe wonders of the Web dial-up access is still the cheapest andsimplest game in town So unless you are ready to lay down afew bucks for alternate Web access like cable or a DigitalSubscriber Line (DSL) yoursquore going to be beholden to yourhome phone line for a little while longerThere are a number

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of wireless Internet services out there but they are still rela-tively slow and expensive

Equipment Many phones using digital networks offeroptions like caller ID and voice mail but theyrsquore not yet asfull-featured as landlinesAlso keep in mind that mobilephone technology is developing at an intense speed so itrsquoslikely that yoursquoll be upgrading in less than a year (six to sevenmonths on average according to one telecom analyst) and at asignificant cost

Air Time Do you talk a lot If yoursquore a phone junkie itdoesnrsquot matter if you call local or long distancemdashyoursquoll usemost service providersrsquo free minutes plans in a matter of daysAnd thatrsquos when things get expensive

Dead Battery Barring a compulsive urge to save energy atall costs yoursquore going to end up with a dead battery at somepoint

Wireless as the OnlyCommunications NetworkThe technology enabling you to dispense of your home phone is onlygoing to improve In developing countries with little or no telecommu-nications infrastructure the obvious and inexpensive solution is wirelessfor all telephone communicationsThe signal tower has replaced thetelephone pole and airwaves have replaced the wires It is much lessexpensive to build a few towers to cover a large population of peoplefor wireless phones than it is to put up phone poles and string tele-phone cables to all houses in very remote areas

Around the world the push is on for reliable wireless service andthe resulting effect of its rapid worldwide establishment is a pent-updemand for wireless Some countries create waiting lists for wirelessphones when a network is being builtAnd the customers are happy tobe on the listmdashthey have been waiting years for a landline phone so acouple weeks to wait for a wireless phone is truly remarkable

If you opt for a satellite phone there is virtually no place in theworld where you cannot use the phoneThe problem with satellitephones is that they are still very expensive (approximately $1500 for thephone) and the service is prohibitive for most (a call will cost well over$1 per minute sometimes four or five times that much)These prices are

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decreasing and as with all wireless technology prices will become moremainstream if the market place responds with a need for satellite phones

Combining All Your DevicesMany people carry around multiple electronic devices to stay connectedand stay organizedmdashphone pager PDA MP3 playerThe future of wire-less is that all these devices can be thrown away and one device canreplace themWhy carry a briefcase to lug around all your digital deviceswhen you can have a single device that fits in your shirt pocket

The struggle that is evolving today is one regarding the ldquoformfactorrdquo of the all-in-one devices Do we want a PDA that works like aphone and pager or a phone that acts like a PDA Do we need a fullkeyboard on the device or will we use a regular phone keypad Shouldthe device have a microphone built in or should it have an earpiecethat pulls out from the device with a wire to use as the earpiece andmicrophone They jury is currently out with things like the formerlyvoice-less Handspring Visor PDA adding the Visor Phone module to itscompatible product list One sure sign of the push to get consumeradoption of these devices can be seen in the rapid price reductions ofthe Visor Phonemdashfrom $300 (on top of the cost of the Visor from $200to $500) to FREEmdashas long as you activate service with the wirelesscarrier On the phone with a PDA included side Kyocera has come outwith a phone that has the Palm operating system built in so you canthrow away your Palm Pilot and make calls from their 6035 modelphoneThe only problem is the price tagmdash$400 to $500

One of the last hurdles to make that all-in-one device a must-haveitem is the ability to tie into your information at work Most companiesuse an e-mail program and calendar program that sits behind a securefirewall and is next to impossible to access from the outside world witha wireless devicemdashwithout getting help from the IT departmentAndeven if you can access your e-mail you typically have to handle mul-tiple e-mail accounts with duplicate e-mails all over the place if you useyour wireless phone to read and reply or otherwise manage your e-mailThis is getting better with new applications that are being devel-oped as well as with new technology that the wireless carriers arestarting to add to their networks to help make the whole process morecustomer-friendly

So the future of wireless will see these all-in-one devices comedown in price get smaller in size and do all the things that your

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desktop computer doesmdashwithout having to work with your IT depart-ment or completely reconfigure your computer

3GmdashThe Third Generation of WirelessYou may have heard about the next step for wireless phones that iscoming soonmdashThird Generation Wireless or 3G 3G is an umbrellaterm covering all the new data services that will be coming soon to yourwireless phone and networkThese services include high-speed data fore-mail and Web content downloading songs and even video confer-encingAlthough all this sounds great it will take a tremendous amountof effort and money on the wireless carriersrsquo sides to update their net-works for the increased amount of bandwidth that will be required tosend these services over the wireless network Currently many wirelesscarriers are preparing their networks for higher speed and bandwidthdata requirements Phone manufacturers are creating phones that willoffer these services In the fall of 2001 NTT DoCoMo in Japan releasedthe first ever 3G phone into the hands of their consumers includingwireless video capabilities Is 3G coming to the United States Yes but itwill take a while for it to succeed here with all the features that willdrive wireless demand and use (and revenue for the wireless carriers)

The first generation of wireless was pure voice without wiresThesecond generation was the ability to send voice and data using digitalsignals which is where the majority of wireless users are todayThereare many phones out there that can access Web sites send and receivemessages and listen to music Some wireless networks are beingupgraded to allow what is being called 25G services higher speed datathan 2G with ldquoalways-onrdquo capability instead of making the user switchfrom voice to data when they want to use one or the other Carriersare starting to prepare for 3G by moving to 25G and phone manufac-turers are preparing by making phones that can work on todayrsquos 2G and25G networks and that will be upgradeable to the 3G networks

The only question remaining for the wireless carriers and thephone manufacturers is ldquoWhat will be the 3G capability that everyonewill absolutely need and be willing to pay extra forrdquoAnd the jury isdefinitely still out on that question Maybe those lucky enough to buythe new 3G phones in Japan (costing approximately $600) will discoverthe answer to that question and tell the rest of the wireless world

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SummaryThe future of wireless is looking incredibly brightThe ability to use awireless phone as your only phone with the same reliability and clarityyou are used to for your home phone is coming soonmdashindeed it isalready here in some parts of the country New services are being addedto wireless phones with more to come all the time to make your wire-less phone the only communication device you need for voice theInternet video music and more

Quick References

The average monthly cost for wireless use is around $40but varies from less than $20 for minimal use to over $100for heavy use

Per-minute rates continue to fall with increasingly largeincluded minutes in rate plans

Carriers are looking to extra features like wireless messagingand e-mail at extra cost to help offset the lower per-minuteprices or even to increase the monthly revenue

Only approximately 2 to 4 percent of wireless users use onlywireless and have no home phone

What to Consider before Throwing Away Your Home Phone

Consider clarity and coveragemdashmake sure you have adequatewireless service at your house

Consider other telephone line needs like Internet access faxmachines etc

Consider the need for powermdashmake sure you have extra bat-teries or a charger that allows you to talk and charge at thesame time

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Wireless as the Only Communications Network

Wiring every home in remote areas of the world is incrediblyexpensive and nearly impossible so wireless networks can fillthe need for developing countries

Waiting lists in countries for years is not uncommon for tradi-tional telephone service so waiting lists are being created forwireless phones as soon as the first shovel of dirt is taken for anew antenna for a new wireless network

Satellite phones are available and cover virtually the entireworld but are big expensive and mostly for individuals thatmust be in touch wherever they are

Wireless phone pager Personal Digital Assistant MP3Playermdashit does it all but do you or will you need it

Is the best fit a phone with an added PDA or a PDA with anadded phone The debate continues

Price is still driving the decision for potential usersmdashall-in-onedevices are about $400mdash$500

The first generation of wireless was voice

The second generation of wireless (2G) was voice and data

The second-and-a-half generation of wireless (25G) consistsof voice data Internet content and higher speed data access

The third generation of wireless (3G) is virtually everythingyou have with a wired devicemdashvoice data Internet high-speed data video music and so on

Japan has 3G todaymdashthe rest of the world waits to see whatthey think and will join them in 2002 or beyond

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Glossary ofWireless Terms

Appendix A

165_cell_CApxAqk 111201 228 PM Page 197

198 Appendix A bull Glossary of Wireless Terms

3G The Third Generation of wireless services thatinclude high-speed data video and music over highbandwidth access

Access Fee A monthly charge for the ability to con-nect to a wireless networkThis fee is assessed monthlywhether the phone is actually used or not

Activation Fee A fee charged by service providers toconfigure a phone to work on a carrierrsquos networkThereis usually a charge to activate your phone somewherearound the $25 mark

Advanced Mobile Phone Service The ldquotraditionalcellularrdquo phone system

Air Interface The operating system that a wirelessphone is onThese include AMPS CDMA GSM andTDMA

Airtime The amount of time customers spend talkingover their wireless networks for which they are billedThis time usually includes the time spent talking on bothincoming and outgoing calls

Alphanumeric Display A display screen on a phoneusually an LCD screen that has the ability to displayboth text and numbers

Alphanumeric Messaging The capability to displaymessages on a phone in both text and numbers

AMPS Refer to Advanced Mobile Phone Service

Analog The original cellular air interface or technologyused to transmit voice from the wireless phone to the cel-lular antenna and base stationAnalog waves are continuoussound waves that are transmitted from point to point

Antenna A device for transmitting and receiving radiosignals

Area Code A three-digit telephone number prefixassigned to a calling area

wwwgetconnectedcom

Glossary of Wireless Terms bull Appendix A 199

Automatic Call Delivery A service feature thatallows a user to receive calls even when roaming outsideof the phonersquos home coverage area

Bandwidth The amount of data you can send througha channel Usually measured in bits-per-second (bps)The greater the bandwidth the greater the amount ofdata transmitted over a given period of time

Base Station A fixed location (such as a cellular tele-phone tower) that communicates to many mobile sta-tions (wireless phones)

Broadband A communications channel of high band-width capable of transmitting a relatively large amountof data over a given period of time

Bundling Grouping various telecommunications ser-vices as a package to increase the appeal to potential cus-tomers For example a bundled package could includelong distance cellular Internet and cable services

Call Blocking A feature that allows a user to preventincoming calls from specified callers

Call Forwarding A feature that allows callers toreceive calls at another number when they know theywill be away from their phone

Call Return Usually called 69 this feature allows theuser to get the number of the last incoming call

Call Waiting A feature that allows a user to be noti-fied of another incoming call while a call is already inprogress and gives the user the ability to answer thesecond call while the first call remains on hold

Caller ID A feature that displays a callerrsquos telephonenumber andor name before the call is answered

Cancellation Fee A charge for canceling your cellularservice contract before the contract has endedThis canbe as much as $200

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Carrier A company that provides telecommunicationsservices Same as Service Provider

CDMA Refer to Code Division Multiple Access

Cell The geographic region that is serviced by onebase station in either analog cellular or digital networks

Cell Site The location where the wireless antenna andnetwork communications equipment is placed

Cellular The type of wireless communication that ismost familiar to mobile phones users Called cellularbecause the system uses many base stations to divide aservice area into multiple cells Cellular calls are trans-ferred from base station to base station as a user travelsfrom cell to cell

Channel A path or frequency along which a commu-nications signal is transmitted

Circuit-Switched Data Wireless data transmittedover a single channel thereby tying up a channel for theentire transmission

Code Division Multiple Access One method thedigital technologies use for wireless phone serviceCDMA encodes each call as a coded sequence across theentire frequency spectrum Each conversation is modu-lated in the digital domain with a unique code thatmakes it distinguishable from the other calls in the fre-quency spectrum

Coverage Area The area in which you can use yourwireless service as determined by your service providerIt usually includes your service area around your homeas well as some extended service areas where can useyour service but where you may be charged long dis-tance andor roaming charges Same as Service Area

Digital A technology that transmits phone signalsacross long distances by converting voice and data intobinary codes of zeros and ones and sending it across net-

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works of small regions one region at a time at a certainwavelengthThese networks are also known as PersonalCommunications Service (PCS) networks a namebranded by Sprint

Dual Band A feature on some digital phones thatallows it to operate on analog networks when digital ser-vice is not available and vice versa

Dual Mode Describes a phone that works on bothanalog and digital networks

Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio Systems thatuse digital radio transmission similar to other digitaltechnologies Spread-spectrum modes such as frequencyhopping are common One major difference from othernetworks is that in an ESMR system connectionbetween users is almost instantaneous compared withthe typical delay required to dial and set up a call in apublic cellular network

ESMR See Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio

Extended Service Area The part of the carrierrsquos cov-erage area where you can use the network you may becharged roaming andor long distance charges however

FCC Refer to Federal CommunicationsCommission

Federal Communications Commission A USgovernment agency responsible for regulating communi-cations industries

Frequency A measure of the energy as one or morewaves per second in an electrical or light wave informa-tion signalA signalrsquos frequency is stated in either cycles-per-second or Hertz (Hz)

GHz (gigaHertz) Billions of Hertz

Global Positioning System A series of 24 geosyn-chronous satellites that continuously transmit their positionUsed in personal tracking navigation and automatic vehiclelocation technologies

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Global System for Mobile Communications Themain technology used by the European systems it is usedby only a small percentage of wireless carriers in theUnited States

GPS Refer to Global Positioning System

GSM Refer to Global System for MobileCommunications

Handset Any handheld device used to transmit andreceive calls from a wireless systemAlso known as a wirelessphone a cellular phone a mobile phone or a PCS phone

Hands-Free A feature for mobile phones that allowsdrivers to use their car phone without lifting or holdingthe handset to their earsAn important safety feature

Hands-Free Speakerphone A feature of some wire-less phones that allows users to talk and listen to callswithout holding the phone against their heads

Handheld Device Markup Language A languageused to create Web sites accessible to wireless devices

Hand-Off The process where a wireless call is movedfrom one tower to another while the user is travelingfrom place to place

HDML Refer to Handheld Device MarkupLanguage

Hertz A measurement of electromagnetic energyequivalent to one ldquowaverdquo or cycle per second

Home Coverage Area The part of the wireless car-rierrsquos coverage area where the rates are lowest with nolong distance or roaming fees

Hz Refer to Hertz

iDEN Refer to Integrated Digital EnhancedNetwork

Incremental Charge The method of rounding usedby wireless carriers to compute your bill Carriers usuallyround your airtime up to the next full minute although

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some providers round to the closest six seconds or onesecond

Integrated Digital Enhanced Network A MotorolaInc enhanced specialized mobile radio network tech-nology that combines two-way radio telephone textmessaging and data transmission into one network

Integrated Services Digital Network An advancedhigh-capacity wireline technology used for high-speeddata transfer

ISDN Refer to Integrated Services DigitalNetworking

kbps Stands for kilobytes-per-second and is used formeasuring the speed at which data is transmitted

Landline Traditional wired telephone service

LCD Refer to Liquid Crystal Display

LEO Refer to Low-Earth Orbit

Liquid Crystal Display A flat-panel screen used todisplay numbers andor characters Often found on awireless handset

LNP Refer to Local Number Portability

Low-Earth Orbit A mobile communications satellitebetween 700 and 2000 kilometers above the earth

Local Number Portability The ability of subscribersto switch local or wireless carriers and still retain thesame phone number as they can now with long distancecarriersWireless carriers were originally scheduled forLNP in 1999 but have successfully postponed this regu-lation as it will require them to spend millions of dollarsfor system upgrades

Local Calling Area The region across which the callis truly local involving no toll charges

Memory Dialing A feature that allows you to storefrequently called numbers and access them by dialingone number

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Message Alert A light or other indicator on a wirelessphone that notifies a user that a call has come inAuseful feature especially if the wireless subscriber hasvoice mail

Metropolitan Service Area An area defined by theUS government for use in grouping census data andother statistics MSAs include a city of at least 50000people or an urbanized area of at least 100000 peopleand the counties that include these areas Not all areas ofthe United States are in an MSAThe FCC used thesearea definitions to license cellular telephone service car-riersThere are 306 regions of the United States desig-nated as MSAs

MHz Megahertz which equals 1 million cycles persecond

Micro-Browser Software loaded onto some wirelessphones that is analogous to the Web browser you use toaccess the Internet from your home or work PC

MIN Refer to Mobile Identification Number

Mobile Identification Number The 10-digit phonenumber assigned to your cellular phone

Monthly Access Charge The monthly fee you pay tohave service from a wireless carrier

MSA Refer to Metropolitan Service Area

NAMPS Refer to Narrowband Advanced MobilePhone Service

Narrowband Advanced Mobile Phone ServiceWireless technology that incorporates some digital tech-nology to allow the system to carry about three times asmany calls as the original version of AMPS

Nationwide Long Distance Calling to anywhere inthe United States from anywhere in the United StatesAn additional per-minute fee typically is charged

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NiCad Refer to Nickel Cadmium Battery

Nickel Cadmium Battery The earliest form ofrechargeable battery for wireless phones

No Service Indicator A feature of wireless phonesthat tells the user that wireless service is unavailable in aparticular location Usually an LED on the handset

Off-Peak Designated times when calling rates are lowThese times are generally evenings and weekends

Packet-Switched Data Wireless data transmitted overmultiple channels thereby not tying up a channel for theentire transmission

Paging A feature of a wireless device that allowsreception of a signal or alphanumeric message

PCS Refer to Personal Communication Services

PDA Refer to Personal Digital Assistant

Personal Communications Services A two-way1900 MHz digital voice messaging and data servicedesigned as the second generation of cellular

Personal Digital Assistant A portable computingdevice capable of transmitting dataThese devices makepossible services such as paging data messaging elec-tronic mail computing facsimile date book and otherinformation handling capabilities

Peak Period(s) Any time of day as determined by awireless carrier when there are high levels of communi-cations traffic on the system

Prepaid Cellular A system allowing subscribers to payin advanced for wireless service Prepaid is generally usedfor customers with little or no credit history students orthose who want to adhere to a budget

Radio Frequency The range within radio wavesmay be transmitted from about 3 KHz to about300000 MHz

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RF Refer to Radio Frequency

Roadside Assistance An added feature that gives youroadside emergency help

Roaming Using your phone outside of your local ser-vice areaYou usually are charged an additional per-minutefee for this service and may also be charged an additionalmonthly roaming fee for the first use per month

Roaming Indicator The symbol on your phone thatindicates that you are outside of your home area

Roamer Port A special port or phone number usedin the early days of wireless that the user needed to dialinto in order to use the wireless phone while travelingoutside of their home area

Service Area The geographic area served by a wirelesssystem Same as Coverage Area

Service Charge The amount you pay each month toreceive wireless serviceThis amount is fixed and paidmonthly regardless of how much or how little you useyour wireless phone

Service Plan Rate or calling plan provided by a wire-less carrier Calling rates allotted minutes per month andmonthly fees vary by the service plan

Service Provider Synonymous with WirelessCarrierA company that supplies telecommunicationservices (examples include ATampT Cingular Sprint PCSVerizon)

Short Message Service The ability to send andreceive text messages on your wireless phoneWorksmuch like e-mail with a limitation to the number ofcharacters you can send and receive usually 100 to 200characters maximum

Single Band Phone A wireless phone that operates ononly one frequency for example only analog or digital

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Single Mode A wireless phone that operates on onlyone frequency

Slamming The unauthorized switching of a cus-tomerrsquos phone service to another carrier

Smart Phone A class of wireless phones typically usedto describe handsets with many features and often a key-boardWhat makes the phone ldquosmartrdquo is its ability tohandle data not only voice calls

SMS Refer to Short Message Service

Subscriber A cellular phone user

Standby Time The amount of time you can leaveyour phone on before you will need to recharge yourbattery

Talk Time The amount of time you can actually talkon your phone before you have to recharge your battery

TDMA Refer to Time Division Multiple Access

Termination Charges Fees that wireless telephonecompanies pay to complete calls on wireline phone net-works or vice versa

Time Division Multiple Access A method of digitalwireless communications transmission that allows a largenumber of users to access (in sequence) a single radiofrequency channel without interference by allocatingunique time slots to each user within each channel

Toll Charges Charges for placing long distance calls

Toll-Free Calling Area An area in which calls can beplaced without incurring long distance charges

Tri-Mode Phone Phones that work on three fre-quencies typically using 1900 MHz 800 MHz digital orreverting to 800 MHz analog cellular when digital is notavailableAlso these phones may have the ability to workon 900 MHz networks overseas

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Voice Activation A feature that allows a subscriber todial a phone by spoken commands instead of pressingthe number keys physicallyThe feature contributes toconvenience as well as safe driving

Voice Mail A system that answers phone calls andrecords incoming messages

Voice Recognition The capability for cellularphones PCs and other communications devices to beactivated or controlled by voice commands

Voice-Activated Dialing A feature that allows usersto speak words into a wireless phone to cause it to dialpreprogrammed telephone numbers without using thebuttons

WAP Refer to Wireless Application Protocol

WBMP Refer to Wireless Bitmap Images

Wireless Using the radio-frequency spectrum fortransmitting and receiving voice data and video signalsfor communications

Wireless Application Protocol A universal standardcreated to allow access to the wireless Internet

Wireless Bitmap Images The preferred file formatfor displaying images on wireless devices

Wireless Carrier A company that provides wirelesstelecommunications services Same as Service Provider

Wireless Internet An RF-based service that providesaccess to Internet e-mail andor the World Wide Web

Wireless Internet Portal Web services that let userscreate a personal Wireless Internet experience

Wireless Markup Language The language used tocreate Web sites accessible by wireless devices

WML Refer to Wireless Markup Language

WMLScript Web programming similar to JavaScriptwhich allows the wireless user to see certain Web content

wwwgetconnectedcom

How to Use theGetConnectedcomWeb Site

Appendix B

165_cell_CApxBqk 111401 444 PM Page 209

210 Appendix B bull How to Use the GetConnectedcom Web Site

IntroductionThe GetConnectedcom Web site was created to provide you with awide choice of up-to-date plans that are available in your area for com-parison and purchaseWe have created a variety of online tools to helpyou determine which plan will work best for you Itrsquos like runningaround all over town and asking all your friends what they do but youcan do it all in less than 30 minutesWhether you are a first-time buyeror just looking for a better deal we can help you

Home PageWhen you go to wwwGetConnectedcom you will see our homepage (see Figure B1)We sell a variety of telecommunication servicesfrom wireless phones to high-speed Internet and long distance serviceClick Wireless

wwwgetconnectedcom

Figure B1 The GetConnectedcom Home Page

How to Use the GetConnectedcom Web Site bull Appendix B 211

Enter the ZIP code for the place you will be activating service(see Figure B2) For most people this is your home ZIP code Forsome it may be your work ZIP code If you are moving and donrsquotknow your ZIP code yet you can choose a city and a state and see theplans that are available in the city

WHY DO YOU NEED MY ZIP CODEWireless services are available only in certain areas The plans thatyou can buy are different if you live in California than if you live inFlorida When you enter your ZIP code we search through all of theplans and show you only the ones that will work where you live

Wireless Home PageAfter entering your ZIP code you will see all of the options availableto you (see Figure B3) Feel free to browse around Everyone has dif-

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Figure B2 Enter Your ZIP Code

ferent shopping stylesWe recommend selecting your plan your phoneand any accessories you might needAlthough we detail this shoppingprocess for you you could choose to start with a phone or a GreatDeal We will also provide some helpful hints on the tools that can helpyou make a decision

Havenrsquot Decided Which Plan Is for You Start HereGetConnectedcom offers a variety of tools to assist you in selecting theservices and phones that are right for youThese tools can help youfind exactly what yoursquore looking for online if you havenrsquot alreadydecided

wwwgetconnectedcom

Figure B3 Shopping Options for Purchasing Wireless

Lifestyles If you have only a general idea of how you woulduse your cellular phone this will be the most helpful tool foryou Based on the lifestyle you select the plans you see will benarrowed down to the ones that are in that usage range

Wizard This tool is best if you have a good idea of howyou will use your phone (maybe yoursquove had one before) or ifthere are features you know you needThe more informationyou provide the more specific the plans you see will be Ifyou want to see more plans back up and deselect informationand watch your choices grow

Bill Calculator Do you happen to have your bill with youWant to make a best guess Enter your peak minutes off-peakminutes long distance minutes and roaming minutes and thecalculator will show you which plan is the most cost effectivefor youThe result set you see will list all of the plans withyour calculated monthly bill estimate sorted by least to mostexpensive

Picking a PlanClick By Plans and you will see a complete list of all of the plansavailable in your ZIP codeThis list could contain between 20 and 100different plans showing each of the wireless carrierrsquos local regional andnational plan offerings It may seem overwhelming but we have builtsome features to help you trim the list down quickly to just your rangeThen you can compare the details pick the best plan and be on yourway to choosing a phone

Some wireless carriers that you know in your area might not showup in the listing This may be because they have been unable toprovide us with accurate information

Browsing by PlansThanks to the highly competitive market place that wireless carriersshare you have many different features on which to base your decision

wwwgetconnectedcom

You can choose by monthly fee or number of minutes or wireless carrierbrand nameThe tools on this page are designed to help you select a planbased on the factors that are most important to you (see Figure B4)

Sort Buttons Click any of the sort buttons to sort theplans by the information in that column

Filters By selecting options within these filters you cannarrow down the plans to just what you want to see

Compare See a few plans that look good but you canrsquotquite tell why they are different Check the box next to theplan (up to five plans) then click the Compare button at thetop of that columnYou will be shown the detail level infor-mation for those plans side-by-side so you can pick the bestplan for you

Detailed Information To view additional information onany plan click either the plan name or the Details link

Promotional Information Click the promo icon to seeall of the promotions available with that plan

Phones Want to quickly see which phones are availablewith which plans Click the Phones link and you will see allof the phone choices available with that plan

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Figure B4 Shopping by Rate Plans

When you find the plan that is right for you click Add to Cart andyou will be moved seamlessly on to the next stepmdashchoosing a phone

Picking a Phone Once you click Add to Cart you will see all the phones available withthat plan Be aware that if you chose a plan because of its advanced fea-tures you will want to make sure the phone you are selecting also hasthat physical capability If you are intimidated by the price of thephone keep in mind that rebates or other promotional offers can signif-icantly reduce the cost to you

Although the number of phones from which you can select ismuch smaller than the number of plans you sorted through it can beequally intimidating if you arenrsquot exactly sure what you wantAs in thepreceding sectionldquoBrowsing by Plansrdquo we have built in some tools tohelp you narrow down your choicesAll of the filter sort compare anddetail tools are available in this section as well

When you see the phone you like click Select a Phone and youwill be shown more features of that phone Click Add to Cart andyou will be moved on to the next stepmdashselecting accessories

HELPFUL HINT

Most wireless carriers offer the same set of phones with all oftheir plans with the exception of some of the newest phones Ifthe kind of phone you get is more important to you than the planyou choose then you may want to start by picking a phone andthen choosing between the plans that are compatible with itwwwGetConnectedcom helps you shop this way too

Browsing by PhonesIf only a certain phone will do choose the By Phones selection fromthe left navigation bar or from the Wireless home pageThis page showsyou all of the phones available to you in your ZIP code from all of thewireless carriers (see Figure B5)

In the 3 Ways to Shop box you can either see all the phones inyour area or quickly drill down to your top priorityWhether it isNokia all the way or the smallest phone ever these links will take youto a list of phones (with pictures) where you have tools to help you

wwwgetconnectedcom

decideThese tools are the filter sort compare and detail toolsdescribed earlier

In the Top Sellers box we show you the top-selling phones foryour area so you know what everyone else is buying In the FeaturedProducts box we always show you the phones that our in-houseexperts think are a great value for the price Click the picture to gostraight to the detail page for that phone where you can get moreinformation

Choosing AccessoriesAll of the accessories that you will be shown are compatible with thephone that you have selected If you are interested in customizing yourphone so that you can rapidly charge the battery or change the face-

wwwgetconnectedcom

Figure B5 Browsing by Phones

plate covers select your accessories here Click Add Accessories toCart and anything you have selected will be placed in your cart withyour plan and phone

If you are interested in buying accessories for gifts you can also buya phone accessory by itself Choose the By Accessories selection fromthe left navigation bar or from the Wireless home page (see Figure B6)As in the sectionldquoBrowsing by Phonesrdquo these links will take you to alist of accessories (with pictures) where you have tools to help youdecideThese tools are the filter sort compare and detail toolsdescribed earlier

In the Top Sellers box we show you the top-selling accessories soyou know whatrsquos popular In the Featured Products box we display avariety of accessories Click the picture to go straight to the detail pagefor that phone where you can get more informationAt any point thatyou find what you are looking for click Add Accessories to Cartand anything you have selected will be placed in your cart

wwwgetconnectedcom

Figure B6 The Accessories Page

Your Shopping CartNow you will see a preview of your selected plan phone and acces-soriesYou will also see a summary of the promotions available with theitems in your cartThese promotions will include promotions availablethrough your wireless carrier and exclusively through your retailer(GetConnected Inc) Click Checkout and you will be guided throughthe ordering process

Ordering at GetConnected IncOrdering on wwwGetConnectedcom is easy and secure All you haveto do is complete these few short steps

1 Begin Secure Check Out link

2 Your Order Information Collects the general informationabout you such as your name and contact information

3 Order Form Collects specific information that the wirelesscarrier needs to know about the plan you have selectedThispage is where you get to choose your contract lengths andother service options like voice mail

4 Shipping Options If you have selected accessories youwill be asked to choose your preferred shipping method

5 Place Your Order Final Confirmation If your creditcard information is required for a credit check or for chargesyou will enter that information hereThis page also confirmsyour purchases your totals and your promotionsYou mustclick Place Order to complete your order

6 Order Confirmation This page has your order number asummary of your selections and how you can contact us foradditional assistance if needed

After you have completed your order you will receive an e-mailright away that contains your GetConnected Inc order number a sum-mary of your selections and some specific information on what toexpect from the wireless carrier you have selected

wwwgetconnectedcom

WHAT IF I DONrsquoT LIKE TO ORDER ONLINECall 1-800-775-2506 and our Customer Care Team will completeyour order with you Although our ordering process is completelysecure we understand if you prefer not to put your personal infor-mation online

ChecklistFor the quickest way to order a phone follow these steps

1 Go to wwwGetConnectedcom

2 Click Wireless

3 Enter your ZIP code

4 Choose By Plan

5 Pick a plan

6 Click Add to Cart

7 Pick a phone

8 Click Select Phone

9 Click Add to Cart

10 Pick accessories for your phone

11 Click Add Accessories to Cart

12 Review your order selections and click Checkout

13 Click Begin Secure Checkout

14 Fill in your order information and click Continue

15 Fill in your service options and click Continue

16 Review your order selections for final confirmation and clickPlace Order

17 Get your brand new phone

Index10-10 service plans 1271900 MHz 16425G services 1943G (3rd Generation)defined 198devices and services 183 194

800 MHz 900 MHz 164

AAC battery chargers 111access fees defined 198accessoriesbatteries See batterieschoosing 15 216free 174phone jacks 61wireless phone 108ndash113

activation fees 127 198Advanced Mobile Phone Service

See AMPSadvantagesof CDMA 34of digital phones 27

air interface defined 198airtime defined 198Alltel 135 150alphanumeric display messaging 198America Online Internet portal 50AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone

Service)defined 198history 6 24ndash25frequency reuse plans 32

analogdefined 198technology described 24ndash25

analog vs digital 6comparisons 26

features capacity 32introduction 22summary of differences 29 182ndash83

antennasdefined 198wireless phone 59

architecture of GSM 35area code defined 198Argentina wireless carriers in 168ATampT first mobile phone service 23ATampT Wireless 135national network (fig) 140 147prepaid plan 129roaming options 162sample coverage maps (fig)

137ndash38ATampT WorldConnect Service 166Australia wireless carriers in 168automatic call delivery defined 199automatic redial 62

Bbandwidth defined 199base station defined 199batterieschargers 111ndash12dead 192level indicator 63life digital phone advantage 27NiMH vs Li-Ion 183talk and standby time effects 80types 113wireless phones 61

belt clips 109benefitsof ESMR 37ndash38of GSM 35ndash36of TDMA 37

165_cell_Indexqk 111201 432 PM Page 221

222 Index

Bill Calculator tool GetConnectedcomWeb site 213

billing one-minute increments 126bills monthly 124ndash25Brazil wireless carriers in 168broadband defined 199browsing service plans 213bundling defined 199business card exchange 67

Ccalculators 63calendars reminders 63call blocking defined 199caller ID 65defined 199fees for 127

call forwarding 65 128 199call logs 63call return defined 199calls multiple person 37call waitingdefined 65 199fees for 128

Canada wireless carriers in 168cancellation fees 127 199capacity CDMA benefits 34car hands-free kits 108ndash109carriersdefined 200wireless See wireless carriers

cases for phones 77 109CB radios 23CDMA (Code Division Multiple

Access) 24benefits of 33ndash34defined 200described 33and leading service providers (table) 39

cell phones choosing 4ndash5 215ndash16

cell sites defined 200cells defined 6 200cellulardefined 6 24 200vs PCS 182plans 32technology basics 6

Centennial Cellular 155Century Telephone 155changing phone numbers 188service plans 187

channelscircuit-switched vs packet-switched

data 52defined 200TDMA technology use of 36

charger jacks 62chargers 111chargestermination defined 207toll defined 207See also costs fees

China wireless carriers in 168choosing wireless phonescost 13features 10service plans 7using GetConnectedcom Web site

215ndash16choosing wireless services and plansassessing coverage needs 8cost 13using GetConnectedcom Web site

212ndash15Cincinnati Bell Wireless 156Cingular Wireless 135coverage map (fig) 146national coverage map (fig) 143prepaid plan 129

circuit-switched data

wwwgetconnectedcom

Index 223

defined 200transfer 52

Clear key 61clocks 63 67Code Division Multiple Access See CDMAcolordisplay wireless phones 59 67of phones 78

combining devices 193combining promotions 174compact phones 75comparing popular wireless phones 81compatibility of US digital and

worldwide networks 8competing digital standards 33components of wireless phones 58contract length-based incentives 174contracts wireless carrier 188costsactivation and other fees 127belt clips 110breaking down plans and fees 124CDMA phones 34digital advantages 27dropping in future 190faceplates 113frequently asked questions about 185ndash86generic phone bill (table) 125hands-free kits 109incoming calls 185incremental charges 202Internet-ready phones 47range of 80rate plans 14roaming 162ndash67satellite phones 169service plan rate structures 121shopping by rate plans 214wireless phone service 13

countries guide to wireless carriers in167ndash68

coverageareas 134 200 202assessing your needs 8ATampT Wireless national map (fig) 147Cingular Wireless national map (fig)

143 146comparing phone plans 122digital phones disadvantage 28local 136national regional 139Nextel national map (fig) 149Qwest national map (fig) 153sample maps (figs) 137 138Spring PCS national map (fig) 148Triton PCS national map (fig) 154VOICESTREAM Wireless national map

(fig) 151US Cellular national map (fig) 152

creditcards 188checks 130service 172

Cricket Communications 123 135156 161

currency converter 67custom ring tones 64

Ddata cables 51datafax capable 66data speed 52data transfercircuit-switched and packet-switched 52rates wireless phones 45

devices combining 193dial-around services 127dialingautomatic redial 62last number recall 63voice-activated defined 208

wwwgetconnectedcom

224 Index

digitaldefined 200phones advantages and disadvantages

of 27ndash28standards competing 33systems types used in the US 33terms and definitions 32ndash40

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) 45 191digital technologybenefits and disadvantages of 26described 22and wireless 6

digital vs analog 6comparisons 26introduction 22summary of differences 29 182ndash83talk time and standby time 80

directory assistance fees 128directory of wireless carriers 144ndash56displayalphanumeric defined 198liquid crystal defined 203menus and keys 60multicolor screens 67roaming symbol 160wireless phones 45 59

disposing of phones 191ndash92Dobson Communication Corp 155domestic roaming options 161dropped cells 34DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) 45 191dual-band phones 183 201dual mode phones 76 201Duetsche Telecom 166duplex devices 23

EEDACS (Ericssonrsquos Enhanced Digital

Access Communications System 37

e-mailcombining with phones 193and Wireless Internet 44 49wireless phone features 10

emergency calling 65Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio See

ESMREriccson R289LX (fig) 73Ericsson R289LX 58ndash59Ericsson R289LX (fig) 78 82Ericsson R289LX Internet-ready

phone 48Ericssonrsquos Enhanced Digital Access

Communications System (EDACS) 37

ESMR (Enhanced Specialized MobileRadio)

described 37ndash38 201digital system type 33and leading service providers (table) 39

European frequency 164Excite Internet portal 50extended service areas defined 201

Ffaceplates 72 78 113FAQsabout phones 182ndash83about services 183ndash88

faxesfax-capable phones 66and wireless data 51

FCC 201approval of AMPS 24phone frequency authority 23

featuresof wireless phones (fig) 59requiring service 65

Federal Communications CommissionSee FCC

wwwgetconnectedcom

Index 225

wwwgetconnectedcom

feesaccess and activation 198cancellation defined 199Universal Service 127See also charges costs

flip style phones 77FM 25France wireless carriers in 168free accessories 174free advances services 173frequencydefined 201hopping 35reuse plans 32

frequently asked questionsabout phones 182ndash83about services 183ndash88

Ggames 63Germany wireless carriers in 168GetConnectedcom Web sitechoosing accessories 216home page 210introduction 210ordering 218picking a phone 215picking a plan 213promotions 172shopping by rate plans 214

GHz (gigaHertz) defined 201Global Positioning System See GPSGlobal System for Mobile

Communications See GSMGPS (Global Positioning System) 201GSMbenefits of 35ndash36defined 202described 35digital system type 33

digital technology 24and leading service providers (table) 39and TDMA 35

guidelines for equipment services forvarious users (table) 17

guide to international wireless carriers(table) 167ndash68

HHandheld Device Markup Language

(HDML) 202handset insurance 128handsets defined 202hands-free defined 202hands-free jacks 62hands-free kits 108ndash109hands-free speakerphone defined 202Handspring Visor Phone 193HDML (Handheld Device Markup

Language) 45 202hertz defined 202holsters phone 109home coverage area defined 202Hz defined 202

IiDEN (Integrated Dispatch Enhanced

Network) 37 202included minutes rate plans 126incoming calls costs 185incremental charges defined 202insurance handset 128Integrated Digital Enhanced Network 203Integrated Services Digital Network

(ISDN) 203interference multipath 34internationalcalling fees 128roaming options 164

InternetWireless See Wireless Internet

226 Index

Internet access 191Internet-ready phones (fig) 48infrared feature 67infrastructure development for wireless 192ISDN (Integrated Services Digital

Network) 203Italy wireless carriers in 168

Jjacks 61Japan wireless carriers in 168

KKbps defined 203keypad letters 60keypad lock 63Kyocera QCP-2035 (fig) 83Kyocera QCP 6035 (fig) 73 84

Llandline defined 203laptops Internet service kits 49last number recall 63LCD (liquid crystal display) 45 203leading service providers (table) 39letters keypad 60Lifestyles tool GetConnectedcom

Web site 213Li-Ion batteries 113 183limited time offer 175liquid crystal display (LCD) 45 203lithium-ion batteries 113 183local calling area defined 203local coverage 136local number portability defined 203locking keypad 63long distance 186comparing phone plans (table) 122

fees 126low-earth orbit defined 203

Mmemory dialing defined 203memos voice recorders 68message alert defined 204message key 61messagingalphanumeric defined 198picture 67text 66

Metropolitan Service Area (MSA) 204Mexico wireless carriers in 168MHz defined 204micro-browsers 45 204MIN (Mobile Identification Number) 204minutes free 175Mitsubishi T250 Internet-ready phone

(fig) 48 85Mobile Identification Number (MIN) 204mobile-to-mobile calling 128modems using wireless phone as 51modes single dual and tri-mode 76monthly access charges defined 204Motorola i1000 (fig) 79Motorola i1000plus (fig) 86Motorola i2000 (fig) 77 87Motorola i2000plus 165Motorola i550plus (fig) 88Motorola i700 (fig) 73Motorola i700plus (fig) 89Motorola V239 (fig) 90Motorolarsquos Integrated Dispatch Enhanced

Network (iDEN) 37MP3combining with phone 193players 67

MSN Mobile Internet portal 50multipath interference 34

wwwgetconnectedcom

Index 227

wwwgetconnectedcom

NNAMPS (Narrowband Advanced Mobile

Phone Service) 204national coverage 139Cingular Wireless (fig) 143 146ATampT Wireless (fig) 140 147Nextel (fig) 149Qwest (fig) 153Sprint PCS (fig) 141 148Sprint PCS (fig) 141Triton (fig) 154US Cellular (fig) 152VoiceStream (fig) 151

nationwide long distance defined 204nationwide plans 184Netherlands wireless carriers in 168networks available 76Nextel 135 161 190nationwide coverage map (fig) 149national service plan 124international roaming options 165

NiCad batteries 113 205nickel cadmium batteries 113 205nickel metal hydride batteries 113 183NiMH batteries 113 183Nokia 3360 91Nokia 3360 74 (fig) 91Nokia 5165 (fig) 73 77 92Nokia 6160 (fig) 93Nokia 8200 62Nokia 8260 (fig) 75 94Nokia AC Battery Charger (fig) 112Nokia Belt Clip (fig) 111Nokia Car Charger (fig) 112Nokia Desktop Charger (fig) 112Nokia Full-Phone Case (fig) 110Nokia Hands-Free Kit (fig) 108Nokia Semi-Phone Case (fig) 110no service indicator defined 205NTT DoCoMo 194numeric paging 63

Ooff-peak times defined 205onlineordering phones 219resources wwwGetConnectedcom 7

OpenWave 45ordering at GetConnected Inc 218

Ppacket-switched datadefined 205transfer 52

pager numeric 63paging defined 205Palmcombining with wireless phone 67synchronizing phone with 68

Panasonic Allure (fig) 95Panasonic Versio (fig) 96PCS (Personal Communications

Services) 6 24defined 205synchronizing phone with 68vs cellular 182

PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)combining with phones 193defined 205

peak hours 12peak periods defined 205per minutes fees 126Personal Communication Services

See PCSPersonal Digital Assistant See PDApersonalized ring tones 64phone accessories See accessoriesphone bill generic (table) 125phone booksincoming number storage 63variety of 64

phone jacks 61

228 Index

phonesaccessories See accessoriesdisposal considerations 191dual-band 183frequently asked questions about 182mode 185satellite 192smart defined 207tri-mode defined 207wireless See wireless phones

picture messaging 67portals top Wireless Internet (table) 50Portugal wireless carriers in 168predictive text entry 61predictive text input 68prepaid cellular defined 205prepaid service plans 128ndash29prepaid wireless 14promotions 14 172ndash76combining 174GetConnectedcom 172helpful hints 175

QQwest national network map (fig) 153

Rradio frequency defined 205rapid battery chargers 111rate plans 11 120ndash30considerations for selecting 126cost 14prepaid option 128shopping by 214types of (table) 135upgrading 126Wireless Internet service 49

real-time clocks 67rebates 173 188

redial automatic 62regional coverage 139regional service plans 123resolution (display)Web sites and 45RF (Radio Frequency) defined 206ringer control 63ring tones downloading different 10roadside assistance defined 206roamer port defined 206roamingcharges See roaming chargesdefined 206described 184domestic options 161indicator 65 206international options 164introduction 160service plans 7summary 169

roaming charges 184comparing phone plans (table) 122considerations when selecting rate

plan 126digital phone disadvantage 28national plans with 124national plans without 123typical bill (table) 125

Rural Cellular Corporation 155

SSamsung Belt Clip (fig) 111Samsung Car Hands-Free Kit

(fig) 109Samsung Full-Phone Case (fig) 110Samsung N200 48 74 79 97Samsung Uproar MP3 (fig) 74 98Sanyo SCP-5000 (fig) 99Sanyo SCP-6000 (fig) 100satellite phones 169 192security digital phone advantages 27

wwwgetconnectedcom

Index 229

service areascoverage 134defined 206described 136extended defined 200metropolitan defined 204

service credits 172service plans 120ndash30changing 187choosing 7ndash8 213credit checks 130defined 206frequently asked questions about 183regional plans 123samples of (table) 129summary of 131

service providersdefined 206evaluating quality of service 140ndash43finding in your area 135guide to international 167ndash68introduction 134leading (table) 39types of rate plans (table) 135wireless carrier directory 144ndash56See also wireless carriers

service quality 140ndash43 184service plan rates See costsservicesthird party 50Wireless Internet 49

Short Message Service See SMSsignal strength indicator 64SIM personalizing phone with 35single band phones 28 206single mode phones 76 207size weight of phones 72slamming defined 207smart phones defined 207SMS (Short Message Service) 10 66 206Softwarecom 45

South Africa wireless carriers in 168South American frequencies 164South Korea wireless carriers in 168Southwestern Bell 23Spain wireless carriers in 168speaker phones 10 68special deals promotions 172ndash76spread-spectrum modes 37Sprint PCS 135national network (fig) 141 148roaming options 163

Sprint Touchpoint 1100 (fig) 101Sprint Touchpoint 2100 (fig) 102Sprint Touchpoint 2200 (fig) 103Sprint Touchpoint 5200 (fig) 104stand-by-time defined 207standby time vs talk time 183Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) 35subscribers defined 207Sweden wireless carriers in 168

TTaiwan wireless carriers in 168talk time vs standby time 80 183 207taxes 127TDMA (Time Division Multiple

Access) 24benefits of 36ndash37defined 207described 36digital system type 33and GSM 35and leading service providers (table) 39

Telecommunications Act 25Telecorp 155Telic 61termination charges defined 207textpredictive text entry 61messaging 66 128

wwwgetconnectedcom

230 Index

Third Generation Wireless See 3G (3rd Generation)

third parties services provided 50three-way calling 65 128timepeak vs off-peak hours 185slotsTDMA use of 36talk defined 207talk vs standby 80 183

Time Division Multiple AccessSee TDMA

toll charges defined 207toll-free calling areas defined 207toll free number calls 186Touchpoint 1100 (fig) 75 79Touchpoint 2100 (fig) 74Touchpoint 5200 (fig) 75travelingabroad service plans 8See also roaming

tri-mode phones 76 207Triton PCS southeast coverage map

(fig) 154Triton PSCSunCom 135Turkey wireless carriers in 168two-way radio service 10

UUnited Kingdom wireless carriers

in 168upgrading rate plans 126usagechoosing service plans 7considerations 11ndash12sample schedule of potential phone

(table) 12US Cellularnational network map (fig) 152rate plan 135

VVerizon Wireless 135 139national rate map (fig) 145prepaid plan 129roaming options 163

vibrate mode 64Vindigo Internet portal 50Visor phone 193voice-activateddialing defined 208functions 66

voicemail 66 186conserving minutes 128defined 208fees for 127

voice memo recorder 68voice recognition defined 208VoiceStream 135international roaming options 166national network map (fig) 151national service plan 124

volume control 63ndash64

Wwalkie-talkies 5 22 23WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) 45

66 208WBMP (wireless bitmap pictures) 46 208Web theaccessing with wireless phones 46ndash47surfing with wireless phones 10

Western Wireless 155wireless defined 24 208Wireless Application Protocol See WAPWireless Bitmap Images See WBMPwireless carrierschanging 187and content providers 50

wwwgetconnectedcom

Index 231

data speed 52defined 208directory of 144ndash56services provided 49See also service providers

wireless data and faxes 51Wireless Internet 208access to 10application protocol See WAPintroduction 44top portals (table) 50

Wireless Internet portal defined 208Wireless Markup Language (WML) 208wireless networks by country (table) 168wireless phonesaccessing the Web through 46ndash47accessories 108ndash113antenna 59batteries 113browsing for 216case design 77chargers 111choosing 4ndash5 10 215comparing popular 81ndash104components of 58ndash68data transfer rate 45display screen 59evolution of 22faceplates 113flip style 78frequently asked questions 182guide to 71ndash104guide to features of 62Internet-ready 47introduction to 5ndash7menu selection keys 60networks available 76and Palm 67plans (table) 122popular comparing 81

predictive text entry 61purchasing through

GetConnectedcom 212range of 186roaming symbol 160satellite 169 192screen display (fig) 46shopping by rate plans 214size weight of 72synchronizing with Palm or PC 68

using as modem 51 165wireless servicesgrowth of 190guidelines for various users (table) 17inconsistency 184prepaid 14See also service providers

wireless technologiesanalog and 25described 22

Wireless Wizard 13Wizard tool GetConnectedcom

Web site 213WML development of 45WMLScript defined 208WML (Wireless Markup Language) 208WorldCell international roaming

options 166worldwide networks compatibility with

US digital phones 8wwwGetConnectedcom 7

YYahoo Internet portal 50Yankee Group 139 190

Zzip codes GetConnectedcom

Web site 211

wwwgetconnectedcom

SYNGRESS SOLUTIONShellip

solution s s y n g r e s s c o m

Building Robots with LEGO MINDSTORMSThe LEGO MINDSTORMS Robotics Invention System(RIS) has been called ldquothe most creative play systemever developedrdquo This book unleashes the full powerand potential of the tools bricks and componentsthat make up LEGO MINDSTORMS Some of theworlds leading LEGO MINDSTORMS inventorsshare their knowledge and development secrets Youwill discover an incredible range of ideas to inspireyour next invention This is the ultimate insiderslook at LEGO MINDSTORMS and is the perfectbook whether you build world-class competitiverobots or just like to mess around for the fun of itISBN 1-928994-67-9

Price $2995 US $4695 CAN

AVAILABLE JANUARY 2002wwwsyngresscom

AVAILABLENOWwwwsyngresscom

Journey to the Center of the InternetWouldnrsquot it be great if you could learn about theInternet by actually traveling through it the sameway your e-mail does Thatrsquos what Journey to theCenter of the Internet is all about Itrsquos an effort tode-mystify technology and allow the average noncomputer scientist (which is most of us) to inter-act with the ldquostuffrdquo that makes the Internet run toexperience it in a fun and meaningful way In thisbook wersquove created a spirit of adventure and dis-covery as we use our imaginations to chart acourse through the InternetISBN 1-928994-75-X

Journey to the Center of the InternetWouldnrsquot it be great if you could learn about theInternet by actually traveling through it the sameway your e-mail does Thatrsquos what Journey to theCenter of the Internet is all about Itrsquos an effort tode-mystify technology and allow the average noncomputer scientist (which is most of us) tointeract with the ldquostuffrdquo that makes the Internet runto experience it in a fun and meaningful way Inthis book wersquove created a spirit of adventure anddiscovery as we use our imaginations to chart acourse through the InternetISBN 1-928994-75-X

Back adqk 111201 232 PM Page 233

220_CitrixXP_05qxd 32702 421 PM Page 208

Table of Contents

Foreword

Part I

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Part II

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Part III

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Part IV

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Appendix A

Appendix B

Related Titles