AT&T Wireless / PocketNet
Feb 18, 2001 | 9:06 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2000
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Posts: 3,041
AT&T Wireless / PocketNet
I got mad at Cingular (formerly Cellular One (formerly Comcast (formerly SBC Wireless))) for the last time this weekend, and I went out and signed up with AT&T. I got an Ericsson R280lx phone, and their Pocketnet wireless internet service, the basic service is included at no extra cost. The cool thing is that it uses a seperate protocol (CDPD vs. TDMA) so it doesn't count against your plan minutes.
I've been playing with it all day, and it seems really good. The signal is strong, even indoors in my concrete building in a "fringe coverage area." The content is great, with many sites (about 50) to choose from, about 10 of those being in the travel channel (DL,NW,AS,and UA all have sites, and you can book travel on travelocity, expedia, biztravel, or theTRIP, as well as get schedules, track flights, get directions, and more).
I have two questions:
If you have the service, what do you think of it? Also, how's coverage in your area, and when you travel. Any weak or dead spots?
Second, with the basic plan, you are limited to the sites they select, with the "premium" plan, you get, among other things, the ability to input any URL. I'd like to be able to use my credit union's online banking wireless site, as well as write my own sites, but I lack that capability to view them. I did a quick search, and found mention of a possible way to bookmark these sites in My Yahoo!, and then pull them up on the phone, but I am unable to do so on my phone. Anyone know of any backdoors to get to other URLs? I'd rather not pay the extra $15/month just for that (you also get email access and PDA features, but i don't need either, seeing as i don't WANT people to email me anywhere, and I have a Palm IIIc). Thanks.
I've been playing with it all day, and it seems really good. The signal is strong, even indoors in my concrete building in a "fringe coverage area." The content is great, with many sites (about 50) to choose from, about 10 of those being in the travel channel (DL,NW,AS,and UA all have sites, and you can book travel on travelocity, expedia, biztravel, or theTRIP, as well as get schedules, track flights, get directions, and more).
I have two questions:
If you have the service, what do you think of it? Also, how's coverage in your area, and when you travel. Any weak or dead spots?
Second, with the basic plan, you are limited to the sites they select, with the "premium" plan, you get, among other things, the ability to input any URL. I'd like to be able to use my credit union's online banking wireless site, as well as write my own sites, but I lack that capability to view them. I did a quick search, and found mention of a possible way to bookmark these sites in My Yahoo!, and then pull them up on the phone, but I am unable to do so on my phone. Anyone know of any backdoors to get to other URLs? I'd rather not pay the extra $15/month just for that (you also get email access and PDA features, but i don't need either, seeing as i don't WANT people to email me anywhere, and I have a Palm IIIc). Thanks.
Feb 19, 2001 | 10:30 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 534
I also subscribe to AT&T wireless although I don't have an internet ready phone. I get great reception with my Nokia 8260- no complaints. I also live in the Newark, DE area, you won't have any signal problems.
If you ever go downstate (towards Dover or the beaches) the signal gets much worse. But in New Castle County it's fine.
If you ever go downstate (towards Dover or the beaches) the signal gets much worse. But in New Castle County it's fine.