I’ve currently got a killer cell phone that I love. It’s a Motorola Nextel i580.
http://www.cellforcash.com/cell-phone-recycling/motorola-nextel-i560.asp
It is the best cell phone I’ve ever owned. It takes abuse. It has a speakerphone. It has an exterior caller ID. It is voice activated. It hasd GPS. It regrouts shower surrounds and installs insulation in crawlspaces.
The only problem is that the Nextel plans out here are about twice as much as comparable Verizon plans. Since I don’t use the Direct Connect feature that often, I wouldn’t mind saving some cash and switching cell phone carriers.
My question is this: What phone do you have that is geared for a jobsite? I think the most important featurs are durability, a good quality speakerphone, a large phonebook capacity, and an exterior caller ID. Tell me what works for you.
–Andy
Replies
Maybe not the answer you are looking for, but:
If you are still considering being a builder....stick with Nextel. Free incoming and Direct Connect works great with my superintendent, wife, subs and vendors, but they may not be as popular or used as much in your area.
Free incoming, my wife and I can leave the office and forward to mobiles.
Direct Connect helps us to get it done, like the commercials.
I know some people do not like Nextel, but I have no real complaints. Comparitively, I have had dozens of phones and phone services. I started in the early 80s when the only mobile phone avaliable was mounted in your vehicle, and it was $100.00 for 100 minutes and $1.00 per minute afterward. This was before bag and brick phones. Nextel is by far the best service I have had, given the direct connect and free incoming. I am on the unlimited cell minutes and direct connect plan.
Currently, my super and I have an I305 / military specs. My super dropped his in a bucket of water and it still worked. He also ran over his phone with the skid loader (on dirt)...still working. The wife has a lighter flip phone, but she is not as routy as we.
Andy:
I seem to recall reading an article about Nextel. The point of the article is/was that they willl have to change their systems in order to comply with the latest FCC rules and that means that all of their subscribers will have to replace their phones. It was about 6-7 months ago that I read that and I really don't remember where I read it (online somewhere) but it might be worth checking it out before you re-invest in new phones or whatever. It has something to do with what they called "re-banding" which was being done because the Nextel system was interfering with radios used for public safety.
The other thing to look at is coverage. In our area, New England, Nextel and Sprint were way behind the curve in terms of coverage. They have pretty much got it knocked in the major Metro areas but as you move to the North & West, you run into more and more gaps in coverage.
I've had both Verizon & Cingular and it's not like they were all that great either. I basically spent the better part of Decermber talking to my friends and checking out all the websites and deals that were available, since my contract was about to expire. I ended up staying with Verizon, on a month to month basis, because none of the others had anytrhing that really set them apart (they're all a pain!) sevice or price wise.
Good luck, I hope that you have better luck than I did.
BILL
Edited 2/8/2006 2:40 pm ET by nailbanger
Edited 2/8/2006 2:41 pm ET by nailbanger
I've never had Nextel, but I've had motorola phones before - which is why I'd be hesitant to try it.
I've had to replace two phones because those dinky little contacts keep failing w/i a year & I'm unable to charge them.
I'd love to give Nextel a shot, but all their phones are motorola.
Soul, I don't think the Motos other providers use are the same caliber as the Nextel Motos.
Like TxLandlord, I have the Moto I305, and it's been the most dependable phone I've ever had. It's actually going on over a year of trouble free service. Like his, mine's been rinsed in the sink (on purpose), dropped in a bucket of DW mud, run over by my truck and trailer, thrown off a roof (many times). I believe I could drive a few nails with this thing if I had to.
Nextel can be great and sorry, too. They're not the cheapest for the plan you get. They're also not trying to compete directly with consumer cell companies like Cingular and Verizon, either.
Again, Like Tex said, the DC feature can be really useful if you have subs & suppliers that use them.
Oh, to whoever asked if they could get their Nextel phone switched to another carrier, no. My dad tried to get Cingular to activate a Nextel Moto w/ his Cing. # and they said no you have to buy our phone. Sad but true!Jason Pharez Construction
Framing & Exterior Remodeling
>>installs insulation in crawlspaces.
But does it put the vapor barrier on the floor side (conditioned side) or the crawl side?