i’m thinking of switching from verizon to nextel… my professional consultants at the Narragnsett Cafe tell me the 2-way radio is great but the cell phone service s u c k s.
they claim lots of dropped calls.. lots of dead zones…with Verizon.. i get some deds, and some drops.. but what is your experience with NeXtel ?
Mike Smith
Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Replies
Mike,
I`ve had the Nextel for a little more than two years now. I`m in Westchester Cty. NY, a community that seems to require a cell phone in every hand. I would say service is pretty much average. No better or worse than any of the other providers out there. From my conversations with users of competing services no cell phone is perfect. I don`t believe I get any more drops than Verizon or anyone else. The "Direct Connect" feature is ideal for anyone in this line of work and the Nextel plans really seem to provide the most custom tayloring available. I`ve had the "business plan" from the get go and I`ve yet to be charged a dime more than my set monthly fee(plus applicable taxes). Good luck with your final decision and if you do run into a perfect cell phone in your search....gimme a holler!
Jay
I have Nextel and got rid of ATT, I like the 2 way part of it but the lack of free long distance and charge for roaming ####. Average signal in metro areas but marginal to poor in outstate areas.
Frenchy,
I have the National Business Plan. No roaming or long distance fees. I take it up to the Cape in Mass. and use it to keep in contact with customers and subs while on vacation. No extra charges and the coverage is great. Look into it, `taint their cheepest plan, but its a business expense.
Jay
By the end of this year nextel will have state wide direct connect, and soon after nationwide direct connect.
Thats sweet
David
Frenchy-
Two important things here- If you're paying for long distance and it's an issue for you, you're on the wrong plan. Many of Nextel's plans include long distance as a freebie. The Free Incoming and National Business Plans for example.
Secondly, if you're paying for roaming you're really getting hosed because Nextel's DON'T roam. There is no such thing in the Nextel world. You must hit a Nextel tower. Better take a look at that bill. I'm not sure what you're calling "roaming" but it ain't roaming. There's no such thing.
There's probably a better rate plan out there for you. And you can change plans at any time. (that is as long as you're going up, downgrades are limited to once every six months)
We use 6 Nextel phones at our office and love them. I remember about 4-5 years ago when a rep walked into our office and demoed them. I was really impressed by the 2 way feature. Then I asked for a coverage map and told the rep to come back when they had some coverage. We've had the phones for about a year now and no complaints. I even took it to Florida with me last month and it worked great. The 2 way is great. Alot of our subs now have them and it's great to be able to communicate via 2 way without running up huge phone bills.
Check out the National Business plans if you sign up. Free long distance, no roaming, etc.
Good luck,
John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
http://www.lazarobuilders.com
Mike,
We have 10 or 11 phones/radios. Like em. We service about 100 miles along the freeway. So the contractors down state can 2 way us w/out the LD call. Get an instant answer. Good service. BUUUUTTTT. Customer service SUUUUCKS. If I never have to talk to CS again it will be too soon. Call to try to get some phones turned on, some shut off. We can't turn this phone on but we can turn this off. (OK. lets do that) what is the phone number you want turned off? (It doesn't have a number. It is radio only) Oh, what is the IMEI number? (I can't read it. It is all scratched up. Can I tell you which phone on our billing it is?) No that won't help. And on and on. I lost it on one CS rep after about 1 hour and 7 calls to try to get a phone turned on.
They can't turn your phone on because computers are down. Disconnected calls. All lines are busy. Our HBA has a plan for Nextell. I will use them to turn on/off phones from now on. Because of the CS issue I will never buy the stock.
But once you are up and going it works pretty well. Occasionally I will get a call go right to voice mail if I am in an "iffy" area. Just call right back.
"lots of dropped calls.. lots of dead zones"
That's exactly my experience also. The radio feature is handy. But I wouldn't even consider Nextel unless you really thought you'd use the radio thing a great deal - It's kinda cumbersome.
Ever watch guys on the space shuttle talk to the media? You know how there's a long lag time between each person talking? That's how it is with Nextel. You hit the button and wait for it to connect to the other radio before you can talk. Sometimes you get no response. Sometimes connecting can take several seconds. Makes it hard to keep up a conversation.
Around here, they have coverage along the interstates and in the big towns. Get a bit off the interstate and you're out of luck.
Truss Designer Extraordinaire
Must be your location; just the opposite here, Verizon is the WORST phone company for both landline and cell communications. When we switched to Nextel, we found only two areas (so far), in Michigan that I couldn't connect...but since there's no towers there, neither can anyone else. Two-way is good, but the package deal with 1000 minutes, paging, email, forwarding, and voice mail really have improved communications for me. Oh, and the Motorola 550 phone I got can take a much bigger fall than the clunky one Verizon set me up with. I think a lot of these questions are probably best answered on a local basis; great connection, service, and low prices for my area.
Mike-
I'm actually a Nextel dealer in Maryland. Great product with great (customer) service. Should you switch? That's up to you. Around this area, Verizon is the largest competitor to our service. Nobody else has the coverage that Verizon and Nextel do. Your area is in all likelihood different.
My point with this message is this: If the 2 way works, then the phone will too. They use the same towers. So if in your experience you have dropped calls, then your two way is going to fade in and out as well. The 2 way requires more bandwidth than the cell side, so is more suceptible to weak signal. Just FYI.
One service we offer to our potential customers is a demo phone that they can use for a couple of days. Ask a couple of independent dealers if they have this service. Most don't but some do. Then you could see first hand what the signal is REALLY like in the areas you travel. Any questions? Let me know. My market is different than up there, so things are a little different. But the technology behind it is all the same.
One more thing- if the Signal insurance is available, get it. Contractors are notoriously hard on phones. And replacements are MUCH MUCH more expensive than the new activation price. Bust that phone up and you'll be grateful you bought the insurance.
We've had Nextel for about 6 years. Customer service has bene no problem. 2-way radios work great. Dropped calls does happen once in a while depending on location, like in a high rise condo, large retail store like Wal-Mart. However, I appreciate the convenience of this modern technology and tolerate the occasional problem. It's less of a convenience than getting a flat tire. Since many of our subs and a couple of material suppliers use them also, they are virtually only a "click" away.
Buy the insurance if you drop it, lose it, etc. The insurance is cheap. We all use the "i1000 plus". Also get stock quotes and other Internet info at preprogrammed times. Son Tom even gets the score of the Cubs when they're playing. Cost runs me about $110/month.
I'm on my third one in 4 years, one of the buttons will usually wear out.
I'm able to use my nextel in areas where the other subs have to drive up to the top of the hill to use their verizon phones. Occasionally, when it's very windy, it seems like I have some missed calls. They don't drop, I just don't get the call and my voice mail picks it up. Most of the contractors I work for use nextel. I've dropped from 1500 cell minutes a month to about 400. I was spending $180 a month for 2 cells and I spend less than $200 a month for 3 nextel phones.
Nextels are the only way to fly. We have 6 and have had them for 4 years. The plans keep changing and the ones we have (Boston area) offer free long distance and free incoming calls. The 2-way in our area, covers pretty much from southern Maine to Conneticut. All our phones are on different rate plans to suit the user. Get the Signal insurance, you will definately use it. Nextel's original phones were bullet proof and heavy and were tough to damage. But most of the new ones are trendy and cute.
Ken
Thanks for answering a questions I was going to ask. I've got AT&T and they are a joke. when I call to complain about constantly having dropped calls no matter where in the county I am, all they can do is tell me that they are number one according to the statisitics. no explainations, no I'm sorry, just we're number one. that attitude is going to take them to number 0 if they don't wake up. just about eveyone I work with or know is switching to nextel mostly for the reasons I have cited.Steve
S.J.MERRETTE Carpentry & Construction • Robesonia, PA
Nothing is impossible...It just hasn't been done yet.
Mike,
Like everyone says, its definately dependent on location. As the rep said, demo some phones. I have on three occasions over the years, but they just don't work for me yet, maybe next year.
Having said that the radios have their advantages and disadvantages. I find the one sided conversations inefficient for most of my business communication. You can't have a conversation. Of course sometimes that isn't what I want to have either.Tom
Steve,
Just to let you know.... according to Nextel, if you redial the # of your dropped call within 30 seconds or so from when you lose connection, there is no "charge"(either minute tally or actual $ amount, depending on plan) for that call. Unfortunately I cannot verify this as I am not so diligent as to check each and every second tally on my monthly bill.
Just thought you might be interested.
Jay
steve...if you don't go with nextel....see what sprint will gave ya. Both Cath and me have sprint...and the coverage in our area...yours too....is pretty good. Got my first phone recond thru their web site...but last I looked the deals weren't there.
I keep checking for a better deal...but the one I signed on with has been the best for me so far. Jeff * Jeff J. Buck/ Buck Construction/ Pittsburgh, PA *
2nd Generation Buck Const, 3rd generation Craftsman
19449.6 in reply to 19449.5
By the end of this year nextel will have state wide direct connect, and soon after nationwide direct connect.
Thats sweet
Hardy har, har, har.
I'll believe it when I see it. They told us when we got our first phones 3 or4 years ago that coverage would be provided within 6 months in the region which comprises the northern part of our working area. When you ask them now (3 years later) when they might have it completed, they just look the other way and pretend they didn't hear you.
We now have at least 150 devices and I can echo much of what was said above. Dropped calls ? Jeez, get used to it, all cell phones do this. The service varies according to topography. It's line of sight transmission. If you live in Kansas, party on Garth. If you happen to reside in Denver, bummer dude. We are in PA where we've got lots of rolling hills. Certain areas are tough to cover. It means more towers. Does anyone know what one of those towers and associated support gear cost ? They are ungodly expensive. If you don't think that has an effect on the balance sheet, check out:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=nextel+stock&btnG=Google+Search
Their stock is in the toilet.
The two way is nice for the short conversations but annoying for lengthy ones. The ability to talk to anyone (with a modern device) on Nextel with two way for free is really their biggest selling point. Whether it's worth it to you depends on how much you blab and how you do business. I have seen a few of our subs leave Nextel after a few years because they felt it just wasn't cost effective for them (plus that missing piece of the service region mentioned above) They all went to ATT and got the plan where you can call any of your cell phones plus 3 land line numbers for free 24/7. Someone mentioned above that Nextel has no roaming. Tis true. It's also a disadvantage in that you only get service from Nextel's towers. If they exist. Overlay a nationwide ATT coverage map over the Nextel one. Ouch ! If you like to travel to the country, it's quite possible your Nextel will be dead but your ATT phone is still kicking. Definitely look at their coverage areas before you buy. Some of our office people now carry two cell phones. One is a Nextel. Can you guess the service provider of the other ?
Some of us have the i1000 plus phones that Sonny likes. They are compact flip phones that are great if you work in the office. For the field personnel ? Forget it. The flip covers snap off just above the hinge, the fine speaker wires inside the hinge break and the battery terminals make a shaky connection that causes the phone to shut off regularly. Either get the insurance on these or get the heavy duty model for real men. We've got a suitcase full of i1000 parts that we use for rebuilding our phones. As far as the customer service we get ? What do you expect ? We've got over 150 phones ! It's great ! They usually fix our stuff while u wait. I've spoken to our subs and it's not all that different for them.
I have Verizon for personal cell service in metro Philly, great coverage, but a few dropped calls can be expected. I'd think similar to worse coverage by any carrier. We use Nextel for our on-call people, and the biggest complain I've heard about them is the batteries in our units can't hold a charge for crap. As in can't they last a business day on a single charge, even without actually using it - just standby mode. I'm not sure what model we use, I'm not on call. I also wouldn't be surprised that we bought the cheapest batteries we could find, so it's most likely a recharge "memory" issue.
Does anyone use sattelite phones? My brother has one for work that I looked at briefly when he was around for the holidays. Seemed more compact and full featured than my motorola startac. Looking for more opinions on those, as they don't need towers around, can be used overseas, etc.If everything seems to be going well, you've obviously overlooked something.
Re: Satellite phones
Satellite phones are probably not a solution for most folks. Airtime can cost over $1 minute (sometimes much more depending on your plan). Coverage is good in principle (i.e., usually global or nation-wide), but will normally not work in-building (i.e., anything with a roof, let alone a multistory steel and concrete building) and under certain types of dense tree coverage. In addition, depending on the system you are on, may not work in moderately deep canyons or valleys.
I spent a couple of years designing satellite network/phone systems until the bottom dropped out of the market. Construction was one of the target markets, but it was mostly the big guys doing projects in really remote areas where the value of satellite over terrestrial cellular justified the hassle/cost factor. It would probably be cheaper to carry service from 2 different cellular systems rather than get a satellite phone.
Mike,
I can't really add anything that hasn't already been said. If you have several employees, crews or subs the 2-way can really be a blessing. There cellular service is average in our area of Long Island-New York, but it depends on your area. I just got a new i90 (my fifth or sixth phone in about four years) with alot of really cool features I'm never going to use. My favorite is the i1000+ which is pretty durable. Don't sign a contract for more than one year so if you find you really don't use the 2-way that much, there may be a cheaper plan with better service elsewhere. Good luck!
-Rob
Paragon Contracting of Long Island, Inc.
Ok seeing as I'm one of those snot nosed brats that grew up with technology, I have a question for you old timers. how do you try and run a business and take care of things if you don't have a phone with you? I am in an area where my cell phone has a signal maybe 50% of the time (on a good day) and it is really frustrating when I am trying to call suppliers, return calls to potential clients, call the insurance company, etc. etc. and can't get a phone signal to save my life. by the time I get home and try to use a landline, all of the places I need to call are closed. I don't think it would be too cool asking my clients to use there phone to make my business and personal calls. so how did you do it in the days before cell phones? BTW my wife is useless when it comes to this stuff. not only does she have a pretty bad accent yet, she knows nothing about banking, insurance, medical insurance or anything else for that matter that has to do with day to day living. (she's from RURAL south america and although she was cute she's about as dumb as a rock)Steve
S.J.MERRETTE Carpentry & Construction • Robesonia, PA
Nothing is impossible...It just hasn't been done yet.
my service with Verizon doubled in reliability when i got the hands free installation in my truck.....plus .. no run down batteries either
picking up 2 demo phones from Nextel tomorrowMike Smith
Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Seve, back in the olden days, things moved much slower. For instance, if i needed lumber delivered to a house that I was roughing, it might take three days. The superintendents job really only started after he got home each night. It was not uncommon to get a phone call from a super after 11pm. Most of us didn't even have phone recorders. Voice mail was unheard of.
I still know contractors that dont carry cell phones or have answering machines. I personally just started carrying a phone on my person last year. I still leave it in the truck about 50% of the time.
Actually, we tend to get a lot more done if our concentration and momentum isn't constantly interuppted.
blue
Steve...ya can't be that busy...and the wife can't be that dumb!
I've had my own cell the last coupla years...but the x-company had just got around to giving all the leads cells. Before that.....everything was pagers with text messenger. They used the customers phone all the time. It was simply written into the contract....just like which bathroom was to be used.
You live in peoples homes for 6 months at a pop and sooner or later ya gotta use their phone and toilet!
That's the same I operated before I got the cell. There's always the local pay phone too. Usually lunch and a phone at the same stop. Jeff * Jeff J. Buck/ Buck Construction/ Pittsburgh, PA *
2nd Generation Buck Const, 3rd generation Craftsman
Jeff,
Yes I can and yes she is. (smart a s s!)
Things go in spurts for me. I'm either really busy or just twittling my thimbs. there doesn't seem to be any in between. I've tried to space things out but usually everybody wants it now or they'll go to the next guy and seeing as I want to get as much exposure as possible I find a way to squeeze everything in. it makes for some pretty hectic weeks sometimes though.Steve
S.J.MERRETTE Carpentry & Construction • Robesonia, PA
Nothing is impossible...It just hasn't been done yet.
Steve, if you have thumb twiddling time, maybe it's time we talk. I'm heading to Philly in July and maybe we can hook up.
blue
Blue, I welcome the opportunity. email me when you know your schedule and we can set something up.Steve
S.J.MERRETTE Carpentry & Construction • Robesonia, PA
Nothing is impossible...It just hasn't been done yet.
Blue, if you're gonna be in Philly, drop me an email. Maybe meet for lunch if you're in Center City (downtown), or dinner or beverages.If everything seems to be going well, you've obviously overlooked something.