en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA
 ·RoadRunner Cable
 ·DSL EXTREME
| Verizon Wireless...
Was the only logical other choice in the areas that Qwest services.
AT&T, T-Mobile, and Alltel cover many parts, but none cover all of the midwest. AT&T's roaming arrangement would have many users being out of contract for excessive roaming. I think Alltel would do Ok, but I'm not sure if they have native service in areas like Denver.
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Canada = Hollywood North |
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tc1uscg
join:2005-03-09
Saint Clair Shores, MI | No loss.
And this is a big loss/win for whom? Qwest.. they don't even matter. What is said, people are stupid enough to pay the extra for the service.. Morons.  |
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cablebob
join:2005-06-13
Bellingham, WA | 1 Bill
I know that i can get cheaper wireless rates, but i do like the one bill for everything and the free calls to home. that in my eyes make it worth it to me. |
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tc1uscg
join:2005-03-09
Saint Clair Shores, MI
| said by cablebob  :but i do like the one bill for everything I like to spread the wealth...  Plus with auto bill pay, I don't worry if I pay one or 2 dozen.. I pay for that service so I use it.. |
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EPS
join:2008-02-13
Hingham, MA
| Branding
I find it interesting that the new service won't be called Qwest Wireless, but Verizon Wireless... also, that VZW won't allow Qwest handset owners to switch their existing handsets to VZW- since Qwest Wireless is Sprint, wouldn't they all be CDMA? (Or are the Sprint handsets not dual-band or something? I suppose cellular 800Mhz coverage would be important for VZW in former AirTouch territory.) |
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The Beer
I Love It When A Plan Comes Together
Premium
join:2001-07-24
Omaha, NE
clubs:
 ·ViaTalk
| Full Circle
Ok lets see here...
In Omaha
USWest Cellular -> Airtouch Cellular -> Verizon
USWest -> Qwest -> Starts Qwest Wireless
Qwest Wireless shuts down to resell Sprint
Sprint Resold by Qwest becomes Verizon.
Might be me but I think just not selling the network in the first place may have been a better bet. |
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xirian
Premium
join:2003-01-26
Beacon, NY
| reply to EPS
Re: Branding
said by EPS :I find it interesting that the new service won't be called Qwest Wireless, but Verizon Wireless... also, that VZW won't allow Qwest handset owners to switch their existing handsets to VZW- since Qwest Wireless is Sprint, wouldn't they all be CDMA? (Or are the Sprint handsets not dual-band or something? I suppose cellular 800Mhz coverage would be important for VZW in former AirTouch territory.) They would need to have verizon software for said phones to flash it with, as sprint phones use java whereas verizon uses BREW. |
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hottboiinnc
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH | reply to en102
Re: Verizon Wireless...
Alltel would have been a great choice. They partner with both VZW and Sprint for roaming and they partner with Alltel. It's just a matter of Alltel covers A LOT more of the smaller areas than Sprint & VZW |
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Moonjo
Premium
join:2001-10-29
Aurora, CO | reply to The Beer
Re: Full Circle
Is it funny or sad that I've had my service since U S WEST Cellular to Airtouch to Verizon. Same number all these years. |
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bsoft
join:2004-03-28
Boulder, CO
·Comcast
| reply to en102
Re: Verizon Wireless...
Alltel has very little native coverage in Colorado.
Remember that "the areas that Qwest services" includes the Seattle area (T-Mobile's headquarters is in nearby Bellevue), Denver (great T-Mobile coverage) and Phoenix.
Most of Qwest's territory isn't in the "Midwest", unless you think the Pacific Northwest/Southwest/Mountain States are "Midwest". Iowa and Minnesota are the notable exceptions.
The advantage to having "Qwest" wireless is that you may get discounts if you have other Qwest services (DSL, etc.). |
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tc1uscg
join:2005-03-09
Saint Clair Shores, MI
| Like duhh
Ok, in another article, it mentioned that "Qwest customers will have "access" to verizon phones".. Ok, here's a clue, drive to a local verizon store, oh wait, we have the internet, lets go online and do this  .. Now, walk up to a sales person, tap them on the shoulder (if they are not already up your a$$ from the moment you walked through the door) and buy a friggen VZW phone/plan. Now, call Qwest and cancel your plan, pay the ETF and your set to go. Do they think people are that stupid to feel it's a benefit to have the 2 partnered?  Like the sky is going to open up and let in much more sunshine. It would be no different if Virgin Mobile started selling "Sprint" phones and their own "branded" units. |
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viperlmw
Premium
join:2005-01-25
·Qwest.net
| reply to cablebob
Re: 1 Bill
Then you will probably like this new service better. Ed says that this relationship will be much more like the relationship Qwest has with DirecTV, where Qwest is able to provide a $5 discount for bundling the services. Sounds like discounts may be available here.
I find it ironic that many customers who may opt for this may be riding old USWest/Qwest mobile facilities, as Qwest sold their wireless network to VZW several years ago. |
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viperlmw
Premium
join:2005-01-25
·Qwest.net
1 edit | reply to EPS
Re: Branding
I'm not so sure it won't be called Qwest Wireless. An interesting note at the end of this article: »www.unstrung.com/document.asp?doc_id=152939
"With Sprint, Qwest was simply buying and reselling Sprint contracts as a wholesaler. But with Verizon, it will act as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) and actually market and sell the service as if it were its own."
As for handsets, here is an interesting note from Xchangemag: »www.xchangemag.com/hotnews/qwest···,p2.html
"Before selecting Verizon as its new provider, the RBOC also was talking with AT&T Inc., which has GSM-based service. Qwest’s Sprint-based offering is a CDMA service, so moving subscribers to Verizon’s CDMA network would be a less painful transition for end users, requiring no handset exchanges."
Maybe this is referring to voice, not data handsets? |
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dmconwa1
@spcsdns.net
| reply to tc1uscg
Re: Like duhh
Are you really that ignorant? Qwest will use this the same way they use DirecTV. It's all about the bundle. I can imagine they will offer an opt in like they do for existing DirecTV customers to get the bundle savings of having it billed through Qwest. With the current arrangement if you have a bundle with Qwest you get anywhere from a $5-$17 bundle discount per month on a wireless plan depending on what services you have bundled. I think that would be attractive for a lot of Verizon users.
Ask DirecTV what the benefits of partnering with Qwest have been? Qwest is their top reseller. I can imagine this will be no different. They have already said they are going to sell this as Verizon. I imagine it will be same plans, same equipment, but having the option to bundle and get a discount just like the DirecTV arrangement. |
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en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
·DSL EXTREME
| reply to bsoft
Re: Verizon Wireless...
I guess what I consider midwest isn't the Wiki definition.
Either way, here's Alltel's basic coverage area, and Qwest has its major cities as your note as Seattle and Denver.. neither have Alltel native service.
»people.ku.edu/~cinema/wireless/a···_cel.gif
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Canada = Hollywood North |
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EPS
join:2008-02-13
Hingham, MA | reply to viperlmw
Re: Branding
Pretty much all handsets are data in some way nowadays, though... even my free three year old Samsung has Get It Now and game downloading, though it can only use the slow 1xRTT rather than EV-DO. |
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tc1uscg
join:2005-03-09
Saint Clair Shores, MI
1 edit | reply to dmconwa1
Re: Like duhh
No, but you seem to be. Verizon isn't going to give ANYBODY a discount, much less a re-seller. You'll PAY what VZW tells Qwest to charge and you can bet it's going to be the SAME if not MORE then what you can get by walking into a Verizon retail store Now, go back and re-read again. I'm talking about the CUSTOMER.. I couldn't really give a rats rear about Qwest or VZ. Qwest will only make as much as VZ allows them to make. It looks good on the outside, but deep down.. they will do no better whith whoever they "signed" with. |
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viperlmw
Premium
join:2005-01-25 | reply to viperlmw
Re: Branding
According to Ed, it won't be Qwest Wireless. It is being sold by Qwest as Verizon Wireless. |
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dmconwa1
@qwest.net
| reply to tc1uscg
Re: Like duhh
Qwest will give the discount. Just like Qwest gives the discount to DirecTV customers who BUNDLE services through them. This really isn't a hard concept to grasp. Customer buys phone, TV, or internet from Qwest. Customer has Verizon wireless or is looking for wireless service. Qwest offers them a bundled rate to get Verizon through them. Verizon bills their normal charge Qwest gives a discount off the total bill. Of course there will be no discount if you buy Verizon from Qwest without bundling with another product, but that is no shock.
Verizon will also be offering Qwest products and services in their stores in the Qwest service area.
Qwest will also be working with Verizon on goverment deals to offer bundled services something that Sprint would not allow Qwest to do. |
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PGHammer
join:2003-06-09
Accokeek, MD
clubs:
·Comcast
| The government discounts make sense another way, as both Qwest and Verizon have several Rather Large Government Contracts (via GSA's Networx omnibus contracts, which cover all the government except the military, which has separate contracts with both companies). State governments (and in some cases, municipal and county governments as well) can now purchase services under Uncle's contracts. |
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