 MattAll noise, no signal.Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
kudos:12 | reply to ptrowski
Re: Available in my area said by ptrowski:said by Matt:It's available in my zip code and really, it's not such a bad deal. It's cheaper than most VoIP plans and you can use your cell phone. Cheaper than most VoIP plans? I think that the majority of most Voip plans are sub $25 a month. AT&T is charging $19.99/month for unlimited usage. So if you have a cell phone and a home VoIP plan, this is likely a better deal. |
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 ptrowskiGot Helix?Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
kudos:4
 ·VOIPo
| said by Matt:said by ptrowski:said by Matt:It's available in my zip code and really, it's not such a bad deal. It's cheaper than most VoIP plans and you can use your cell phone. Cheaper than most VoIP plans? I think that the majority of most Voip plans are sub $25 a month. AT&T is charging $19.99/month for unlimited usage. So if you have a cell phone and a home VoIP plan, this is likely a better deal. If you look at Voipo, the monthly cost is $15. Viatalk is doing $99 for 1 year, Phonepower is $19 a month so technically still cheaper. Almost all of those include some international calling for free. I guess I am just having a hard time catching the savings.
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"So, Lone Starr, now you see that evil will always triumph because good is dumb."
Have you been touched by his noodly appendage? »www.venganza.org |
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 wifi4milezBig Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY | said by ptrowski:If you look at Voipo, the monthly cost is $15. Viatalk is doing $99 for 1 year, Phonepower is $19 a month so technically still cheaper. Almost all of those include some international calling for free. I guess I am just having a hard time catching the savings. There is no savings in purchasing one of these with an additional plan, its completely pointless. The benefit (to a consumer) of a femto cell is to improve coverage, and to use the minutes you have already paid for on your 'cellular' plan. If ATT doesnt allow you to simply use your existing minutes then this thing will fail.
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"You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves."
-Abraham Lincoln-
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 en102Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | reply to ptrowski
Skype (iPhone/Blackberry or even PC) is $36 / year. This makes AT&T almost 10x more expensive. |
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MattAll noise, no signal.Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
kudos:12 | reply to ptrowski
said by ptrowski:If you look at Voipo, the monthly cost is $15. Viatalk is doing $99 for 1 year, Phonepower is $19 a month so technically still cheaper. Almost all of those include some international calling for free. I guess I am just having a hard time catching the savings. I was comparing to the larger VoIP providers, but you have a good point. If you're willing to go with a smaller VoIP provider, you can get a great deal. I think the reliability of AT&T VoIP is worth a little extra however, especially for the convenience of not having separate equipment and a separate phone number. |
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wifi4milezBig Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY | said by Matt:said by ptrowski:If you look at Voipo, the monthly cost is $15. Viatalk is doing $99 for 1 year, Phonepower is $19 a month so technically still cheaper. Almost all of those include some international calling for free. I guess I am just having a hard time catching the savings. I was comparing to the larger VoIP providers, but you have a good point. If you're willing to go with a smaller VoIP provider, you can get a great deal. I think the reliability of AT&T VoIP is worth a little extra however, especially for the convenience of not having separate equipment and a separate phone number. The problem with the argument is that ATT doesnt even make this a compelling offer. According to their website, they offer 3 voice plans (not including family).
1) 450 minutes for $39
2) 900 minutes for $59
3) Unlimited for $69
So this means that same $20 you would spend on the femto plan will net you 450 minutes if you simply upgrade your regular wireless plan. Those additional 450 minutes should be enough for 99.9999% of people out there. Assuming you already have the 900 minute plan, you can simply upgrade to unlimited minutes for $10 more so why would you ever pay ATT $20 via the femto??
Again, the idea of paying for a separate femto plan is moronic. The number of people who actually need unlimited minutes, and who cant get it other ways (like paying a few dollars more on their existing plan), AND who must use ATT is very small.
Karl, I question why you keep insisting that the majority of us want to pay more instead of using our existing minutes. Each time you post a femto article you make that claim, yet the comments dont seem to support your hypothesis.
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"You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves."
-Abraham Lincoln-
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MattAll noise, no signal.Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
kudos:12 | said by wifi4milez:Karl, I question why you keep insisting that the majority of us want to pay more instead of using our existing minutes. Each time you post a femto article you make that claim, yet the comments dont seem to support your hypothesis. If you re-read the thread, you will see that you can buy the device and use your minutes.
The rest of your post makes no sense, especially when you make the assumption that 99.9999 to infinity and beyond don't need more than 450 minutes. |
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wifi4milezBig Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY | said by Matt:said by wifi4milez:Karl, I question why you keep insisting that the majority of us want to pay more instead of using our existing minutes. Each time you post a femto article you make that claim, yet the comments dont seem to support your hypothesis. If you re-read the thread, you will see that you can buy the device and use your minutes. The rest of your post makes no sense, especially when you make the assumption that 99.9999 to infinity and beyond don't need more than 450 minutes. Perhaps you should re-read the original article, as it was posted. Karl clearly states (as he does each time we discuss this)
"There's still indications that AT&T will also offer a less-expensive plan that eats your wireless minutes, which as we've complained with Verizon's femtocell launch, is a good way to destroy the value proposition for the customer"
For whatever reason he seems to think everyone agrees with his argument. As I pointed out, and as many others have pointed out, "eating minutes" should be the core offering here because it actually creates value.
You also should re-read my comment about the extra 450 minutes. I never said 450 minutes in total was enough, however when coupled with the original 450 minutes of the included plan (for a total of 900) that is more than most people use. Having 900 minutes available anywhere, as opposed to unlimited while only in range of the femto, is a far better to deal to the majority of people.
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"You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves."
-Abraham Lincoln-
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 CoronaIt's cool, I'm takin it backPremium
join:2000-03-14
Dallas, TX
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| reply to wifi4milez
said by wifi4milez:said by ptrowski:If you look at Voipo, the monthly cost is $15. Viatalk is doing $99 for 1 year, Phonepower is $19 a month so technically still cheaper. Almost all of those include some international calling for free. I guess I am just having a hard time catching the savings. There is no savings in purchasing one of these with an additional plan, its completely pointless. The benefit (to a consumer) of a femto cell is to improve coverage, and to use the minutes you have already paid for on your 'cellular' plan. If ATT doesnt allow you to simply use your existing minutes then this thing will fail. They do, and you can.
I have crappy coverage where I live, but I have 8000+ rollover minutes. The day it's available in my area I'm getting one. If you use your own minutes, there is no monthly recurring charge.
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"To be sincere, you don't have to know anything, you just say whatever makes you feel good and spin and smug circles in your tiny fucked up little head, happy as long as you're true to yourself. In other words, Sincerity is bullshit!" -Penn Jillette |
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CoronaIt's cool, I'm takin it backPremium
join:2000-03-14
Dallas, TX Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse
| reply to wifi4milez
Directly from the FAQ on the 3G MicroCell...
"Q. Do I need to subscribe to an AT&T Unlimited MicroCell Calling feature?
A. No. While highly recommended for maximum benefit, a subscription to AT&T Unlimited MicroCell Calling is not required. Your normal wireless from AT&T minute plan rates will apply."
»www.wireless.att.com/learn/why/3···#billing
You do NOT have to get any monthly plan to use the femto.
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"To be sincere, you don't have to know anything, you just say whatever makes you feel good and spin and smug circles in your tiny fucked up little head, happy as long as you're true to yourself. In other words, Sincerity is bullshit!" -Penn Jillette |
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wifi4milezBig Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY | said by Corona:You do NOT have to get any monthly plan to use the femto. That makes good sense. The real question is why do Karl and his ilk keep insisting that using your own minutes "destroys the value" of using a femto?? |
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CoronaIt's cool, I'm takin it backPremium
join:2000-03-14
Dallas, TX Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse
| said by wifi4milez:said by Corona:You do NOT have to get any monthly plan to use the femto. That makes good sense. The real question is why do Karl and his ilk keep insisting that using your own minutes "destroys the value" of using a femto?? I'm not going to comment.
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"To be sincere, you don't have to know anything, you just say whatever makes you feel good and spin and smug circles in your tiny fucked up little head, happy as long as you're true to yourself. In other words, Sincerity is bullshit!" -Penn Jillette |
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 buckinghamBuckingham Pa
join:2005-07-17
Buckingham, PA
·Verizon FiOS
| reply to Corona
said by Corona:I have crappy coverage where I live, but I have 8000+ rollover minutes. The day it's available in my area I'm getting one. If you use your own minutes, there is no monthly recurring charge. Bingo...same here. Tower is less than a half mile away, but we are shielded from it by the "end of the mountain" that the tower is on. (It affects all the carriers, not just ATT) The minute this is available to us, I'll order it and I have no concern about minutes since we always have thousands of roll-over minutes available on our family plan. |
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