glinc join:2009-04-07 New York, NY |
glinc
Member
2011-Dec-19 3:29 pm
mehDon't know what's funnier. Holding your phone and searching for wifi or move from one stop to another if you have no service. | |
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it's a joke rightPathetic | |
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Re: it's a joke rightNo joke. Can you get a cellular plan for $20 per month that costs nothing when you're at home and, assuming you talk at home enough, unlimited while elsewhere? | |
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Re: it's a joke rightsaid by iansltx:No joke. Can you get a cellular plan for $20 per month that costs nothing when you're at home and, assuming you talk at home enough, unlimited while elsewhere? Agreed, for $20/month 1 GB of data and 1500 minutes isn't bad at all. | |
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CUI index too difficult to understandI dont like playing games in a wireless world.
this CUI index is crap, and i can't see where a user at any given time could tell how much airtime or data usage they had left.
this is more complicated that the FAP systems used by satellite providers.
THUMBS DOWN for Republic Wireless. | |
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| kataan Premium Member join:2003-04-22 Greenacres, WA |
kataan
Premium Member
2011-Dec-19 3:40 pm
Re: CUI index too difficult to understandI can imagine that the mathematical equation to what you air time is looks only slightly more complicated than the the quantum theory for gravity. | |
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| FFH5 Premium Member join:2002-03-03 Tavistock NJ |
to compuguybna
You can apparently scam this index quite easily. Just use your phone at home over WiFi network and run non-stop speedtests or file transfers to up the amount of WiFi usage on the phone. This gives you lots of 3g usage over Sprint network based on examples listed in story. | |
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| | cdruGo Colts MVM join:2003-05-14 Fort Wayne, IN |
cdru
MVM
2011-Dec-19 4:51 pm
Re: CUI index too difficult to understandDon't forget to only transfer within your local network. Otherwise you're using up your ISP's bandwidth cap. | |
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chex383
Member
2011-Dec-19 10:23 pm
Re: CUI index too difficult to understandYour wireline ISP transfer cap is many times greater than a typical wireless data cap. I think it can handle it. | |
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to FFH5
said by FFH5:You can apparently scam this index quite easily. Just use your phone at home over WiFi network and run non-stop speedtests or file transfers to up the amount of WiFi usage on the phone. This gives you lots of 3g usage over Sprint network based on examples listed in story. The article says to a maximum of 1 GB over 3G. | |
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| sonicmerlin |
to compuguybna
said by compuguybna:I dont like playing games in a wireless world.
this CUI index is crap, and i can't see where a user at any given time could tell how much airtime or data usage they had left.
this is more complicated that the FAP systems used by satellite providers.
THUMBS DOWN for Republic Wireless. It's complicated, but once you understand it you realize it's a pretty good deal. Unfortunately your mindless rejection is very likely to be the main reaction among customers. | |
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tivoboy join:2004-05-10 Menlo Park, CA |
greatHonestly, I think this is a GREAT offering the marketplace. Literally 20$ for no limit SMS, calling and data as long as we use a lot of WIFI, like home, office, hotspots, etc. I think this offering is going to even more successful that the current sold out status suggests. This is going to do a lot to cannibalize the boost and metropcs offerings of the world. | |
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Seems very open and honest of Bandwidth.com so far!I like their policies! They indeed seem reasonable and fair, and very straightforward for the technologically aware population. One thing to note regarding cellular use: one megabyte of data is equivalent to two minutes of voice talk time, which is equivalent to six SMS text messages
I think that's pretty telling of how the SMS prices are way overblown. Can either send probably around 200 to 2000 SMS messages over the cellular data connection with something like Google Voice, or 6 messages over the standard cellular text-message means? Heh. | |
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Re: Seems very open and honest of Bandwidth.com so far!I like the idea, but public wifi is painful to use in some cases. I have been at many hotels and public areas that require you to log in via a portal before wifi works. It won't be like roaming from place to place on cellular. If you have to accept wifi terms every place you go, it will turn a lot of people off. | |
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techturtle
Anon
2011-Dec-20 7:34 pm
Re: Seems very open and honest of Bandwidth.com so far!There are apps in the Android market that will streamline the authentication on public WiFi access points, making it fully automatic in many cases. It's not part of the Republic Wireless package, but with that your phone should be able to use most public WiFi spots anytime you stumble into one, w/o needing to login each time. | |
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| NickD Premium Member join:2000-11-17 Princeton Junction, NJ |
to ConstantineM
So according to them, the average text message is 174762.66666 letters long.
With a standard 160 character text message limit, 6 texts are 960 bytes, round it up to a kilobyte after overhead. A kilobyte is not a megabyte. 1 megabyte of data is equal to more than 6000 texts since texts aren't always 160 characters each, they're usually much less.
And I doubt the quality of a voice call is 32 kbps each direction. | |
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Re: Seems very open and honest of Bandwidth.com so far!said by NickD:So according to them, the average text message is 174762.66666 letters long.
With a standard 160 character text message limit, 6 texts are 960 bytes, round it up to a kilobyte after overhead. A kilobyte is not a megabyte. 1 megabyte of data is equal to more than 6000 texts since texts aren't always 160 characters each, they're usually much less.
And I doubt the quality of a voice call is 32 kbps each direction. Yeah I had to laugh at the whole "1 MB = 6 text messages". In what universe does a text message require 160 KB? I think there was an error by a factor of 1000. | |
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aannoonn
Anon
2011-Dec-19 4:17 pm
How can this be legal?quote: unlimited text, data, and voice for an unheard-of $20 a month limited to 550 minutes, 150 texts, and 300 megabytes of data a month
Definition of false advertising. | |
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| SpaethCoDigital Plumber MVM join:2001-04-21 Minneapolis, MN |
Re: How can this be legal?said by aannoonn :quote: unlimited text, data, and voice for an unheard-of $20 a month limited to 550 minutes, 150 texts, and 300 megabytes of data a month
Definition of false advertising. See also: Fine Print. Common to: Every other company known to man. | |
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Re: How can this be legal?said by SpaethCo:said by aannoonn :quote: unlimited text, data, and voice for an unheard-of $20 a month limited to 550 minutes, 150 texts, and 300 megabytes of data a month
Definition of false advertising. See also: Fine Print. Common to: Every other company known to man. See also: circular reasoning. | |
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RWConfusion
Anon
2011-Dec-19 5:25 pm
Not really "Unlimited"I believe Karl got it wrong. Read through the complicated formulas and you'll see that more Wifi does not generate more cell minutes/data/txt.
The complicated "CUI" formula hides the fact that there is a "soft cap" of cellular use for all users. Yes, you can exceed it for a few months before getting booted off, but if you're a consistent heavy cell talk/data/txt users, you will get in trouble.
And, no, making a dummy Wifi call all night long won't magically replenish your "cell bucket". If your bucket is empty, the only thing you can do is cut back immediately on your cell usage, to bring your average cell usage in line with what they want you to use.
The overall business model is a sound and simple one: a Wifi centered phone service, with a cell phone backup. But their initial advertisements of "unlimited for $20!", while true in one aspect, won't work for someone who's looking to consume a lot of cellular data/txt/talk. | |
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| BiggA Premium Member join:2005-11-23 Central CT ·Frontier FiberOp.. Asus RT-AC68
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BiggA
Premium Member
2011-Dec-19 7:19 pm
Re: Not really "Unlimited"Yes, you're absolutely right. Their numbers are just based on using more wifi, so you get more total, not more cellular. The cellular is limited on it's own, and wifi doesn't count against anything.
This service is going to be great for kids, or people that want a smartphone, but don't have high usage patterns, or can deal with the limits and want better coverage at home. | |
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metroarea
Anon
2011-Dec-19 5:51 pm
optimum wifiIf you have cablevision in the NYC metro area this is a no brainer with optimumwifi. | |
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serviceSo far I've been loving my republic wireless service. Def had my first snag today as the service isn't available if the wireless network blocks VOIP and other ports... Most likely because it was a guest network to a hospital.
Still browse and whatever else on WIFI but Calls and SMS go back to Sprint Network. Not a big deal since it's only one day out of seven I am at that location. | |
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chex383
Member
2011-Dec-19 10:24 pm
Re: serviceDo they allow you to connect over a VPN client setup (Android this is trivial to do) inside your phone? You can bypass all local network blocks by connecting to your ( or some VPN providers) network, and always have access to all ports you need. | |
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Re: serviceDid not even think of trying that. Thanks! | |
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elray join:2000-12-16 Santa Monica, CA |
elray
Member
2011-Dec-19 7:58 pm
Blue State MBAsMust be the same group that believes you spend your way out of debt. Even Reed Hastings couldn't "clarify" things worse. | |
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| GeekJediRF is Good For You Premium Member join:2001-06-21 Mukwonago, WI |
GeekJedi
Premium Member
2011-Dec-20 7:55 am
Re: Blue State MBAssaid by elray:Must be the same group that believes you spend your way out of debt. What?? | |
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to elray
said by elray:Must be the same group that believes you spend your way out of debt. Even Reed Hastings couldn't "clarify" things worse. Are you aware the government can print a $16 Trillion proof platinum coin and pay off all its debts in one day? Or that $1.6 T in debt is held by the Fed, and another $4.5 T is held by the SS trust? So we could pay those off without causing even a hint of inflation. Your problem is you think "money" is a physical quantity. You want to apply your own "gut feelings" to national or international economics. Only a simpleton goes so far as to reject modern Keynesian economics based on what he wants to believe is true. The entire Euro situation is proof that the idea of "expansionary austerity" is a fairy tale that, just as in the 1930s, does not work. On the other hand the data clearly demonstrates stimulus spending has been a highly effective method of escaping the recession. But of course people like yourself, who rely on their "gut feelings" when talking about economics, won't look at the nuanced data to understand why stimulus has been so effective, even in the US. | |
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knighthawktf
Anon
2011-Dec-19 9:00 pm
horribleTo think I thought clearwire's non-unlimited non-cap caps were bad. Haha this puts them to shame. BTW on what planet does 6 sms messages = 1mb ? | |
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chex383
Member
2011-Dec-19 10:27 pm
This is so cool!!As an American living under the strict Canadian wireless data plans, where I have to scrimp and save to watch that I dont go over a very stingy 500MB of data every month, I find This is AMAZING!!! I work -very- hard to always hook my phone up to wireless when I can, and I would benefit greatly from this plan. I would sign up with these guys if I were in the US in a heartbeat.
- Stefan | |
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| b_p_smith Premium Member join:2002-02-13 Merrickville, ON |
Re: This is so cool!!Indeed, us mega-screwed Canadians would be tripping over each other to get a deal like that. | |
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slckusr Premium Member join:2003-03-17 Greenville, SC |
slckusr
Premium Member
2011-Dec-20 1:35 am
coolA great option for those who are near wifi most of their day. and cheap to boot. How much is it to add a landline to your home service ? | |
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Re: coolThink about it this way. Vonage charges more and it is limited to a landline. Cable companies charge $30+ per month for their phone service. This service is $20 per month and is great for those that do not make a whole lot of calls while they are away from home. This is a solution that combines home phone and cell service for one cheap rate. Magic Jack is only $20 a year though and Net Talk is only $30 a year.
I think you can use Magic Jack or Net Talk on the smart phone. If you could get data only for pretty cheap and the voice does not take all that much data then that would be the perfect solution. It would give you unlimited calls and text where you have wifi and a lot of calls and texts on data if voice does not use much data. | |
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David Premium Member join:2002-05-30 Granite City, IL |
David
Premium Member
2011-Dec-20 3:10 pm
HotspotsTHis probably wouldn't be a bad idea if someone is already paying for a 3g/4g hotspot already and wants a cell phone plan on the cheap. | |
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zeke56 join:2009-03-22 Naperville, IL |
zeke56
Member
2011-Dec-20 3:47 pm
It's not a cell planI think people complaining about limits on the cell portion of the plan need to free themselves of the mindset that "unlimited" means "unlimited cell usage". It's not a cell plan. RW is upfront and clear that their service is for "wifi people". To me the service is more like a mobile voip service w/ the added really cool feature that you can access the 3G network for a fairly substantial amount of voice and data use. If you tried to market the service as such you'd probably get mostly blank stares. I can't really say I understand the way they calculate the CUI - they talk about a 7 day rolling average, but all their examples are based on a month - but I think it's an honest attempt to make it simple for people to keep track of their stats. | |
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