Pagers and Cell phones
RAY NORMANDEAU
My wife and I have a cell phone and a pager.
Some wireless phones (cellular and PCS) offer paging capability
as well as voice communication.
Is paging transmitted over the same frequency as the voice
call? If so, It seems to me that if you can't get a voice call,
you won't get a page either. Can anyone relate their
experiences in this regard.
How does Sprint PCS voice reception compare to pager reception?
When an agent or casting director leaves a message on my
answering machine it calls my cell phone repeatedly for hours
until I answer and input my answering machine security code.
Obviously I can't have voice mail on the wireless phone as I
would be paying for MANY completed calls as when voice mail
answers, that is a completed call. This can be tested by
calling from a pay-phone. Others with similar set-ups may want
to take this into consideration.
Going back to pagers -Altho for years I have been paying $60.00
annually for pager service, my provider has been taken over by
Metrocall and the rate is going up. I am considering signing up
for a service that charges $1.99 a month ($24.00 annually) . I
average about TEN pages a month. Is there anything to beware of
with the advertised prices of $1.99 a month?
Ray Normandeau, Rita Frazier (Normandeau); NYC actors.
http://www.buzznyc.com/actors/res.frazier.rita.html
http://www.buzznyc.com/actors/res.normandeau.raymond.html
BOTH now in Adidas/Yankee Stadium commercials on cable TV
Alden
RAY NORMANDEAU wrote in message <8FA3445.0A5B...@relaynet.org>...
>
>My wife and I have a cell phone and a pager.
>
>Some wireless phones (cellular and PCS) offer paging capability
>as well as voice communication.
>
>Is paging transmitted over the same frequency as the voice
>call? If so, It seems to me that if you can't get a voice call,
>you won't get a page either. Can anyone relate their
>experiences in this regard.
>
>How does Sprint PCS voice reception compare to pager reception?
>
>annually for pager service, my provider has been taken over by
>Metrocall and the rate is going up. I am considering signing up
>for a service that charges $1.99 a month ($24.00 annually) . I
>average about TEN pages a month. Is there anything to beware of
>with the advertised prices of $1.99 a month?
>
>Ray Normandeau, Rita Frazier (Normandeau); NYC actors.
>http://www.buzznyc.com/actors/res.frazier.rita.html
>http://www.buzznyc.com/actors/res.normandeau.raymond.html
>BOTH now in Adidas/Yankee Stadium commercials on cable TV
Dear Ray,
First of all, Sprint's digital service is not all that wonderful. Digital
coverage is not all that great yet and if you're out of range, you're out of
luck. Unfortunately, the paging features work off the digital service.
AT&T's and Bell's is dual service if you leave the digital range, it
automatically switches to analog, with no break in service. Very nice. It
also includes voice-mail and paging in the cost of the service. Again, the
paging feature works on the digital service so if you're out of range, you
will not receive the page. However, if you are out of range, the provider
stores your pages for up to 72 hrs. until you get back in range. Voice-mail
does not cost you anything extra at all, since people are calling you and
there is no air time involved. The point to remember is ALL major cities in
the US are covered by digital service.
Here is my dilemma in my search for service. I hope it helps you as well.
I currently use Page-Net for a provider (I don't have a cell-phone yet). My
voice-mail option is tied to my pager, and pages me when someone leaves a
message (nice feature if you're not good at checking your service). All
this is tied to an '800' number. The pager service covers the entire
Northeast Region. I pay 25 cents/min of voice-mail usage (both people
leaving me messages and me retrieving them). My monthly bills run $ 35 -
50.
AT&T's digital service (dual format) offers several plans. The two that
look most interesting to me are:
A basic calling plan for $24.99/month that includes 60 free hours (peak or
off-peak) per month. Toll charges for land-lines and roaming out of your
home area apply. For an extra $ 4.99/month, you receive free unlimited
evening and weekend local airtime and the 60 free hours apply to peak only
(again, landlines and roaming apply).
A 'One Rate' plan, for $89.99/month is also available. This includes 600
free minutes (peak and off-peak) per month. The are no additional land-line
charges and no roaming fees (national coverage). Every call is like a local
call. I've been told that there is a lower priced plan (around $ 40/month
for less monthly air-time).
Both of these plans offer free paging and voice mail service, although you
are not paged when someone leaves a message (I'll have to get back in the
habit of checking regularly). I'm not sure of the additional charge for an
'800' number. I travel pretty regularly between home and NYC and Philly (I
live in Jersey) and can't get home coverage on the basic plan that covers
both cities, so I'm leaning toward the 'One Rate' plan. It also would give
me private phone service when I'm at my crash-pad in NYC. A phone is free
to $90 depending on which model you choose and a one year contract is
required.
So, I'm waiting for further info, but expect to go with AT&T's 'One Rate'
plan (the less expensive if actually available). Whatever the cost, it's a
write-off on the taxes. The 'cost of doing business'.
I hope this helps you in your quest for service,
Alden Fulcomer
Ald...@ptd.net
http://members.aol.com/AldenAct1