Nextel Phones?

K Williams

K Williams

Joined
Nov 17, 1998
Messages
3,301
I'm considering getting a Nextel phone(i90c). About the only thing holding me back is the quality of their cellular/digital service. I know many people that experience dropped phone calls. The two-way feature works great, but a regular phone call...that's a different story. Has anyone here experienced this problem too? Thanks in advance.
 
Before you get to far with Nextel make sure that
they will be using GSM technoledge on their phones.

GSM is the world standard that will be used to link
all phones together eventually. My carrier is going
to GSM now to keep up with the competion.
 
I haven't used Nextel in over three years, but when I did use them, you would go from full strenth signal to no signal in the space of 2 minutes while sitting still. This happened so frequently, the phone was almost useless. BTW, I heard Verizon is coming out with the walkie talkie thing this fall or winter.

Chris
 
Originally posted by Tightwad
Before you get to far with Nextel make sure that
they will be using GSM technoledge on their phones.

GSM is the world standard that will be used to link
all phones together eventually. My carrier is going
to GSM now to keep up with the competion.
Click to expand...

I believe that in Europe they have ONLY had GSM right from the beginning, so the service providers had no choice but to develop a product that works. In N.A, unfortunately, it's a different story! Since mobile service was switched from "manual" (with call signs, operators, etc.) to celluar, I have myself owned 19 different cell phones (and purchased 28 in total. Did I mention I love gadgets? ;) ) Almost all of the phones themselves were "good" to "great"; it was the SERVICE that ranked from "^&^%$%$#@#@!@" to "not bad". Right now I'm at the end of a 2-year contract with a Motorola P280 on GSM on which I take 95% of my business calls. The phone is outstanding, the service sucks. When I sit in my office I get 1 bar of signal strength, to ZERO bars, to the "No service available" screen message. When I am deep in the bowels of the Skydome (where the Toronto Blue Jays attempt to play baseball), I get 5 bars of signal strength and outstanding voice clarity. Go figure.

In 2 months, I am going to throw my P280 into a closet and wait a couple of years until GSM is brought up to speed. I'm going back "down" to TDMA or CDMA service - they also have "holes" in their coverage but at least not where I need it.

If GSM is "new" where you live, think twice about switching to it immediately. You might be in for a disappointment.

(And if anyone wants to know more about cellular phones and service than most dealers know, check out: www.howardchui.com )
 
When we started with Nextel, about '99, their phone service was terrible. They have improved it tremendously here. I think it all depends on what service works well in your area.
 
I ordered service with Nextel in May of last year and, as per their 15-day guarantee, I returned the phone 2 days later because it wasn't what I needed. It took 3 months for me to get my money back after numerous phone calls and emails to them.
 
Originally posted by mtnbkr
BTW, I heard Verizon is coming out with the walkie talkie thing this fall or winter.

Chris
Click to expand...

I'm with Verizon now. Do you have a webpage that has this information?
 
Originally posted by K Williams
I'm with Verizon now. Do you have a webpage that has this information?
Click to expand...
I did a search for - Verizon direct connect - and found several articles that mentioned that Verizon had announced this. I couldn't find the orignal announcement from Verizon though.
 
Originally posted by cockroachfarm
I believe that in Europe they have ONLY had GSM right from the beginning,
Click to expand...

Not quite true but close enough. The UK closed down its analogue servive about ?5ish years ago maybe a bit more. The whole of Europe pretty much did the same simultaneously. Before that they'd been running down the analogue service for years; the last analogue phone sold in the UK must of been about 1995 or just before.
D.
 
I use Nextel on the job here in South Fl and as far as I'm concerned I'd never open an account with them personally.

Service is a problem on both standard calls as well as direct connect.
(To put it mildly.)

I can't begin to tell you how frustrating their service is.
 
Originally posted by Blues
I use Nextel on the job here in South Fl and as far as I'm concerned I'd never open an account with them personally.

Service is a problem on both standard calls as well as direct connect.
(To put it mildly.)

I can't begin to tell you how frustrating their service is.
Click to expand...

I travel all over the Dallas/Fort Worth area. EVERYTHING you said mirrors my experience here...
 
I understand that because the patent on the PTT feature has recently lapsed, several (including Verizon as previously mentioned) carriers will be incorporating the PTT feature. In my experience, Nextel has had better cell service than several other carriers but this does seem to depend upon the service coverage area and IMHO all of the carriers have "bad areas". Ask other users in your area about their experience and decide on a company accordingly. GSM will be the standard within the next few years. The US seems to be the last holdout with analog & digital.
 
Had the Nextel, lot's of dropped call's had it in for repair twice.My lady has Verzion our practice has been to have differant service's in case on Fail's .The Blackout was the last straw ,Go Verizon [Old Bell System] they have backup Power in case of power outage in every Central Office in large cities and mobile generator's for the other's. They and At&T were the only service that worked.
 
I was in midtown Manhattan when the power went. My Verizon cell phone was useless. The only thing I saw working was Nextel Direct Connect. I just got a Nextel i90c.
 
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