07-28-2004, 03:00 AM
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Magi
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,186
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T-Mobile: No More Free WAP For You!
"T-Mobile USA has quietly ended an unpublicized program that gave all of its subscribers unlimited WAP access for free. According to the mobile phone discussion site Howard Forums, many T-Mobile subscribers that try and use the service now get a page asking them to sign up for T-Zones, T-Mobile�s data service. Since the service was free, and for the most part unknown, no one believed that it would last forever. However the deal was a cult hit among mobile phone aficionados and will surely be missed for quite some time."
I have to admit that I almost had a heart attack when I read that T-Mobile was dropping their free WAP service, as I use my T-Mobile T610 as a modem with my 4150 on a daily basis. Then I realized that I was hung up on the word "free" instead of "WAP". You see, GPRS is also free, and it appears to be staying that way, as I can still access this InterWeb thing as I always have. Sadly, those of you who like to browse on your phone itself are out of luck - you'll now get a page asking you to sign up for T-Zones if you want the same access. (Sorry, guys - no more horoscopes!) Some are crying foul over this, and I can understand that, but this WAS a free service - now you're just getting what you've been paying for. Thoughts? Dissenting opinions? :mrgreen:
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07-28-2004, 03:20 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,055
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I never really cared so much for the WAP access. I only used the GPRS access. That's still around, but I realize it's a free service, and that one day I'll have to pay for it. There's nothing to complain about if T-Mobile does decide to drop free GPRS as well.
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07-28-2004, 03:28 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 197
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Wait a sec, free GPRS access? What address would be used for that if it's not wap.voicestream.com ?
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07-28-2004, 03:34 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,055
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by yanathin
Wait a sec, free GPRS access? What address would be used for that if it's not wap.voicestream.com ?
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Well, I think the problem is accessing the WAP service from the cell phone. The "wap.voicestream.com" does have WAP in the address, but it's not really WAP. It's GPRS, so logging on to wap.voicestream.com from a device gives you a GPRS connection. WAP is just a protocol for delivering small web pages.
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07-28-2004, 03:40 AM
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Executive Editor, Android Thoughts
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,233
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Sad to see it go...
__________________
Dr. Jon Westfall, MCSE, MS-MVP
Executive Editor - Android Thoughts
News Editor - Windows Phone Thoughts
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07-28-2004, 03:50 AM
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Theorist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 268
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This headline scared me!! 8O
But I can still use my bluetooth phone to connect to my pocket pc, laptop, desktop (if cable is out), tablet pc, etc. and browse for free (although slow, better than nothing if no wifi is around, etc). Nothing important changed, just no wap pages I guess..
Hopefully GPRS will still be free and they won't change that too.
-arebelspy
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07-28-2004, 04:11 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 144
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Who really cares about WAP?
I just tested my T-Mobile MPx200 and email and internet explorer still work fine using the free GPRS connection. Most popular web sites are already optimized for mobile devices, so what good WAP sites are we really going to miss?
Free POP mail is my main use for the GPRS connection, so for the time being I'm still happy with the free service.
L.B.
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07-28-2004, 04:25 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 17
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Well, My WAP access is still working fine. It was in my contract as being included when I signed up for service though...
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07-28-2004, 04:36 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,108
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Yeesh!
I too nearly had a heart attack--I've been waiting for an eternity to get GSM coverage where I live, so that I can get a Bluetooth phone, and I've been counting on T-Mobile since the free GPRS makes them affordable to me. I've JUST, JUST days ago been added to a coverage area, and I'm looking into whether I can get T-Mobile when I see this story. 8O
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07-28-2004, 04:41 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 332
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Do you use your minutes if you connect through BT with your laptop/pda? I just switched to T-Mobile and was going to spring for the 20 dollar a month unlimited data plan. But I can get online without paying? That would be fantastic.
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