04-07-2005, 03:00 PM
|
|
Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
|
|
MobileTracker: "Ride Along With A Verizon Wireless Test Man"
"Can you hear me now? Ask anyone under thirty the first thing they think of after hearing that phrase and you'll likely hear back Verizon Wireless. For good or evil, the ads portraying a lonely Verizon Wireless employee asking the person on the other line if the connection is good, are everywhere. While the actor in the commercials probably couldn't program his speed dial, I recently rode along with a real Verizon Wireless test man named Levy Rippy. Levy works out of the Temple Terrace office near my home in Tampa, Florida."
I know, I know, at least one of you wants to scream at that cliche "Test Man" and the catchphrase plastered all over Verizon Wireless's ads. However, the article is actually quite interesting, and in my case, experience backs it up: Verizon's coverage is quite good in the NY Metro area, so much so that I use it even though the Pocket PC and Smartphone pickings on Verizon have historically been less extensive than GSM carriers here. I hope all the carriers have a similar facility implemented -- we could certainly use more consistent coverage. 
|
| |
|
|
|
04-07-2005, 03:44 PM
|
|
Mystic
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,734
|
|
This is just an advert for a company thats losing customers to more innovative networks (such as GSM ones) with better handsets. Its to remind people that Verizon still has the best reception, and want to keep it that way, ignoring that the other networks have been catching up slowly in any case.
Their "best reception" argument is slowly fading from relevancy. Today's question is who has the best handsets?
Surur
|
| |
|
|
|
04-07-2005, 04:32 PM
|
|
Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,162
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Surur
Their "best reception" argument is slowly fading from relevancy. Today's question is who has the best handsets?
|
To some, but to me it's the primary issue.
Why buy a phone that doesn't always work as a phone?? Sure, I could take pictures...but then why don't I just get a smaller digital camera?
I agree that the other carriers will be improving their networks, as they should and this issue is going down in relevancy.
Handsets are the primary reason why I'm thinking of leaving Verizon - pretty much because they handicapped their bluetooth phone just to make $0.25 per picture.
I'm planning on taking Cingular for a trial when my contract expires - if their reception is good then I'm jumping ship.
I'll miss the great coverage of Verizon though... heck, I'd give up any camera or game for better reception.
|
| |
|
|
|
04-07-2005, 06:22 PM
|
|
Theorist
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 276
|
|
You can tell he was talking on the phone and not paying attention to parking...
|
| |
|
|
|
04-07-2005, 07:29 PM
|
|
Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Surur
Their "best reception" argument is slowly fading from relevancy. Today's question is who has the best handsets?
|
Not so in North America, where population density is quite different (read: lower) than Europe and therefore the economics of blanket coverage are different. The best handset in the world is useless if you can't use it (as was the SE T68 in my home when it first came out).
--janak
|
| |
|
|
|
04-07-2005, 09:14 PM
|
|
Philosopher
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 555
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Janak Parekh
The best handset in the world is useless if you can't use it (as was the SE T68 in my home when it first came out).
--janak
|
Except the T68 has quite atrocious signal strength, even compared to other phones of its time 
Otherwise, I agree with your point completely
|
| |
|
|
|
04-07-2005, 10:05 PM
|
|
Pupil
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 23
|
|
A note to the actor-bashing - a friend of mine worked on some of those commercials and met the actor who apparently is a very nice man and could use his phone just fine!
|
| |
|
|
|
04-07-2005, 10:08 PM
|
|
Sage
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 601
|
|
Similar articles about these testers have appeared on TV and in print media in my state of residence. Apparently all cell companies have people who do similar work. The difference may be in what they do with the findings of the testers. :roll:
|
| |
|
|
|
04-08-2005, 04:04 AM
|
|
Sage
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 651
|
|
This article reminds me too much of work. I thought it was after 5pm. I do this kind of work for another carrier in my area. What's shown in this article is the basic setup for most carriers, except here with all the muddy hills and stuff we drive suv's.
|
| |
|
|
|
04-08-2005, 04:23 AM
|
|
5000+ Posts? I Should OWN This Site!
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,616
|
|
ot:
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by felixdd
Except the T68 has quite atrocious signal strength, even compared to other phones of its time |
So what about a T68 that's been upgraded to T68i firmware?
My T68 with T68i firmware (the greatest T68 in the world!) has horrible signal at home, but as it's the only GSM phone I have access to I can't really compare it to anything else to see if it's the phone or the carrier that causes me to stand in the yard whenever I want to do anything with the phone.
__________________
iPhone 4! ☠☠☠ Mid-2010 15" MacBook Pro! ☠☠☠ Gateway LT2102h! ☠☠☠ Dell XPS M1210!
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
