Phone Hell Blog April Archive

Scribble on Your Cell Phone... COMPANY!

By Wilbur Corncob at 04/20/07 14:17

Alright I found another phone company hater!

Hate your Cell Phone Company is a great blog entry on Scribble on the Wall about problems with cell phone companies, "But I absolutely detest the local stores and the people that work there."

Cellular Broadband Hell

Yesterday I did a little research for a project that would require internet access via the cellular network.

Verizon has a nice website that explains the service, the phones it works on and the prices. It is important to keep in mind that this is Verizon's business to business website so we are not talking about some whimpy service for home users.

The tethered modem capability is ideal when you're traveling and need to use your notebook to check email, access corporate networks, or download large files like presentations and reports. And with BroadbandAccess Connect, you won't have to buy an extra PC Card or other devices.

[my emphasis]

Now, they are telling me it is good or large files. One of my projects requires a weekly download of a file that last time was 2,607,071,402 bytes (that is 2.6 gigabytes).

The price is listed as $15, $30, or $59.95 depending on which device you are using and noting that you also need a "qualifying" voice plan in most cases.

Now the next problem is where is the service actually available, they offer a website with a list of states and cities which is pretty useless as what exactly does "Philadelphia" mean?

Ok, we move onto their map. They offer a map doing broadband service areas, however most of the map shows "national access" and they never make it clear what national access is versus broadband access, so I assume their map is just confusing and without a close look one would think broadband access is extensive when it may well just be in metropolitan areas.

The speed is supposed to be good:

With BroadbandAccess service, you can work at typical download speeds of 400 to 700 kbps, with bursts of up to 2.0 Mbps.

And now maybe they explain national access:

NationalAccess

Traveling outside of the BroadbandAccess coverage area? No problem. You can rely on our NationalAccess network to provide fast downloads, quick access to your email, and efficient Internet searches in thousands of cities and towns across America whenever you’re outside the BroadbandAccess Rate and Coverage Area.

• Access anywhere within the National Enhanced Services Rate and Coverage Area.
• Connect at speeds bursting up to 144 Kbps, with typical speeds of 60 to 80 Kbps.

Now that is something that would have been nice to make shown on the map! So basically they will give you broadband speeds in metro areas and slightly better than dialup in between.

Now, my favorite part is their warning about usage, keep in mind that this is business to business service and they say it is good for downloading large files:

If more than 5 GB/line/month are used, we presume use is for non-permitted uses and reserve the right to terminate service immediately.

Now, I guess there is a vast difference between my idea and their idea of a large file. I believe even normal business usage could easily run over 5 GB/line/month.

Of course this statement shows the ignorance of big business and their desire to punish their customers.

A good customer is one that uses a lot of your product or service. Here Verizon specifically states that they will "terminate service immediately" if you are a "good customer", ie: one that uses a lot of their service.

An intelligent business would never make such a presentation to a customer, or terminate ones service for using it! An intelligent business would state "the above prices INCLUDE up to 5GB/month usage. Additional usage costs....".

Now the business would reward itself by generating more revenue (ie: profit) from good customers.

I also wonder what resources they offer to show you your actual usage so you have an idea if your service is going to be terminated immediately? Does the 5 GB/month only include data? routing packets? headers? restransmitted packets? That could make a huge difference in your actual allowed data volume.

If retransmitted packets count toward your 5 GB limit than you are punished again for poor network performance!

Locked Cellular Phones

Here is a bad idea that doesn't work.

Big Business aparently knows they do such a poor job of serving their customers that they need a way force you to be their customer.

Many cellular companies sell you a phone and "lock" it to work on only on their service. That is, you can't pop in their competitors sim card and use the phone.

The goal would appear to be to keep you from changing cellular carriers. The result is of course irriated and pissed off customers.

I always though the best way to make and keep customers was to make them satisfied not angry. The phone lock of course serves only to anger customer because for a small fee (or some tedious search on the internet) they can easily unlock the phone and use it with the carrier of their desire.

Locking cellulars to a specific carrier is simply a bad idea to begin with and doesn't work!

Oh hell, the goddamn telephone is ringing again

and it sure as hell ain't packet8 calling.

(they ignored my message on 10/21 and marked it as a duplicate). Also most important is the last message: "I see that your account was re activated". All the while they are blaming the problem on me, my isp, my router, etc. Yet, they secretly (so as their customer service and tech support wouldn't know it, deactivated my account). The service worked fine with my ISP for 1-1/2 years before 10/20/06 (except for some other packet8 problems) and it worked fine after 10/26/06 with the same ISP, network configuration, etc. My Oct bill doesn't show a weeks worth of credit they agreed to provide. I am certainly glad I am not an investor in Packet8 Added 10/23/2006 10:02AM Hole Nguyen Summary Hello,Thank you for contacting Packet8 Custome Details Hello, Thank you for contacting Packet8 Customer Support. We apologize for any inconvenience you may be experiencing. Please unplug your adapter for 15 seconds, plug the adapter back in and wait thirty seconds, and then check and see if you have dialtone. If this does not work, on the back of the adapter there is a pin hole for reset. You will push this in with a pin and hold it. Do not let go of the reset button. You will thn unplug the adapter while continuing to hold the reset button. Plug the adapter back in, still holding reset, and you should see the lights blinking like a christmas tree. After a few seconds the lights will blink in sequence. When you see the lights blinking in sequence, let go of reset. Wait for 30 seconds and then check for dialtone. do NOT use the reset method if you have set your adapter up with a static ip. If these do not work, simply unplug (power down) your modem, router and Packet8 adapter for 5 minutes. Plug in the Modem first and wait until it is done initializing. Plug in your router next and wait about 1 minute. Finally, power the adapter back up and wait about 1 more minute. Check, and you should have dialtone once more. Be sure your internet connection is working properly before attempting this. If you have any other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us again. Sincerely, Packet8 Customer Support We will assume your issue has been resolved if we do not hear from you within 48 hours. Added 10/23/2006 10:43AM Glen Roberts Summary done all that repeated timed Details My conneciton works. In fact, both my connections work and when I called Tech Support today they said I was connected to your SIP server (I have connected to 63.209.12.28, .24 and .142). Dial tone. All numbers dialed are busy. Two differnet connections (difference ISPs, different modems, different routers and different routes). Reset DTA numerous times as well as modems and routers. Added 10/24/2006 1:06PM Glen Roberts Summary When do I get a response? Details I also reloaded the firmware per tech supports suggestion. So far it's been 5 days without service. What credit do you offer? Added 10/25/2006 4:25AM Glen Roberts Summary hello? Details Anybody care your service dosen't work? Added 10/25/2006 2:31PM Hole Nguyen Summary Hello there, thank you for contacting packet8 supp Details Hello there, thank you for contacting packet8 support. Unfortunately we need more information about your network configuration, please contact our technical support for further assistance or chat live with our technical support team at packet8.net, under contact. If you have any other question please do not hesitate to contact us at 1-888-898-8733, thank you and have a great day. Added 10/25/2006 2:45PM Glen Roberts Summary network configruration Details my network configuration is 100% identical to when your service was functional last Thursday. If you have a specific question about it, you can ask me. Or, you can call me at XXXXX Added 10/30/2006 9:13AM Hole Nguyen Summary You'll have to contact your ISP if this is a Inter Details You'll have to contact your ISP if this is a International ISP. You'll have to has your ISP to open a port Range. Please call them and have them open this Port Range number 5060 65534 or 8000 65534. Added 10/30/2006 9:35AM Glen Roberts Summary no way Details there is no problem with my ISP. Never was. You had it blocked at the backend. When you fixed that it started working again. The answer for reliable VOIP is not to use packet 8. Added 11/01/2006 11:09AM Hole Nguyen Summary Hello, I see that your account was re activated, o Details Hello, I see that your account was re activated, on the Oct. 26, 2006. So are you still having problem with your service?