If you'll read reviews on cellphone performance in the National
Capitol area, you'll find lots of places [including some in the
District] where the cellphones of various providers just don't work.
I did a bit of research when I was considering switching services and
found that many big-name providers' performance was DISMAL. Which is
a problem if a) you've got a two-year contract and the phone company
won't play ball (as they usually won't), or b) the device you want to
use works only on one provider, and it really doesn't work in your area.
Wireless access? In lots of places in Montgomery County you won't
get it. And we're not living the bucolic life and paying low rural
real-estate costs, either. Most of us live as close to our jobs--or
to potential jobs--as we can afford.
I've got a national provider and I'm still waiting for access in the
subway. No plans for wiring Metro yet, AFAIK. I can't even get
digital roaming. I can't afford to switch, because the plan I have
is one of the few for which you don't sign a contract--if I cease to
be able to pay for it, I certainly can't afford a cancellation fee.
While it may appear that consumers have unlimited choices of
cellphone/wireless service, at least in populated areas, it doesn't
work out that way in the real world.
On Feb 5, 2010, at 2:35 PM, tjpa wrote:
On Feb 5, 2010, at 11:13 AM, b_s-wilk wrote:
However it's important to consider that there are large areas even
in densely populated northeastern US that are cellular and WiFi
dead zones. Where I live it's a Verizon and T-Mobile dead zone;
ATT users get one bar, on a good day; don't know any Sprint users
nearby. More of the country is like it is here than not, with one
or more cellular networks unavailable, with almost no available
public WiFi.
I seriously doubt that "there are large areas even in densely
populated northeastern US that are cellular and WiFi dead zones."
The only dead zones I have encountered have been underground and in
heavily shielded buildings. And those areas are in the process of
getting wired.
I'm sorry if you can't get G3 in Death Valley, but you really
should not live there. If you still choose to do so due to other
benefits, that is a free choice you are making. Limited resources
should be directed at improving services in areas where there are
actual people using them.
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