Combine EVDO voice & data...

Peter B · Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 8:36 am Post subject: Combine EVDO voice & data...

Hello:

Currently, I have a landline phone and a dialup Internet connection. Neither cable nor DSL is available in my area. Based on a previous Verizon trial, I can (almost certainly) get a decent EVDO signal here with an added antenna and amplifier.

But the combined monthly cost of the landline phone (about $50.) and EVDO Internet (about $60.) is simply more than I want to pay... especially since I'd still need to maintain a minimal account with my dialup ISP in order to avoid a webmail service.

If it's even possible, what might work for me is dropping the landline phone and getting an EVDO capable phone, but I haven't been able to figure out what the combined voice and data service would cost or whether Verizon actually offers any bundles of the like.

I'm almost entirely ignorant of other options (if any) for combining wireless phone and Internet services - both from an equipment standpoint and the bundle availability.

Can anyone give me suggestions on how I might be able to combine phone and Internet services (including email) on one bill... preferably under $100. a month?

A lot to ask, but if anyone can help, I'd sure appreciate it.

Thanks Much...

Peter B.

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wvbills · Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 9:14 am Post subject:

I had the same question and spent about 45 minutes in an online chat on the Verizon website with one of their uh... people.

Basically, Verizon has no combined voice + data plans. They can sell you a data ("Mobile Broadband") plan (~$60 / 5Gb monthly) and then they can sell you one of their voice plans and then they can arrange to have both bills appear on the same monthly bill - - but there are no plans that combine the two.

What I don't understand is what plan you would get if you bought one of their "Smart Phones". Smartphones can be tethered and used as a modem for Mobile Broadband - but to do so (and still be able to use the phone as a "phone") I think you would need both a voice and data plan. ????

I know with AT&T, you can add data to a family voice plan.
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WVBill

Alex · Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 9:51 am Post subject:

not sure how many 'landline' calls you get. if you don't get many, and can live with them going to voicemail while you are online, then you may want to consider a cellphone like the Verizon LG Dare or Versa, and tethering it to computer or cradlepoint router for internet access.

on the assumption you have to have a cellphone (most people do?), this approach consolidates landline/cellphone/internet expenses into just cellphone/internet expense.

another advantage of tethering is that you aren't contractually obligated to $60/mo for internet/data.
you can turn on/off the data 'feature' as you see fit. whether thats useful or not depends on your internet use.

read more about tethering at http://www.EVDOinfo.com/tethering

if you want to upgrade or start new verizon service, call us at 866-347-8673 and maureen will go over all your options!

(fyi: gmail service can be used like regular pop/smtp server for outlook/entourage/etc)
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Peter B · Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 10:17 am Post subject:

Thanks to both of you for your replies...

After some time spent this morning trying to research this, it <looks> like you can get a phone tethering plan for about the same monthly price as the data and modem plan (about $60.)... though I fully expect to be corrected if I'm wrong.

(Am I ? What would the basic phone-plus-tether plan cost through (e.g.) Verizon, either month to month or on a one or two year contract?)

Since I'm on a dialup Internet connection presently, not being able to use the phone when tethered is not necessarily a deal breaker.

In my Verizon trial, I was able to get NationalAccess without an antenna, which (I think) ought to be good enough for voice (phone). (Yes ?)

If I'm right in my thinking, I'd still have to do some very careful shopping to ensure I got a phone that can be cabled to a power source, an antenna and amplifier (and likely a wi-fi router) for the tethered data service.

I've never had a cell phone before and only recently opted for a Verizon landline plan that offered unlimited calling for a flat monthly fee. Are there 'hidden' charges using a cell phone?

Again, I'm aware of how ignorant I am on all this, and really appreciate the help... even if it seems like spoon feeding.

Thanks.

Peter B.

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Peter B · Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 4:02 pm Post subject:

Sorry to be beating the horse, but it has proved to be pretty difficult to find straight information about this.

Restated, I'd like to combine a Verizon 3G phone plan with the option to tether my laptop to the phone for Internet access.

I've found info and posts on the web that suggest you can do this for (about) $60. a month... plus change... for BOTH.

If that's just wrong, I'd like to know.

If that's true (in basis), I'd like to know what's actually included with the services.

Are the phone minutes limited? Are there 'hidden' additional costs or other restrictions?

Is the Internet (data) service pay per MB or unlimited up to 5 GB per month?

Can anyone point me to a Verizon web page that actually provides this information?

Thanks for any/all replies.

Peter B.

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Maureen · Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 4:25 pm Post subject:

Hi there,

Not sure what you mean by "for both"?

Tethering is a FEATURE on a phone and costs either $59.99/mo, $15/mo, or $30/mo (depending on whether you have a standard phone or a "PDA/Smartphone") for 5GB of usage. This is in addition to whatever voice plan you select (Verizon individual plans start at $39.99/mo for 450 anytime minutes and unlimited nights and weekends). The tethering feature can be turned on and off and will be pro-rated if you don't use it for a full month.

Detailed tethering pricing and more info can be found here: http://evdoinfo.com/tethering

To pick out a Verizon voice plan, read this article: http://evdoinfo.com/verizonplans

Peter B · Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 9:34 am Post subject:

Maureen:

Thank you for the clarification...

Whether it was wisful thinking or thick headedness on my part, it wasn't obvious to me that tethering didn't constitute a Verizon use plan in itself.

Unfortunately, the total cost per month (for the minimal phone plan and tethering) is still out of range for me at the moment, so I'll have to continue with dialup.

I'll live.

Thanks Again.

Peter B.

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jedon · Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 9:59 am Post subject:

I am building a house out in the sticks where there is no cell signal so I got an amp and a 19db yagi antenna and hook my EVDO express card to that for internet which works pretty good, then I just have my voicemail set up to email me my messages and use Skype for outgoing calls. If you paid a little extra to Skype you could get a ringing phone number and then you would only have the $60/month for the data plus some to SKype for the outgoing calls.
-Jedon