Contract Length 1 or 2 year, comments, what do you have?

Michael

Hello,

I wanted to start a thread on 1 or 2 year contracts. You have to pick one when getting service. If you select a 1 year, here is how much more you will pay (usually):

$50 more for the PC Card
$20 more for Verizon Activation

So, you pay $70 more for a 1 year vs. 2 year. There is a $175 fee to break out of a contract.

With the way technology (especially EVDO) is advancing, I would STRONGLY recommend you pay the extra $$ and get the 1 year?

Why?

Next year (**maybe**), there will be 1xEVDO Rev A (faster up and download). This *will* require a new PC Card. WHO knows what other options will be out there (Sprint, etc.).

So, to take advantage of what is available today, I think it makes more sense to get a 1 year contract - it will keep your options open.

Anyone agree, disagree or have other thoughts?
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yipster · EVDO Newbie Joined: 09 Apr 2005 Posts: 7

I got a two year contract, plus the PC5220 card.

Andy · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 14

I got the 2 year contract.

Reason is, if I cancel early, it's cheaper (because of additional rebate and lower startup) than with the 1 year contract.

Michael · Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:34 pm Post subject:

Andy,

Good point.
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Richard Carver · Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 3:51 pm Post subject:

2 years. I've been with Verizon (PrimeCo) since 1998. If something drastic occurs in the next two years, there'll be an upgrade path for current users. It may cost a few bucks for new equipment but they'll work with you.

They didn't take me to raise. Very Happy

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Chuck · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Posts: 149

I got the one year, I was told the cancellation rate was $150; most of the rebate verbage I saw was for new accounts (meaning if I bought a new card I would not get rebates unless I cancled the current account and opened a new one). Verizon did offer a trade in after two years, but the trade-in value could not be given to me when I was buying the PC Card.

So if in one year I want a new card, I don't have to pay the cancelation rate and will be eligible for any rebates. If I had the two year, I would either have to buy the new card without a rebate or get it with the rebate after paying the cancelation fee... unless I misread the rebate and they will honor them for existing accounts; at which point I would have to pay the cancelation fee which was $70 more than the difference between the one and two year rebates.

Another issue was if another carrier exploded and had better service, in one year I am free and clear to move about.

grant · EVDO User Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 54

I got the 1 year contact as well. Seemed like the smart thing to do.

Dog-One · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 10:18 pm Post subject:

I went one year with EVDO capability (5220) in a 1xRTT area. The factors that I mulled over are:

(1) It would be my primary Internet service.
(2) Broadband may never be available here, but if it should make it prior to contract termination, I didn't want to purchase a new card.
(3) DSL & Cable were not options at purchase time, but may be in 1 year.
(4) The card must work with Linux.
(5) The service might be crap (undocumented quotas, extra fees, service caps, high latency, poor upload performance, unstable download performance or remote hardware control).

With only two months left on my contract:

(1) Still applies
(2) Still no EVDO and no indication that it will ever arrive.
(3) Still no DSL or Cable and no sign of it coming.
(4) Card works with Linux and NetBSD which I recently switched to.
(5) Service is pretty poor. 1xRTT has a minimum of 300ms latency, the upload speed is slower than a dial-up modem. Service drops daily (every 1435.2 minutes max) so I use custom scripts to keep the link connected. Verizon is able to remotely lockup my 5220, but a system reboot frees the card again. Service typically takes a nose dive (dropped connections, sluggish or reduced speed) a few days before I receive my billing notification and stays that way until a day or two after I submit a payment. Two months ago it dropped me three times while trying to pay my online bill--I almost said the heck with it right there.

I have a solid 4 bar signal using a 10db Yagi antenna and signal booster. I have incrementally replaced all the hardware and software since I started service. Verizon is responsible for (5) whether they will admit it or not; I've done all I can do on my end.

For $80 bucks a month, I haven't been real impressed. Unfortunately, they are still the only option for my location, unless I pop for a T1 line which I am strongly considering. If the prices for a T1 drop another $80/month by June, I will cancel Verizon and go landline.

Michael · Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 5:56 am Post subject:

Dog-One · Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 8:14 am Post subject:

Michael · Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 8:33 am Post subject:

ktm_scott · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 8:49 am Post subject:

I signed up two accounts for 12 months each. The savings on the 5220 card was not important considering Moore's law.

The price and service are well-suited for an application like mine wherein we use the service to demo a web-based system at trade shows and for clients in the field.
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GreatInca · EVDO Newbie Joined: 04 Apr 2005 Posts: 9

I got mine for free for a 2-year contract renewal. The normal mail-in rebate became an instant rebate.

I am often too lazy to do mail-in rebates anyway and often disregard them when comparison shopping. Plus they are like, 6-8 weeks.