Sony Reader figures: +100K in four months? - Page 2

grooks · 03-20-2009, 01:33 PM

A friend works for a mobile service provider and was at a conference where a VP was talking about upcoming mobile products and mentioned the Sony Reader.

Ervserver · 03-20-2009, 01:40 PM

I hope it isn't Sprint

Quote:

Originally Posted by grooks

Sony has already lined up a service provider for the wireless version.

grooks · 03-20-2009, 03:48 PM

It is not Sprint

JSWolf · 03-20-2009, 04:16 PM

I hope it's not AT&T. They have the iPhone so that means I won't be wanting them as a service provider.

TallMomof2 · 03-20-2009, 04:20 PM

If it's Verizon, Verizon will insist on installing their own software, that's why the iPhone hasn't made it to them.

porkupan · 03-20-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grooks

It is not Sprint

Well, if we can take at face value the statements made at last year's PRS-700 presentations, about Sony not willing to lock into a single cellular market, I should think the company meant either employing Wi-Fi (which would make a lot of sense) or a GSM provider with international roaming support (i.e. T-Mobile or AT&T). The problem with cellular networks is that it is not possible to make a device that it truly universal and still provides the same functionality in all parts of the world. Amazon was able to reach an agreement with Sprint, whereas the Kindle can be used essentially as a free unlimited wireless browser, which in itself is a rather good value (but only in the U.S., the outside world doesn't exist for Kindle). One can imagine reaching such agreements with individual wireless service providers, even national ones, but making this work throughout the world is nearly impossible. Unless a wireless data subscription is made to be a responsibility of each individual customer, in which case the deal doesn't compare favorably with the value of the Kindle.

Making a Wi-Fi device might make more sense. The device would work in any free wireless AP, web cafes, etc. You wouldn't be able to directly compare it to Kindle.

rhadin · 03-20-2009, 05:48 PM

T-Mobile wouldn't work very well in the U.S. I would like to sign up with them, but their coverage area is so limited you almost can't leave New York City and use the phone. Unfortunately, I'm with AT&T and have been for quite some time. I'd rather be elsewhere, but the only other viable choice is Verizon. (I originally started with Sprint and it was the absolute worst in every conceivable way; switched to Verizon, which was very good but very expensive and not usable in Europe when I was doing a lot of traveling. Consequently, I made my way to Cingular, now AT&T, where I have remained.) Verizon is more expensive than AT&T, doesn't provide international coverage, and doesn't have the rollover minutes feature, which is one feature I do like. I don't use texting, e-mail, Internet access, or any of the other extra cost features, which helps keep the bill reasonable.

porkupan · 03-20-2009, 06:09 PM

I must say that the limits of T-Mobile coverage are greatly exaggerated. I was on Cingular (now AT&T) for many years. Switched to T-Mobile about 4 years ago, and didn't notice any deterioration in coverage. I live in Philadelphia suburbs. I don't travel a lot, but wherever and whenever I do travel the coverage is usually adequate.

Verizon coverage is definitely better (I was able to compare), but T-Mobile is not too bad. If T-Mobile is the network, it might be able to get Sony access to European mobile markets, having a decent presence in Europe.

As far as the price comparison between cellular providers in the U.S. is concerned, I am still paying $10 a month less for more minutes on the family plan than I used to get with AT&T (no rollover though). Plus T-Zones are only $4.99 a month, and that provides unlimited mobile web access, albeit on GPRS/EDGE network. So overall not a bad deal.

Alisa · 03-20-2009, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porkupan

I must say that the limits of T-Mobile coverage are greatly exaggerated.

I've known folks with T-Mobile that can't get connected in downtown San Francisco. It's notoriously bad here.

grooks · 03-20-2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alisa

I've known folks with T-Mobile that can't get connected in downtown San Francisco. It's notoriously bad here.

Do other cell carriers have problems in San Fran?

rhadin · 03-21-2009, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porkupan

I must say that the limits of T-Mobile coverage are greatly exaggerated.

I'm not sure that the limits are exaggerated. Compare T-Mobile's coverage map with AT&T's and Verizon's.

In my area (the Mid-Hudson Valley in New York), T-Mobile coverage is haphazard. Verizon has by far the best coverage, followed by AT&T. Sprint has the least coverage.

kevindorsey · 03-21-2009, 04:05 PM

T-mobile buys a lot of coverage from Sprint in US. I worked for sprint back in the day, and T-mobile rented a ton of their towers. So, the coverages will overlap.

purl4peace · 03-21-2009, 05:31 PM

I wonder how many of the Sony sales were from would-be Kindle holiday buyers who decided not to wait the projected 2-3 months before the kindle would be shipped. I know of at least a couple of folks who would fall into this category.

Renaldo · 03-21-2009, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhadin

I'm not sure that the limits are exaggerated. Compare T-Mobile's coverage map with AT&T's and Verizon's.

I'd say those maps are very similar. The major difference is that T-Mobile's map actually shows not just coverage, but strength and weakness; while the other two maps just show coverage. This makes T-Mobile look like weaker coverage, but I think in reality it's about the same.

There's anecdotal evidence everywhere whether a cell carrier is good or bad in a given area. I've been with T-Mobile for 4 years, I get coverage in places that I didn't when I had AT&T or Verizon. Also, one thing to keep in mind, reception also has a lot to do with the type of phone you're carrying. Not all antennas are created equal, and most of the smaller, thinner phones assume are built assuming the user is going to be in a major metropolitan area where a weaker antenna is going to work just fine.

kevindorsey · 03-22-2009, 02:00 PM

T-mobile was a little bit behind when they entered the market, so they coverage at least initially was a bit off. But that was a few years ago, and I'm not really sure if there is a great difference in coverage these days.

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03-20-2009, 01:33 PM	#16
grooks Wizard Posts: 1,326 Karma: 30250 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Fort Myers, FL Device: Pocketbook Era, Kobo Forma	A friend works for a mobile service provider and was at a conference where a VP was talking about upcoming mobile products and mentioned the Sony Reader.

03-20-2009, 03:48 PM	#18
grooks Wizard Posts: 1,326 Karma: 30250 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Fort Myers, FL Device: Pocketbook Era, Kobo Forma	It is not Sprint

03-20-2009, 04:16 PM	#19
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,782 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I hope it's not AT&T. They have the iPhone so that means I won't be wanting them as a service provider.

03-20-2009, 04:20 PM	#20
TallMomof2 Kindlephilia Posts: 2,017 Karma: 1139255 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Snowpacolypse 2010 Device: Too many to count	If it's Verizon, Verizon will insist on installing their own software, that's why the iPhone hasn't made it to them.

03-20-2009, 05:48 PM	#22
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 4,833 Karma: 59674358 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Nook, Nook Tablet	T-Mobile wouldn't work very well in the U.S. I would like to sign up with them, but their coverage area is so limited you almost can't leave New York City and use the phone. Unfortunately, I'm with AT&T and have been for quite some time. I'd rather be elsewhere, but the only other viable choice is Verizon. (I originally started with Sprint and it was the absolute worst in every conceivable way; switched to Verizon, which was very good but very expensive and not usable in Europe when I was doing a lot of traveling. Consequently, I made my way to Cingular, now AT&T, where I have remained.) Verizon is more expensive than AT&T, doesn't provide international coverage, and doesn't have the rollover minutes feature, which is one feature I do like. I don't use texting, e-mail, Internet access, or any of the other extra cost features, which helps keep the bill reasonable.

03-20-2009, 06:09 PM	#23
porkupan Fanatic Posts: 556 Karma: 1057213 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Eastern U.S. Device: Sony Reader	I must say that the limits of T-Mobile coverage are greatly exaggerated. I was on Cingular (now AT&T) for many years. Switched to T-Mobile about 4 years ago, and didn't notice any deterioration in coverage. I live in Philadelphia suburbs. I don't travel a lot, but wherever and whenever I do travel the coverage is usually adequate. Verizon coverage is definitely better (I was able to compare), but T-Mobile is not too bad. If T-Mobile is the network, it might be able to get Sony access to European mobile markets, having a decent presence in Europe. As far as the price comparison between cellular providers in the U.S. is concerned, I am still paying $10 a month less for more minutes on the family plan than I used to get with AT&T (no rollover though). Plus T-Zones are only $4.99 a month, and that provides unlimited mobile web access, albeit on GPRS/EDGE network. So overall not a bad deal.

03-21-2009, 04:05 PM	#27
kevindorsey Evangelist Posts: 488 Karma: 258 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: kindle	T-mobile buys a lot of coverage from Sprint in US. I worked for sprint back in the day, and T-mobile rented a ton of their towers. So, the coverages will overlap.

03-21-2009, 05:31 PM	#28
purl4peace Mommy of Many Interests Posts: 139 Karma: 660 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC Device: Kindle DX, Sony PRS-505, Cybook Gen3	I wonder how many of the Sony sales were from would-be Kindle holiday buyers who decided not to wait the projected 2-3 months before the kindle would be shipped. I know of at least a couple of folks who would fall into this category.

03-22-2009, 02:00 PM	#30
kevindorsey Evangelist Posts: 488 Karma: 258 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: kindle	T-mobile was a little bit behind when they entered the market, so they coverage at least initially was a bit off. But that was a few years ago, and I'm not really sure if there is a great difference in coverage these days.