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#16 |
Wizard
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Karma: 30250
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Fort Myers, FL
Device: Pocketbook Era, Kobo Forma
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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.
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#17 |
Wizard
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Karma: 1008294
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Iowa, USA
Device: Nook Simple Touch
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#18 |
Wizard
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Karma: 30250
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Fort Myers, FL
Device: Pocketbook Era, Kobo Forma
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It is not Sprint
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#19 |
Resident Curmudgeon
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Karma: 145864619
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts
Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3
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I hope it's not AT&T. They have the iPhone so that means I won't be wanting them as a service provider.
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#20 |
Kindlephilia
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Snowpacolypse 2010
Device: Too many to count
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If it's Verizon, Verizon will insist on installing their own software, that's why the iPhone hasn't made it to them.
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#21 |
Fanatic
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Karma: 1057213
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: North Eastern U.S.
Device: Sony Reader
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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. Last edited by porkupan; 03-20-2009 at 03:44 PM. |
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#22 |
Literacy = Understanding
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Karma: 59674358
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: The World of Books
Device: Nook, Nook Tablet
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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.
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#23 |
Fanatic
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Karma: 1057213
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: North Eastern U.S.
Device: Sony Reader
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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. |
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#24 |
Gadget Geek
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Karma: 22221
Join Date: Aug 2007
Device: Paperwhite, Kindle 3 (retired), Skindle 1.2 (retired)
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#25 |
Wizard
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Karma: 30250
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Fort Myers, FL
Device: Pocketbook Era, Kobo Forma
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#26 | |
Literacy = Understanding
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Karma: 59674358
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: The World of Books
Device: Nook, Nook Tablet
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Quote:
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. |
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#27 |
Evangelist
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Karma: 258
Join Date: Mar 2009
Device: kindle
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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.
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#28 |
Mommy of Many Interests
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Karma: 660
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Device: Kindle DX, Sony PRS-505, Cybook Gen3
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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.
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#29 | |
Addict
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Karma: 250590
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest
Device: Kindle 3G + WiFi
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Quote:
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. |
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#30 |
Evangelist
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Karma: 258
Join Date: Mar 2009
Device: kindle
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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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