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General discussion

Broadband and Phone Service

Nov 23, 2007 7:47PM PST

As far as internet/phone technology goes I'm perfectly content with talking and texting on my phone, and internet on my laptop. But it seems to me these wireless companies are just making things more difficult than they have to be. If you want to speak on your phone you need a voice plan, if you want to text you need a texting plan, if there's a picture in your text that's a separate plan. Oh, and if you want mobile broadband you're paying $60 a month.

Couldn't they offer a nation wide mobile broadband type plan that allows you to access the internet and receive texts through the same network/account? And why not voice too (through some kind of VOIP setup)?

You would be allowed to use 2 devices perhaps. A cellphone and a laptop (or home PC). They could issue you two sim cards or something. Because as far as connecting to networks thats all people really need. A big computer to sit down at and do some real work, and a small computer in their pocket(ie: a phone)to talk and send quick messages(texts)on the go.

I'm not an incredibly tech savvy guy so i don't know if there's an incompatibility issue or if they just want to make more money.

Am I just dreaming?

Discussion is locked

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hmmmm
Nov 23, 2007 8:21PM PST
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"it seems to me these wireless companies are just making
Nov 23, 2007 11:14PM PST

"it seems to me these wireless companies are just making things more difficult than they have to be."

Wireless as you may expect is difficult. I'm going to share just one reason why and not write about other issues for a moment.

Think of "the roads" used to transfer your call or data from there to you. When you get a call the call or data may not be in their own network so charges apply as the call/data goes over the little toll booth that exists in some million spots in the wireless network.

There was no grand plan when this system was conceived and it was not unlike a land grab and stake out your turf, erect the toll booths to feed your new wireless company.

Fast forward to today and you may run into people that don't know about the history of how we got here.

Bob