Nextel: It's not just for Business anymore.
Written: Jul 10 '01
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Pros: Super features, good sounding audio, web access
Cons: Breakable, occasional poor reception
The Bottom Line: Good combination of rate plan, features, and access. Two thumbs up!
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| dabo's Full Review: Nextel i1000 |
For the past few years, I have been an AT&T customer. They were the only wireless carrier offering a Nationwide Rate Plan which didn't tack on roaming, long-distance, etc. Being in a business that has me travelling all over the country, I wanted just such a plan.
I had heard Nextel advertised for several years, but all the ads were aimed as business, not at an individual consumer. When I first heard the Nextel ads, I called their sales number to inquire about rates, phone costs, etc., but was always told to leave a name and number and someone would get back to me. I don't like to be put off (I WANT IT ***NOW*** DAMMIT!!), so I stayed with AT&T's Digital One-Rate.
My Nokia 6160 finally began showing signs of age in April. The display began to flicker, the phone body was cracked around the antenna, and the screen was getting scratched. Nothing uncommon or unexpected after 4 years of road use, mind you, but it was clearly time to shop for a new phone.
I took that opportunity to check in on Nextel again, and was glad I did. I finally was able to learn about the rate plans, the phones, and the overall system. I found out that I could get two I-1000+ phones for $120, and put each of the phones on a 400-minute rate plan and pool the minutes, making 800 total available, and do it all for what ONE AT&T plan with 600 minutes was costing me. This way, my wife could enjoy the same phone I had, and we could take advantage of Nextel's "direct connect" feature without eroding our monthly minutes.
I signed us each up for their Nationwide plan, which includes free long-distance, NO roaming, 400 minutes of anytime talk time, unlimited "direct connect", basic web access, and purchased the I-1000+ phones at the 2 for 1 package rate.
I have enjoyed all of AT&T's service at a reduced rate with greater features and flexibility!
Now, as to the phones themselves... (this IS an opinion on the phones, but I had to expound on my pleasure with the rate plan).
I am NOT one to buy a flip phone just for the "Star Trek communicator" appeal. Flip phones break easier than the one-piece kind, and the earpiece makes an awkward angle with the main body, so when you hold it to your ear, you are almost hyper-extending the hinge. BUT, since the I-1000+ was available for such a cheap price and 2 to a package, I decided the flip phone standard could be overlooked in this case. I've come to adapt my head to the awkward angle, but I still have to take great care not to break the earpiece off.
There is a saving grace to the flip-phone problem. The I-1000+ includes a speaker-phone feature, which I use anytime I'm driving or need to keep both hands free. I'm not generally a fan of speaker-phones either, but this one seems to work pretty well. Occasionally I will miss something that the party on the other end says due to speaker-phone simplex operation. Maybe this will make me a better listener and I won't talk so much. NAH!
The web access is nice, if a bit elementary. I have never hand a phone that would access the wireless web before. I used this feature a lot in the first weeks, but have since tapered off to using it only if I'm bored and sitting in an airport waiting on a plane. The I-1000+'s microbrowser is a bit clumsy to use, but you can navigate the pre-packages sites pretty quickly after a little practice. I upgraded to the full-web access package ($10 extra a month), and typing in a web address on the phone takes even MORE practice, but if you need that feature, it's there.
As for my favorite feature, DIRECT CONNECT:
When I was 7, my parents bought me my first set of walkie-talkies. I think that was my favorite birthday present of all time. From that present, I learned to love being able to talk to another person with the simple press of ONE button. Now, with the Nextel phones that my wife and I possess, I can get that thrill again. Well, at least until my wife reciprocates and contacts me when I'm in the middle of a poker game, but I digress. I love the feature. It works from anywhere in my state (Texas) or surrounding states, so unless I travel a great distance from home, we can chat without having to dial the other's number or burning minutes off our rate plans.
On the whole, I love the phone, love the rate plans, and have even gone to anger management to deal with having my poker game interrupted!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 70
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Epinions.com ID:
dabo
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Location: McKinney, TX
Reviews written: 25
Trusted by: 5 members
About Me:
Certified Safety Professional and frequent traveler. I'm the one in the glasses.
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