Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (
More info?)
There's some history with this that many don't know about. Verizon has, for
years, advertised and officially supported free data services via their QNC
connections. It was the main reason I switched from my AT&T TDMA plan (AT&T
had pocketnet at the time, which is fine, but did cost extra for the casual
user).
Verizon has a dedicated data support group, and used to have detailed
information on their website about how to use the QNC data option. I bought
a Kyocera 6035 palm phone right when it came out, and used it to access data
both directly from the device via the built-in PPP dialer and tethered to a
laptop. All of this was officially supported and I did call the data group
on occassion when I had problems accessing data while traveling. In the
"old" days they'd occassionally have to authorize my phone due to
differences in switching hardware used in different parts of the country.
In fact, the data support web pages were only torn down in the past couple
months although they hadn't been linked in since prior to the website
re-design that occured a year or two ago.
Anyway, this QNC data option has been there for a long time, and at least
historically officially supported. To use it folks simply configure their
dialer to #777, username and password = qnc. They say it's 14.4K but the
experience felt like 28.8 modem -- which admittedly isn't fast, but worked
well enough for SSH and basic browsing either with images turned off, or
using compression software Verizon sold with the data cable called Venturi.
In fact, at one point Verizon started requiring SMTP authentication to use
their SMTP sever at mail.airbridge.net. I called the data group, and they
created a full-blown email account for me for free. I can POP/SMTP or
access it via their web interface. While this was common practice a couple
years ago, they won't create email accounts for folks for free anymore. I
appear to be grandfathered in.
New AC plans starting after about June of 2002 started getting a feature
code automatically on their billing statements along with included features
like 3-way calling, "National Access." Our corporate Verizon rep told me
about it, and it's one of the reasons I switched from single-rate-west to
AC. i.e. 1x data from your phone at just the cost of minutes. I had him
put it in writing for me before I switched plans which he was happy to do.
Anyway, every billing statement I get lists national access as a feature on
my account. I continue to use data directly from my phone (Kyocera 7135)
and tethered to my laptop when I travel for the cost of minutes. I have
high speed data (T1 or better) most places I go, so I don't use the tethered
data very often, and not usually to transfer files, just SSH in to get my
email, read usenet, or browse the web.
The bad thing is that I've never seen any detailed Verizon web page or
printed literature promising this feature. I do have literature, and there
were detailed web pages promising QNC data which continues to work and I
continue to use. All I have is the feature listed on my billing "National
Access" and months of past billing statements showing data usage as
included.
Anyway, this is something that has evolved over time, and I don't know how
it will turn out. At the moment, if you are "in the know" about the
included data, you appear to be able to use it without issue. It's anyone's
guess if this feature will go away. I can say free data access is one main
reason I choose Verizon, so if it does go away and they even take away QNC,
then I'll factor that into my decision to renew with them (or not).
T-mobile actually has good coverage in Oregon generally at least in the
places where I would desire data. I already carry a 2nd prepaid phone for
esoteric analog coverage when in rural areas so I'd keep that if I ever
switched from Verizon.
When I was with Voicestream (prior to T-Mobile) they also permitted circuit
switched 9600 baud data for just the cost of minutes. I had a Nokia 8290
with infared data through my Toshiba laptop at the time and that also
worked well for my needs.
Today I use a combination of National Access and QNC data. I find QNC to
have lower latency for SSH connections. I also have an Ositech cellular
modem which I use to get 4800-19200 baud analog data connections while
roaming off of Verizon's network. Again, these only bill me for minutes of
use. So yes, for my needs Verizon is the data king, and at minimal expense.
I have no strong ties to any carrier. If someone else can do it better I'll
switch. Verizon is the carrier that I've been with now for at least 4 years
so they've done better than the others I've tried. But yes, their
advertised data plans don't make sense to me (cost-wise) unless your
employer pays the bill and you don't care how much it is.
-Dan
--
Eugene, Oregon -- Pacific Northwest
http://cell.uoregon.edu
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