By Dan Baldwin, Editor
951-251-5155 email
Verizon Wireless recently reported that they were following the lead of both AT&T and Sprint by charging their Southern California customers an extra fee to upgrade their mobile phones where in the past many mobile customers got a "free phone upgrade" every two years or so.
Following is the widely distributed Verizon statement:
“On April 22, Verizon Wireless is implementing a $30 upgrade fee for existing customers purchasing new mobile equipment at a discounted price with a two-year contract. This fee will help us continue to provide customers with the level of service and support they have come to expect which includes Wireless Workshops, online educational tools, and consultations with experts who provide advice and guidance on devices that are more sophisticated than ever. While the upgrade fee is not unique to Verizon Wireless, most devices can be traded in with our green friendly trade-in program at www.verizonwireless.com/tradein as a way to save money or potentially offset the fee completely.”
It's reported that Sprint and AT&T both are charging a similar $36 fee.
Time for "Wi-Fi First" or "Wi-Fi Only" Employee Cell Phones?
Now I'm no revolutionary. I understand that the CEO, the Chairman of the Board and your top salespeople (and your spouse) can have any damned expensive phone and usage plan they want and, as the company owner, you're (mostly) happy to pay for it.
But what about all those other W-2 folks hanging around your office who claim they need "smartphone mobility" to remain a critical business asset of yours? Do they all need an exensive monthly cellular data plan and the newest phones when they spend 90% of their waking hours inside a Wi-Fi network?
Probably not. (Time to get out the savings calculator and sharpen your pencils!)
What's a "Wi-Fi First" or "Wi-Fi Only" Cell Phone and Where Can You Get Them?
Well just as the name would imply, "Wi-Fi first" cell phones or smart phones use "free" Wi-Fi connectivity first over "expensive" 3G/4G cellular connectivity when trying to make a phone call or data app connection. "Wi-Fi only" phones only work for cell calls or data connections when connected to a Wi-Fi network.
Where do you get them? Let's just say that phone equipment makers are not exactly falling all over themselves to bring them to market. T-Mobile actually had a solution like this called HotSpot@Home that made smartphone calls over Wi-Fi but they discontinued the service back in 2010.
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