The Cricket data solution!

External Since: Jan 01, 2009 Posts: 10

At 02 Jan 2009 19:12:55 -0800 John Navas wrote:
> On Fri, 02 Jan 2009 20:00:41 -0700, Todd Allcock
> <elecconnec.RemoveThis@AnoOspamL.com> wrote in
> <CxA7l.65338$H11.21314@newsfe09.iad>:
>
> >At 03 Jan 2009 00:28:09 +0000 Larry wrote:
> >
> >> Cricket's license is on 1900, here.
> >>
> >> The reason I found out why they don't support tethering is they don't
> >sell
> >> smartphones at all.....
> >
> >Since your Moto supports tethering, you'll probably be able to tether
if
> >you use your current Alltel phone on Cricket if you can find the
> >appropriate settings on the net. Cricket and MetroPCS (another
Cricket-
> >like unlimited service available in some markets) have been encouraging
> >customers to bring their Verizon and Alltel phones to their respective
> >services. It's a win-win: the customer doesn't have to purchase a new
> >phone, and Cricket (or Metro) doesn't have to subsidize a handset.
>
> But loses the subsidy lock-in, which would seem to be a negative given
> the very high cost of acquiring new customers.

Cricket is a no-contract service with low-priced plans and sub-$100
phones catering mostly to low-income users. Reducing the barrier to entry,
(as small as it is) is probably a worthy trade-off considering their
business model.

External Since: Jan 01, 2009 Posts: 10

At 03 Jan 2009 03:33:59 +0000 Larry wrote:

> > Since your Moto supports tethering, you'll probably be able to tether
if
> > you use your current Alltel phone on Cricket if you can find the
> > appropriate settings on the net. Cricket and MetroPCS (another
Cricket-
> > like unlimited service available in some markets) have been
encouraging
> > customers to bring their Verizon and Alltel phones to their respective
> > services. It's a win-win: the customer doesn't have to purchase a new
> > phone, and Cricket (or Metro) doesn't have to subsidize a handset.
>
>
> There's a problem. There no "data" plan on any Cricket phone. They
don't
> sell smartphones. The only data comes on the one USB modem they offer.
I
> asked if they would turn it on on my Z6m. They said no.
>
> When they reflash the firmware to Cricket, I understand the Bluetooth
will
> only support Handsfree, Verizon style.

Ah, my mistake- I though Cricket had implemented WAP plans, which I
assumed you might be able to tether through. Maybe I'm thinking of
MetroPCS.