Can I ditch my cellular phone?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Vincent - 24 Jun 2007 16:12 GMT

I live in Pittsburgh and Sprint has recently upgraded their mobile
broadband network in Pittsburgh to EV-DO Rev. A. I am not very
familiar with wireless technology, but shouldn't it be possible for me
to purchase Sprint's unlimited wireless broadband service and then use
a PDA or other "smart phone" device to use Skype and make phone calls
for next to nothing? This seems like a good way to go. I would be
able to make phone calls and have Internet service for almost less
than what I pay for just my cell service now. If this sounds correct,
can anyone give me any suggestions on the type of PDA to purchase? It
would have to be able to utilize the EV-DO network. Thanks for your
help.

Vincent

Reply to this Message

Joel Kolstad - 25 Jun 2007 22:19 GMT

> I am not very
> familiar with wireless technology, but shouldn't it be possible for me
> to purchase Sprint's unlimited wireless broadband service and then use
> a PDA or other "smart phone" device to use Skype and make phone calls
> for next to nothing?

Well... let's put it this way... I think a better route is to get a low
minutes plan with unlimited free calling on night and weekends than getting an
unlimited data plan and using Skype. The problem with the Skype approach is
that there's often not the bandwidth or latency to get a really good
connection. If you live in the right city you might find yourself in luck and
it'll work just ducky, but people have poor results too. (A lot of the reason
cell phones cost what they do is that, when you make a call, you're getting
*guaranteed bandwidth* to carry on a conversation. Skype at the almost all
other VoIP solutions don't have *any* guarantees as to whether or not the
bandwidth will be there.)

Reply to this Message