http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/ Engadget Comments for Verizon Wireless adopts Alltel's My Circle as 'Friends & Family' http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 12th 2009 8:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 12th 2009 8:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/
With Centennial Wireless being bought out by AT&T, I'm hoping they still offer the same services: 5PM nights/weekends for $5, MyVIPs and unlimited incoming calls. I don't count on it though... =(]]>Feb 12th 2009 9:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Verizon and Sprint are trash. Go AT&T!]]>Feb 12th 2009 11:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/
So you can have less 3G coverage?
Spottier overall service?

But hey, you can get a 3G Iphone. Then turn off the 3G so you can actually have some battery to make a call...]]>Feb 12th 2009 12:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/
VZW may be a customer service nightmare and have crap for phones, but they've got the best signal where I live. I've tried AT&T and T-Mobile phones with the intention of switching, but got zero signal in my apartment and spotty service until up to 2 miles away. No point in signing with a service provider who doesn't provide service.. *That* would just be stupid.]]>Feb 12th 2009 2:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/
I'm an intelligent person, and I wouldn't even think to use a GSM network. Why?

1. EV-DO Rev. A blows HSPA out of the water in speed.
2. Sprint (my network) and Verizon both have massively built-out EV-DO networks compared to AT&T's HSDPA roll-out.
3. CDMA phones don't interfere with speakers and microphones, GSM does.
4. Sprint's data plan (and other plans in general) is a steal.

So next time you think about being a mindless GSM/AT&T/iPhone fanboy, think your argument through a bit.]]>Feb 12th 2009 9:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 12th 2009 8:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 12th 2009 8:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/
Can you hear me now?]]>Feb 12th 2009 9:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 12th 2009 8:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 12th 2009 12:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/
Also, if we already have In-Calling, would we not be able to have both? (Cuz 95% of everyone in the Washington, D.C. area has VZ, its those random people with T-Mobile/ATT that throw it all off)]]>Feb 12th 2009 8:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/
That being said, this is AMAZING news. Now all Verizon has to do is add rollover minutes, and we'll be set. That and maybe get some competent customer service.]]>Feb 12th 2009 9:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/

http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/20090212/ap_on_hi_te/tec_verizon_wireless_plan_4


]]>Feb 12th 2009 10:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 12th 2009 9:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 12th 2009 9:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 12th 2009 9:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 12th 2009 9:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 12th 2009 10:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/
Yeah I noticed about a month ago that the Verizon guy was gone. Thought it was funny. Would have been better if they had the Verizon guy talk the Alltel guy (er trick him) into putting on a Verizon shirt.]]>Feb 12th 2009 9:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/
I _NEVER_ drop calls with verizion, I used to drop on average several calls a day with Cingular, granted that is a few years ago. From what I've read however with more people signing up ATT service is getting worse not better, their user base is growing faster then they can keep up. So feel free to move to another carrier if you don't like paying more for verizon, but the service is simply unbeatable!]]>Feb 12th 2009 9:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 12th 2009 9:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 12th 2009 9:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/
Guys who pick on gay guys the most are actually gay themselves!]]>Feb 12th 2009 10:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/ Sprint - SUE NOW]]>Feb 12th 2009 11:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/
$39.99 - 1 MyCircle Number, 500 Minutes, Unlimited N/W, M/M
$49.99 - 5 MyCircle Numbers, 750 Minutes, Unlimited N/W, M/M ]]>Feb 12th 2009 9:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 12th 2009 9:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 12th 2009 9:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 12th 2009 10:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 12th 2009 10:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/


]]>Feb 12th 2009 11:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/
I lol'd.
]]>Feb 12th 2009 11:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/On my old, completely amazing Sanyo 8100, i had a conversation from the middle of Delaware all the way down I95 through remote areas to my house in Arbutus md. This was in 2005! That phone would not cut out.
I was BEGGING it to cut out. I had a boss with the voice of Fran Drescher and none of the other redeeming physical qualities to fantasize about to halt the unnerving horrendous misuse of my eardrums for an hour and a half.

I have had HTC (6700 and the new Touch Pro) since then, and i have no real issues, unless i'm in my basement.

I had an LG and a Samsung , both from work, and they were complete pieces of Garbage on sprint, in the same area.
My job used ATT for about 6months and that Palm Treo 800w was a complete disaster. I once dropped the call standing with in direct line of sight of a set of cell towers with that thing.

So, for me, it's often the phone over the network, but it can be the network.
]]>Feb 12th 2009 11:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/
Beginning February 15, our new Friends & Family options let customers select 5 or 10 numbers for their calling group, and the calls to or from anyone in this group will not count against their plan minutes.


There's no charge to sign up for Friends & Family and no charge, ever, to make changes to a Friends & Family calling directory.


With Friends & Family, customers don't have to use up their minutes to call the people they talk with all the time, even if they use another wireless carrier or a landline.


Single line customers can select up to 5 numbers to add to their Friends & Family calling group.


Family SharePlan customers can select up to 10 numbers that will be shared among plan members.
Requirements

To take advantage of Friends & Family, customers need to be on a qualifying Nationwide Single Line plan with 900 or more Anytime Minutes.


Family SharePlan customers will need to be on a Nationwide plan with 1,400 or more Anytime Minutes.
]]>Feb 12th 2009 12:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 12th 2009 11:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/
So you can have less 3G coverage?
Spottier overall service?

But hey, you can get a 3G Iphone. Then turn off the 3G so you can actually have some battery to make a call...]]>Feb 12th 2009 12:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/I only have a handful of friends who aren't on Verizon so now I'll basically never be using any minutes.]]>Feb 12th 2009 12:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/
And when I go overseas my phone still works.

And my family plan has 900 minutes. With the rollover minutes, the whole family of four can talk for 4,100 minutes to nonmobile prime time numbers before we get charged an overage. In other words, we don't use our minutes much with our plan. I've only noticed one month where we ever dipped into rollover minutes, and I was cheering. We're using the phones!

So if I do have to make a call that uses minutes I never think about it.]]>Feb 12th 2009 1:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/it looks like for $39.99 on alltel you get 1 fav.
for $39.99 on at&t you get rollover!]]>Feb 12th 2009 1:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/
I'm a rep at a Verizon store and I wanted to clear a couple of things up.

First I saw someone mention that with their carrier they get free mobile to mobile "Well, my AT&T plan already gives me free mobile-to-mobile minutes. That's anybody's mobile. So I don't have to pick and chose." THIS IS WRONG. Free mobile to mobile includes mobile numbers ONLY ON THAT NETWORK. In your case, AT&T. If you called someone on TMobile it would cost your minutes (even though it is technically a "mobile" phone. Verizon offers this same "mobile to mobile" service (which is now the largest customer base with 80 million) AND these extra 5/10 numbers!

here are a few points:

YOU ARE NOT LOSING ANYTHING. All plans will still have free nights/weekends, mobile to mobile calls/texts, etc.

IT DOES NOT COST ANYTHING. If you're already on a 900+ minute plan then you will still pay the same rate, but you'll also get the benefit of frinds and family calls. Some people on the edges will be able to move down and save $20 or so a month because of these free calls.

THIS IS FOR ALL CUSTOMERS. Old and new. Sign up with us Sunday, it will be automatically added to your account for free. If you're an existing customer you'll have to sign up through MyVerizon online (they're trying to get more people educated on this system to decrease customer service calls methinks.) You can change your favorite numbers once a month I think.

THIS IS FOR ANY HOME, MOBILE OR TOLL FREE NUMBER. The only numbers I can see that it excludes are paid numbers like 411 or 900 numbers, etc.]]>Feb 12th 2009 2:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 12th 2009 2:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/
A) I've got a 500 minute plan with 10 my circle numbers and unlimited data - so unless I'm missing something I'll need to upgrade to a more expensive plan (to get at least 800 minutes) in order to just get 5 free numbers back? that's not cool in my opinion

B) I think they're already making some technology changes in this area, because all this week I've been having really poor luck getting on the evdo network, whereas before I never had a problem.

C) I switched AWAY from verizon because of poor service and poor signal quality in this area. unless they're completely absorbing all things alltel around here (which I haven't heard/read anything to the effect of what actually IS getting absorbed) I may be left with worse service, worse signal, and a more expensive plan for less value.

Ahh well, I'm probably going to be a tiny voice of complaint about the whole deal, and will have to suck it up and deal with it, or maybe try somebody else when my contract comes up. ]]>Feb 12th 2009 3:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 13th 2009 8:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/
http://www.myrateplan.com/blog/cell-phones-plans/verizon-to-launch-friends-family

]]>Feb 12th 2009 3:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 12th 2009 4:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 12th 2009 5:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 13th 2009 3:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/verizon-wireless-adopts-alltels-my-circle-as-friends-and-family/Feb 21st 2009 9:43AM