I have questions about the Motorola Q before I buy...

[muzicman82]

First of all, I apologize if you see this post on multiple forums, but I'm looking for as much feedback as possible.

I currently have Verizon Wireless with a Motorola RAZR V3c. My New Every Two credit comes in next month, and I'm most definitely getting myself a Q Black. I also have a Verizon Wireless BroadbandAccess account, with a Dell Wireless 5700 ExpressCard.

1. When I go to Verizon Wireless's site, and select the Q for a phone, and get the list of plans, the cheapest plan is the Core Choice for $80/month. Are there limitations on data with this plan? What's the difference between this and BroadbandAccess? This is EVDO speeds right? What exactly is the "Unlimited Data usage from within the National Enhanced Services and the Extended National Enhanced Services Rate and Coverage Areas"?

2. I understand the Q can be tethered as a modem for $15/month. Why isn't this option listen on VZW's site when signing up? Also, if the $80/month plan has unlimited data, why $15/month? Can the Q be tethered with Bluetooth AND USB cable?

3. One thing I love about the RAZR is how durable it is. I don't use a case, and it's been dropped on blacktop, slid across it, and has no scratches on the outside screen or body, besides a few tiny dents from impact. Is the Q built this well, or does it really need a case?

4. What about VCast and GIN? Are both still available on the Q or are those "phone only" things with VZW?

I think that's enough. Any input on those or other things I should know would be great!

Thanks!

[DMobley1022]

From what I understand & What i had to do, the Unlimited Data plan is like $45.99. I don't know of any plan that you can get that includes the Unlimited data plan.

Including myself, there are 5 other people at work that just got the Q and they also had to do the $40 some dollar extra charge for unlimited data.

I would definatley check and make sure you ask that question.

[muzicman82]

On VZW's site, I'm looking at the "PDA/Smartphone Voice & Data Choice Bundle"

A bundled package with voice and wireless data for quick and easy remote access to email and attachments.

* Unlimited Data usage from within the National Enhanced Services and the Extended National Enhanced Services Rate and Coverage Areas
* Unlimited IN calling
* Unlimited nights and weekends

Is umlimited not unlimited? I can understand the $15 to allow tethering, but what's this $40/month talk?

[pyrobling]

1. When I go to Verizon Wireless's site, and select the Q for a phone, and get the list of plans, the cheapest plan is the Core Choice for $80/month. Are there limitations on data with this plan? What's the difference between this and BroadbandAccess? This is EVDO speeds right? What exactly is the "Unlimited Data usage from within the National Enhanced Services and the Extended National Enhanced Services Rate and Coverage Areas"?

Hello, and welcome to the Q world. The BBA (broadband access) is Unlmited data. It is lumped into a catagory of tethering and air cards. It is EV-DO REV 0. The Unlimited data means that you will have unlimited data on the device and if set up for tethering you will have unlimited for both EV-DO and for National Enhanced with is approximately 115kbps. The Core Choice will give you a lump package at a discount of 450 America's Choice plan with unlimited data, you will still need to add on the tethering if you want to use the device as a modem.

2. I understand the Q can be tethered as a modem for $15/month. Why isn't this option listen on VZW's site when signing up? Also, if the $80/month plan has unlimited data, why $15/month? Can the Q be tethered with Bluetooth AND USB cable?

$15.00/month will be the BBA PDA/SMARTPHONE TETHER. This is what we see in our computer for it. Since it is not wanted by all customers, then you will need to add it. After you get your device you will want to call customer service and they will add it. The Q can be tethered with BT and the USB cable.

3. One thing I love about the RAZR is how durable it is. I don't use a case, and it's been dropped on blacktop, slid across it, and has no scratches on the outside screen or body, besides a few tiny dents from impact. Is the Q built this well, or does it really need a case?

The durability should be similar. I hold the record in the store for the most dropped PHONES in the last 2 months. My Q has hit the floor approximately 3-6 times a shift from taking it off clip to show customers so much. You will get some rubbing on all 4 corners from the belt clip howev er. The case is definitely must though because it will protect the SCREEN and will avoid scratches. You didn't have that worry with the RAZR because it was a flip.

4. What about VCast and GIN? Are both still available on the Q or are those "phone only" things with VZW?

VCast and GIN (get-it-now) are not available for the Q. Both of these services run off of the BREW network (binary runtime environment for wirless). It will not work on the Q because the browser is set up differently. The Q is not flash enabled yet, however, when it is there may be an update for it to do GIN and VCast.

Hope this helps....let me know if you have more questions or if I was confusing.

-A

[Pony99CA]

Originally Posted by pyrobling

Since it is not wanted by all customers, then you will need to add it.

That doesn't explain why the option isn't shown when purchasing your plan. Unless Verizon doesn't want people to know about it, I don't see why they wouldn't make it obvious that you can add that when buying your Q.

As for it not being "wanted by all customers", tell me one customer who wouldn't want it as part of the unlimited data plan.

I believe the reason that it's $15 is because PDA users tend to use less data than laptop users, so the PDA unlimited data plan is $45 and the air card plan is $60. If you want to use your Q as a modem for your laptop, Verizon charges you the difference because you're now a laptop user.

Even so, there's still a big benefit over the air card plan -- you can use your Q to access the Internet without having to drag your laptop around.

Originally Posted by pyrobling

The Q can be tethered with BT and the USB cable.

I believe that's only true after the MOL2 update. MOL1 only works with cabled connections.

Originally Posted by pyrobling

VCast and GIN (get-it-now) are not available for the Q. Both of these services run off of the BREW network (binary runtime environment for wirless). It will not work on the Q because the browser is set up differently. The Q is not flash enabled yet, however, when it is there may be an update for it to do GIN and VCast.

First, BREW is not a "network"; it's a runtime environment (like .NET) as your expansion of the acronym said.

Second, as far as I know, GetItNow not working has nothing to do with the browser or Flash. I don't know how GetItNow accesses data (maybe it uses a Web browser or maybe BREW has APIs for sending and receiving data), but that's likely irrelevant. Even if the Q could display things from GetItNow, the fact that there's no BREW runtime environment on the Q would prevent any GetItNow program from working. I believe this includes the GetItNow program itself, which I think is also a BREW applicaiton.

Steve

[pyrobling]

That doesn't explain why the option isn't shown when purchasing your plan. Unless Verizon doesn't want people to know about it, I don't see why they wouldn't make it obvious that you can add that when buying your Q.

Not sure maybe just a glitch with site when was chosen. Possible too on the plan since it should not be showing Core Coice as the ONLY plan offered like he mentioned above.

As for it not being "wanted by all customers", tell me one customer who wouldn't want it as part of the unlimited data plan.

OK...I can name dozens. I get paid for unlimited as the same a new line and again for tethering. That means 1 new Q activated with unlimited and tethering pays me for 3 activations. Believe I pitch it to everyone. After mentioning that, (kind of irrelevant but needed to emphasize that they all hear about it), I would say 75% of my customers DO NOT add on the tethering option. Most of them get the unlimited for 2 reasons, the price break on the phone, and the mobility of the Q to have the unlimited data. I sell it a lot to customers that want the PDA functionality for web capability. Not everyone uses it for tether like we do. I am not even anymore since I have my REV A air card now and REV A is unofficially working in my area. So I too am a customer with only the 44.99 unlimited on my phone.

I believe the reason that it's $15 is because PDA users tend to use less data than laptop users, so the PDA unlimited data plan is $45 and the air card plan is $60. If you want to use your Q as a modem for your laptop, Verizon charges you the difference because you're now a laptop user.

Correct....to have unlimited data as in for a computer of any kind the price per month HAS TO BE 60 minimum which is the 44.99 with the 15 for tether.

I believe that's only true after the MOL2 update. MOL1 only works with cabled connections.

Negative I currently am using it, and I won't be on MOL2 for another 20 minutes. Officially yesterday there is a new VZW ACCESS MANAGER that was released, 6.0.6. I was prompted to download with my air card and downloaded it. It is the version you need for REV A and for tether with BT.


First, BREW is not a "network"; it's a runtime environment (like .NET) as your expansion of the acronym said.

Second, as far as I know, GetItNow not working has nothing to do with the browser or Flash. I don't know how GetItNow accesses data (maybe it uses a Web browser or maybe BREW has APIs for sending and receiving data), but that's likely irrelevant. Even if the Q could display things from GetItNow, the fact that there's no BREW runtime environment on the Q would prevent any GetItNow program from working. I believe this includes the GetItNow program itself, which I think is also a BREW applicaiton.

Oops...should have said application not network. Thanks for "catching" my mistake and correcting it. GIN accesses through web browser access, which is why you also get charged data just like mobile web when you access without VCast, for unlimited access. Rumors I am hearing are that there may be something coming out, varied from normal BREW to run it...flash or some other kind of application to run it, however the programs will still be .CAB files.

Sources of any rumors I hear are never going to be released and nothing I ever say is quotable or backed up by VZW...I just thought I would share so that things trickle down the pipeline. We already know that Chris talks with Motorola so they obviously check us out, they can also hear us and see what we are asking for.

-A

[Pony99CA]

Originally Posted by pyrobling

As for it not being "wanted by all customers", tell me one customer who wouldn't want it as part of the unlimited data plan.

OK...I can name dozens. I get paid for unlimited as the same a new line and again for tethering. That means 1 new Q activated with unlimited and tethering pays me for 3 activations. Believe I pitch it to everyone. After mentioning that, (kind of irrelevant but needed to emphasize that they all hear about it), I would say 75% of my customers DO NOT add on the tethering option.

You missed my point. I asked who wouldn't want tethering as part of the unlimited data plan -- in other words, included with the $45. I'm sure there are plenty of people who won't want to pay an extra $15 a month for it.

I understand why Verizon charges $15, but there are plenty of people who want to tether and think that should be included in an "unlimited" data plan.

Originally Posted by pyrobling

I believe that's only true after the MOL2 update. MOL1 only works with cabled connections.

Negative I currently am using it, and I won't be on MOL2 for another 20 minutes. Officially yesterday there is a new VZW ACCESS MANAGER that was released, 6.0.6. I was prompted to download with my air card and downloaded it. It is the version you need for REV A and for tether with BT.

Well, Motorola's MOL2 update list specifically said it added the ability to do Bluetooth tethering. If Verizon released new software yesterday that fixes the problem without requiring an MOL2 update, that's good (but you didn't mention that in your previous post).

Originally Posted by pyrobling

First, BREW is not a "network"; it's a runtime environment (like .NET) as your expansion of the acronym said.

Second, as far as I know, GetItNow not working has nothing to do with the browser or Flash. I don't know how GetItNow accesses data (maybe it uses a Web browser or maybe BREW has APIs for sending and receiving data), but that's likely irrelevant. Even if the Q could display things from GetItNow, the fact that there's no BREW runtime environment on the Q would prevent any GetItNow program from working. I believe this includes the GetItNow program itself, which I think is also a BREW applicaiton.

Oops...should have said application not network. Thanks for "catching" my mistake and correcting it. GIN accesses through web browser access, which is why you also get charged data just like mobile web when you access without VCast, for unlimited access.

You're still not getting the technical details right, I don't think. BREW is not an application (nobody will go to the Start menu and run BREW); it is an application framework (probably APIs and a runtime library) similar to .NET or Java. (I'm a programmer, but not a BREW developer, so I'm just going by what I've read about it.)

As for how GetItHow accesses data, I really doubt it uses the Web browser directly (although I suppose it's possible that BREW includes some Web browser control like .NET does). It could also just use HTTP for data transfer, using APIs that support Web browsers without using the browser itself, or it could use FTP or some other file transfer protocol. Of course, that's really not relevant.

Also, when I had Mobile Web on my V710, I didn't get charged for data; I paid $5 a month and was able to use as much as I wanted. With the V710, I was even able to tether using Bluetooth. Mobile Web did use minutes, though. Of course, it's possible Verizon changed how Mobile Web is billed for new customers, but I haven't paid attention to that since I got the Q.

Originally Posted by pyrobling

Rumors I am hearing are that there may be something coming out, varied from normal BREW to run it...flash or some other kind of application to run it, however the programs will still be .CAB files.

Well, I suppose Verizon could implement a Flash-based GetItNow for systems without BREW (although I would have thought implementing BREW on Windows Mobile would have been easier).

However, I'm confused by your "the programs will still be .CAB files" comment. CAB files are not programs; they're installers. If you mean that this new GetItNow will distribute non-BREW programs, that's not what people are looking for. You can buy and download many programs from Handango already. People want to run [b]existing[b] BREW-based GetItNow programs (VZ Navigator is one that I've specifically heard about), not have a bunch of new programs (presuming, of course, that there won't be a VZ Navigator program for this new GetItNow when it launches).

Steve