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Dearest LazyWeb...
My new employer is located in San Francisco. I'm located in Washington, DC. We'll need to communicate very effectively if this arrangement is going to work.
1. I'm thinking of using Skype to keep in near-constant but cheap voice communication with the other coast. Ideally, I'd like some sort of wireless headset so that I can roam around my data center or office without dragging a cord and/or my laptop. Any suggestions?
2. I'm also considering upgrading my Verizon Wireless cell phone to a Blackberry Storm so I can keep in near-constant email contact. Any advice or experience with such?
3. I'm also thinking about a wireless broadband service, again for work. Since I'm on Verizon Wireless right now, I'm leaning in that direction but since these seem to be sold apart from one's cell phone service plan, I'm open to other networks as well. Anyone have advice and/or recommendations?
1. I'm thinking of using Skype to keep in near-constant but cheap voice communication with the other coast. Ideally, I'd like some sort of wireless headset so that I can roam around my data center or office without dragging a cord and/or my laptop. Any suggestions?
2. I'm also considering upgrading my Verizon Wireless cell phone to a Blackberry Storm so I can keep in near-constant email contact. Any advice or experience with such?
3. I'm also thinking about a wireless broadband service, again for work. Since I'm on Verizon Wireless right now, I'm leaning in that direction but since these seem to be sold apart from one's cell phone service plan, I'm open to other networks as well. Anyone have advice and/or recommendations?
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2. I recently picked up a Blackberry Pearl Flip on T-Mobile for my small business. The email integration is phenomenal. I'm not liking the half keyboard (2 letters per key with "intelligent prediction software" - can you say Apple Newton?) I think I'll replace it next year with a Blackberry with a full QWERTY keyboard. BTW, Blackberry email on T-Mobile is just $5 a month if you're not tied to Verizon. If you go with a Blackberry, have the store clerk show you where the ringer control (tone, volume, etc.) is in the menus - it wasn't immediately apparent to me that you should look under 'profiles'. And I ADORE the ability to have the phone turn itself on and off on a schedule!
3. If Verizon Fios fiber optic is available to you, consider it. I had okay service with Comcast, but I have had flawless 100% uptime for the eighteen months I've been a customer.
Usual disclaimer, just a happy customer, bla, bla, bla...
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Does your company have an IP phone system. If so, you might avoid Skype and see if they have a PC-phone integration. That way, your voice mail can go to Outlook and you can make calls from your "office phone" on the go.
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Skype do have cell-phone to Skype connections available. They have a $3 a month US plan:
http://www.skype.com/allfeatures/subscriptions/#uscaSubscriptionTab
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He lost broadband interest in the mid-December ice storm that hit the Northeast. He was without it for 3 weeks. The cell modem worked great for him.
Service provider is Verizon. Might be worth checking out.
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Blackberry Storm in particular: not so good. Reviews have been mixed. The Bold would probably be a better choice, but unfortunately it's currently available only from AT&T.
Wireless broadband is a wonderful thing. I've been using Verizon's version for almost three years. Verizon, Sprint and AT&T all offer comparable performance and pricing, with T-Mobile about to offer a similar product. Verizon's coverage is probably better. Be careful about which modem you purchase... they come in PCMCIA, Expresscard, and USB flavors, so you'll want to choose one based on the computer (or several computers) that you'll be using it with. USB would be an ideal choice for multiple PCs, but the devices stick out a lot... be sure that your laptop is designed in a way that prevents a USB device from getting in the way of comfortable typing.
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Last year, Verizon's "unlimited" broadband wireless plan was changed to a monthly cap of 5GB, with stiff usage charges for anything above that. Although 5GB sounds like a lot, if you're using the thing constantly (as I am), it's not difficult to go over the limit.
I ended up getting a Sprint broadband USB wireless modem. Sprint's plan really is unlimited bandwidth, and their USB wireless modem works on PCs, Macintoshes, and Linux machines.
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2. Reviews were mixed on the Storm when it first came out, but the latest software update seems to have addressed about 80% of those problems. Keep looking at very recent reviews if you're still not sure. I have the Curve right now. I laid my hands on a friends' Storm and liked it. The tactile feel of the display was really nice particularly when typing on it. If email accessibility is the prime concern, there is nothing better than a BlackBerry.
3. Depends on the local area. People are confused on why Verizon breaks those up and I'm sure it has steered some people away in search of other options.
I did not know about the new employer! Excellent! Is this a permanent telecommuting thing?
Skype
(Anonymous) 2008-12-31 03:52 pm (UTC)(link)Debs