May 24, 2006

On the Verizon

A few days ago I mentioned here that I was having trouble getting decent web-surfing speed on the new Wireless AirCard from Cingular that I'd installed on my laptop PC. Here's an update: It's still slow. So, today, in a local Circuit City hunting something else, I stopped by the Verizon kiosk and asked about the speed of their wireless broadband cards. I wasn't planning on getting one right away - after all, I still have the Cingular card, which cost $200 (with a $100 mail-in rebate) and I signed up for two years of unlimited-access service at $59.99 a month, although I can return it in the first 30 days and get my money back and cancel the service agreement.

Because I don't have Verizon cell phone service I wouldn't qualify for Verizon's $59.99 monthly service rate on the Internet card and would have to pay $79.99 a month.

Except ... after hearing about the slow Cingular card, the Verizon rep offered me one of Verizon's wireless cards and the $59.99 monthly rate. Oh, and he gave me the wireless card. For free. And, as per Verizon's standard agreements, I can cancel the deal within 14 days if I don't like the service.

I do like the service. Although the Cingular rep said Cingular's card was faster than Verizon's, my experience is that the Verizon card is faster, at least around Williamson County, TN. And while the Cingular rep was unable to tell me when Cingular would be rolling out their faster wireless data network to the Nashville market, the Verizon guy was able to tell me that Verizon's Nashville-area data network would be upgraded to a much higher speed in September.

So, for no money, I got the card and 14 days to check out the Verizon service. I also got great customer service. I'm pretty sure the Cingular wireless "AirCard" is going back.

Now, if Verizon just offered "rollover" minutes, I'd be looking to ditch my Cingular phone service as well...