Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 47

Web Access Now Working

The key, at least for Cingular, was getting data services activated. When you do this, you get a second cel number assigned to your phone. You don't use or enter it anywhere, but the SIM apparently knows about it.
- I'm guessing that's what the modem uses, and is how Cingular tracks your time usage for billing purposes.
- In any case, as soon as the new number was activated, I could put my ISP's number into Prefs/Network - and was able to connect. Then, when I started Blazer, I got right into the web.

BTW - when I activated Data Services, I also got a 3rd number assigned - for faxes?? Now I've got to figure out how that works.

Now that I've got web access working, I've got to decide if it's worth the $4.895/onth + time charges. I suspect I will cancel.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 40

Re: VisorPhone Modem Help - Please?

quote:

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Originally posted by chucm
- But I can't get the modem to dial out!
- followed instructions in the VP manual:
1) Prefs/modem is set to "standard; 57,600; high; automatic [flow control]; United States & AT&FX4.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Cambridge, MA 02155
Posts: 18

Data access

There is no question that you don't need data services on Voicestream to access the net. It would be great if people COULD misconfigure their modems to make it work, but it just doesn't work like that.

Handspring uses 3rd-party services to provide tech support. They're fine for 90% of the questions, the easy ones, but if you don't feel confident in the answer you get, always ask for a supervisor or to be escalated.

This is true for any tech support company. I just encountered it with Voicestream yesterday; I called because I couldn't get interenet access in my area. The guy tried to convince me to talk to Handspring tech support, but fortunately I knew enough to avoid the runaround. I just kept insisting until he stopped reading the script and consulted people who know more. These folks said the service was down in my area temporarily. Phew!

Anyway, it's unfortunate, but most low-end tech support folks don't have in-depth experience and are doing the best they can with what they know. I have found it's best to be polite but insistent until I am satisfied with the answer, going to the top if necessary.

So again, Voicestream does NOT require datastream services. However, if you check on their website, they seem to have a new $4.99/month internet service. Has anybody checked this out?