TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Phones and data plans was RE: Digital voice recorder is priceless
Subject:Phones and data plans was RE: Digital voice recorder is priceless From:James Leatherwood <JLeatherwood -at- aflac -dot- com> To:Nancy Allison <maker -at- verizon -dot- net>, "techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Tue, 18 Dec 2012 16:35:20 -0500
Nancy -
I'm a long-time Verizon user, and yes, ~$100/month is about right for one phone with data. Mine is heavily discounted because of my employer, and it's still that high, or nearly so. One way to think of it is your $30 phone is actually $450 - you're just paying the other $420 over 24 months.
A couple of options:
Use a "Feature phone" (aka dumb phone) and add a portable hot spot "MiFi" with a tablet (iPad or other). It can be a bit cheaper, and you get a different mobile experience than you would with a phone. I foresee documentation going tablet-mobile far sooner (and more effectively) than phone-mobile.
Check out T-Mobile, or even Verizon's prepaid plans. You'll pay more for the phone (often full, unsubsidized price), but I've seen unlimited data for $50/month. That $450 phone would be paid for in 9 months of $100 bills, then your bill drops to $50 - saving you $750ish.
James Leatherwood
-----Original Message-----
From: Nancy Allison [mailto:maker -at- verizon -dot- net]
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2012 12:04 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Digital voice recorder is priceless
Thanks for the info, Craig.
As it happens, I just priced a smartphone through Verizon for the first time this weekend. (Yep, I am the world's latest adopter.)
My biggest reason is that I'm certain that tech comm will move to mobile apps -- although I find it hard to envision a true user manual being reduced to that tiny UI -- and I need to become familiar with the technology.
With a discount, the Android phone that I liked would cost me $30, a great price.
But, the Verizon smartphone contract would have run just about $100 per month ($80 as advertised and several "Oh yeah, and you have to pay for this, too" things).
Does anyone have a phone-plus-data plan that is significantly less than ~ $100 per month? Do you think we as a group get a lower rate if enough of us signed on?? Is there any way around this big a chunk of money?
--Nancy
Confidentiality Notice:
This e-mail and any attachments may contain confidential information intended solely for the use of the addressee. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, any distribution, copying, or use of this e-mail or its attachments is prohibited. If you received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by e-mail and delete this message and any copies. Thank you.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Writer Tip: Create 10 different outputs with Doc-To-Help -- including Mobile and EPUB.
