vB Easy Archive - National Access = WAP (Verizon)

Pages: 1

National Access = WAP (Verizon)
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: elnino2783

Verizon provides us with National Access and I just wanted to get a few things cleared up for myself.

This is how I interpret it:
National access is basically like having dial-up for your computer, only it's through your cell phone. Only airtime minutes are used (I'm on the national plan ) so basically if you use it after 9pm or on the weekends you have unlimited internet.

Now here are my questions if what I said is correct:

1. Is national access WAP?

2. Can I use an aftermarket data cable (like the vx6000 one from radio shack) to use national access?

3. Is my interpretation correct or am I way off?

Posted by: mnMark

Here's what I know, in a nutshell.

-NationalAccess is a high speed data solution provided by Verizon Wireless, and functions as an internet provider.

-NationalAccess is available for purchase in unlimited, per-kb, and per-minutes contracts.

-NationalAccess is not WAP; WAP is (currently) text-based internet available for use and viewing on your cell phone's handset. WAP 2.0 will provide access for multimedia content, though compatible handsets, networks, and appropriately encoded 'cards' (similar to regular web files, like html).

-Picture messaging and get-it-now (GIN) enabled phones have NA MOU added as an enhanced feature.

-NA MOU is NOT a NationalAccess plan...it is a feature code.

-Use of NationalAccess outside of GIN apps or Picture Messaging is not allowed, based on current NationalAccess Terms and Conditions.

-NA MOU *DOES WORK* for internet access by hooking up a data cable to a compatible desktop/laptop/handheld.

-Most people who use NationalAccess for internet through a desktop/laptop/handheld have not experienced problems or excessive billing...though it could happen. There are posts with individuals who have experienced both...though 99% of posts state that it works without any problems.

-Interestingly enough, VZW is well aware of the use of NA MOU in this manner, and has known for some time, but have not actively persued many (if any, depending on the validity of some posts) of the 'offenders'...offender being the term used from VZW's eyes.

-I used NationalAccess with my phone for a few months, decided I liked it too much and hated using up my minutes, so I broke down and got a real NationalAccess account. For infrequent users (such as myself throughout all of Feb, March, and April) I doubt you are really running any risk in using it. If I was in VZW's shoes I certainly wouldn't come after casual users...letting it slide would just be one more sweet feature that we can use on their network.

That's my $0.02.

Posted by: elnino2783

Thanks, that was really helpful

Posted by: jaymode

soo even if my plan lists national access as a feature of my plan, I am still not supposed to use it through a data cable?

Posted by: mnMark

Quote:

Originally posted by jaymode
soo even if my plan lists national access as a feature of my plan, I am still not supposed to use it through a data cable?

You are correct. you are not *supposed* to use it through a data cable. You *should* purchase a NA plan.

Posted by: Manleyf

would someone like to articulate exactly how I'm not supposed to do this?

Posted by: draver

mnMark,

You've posted some guidelines such as:

"You are correct. you are not *supposed* to use it through a data cable. You *should* purchase a NA plan."

Is this just your opinion, or do you have some verifiable source for this statement.

If it's your opinion, please state that, if it's a documented fact, please post a link so that we can all be as informed as you are.

Posted by: mnMark

Quote:

Originally posted by draver
mnMark,

You've posted some guidelines such as:

"You are correct. you are not *supposed* to use it through a data cable. You *should* purchase a NA plan."

Is this just your opinion, or do you have some verifiable source for this statement.

If it's your opinion, please state that, if it's a documented fact, please post a link so that we can all be as informed as you are.

I received that information from VZW Data Support when I activated my AirCard. The guy I was talking with about the service told me it was the "Question of the hour" when I brought up the NA MOU feature code. He then went into detail regarding how it is a feature code, not a data plan, and how your service could be cancelled because of a ToS violation (using a data cable to your laptop). I then asked him directly if they ever exercised that option on customers, and he replied that it has (and continues) to happen to individuals who are using 'excessive and unreasonable use'...he would not provide me with what that use might be, and stated that his department wasn't in charge of making that determination. Based on that conversation, I'd call it a fact.

Quote:

Internet Access:
Use of Mobile Office Kits, PC Cards, PDA's or other wireless modem devices for Internet access requires subscription to select NationalAccess plans.

Verizon Wireless calling plans, rate areas, rates, agreement provisions, business practices, procedures and policies are subject to change as specified in the Customer Agreement. Other restrictions apply.

This can be found here, which is the text on the T&C's part of the AC plan page.

Posted by: mnMark

Additionally, which looking at the PR releases, I found this excerpt:

Quote:

Customers can download files residing behind corporate firewalls (a small PowerPoint presentation or large PDF file in less than 30 seconds), access e-mail, intranets and the Internet. Individual customers can enjoy the many fun and visual capabilities that BroadbandAccess affords, including multi-player gaming, music and video content, video messaging and other multi-media applications.

http://news.vzw.com/lead_story/pr2004-03-22.html

This is interesting, since the current Terms and Conditions do not allow for music/video content related downloads.

Quote:

Unlimited NationalAccess/BroadbandAccess cannot be used (1) for uploading, downloading or streaming of movies, music or games, (2) with server devices or with host computer applications, including, without limitation, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, telemetry applications, automated functions or any other machine-to-machine applications, (3) as a substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/...eSort&catId=327

Based on their March press release, I'd guess (my opinion) that they will re-vamp their terms for use prior to a wide-spread deployment of BroadbandAccess, since they're promising capabilities with the left hand and forbidding them with the right.

Posted by: draver

mmMark,

I see your point, however I would still argue that I have a "National Access" plan, America's Choice, since it is listed in my feature list. Therefore, I'm entitled to use it. And I do pay for it by being a subscriber to a Verizon plan that has that National Access available. I use it during the week on peak minutes and on weekends with those plan minutes.

I also believe it's well documented on this forum that you can ask 2 different reps the same question and usually get 3 different answers to any question, so I'd say his statement doesn't make it a fact.

So far on this forum I have seen only 1 post of a user who had been contacted by Verizon with a mild threat to terminate his National Access use, I believe he was using it for a music download site, and he admitted that it was VERY heavy usage of the plan.

Since this service has been in use since last June (2003) and I gotta believe thousands of people are using it by now, we do have the permission and approval of Verizon. They could probably turn it off with a few lines of code, but chose not to.

I just upgraded to the 800 min. A/C plan so I could have more daytime access when I travel and I assume they see that quite a bit from the online RV forums I browse.

That's just MY opinion.

Thanks for all the research.

Posted by: mongoosetoo

I use National Access flawlessly with my Motorola V265. I've had it for about two months and there is no charge! I originally set it up because I live out in the country and hate my dial up account - I can't get anything else out there. I decided it was time to get rid of the land line and my Dial-up ISP, so I did.

The only catch I've found is that whatever cell phone you set up the computer with is the one you always have to use. For example, my wife and I have the same model phone. If I want to use the home pc for internet, I have to use her phone. If I use my laptop, I have to use my phone.

The service is free from Verizon - I was surprised too! I even surfed for a couple minutes, got off and called verizon to verify no charges applied and they didn't - sweet!

The only thing is the airtime usage, it's the same as whatever your plan is. After 9 pm and free weekends - all that jazz. The best part is if you are coming from traditional dial-up and are used to 3 and 4 mbps downloads, the National access averages around 115 mbps at my house! Admitedly though, sometimes it does slow down, but for the most part -pretty dog-gone fast. IT IS NOT BROADBAND, but still it's pretty fast, I assume depending upon your connection.

In conclusion, get rid of you home phone line (save $40 a month), get rid of your dial up ISP (save another $20 a month), buy the kit from Verizon for about $30 one time and surf for free after 9 pm and weekends - the only time you'll be surfing anyway. Furthermore, if you go on vacation or business trips, you can take it with you.

You'll need to contact Verizon and ask if a data connectivity kit is available for your phone - even if it doesn't show it on their website. They'll send you a couple disks with it. One disks is the driver for your phone, so the pc can treat it like a USB modem. The other disk has software called VZW Access and some utilities to manage your phone book on your phone as well as some other software stuff I haven't checked out yet too.

Keep in mind verizon does offer Broadband for a price or this for free. With broadband, you'll feel like your hooked up to a high speed network: with National Access, you'll just feel like your on an bogged down ISDN or a fast modem. Weigh it out, but for a free service it ain't bad at all!
Brew

Posted by: 00gixxer750

Quote:

Originally Posted by mnMark

ToS violation (using a data cable to your laptop). I then asked him directly if they ever exercised that option on customers, and he replied that it has (and continues) to happen to individuals who are using 'excessive and unreasonable use'...he would not provide me with what that use might be, and stated that his department wasn't in charge of making that determination.

I had my plan cancelled. It was a national access plan. I used "excessive bandwidth". They said I used 40x the normal usage. Mine was up to 10g in 27 days. This wasn't through a phone though, this was through the kyocera card in my laptop. Beware.

Posted by: briankern

i use it as a bluetooth modem on my laptop all of the time and have never had a problem with it. I think you have to mess with the registry on the phone for this to properly work though