Internet access OTR

[belfert]

Brian

Analog phones went the way of the wild goose a few years back

Analog service is still an option (or was until end of Feb 2008) in many rural areas.  There are still lots of areas, especially out west, that have no cell service period if you get off the beaten path.  Here in Minnesota there are fewer and fewer areas with no service, but cell service is not yet universal.  I gave up my analog capable cell phone about 18 months ago as any place I got analog all I got was static if I could even make a call.

I'm not saying wireless broadband isn't a great thing to have.  I'm just making sure folks realize it isn't going to work everywhere.  If you live in the eastern USA you're more likely to have service due to population densities.  If you absolutely must have Internet for business or something and you go off the beaten path you need to have another option.

[Dallas]

Exactly,
Analog service is still available in limited areas. However, try buying an analog cell phone. IF they are available, most places they won't do you much good.

While most U.S. cities are blanketed with advanced cell phone service at least four times over, huge patches of rural America still don't have cell phone coverage. What's more, the problem could get worse before it gets better when rules requiring carriers to offer older, analog service expire early in 2008.

The Federal Communications Commission in 2002 gave the mobile phone industry five years to transition their networks from analog technology to digital technology. Starting in February 2008, cell phone companies will no longer be required to offer analog service.

Taken from:
http://www.news.com/2100-1039_3-6143866.html

The law of supply and demand will make sure that analog service will die out.

Brian

Analog phones went the way of the wild goose a few years back

Analog service is still an option (or was until end of Feb 2008) in many rural areas.  There are still lots of areas, especially out west, that have no cell service period if you get off the beaten path.  Here in Minnesota there are fewer and fewer areas with no service, but cell service is not yet universal.  I gave up my analog capable cell phone about 18 months ago as any place I got analog all I got was static if I could even make a call.

I'm not saying wireless broadband isn't a great thing to have.  I'm just making sure folks realize it isn't going to work everywhere.  If you live in the eastern USA you're more likely to have service due to population densities.  If you absolutely must have Internet for business or something and you go off the beaten path you need to have another option.