Soon my constant companion will leave me-no I don’t mean my husband or my adorable bulldog-rather I mean my Sprint Spectrum phone.
I (along with all of the other Sprint Spectrum subscribers) am being “upgraded” to Sprint PCS. In other words, I am being moved from a Global System for Mobile communications network to a Code Division Multiple Access network.
I am still waiting to find out exactly how this change will truly impact my life-Sprint claims everything will be the same, only better.
Once the transfer is complete, I will let you know. It should happen soon. I have sent in the paperwork and am awaiting the delivery of my replacement phone. It needs to come soon. The GSM network is set to be turned off by the end of the year.
Unlike a lot of people who initially purchase wireless phones “only for safety,” I knew from the start mine was for convenience. I no longer wanted to be looking for a pay phone and my then-employer didn’t offer voice mail so I wanted that capability.
I was a good comparison shopper, looking at the various options (at that point there were only two), but Sprint won me by offering me free voice mail and no service contract.
I use my phone for everything. I am a good customer. I don’t care about roaming and long-distance charges. Once while visiting my family in Utah, I was shopping with my Dad. We decided we needed to ask Mom a question. He started off in search of a pay phone. I stopped him and in a style reminiscent of an Old West gunslinger, I produced my phone and dialed the number.
My phone has been with me on every trip except my honeymoon (my husband put his foot down) and to the CTIA show in New Orleans (I stupidly was trying to lessen my load-a mistake I will not make next month when I attend the PCIA show.)
It has worked in some unusual places-Key West (more about that in a minute) and not worked in others-Yellowstone.
Actually, I have had three phones-all essentially the same.
The first handset lasted the longest-until Nov. 9, 1998. That was when it took a swim in the ocean off of the Florida Keys. I learned phones don’t swim, so for the rest of my vacation I was out of reach, out of touch. But I guess that is what vacations are for. Right?
The second handset only lasted a few months when I left it in a cab. I freaked out. What to do? What to do? I simply went across the street and bought a new one. I was out of touch for less than two hours. I also bought a carrying case so now I wear it around my neck. This may seem extreme, but at least I don’t have to worry about losing it.
I will miss my Sprint Spectrum phone, but hope springs eternal this upgrade will be everything I want it to be.
