Comments on: WiFi is a Must for Smartphones http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/ Using mobile devices since they weighed 30 lbs. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:47:32 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Tom Reestman http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-63570 Tom Reestman Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:01:24 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-63570 Great move by Sprint. It also makes Verizon constant push of only their network stick out even more as a bad move. It's not just about whether you have a good 3G signal. Having WiFi can mean a whole lot more, which I wrote about<a href="http://theappleblog.com/2008/11/26/smartphones-and-wifi-why-this-should-no-longer-be-an-option/" rel="nofollow">here</a> here. Great move by Sprint. It also makes Verizon constant push of only their network stick out even more as a bad move.

It’s not just about whether you have a good 3G signal. Having WiFi can mean a whole lot more, which I wrote abouthere here.

]]> By: gerickson http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-61952 gerickson Sat, 20 Jun 2009 23:40:52 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-61952 I think phone manufacturers are missing a huge market in universities around the country. Most universities (including mine) offer cross-campus WiFi. Because of this, I have no use for a 3G phone. But now, since phone companies require data plans to be purchased with smartphones, they cannot be used just to access the internet via WiFi. I can't justify paying $30/mo for a data plan that I don't need. At my school, many students have resorted to buying the iPod Touch for its WiFi capability. It's $230, but that's much less than a smartphone if you add up just a few months of paying for the data plan. Hopefully cell companies will ditch their policy of required data plans with smartphones...they might see a boom in smartphones sales among students. I think phone manufacturers are missing a huge market in universities around the country. Most universities (including mine) offer cross-campus WiFi. Because of this, I have no use for a 3G phone. But now, since phone companies require data plans to be purchased with smartphones, they cannot be used just to access the internet via WiFi. I can’t justify paying $30/mo for a data plan that I don’t need. At my school, many students have resorted to buying the iPod Touch for its WiFi capability. It’s $230, but that’s much less than a smartphone if you add up just a few months of paying for the data plan. Hopefully cell companies will ditch their policy of required data plans with smartphones…they might see a boom in smartphones sales among students.

]]> By: RGT http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-54755 RGT Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:51:35 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-54755 I'm not really worried about incurring usage charges as I have unlimited internet. What I AM concerned with is battery life on my ATT Tilt (HTC 8925). Using either the GPS or the WiFi on this unit drains the battery within minutes. I’m not really worried about incurring usage charges as I have unlimited internet. What I AM concerned with is battery life on my ATT Tilt (HTC 8925). Using either the GPS or the WiFi on this unit drains the battery within minutes.

]]> By: Nate http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-53403 Nate Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:23:02 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-53403 3G really only sucks a lot of battery if you're in an area with a weak signal. 3G really only sucks a lot of battery if you’re in an area with a weak signal.

]]> By: ophelan http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-53395 ophelan Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:47:29 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-53395 I agree with cr0ft; my data usage is exclusively via the cell radio. It's there, and works without any additional effort. I do use the WiFi radio for tethering other devices. I agree with cr0ft; my data usage is exclusively via the cell radio. It’s there, and works without any additional effort. I do use the WiFi radio for tethering other devices.

]]> By: AndyT http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-53384 AndyT Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:07:20 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-53384 I use WiFi connection more than ever. Now that Skype is available I am sure it will only increase. I also control my server farm with phone via wifi. Totally agree. Once you use Wifi you will never go back to a 3G only phone. Gaming is better via WiFi as well. I use WiFi connection more than ever. Now that Skype is available I am sure it will only increase. I also control my server farm with phone via wifi. Totally agree. Once you use Wifi you will never go back to a 3G only phone. Gaming is better via WiFi as well.

]]> By: R. Etops http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-53383 R. Etops Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:00:49 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-53383 I dumped my Palm Treo when the first smartphones with wi-fi came out. Now use the Iphone and find the wi-fi to be a mandatory addition. I use the phone network to get email and such, but when I want to surf the net, I use the free wi-fi. I fully agree that I would not buy any smartphone that left this feature out. I dumped my Palm Treo when the first smartphones with wi-fi came out. Now use the Iphone and find the wi-fi to be a mandatory addition. I use the phone network to get email and such, but when I want to surf the net, I use the free wi-fi. I fully agree that I would not buy any smartphone that left this feature out.

]]> By: Mark http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-53382 Mark Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:55:46 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-53382 Actually wifi uses less battery than 3G that is why whenever I am at home and at school I use wifi. When the speed and the battery life get better then I think that smartphone makers can ditch the wifi but until then it is a must. Actually wifi uses less battery than 3G that is why whenever I am at home and at school I use wifi. When the speed and the battery life get better then I think that smartphone makers can ditch the wifi but until then it is a must.

]]> By: Nate http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-53380 Nate Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:47:06 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-53380 I guess I misread the post. It looks like a chunk of the people in this poll confirm that they do have wifi on their phone. I still wonder how many of them are on a network with solid 3G coverage. I guess I misread the post. It looks like a chunk of the people in this poll confirm that they do have wifi on their phone.

I still wonder how many of them are on a network with solid 3G coverage.

]]> By: Nate http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-53379 Nate Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:43:49 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-53379 I wonder how many of the people who think wifi is a "must" have ever owned a phone with wifi, and how many of them are on a network with extensive 3G coverage. My phone has wifi. I've only fired it up a couple times, and only for testing it out. If you're on a good network, wifi is not a necessity, and you really don't want it on unless you absolutely have to. Wifi sucks the juice like no other. I wonder how many of the people who think wifi is a “must” have ever owned a phone with wifi, and how many of them are on a network with extensive 3G coverage.

My phone has wifi. I’ve only fired it up a couple times, and only for testing it out. If you’re on a good network, wifi is not a necessity, and you really don’t want it on unless you absolutely have to. Wifi sucks the juice like no other.

]]> By: TateJ http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-53378 TateJ Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:31:08 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-53378 I use WIFI on my iPhone when ever it is available and free. No use burning into my 5gb/month cap when I don't need to. I use WIFI on my iPhone when ever it is available and free. No use burning into my 5gb/month cap when I don’t need to.

]]> By: cr0ft http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-53373 cr0ft Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:19:41 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/03/wifi-is-a-must-for-smartphones/#comment-53373 I pretty much never fire up wifi myself. The data transfers I do happen continously (mail etc) without me having to fiddle with it over the 3G connection and when I ever do surf or do similar things I'm always out and about and don't have the patience or time to go fishing for open wifi hotspots. Easier to just fire up the browser and get the data over 3G, it's already on and running. Now, I do use the wifi a fair amount when on the run, but then only as a tethering alternative (wmwifirouter), so I'd definitely miss the wifi transmitter... but not for my own interactive use of the phone. I pretty much never fire up wifi myself. The data transfers I do happen continously (mail etc) without me having to fiddle with it over the 3G connection and when I ever do surf or do similar things I’m always out and about and don’t have the patience or time to go fishing for open wifi hotspots. Easier to just fire up the browser and get the data over 3G, it’s already on and running.

Now, I do use the wifi a fair amount when on the run, but then only as a tethering alternative (wmwifirouter), so I’d definitely miss the wifi transmitter… but not for my own interactive use of the phone.

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