| I recently purchased a Samsung Smooth pre-paid | | | | using by simply entering in a new EIN number |
| phone from Verizon. I did so after a lot of | | | | online. I did this with an old Verizon phone I had |
| research on pre-paid wireless plans and knowing | | | | from when I used them as a contract customer. |
| two other people that had purchased this same | | | | I am not sure if it will accept any and every type |
| phone prior to me. This review will look at two | | | | of Verizon phone, but it did an ENV 2. After |
| things. First I will tell of my experience with the | | | | entering the EIN number and submitting online, I |
| actual phone itself, and then I will discuss the | | | | merely had to dial *228 and then program and |
| Verizon pre-paid service. | | | | update my roaming capabilities on the phone itself |
| I chose the Samsung Smooth for two basic | | | | and I once again was in business. |
| reasons. One was the price. I was able to | | | | The plan I opted for was the Core Plan which |
| purchase the cell phone for just over $20.00 at | | | | charges you a .99 cent daily usage fee. By calling |
| Wal-Mart. After researching other pre-paid cell | | | | anyone or accepting an incoming call you are |
| phone prices, none of them I found were as | | | | charged the .99 cent fee and it will automatically |
| cheap as the Smooth. The second reason was | | | | be deducted from your account balance. On the |
| because I knew two people that had also recently | | | | days you do not use the phone you are charged |
| purchased the Smooth. They did not report any | | | | nothing. With the Core Plan you have unlimited |
| issues to me with the phone, so with that and the | | | | Verizon mobile to mobile minutes on the days you |
| price I decided to buy it. | | | | use the phone for phone calls, and are charged .10 |
| My first impression of the phone itself was not | | | | cent per minute for any other calls. I also opted |
| too bad. I liked the fact that it included a camera | | | | to add the $20.00 texting plan, which includes |
| and the construction, although seemingly cheap, | | | | unlimited texts for a month to any other cell |
| seems to be fairly durable. The camera itself | | | | phone user. Here is where Verizon needs to be |
| takes a fairly decent picture. I was pleasantly | | | | more specific in their terms and agreements. |
| surprised with this aspect for a phone that costs | | | | Verizon specifies that instant messages, as in |
| so little. On the downside, the phone does not | | | | Yahoo and MSN, are also included in the unlimited |
| have many bells and whistles beyond the camera. | | | | text plan. The misleading aspect to this for me |
| But that should be expected for a phone at this | | | | was that the Samsung Smooth was listed as |
| price. Overall the phone initially seemed to be a | | | | being chat capable. To me this meant being able |
| great deal for what you pay. The reception was | | | | to use Yahoo instant messenger, but I found out |
| not as good as I got on other Verizon phones I | | | | it meant that you could "chat" via text messaging |
| had in the past as a contract customer, but | | | | or by using the phones web browser which costs |
| Verizon states that you are not using all the | | | | an additional .99 cent a day to use on pre-paid. |
| towers they have available like a contract | | | | Verizon does sell at least one pre-paid phone that |
| customer either. The phone also comes with a | | | | is capable of using IM services to my knowledge |
| $10.00 account credit that is added to the account | | | | and that is the Blitz. My ENV 2 has the IM |
| upon sign up. So you do not necessarily have to | | | | feature, but when I tried to access it I was told |
| purchase any other minutes to use the phone | | | | the service was unavailable to pre-paid customers. |
| right away. | | | | When I contacted Verizon via email on their |
| After having the phone for a little less than a | | | | website, I was informed that the ENV 2 uses IM |
| week I ran into a huge problem. As I went to | | | | 3.0 and it is not usable by pre-paid customers. I |
| respond to a text message, the phone reset | | | | am not sure what version is at this point if the |
| itself. When the phone came back on it was | | | | Blitz is capable of using this feature. One thing to |
| completely in Spanish. I attempted to reset the | | | | note though is that you are not charged a daily |
| language feature on the phone, but was denied | | | | access fee to text if you opt for either of the |
| access to do so. I then attempted to reset the | | | | texting plans offered by Verizon. You also will |
| phone to factory settings, but once again was | | | | have access to the text feature and ability to |
| denied access. It was then that I attempted to | | | | send text messages for the entire month you |
| call Verizon customer service and found that I | | | | have paid for the service, even if your account |
| was unable to even make a phone call. I thought | | | | balance drops to zero and you can no longer |
| for a minute and then attempted to send a text | | | | make a call. This was a huge plus in my decision |
| message, but once again the phone failed to | | | | to include the text plan on my pre-paid phone. If |
| operate properly and failed to send. I finally got | | | | you do not opt for one of the text plans you are |
| another phone to call Verizon customer service | | | | charged a per text charge which is dependent |
| on and was told to take my phone to the local | | | | upon which plan you choose. You are still not |
| Verizon store and let them attempt to reset it | | | | charged the daily usage fee to text, merely the |
| there. I did so, but the courteous workers at | | | | per text charge. |
| Verizon were unable to reset it as well. The lady | | | | With all things said and done I would still |
| that was assisting me then promptly began doing | | | | recommend anyone try the Samsung Smooth |
| the necessary registration to have a new | | | | phone with Verizon pre-paid. I feel as though what |
| Samsung Smooth sent to my house by two day | | | | happened with mine was a fluke, being not only |
| Fed-Ex. I will say that neither of the two people | | | | the two people I mentioned before having no |
| that I know have had any issues with their | | | | issues, but also one other person that purchased |
| phones. | | | | the phone after me having no issues. I do not |
| As for the Verizon pre-paid service I have been | | | | think you can find a better deal out there as far |
| satisfied with it thus far. As I already stated they | | | | as price when it comes to a camera phone. Also, |
| quickly took care of my problem with my cell | | | | if you do have issues you should be able to take |
| phone with no fuss. The set up online of my | | | | your phone to any Verizon retail store and get |
| account was fast and easy. You can access all | | | | satisfactory results in fixing your problems. |
| the different aspects of your account online and | | | | Verizon may not be the cheapest service, but |
| easily make changes to your plan and add | | | | they make up for it in reliability in coverage and |
| minutes either by a pre-paid card or by credit | | | | customer service in my opinion. |
| card. You can also change the phone you are | | | | |