Ticket to Ride - This is what I see when I visit the Sprint website and try to delete the E-mails that I'm able to send to myself at their website, but not to the phone that I bought. (and which I bought, in part, so I could receive emails on it).
I have tremendous confidence in Sprint's ability to solve this problem.
When I spoke to the tech support guy and mentioned that this part of the website was down he asked if I wanted him to "open a ticket". I said, "well, gee if I can't access parts of the site I assume that no one else can either." He said that's right. I said so if I say I don't want you to "open a ticket" then won't you guys fix the website anyway now that you know it is down?
Surprisingly, the answer was "no." So, for the benefit of the larger community in which I live, I did the right thing and asked him to open a ticket.
So if you are a Sprint customer and use their web page, you have me to thank. For what? I'm not sure. The web page is still not working. But, at least there is an open ticket. And that has got to mean something.
Treo 300 is cool, but Sprint...? - I am trying out the Treo 300. It's a great product, and I'm excited about using one device to replace my cellphone and my Palm Pilot. Plus it has a web browser, and can send and receive E-mail. At least supposedly. The browser works, but so far...no E-mail. I am using Sprint as the provider and, while they have a glitzy website and lots of fancy commercials, I'm less than impressed with their service level. The website looks great, but the functionality? It's a nightmare.
There are several levels of service and plans, and each has a different log-in method (i.e. different username, different password). Oh, you can make them all the same, but you have to figure it out for each one. I like this sort of technical challenge, but my wife (who is also trying out a phone) doesn't. I suspect most people are like my wife. Also, I have to report that I'm losing my battle to figure out all of the technical glitches. What's the hardest challenge? Talking to a live human being.
It always amazes me that the worst companies for customer support are the "communications companies." Their speciality is communications, except for the part where their customers communicate with them. They think that they are so smart that they can develop software heuristics to interact with you. Sprint has Claire the Virtual Assistant that understands voice commands. But, of course, there is no voice command for "I'd like to talk to a representative."
12:32:59 PM
WiFi @ Work - Phil Windley points to Fortune magazine article that
"highlights WiFi installations at Novell and talks about the value of WiFi at work. There are claims of productivity increases in the article, although it's not a study. Wireless networking (whether by WiFi or a wide area solution) certainly makes sense for people who spend a large portion of their day away from their desk. Its a lifesaver for me somedays since I can use time away from my desk, in between meetings, to check email, get messages to my assistant, etc. Before, I'd get home at 7pm, eat dinner and spend several hours going through the days email. Now, my email is usually done during the day." [via Windley's Enterprise Computing Weblog]
And from John Patrick's weblog we also have some emphasis of the benefits of WiFi -
Each day that goes by makes it more clear that WiFi is taking a parallel course to what we saw with the web nearly ten years ago. Many grass roots initiatives are underway and many established leaders of major companies are unable to see the shift. WiFi is doing for "access" what the web did for content; i.e. making it ubiquitous. I have seen WiFi described as an American phenomenon, but this is clearly not the case. Prior postings here talked about WiFi in Europe. Thanks to JY Stervinou for letting me know that the French regulatory office (ART) announced that starting on January 1st 2003, external public WiFi networks will be "Ok" in 38 "departments" (geographic regions) of France including Paris. Click here to read the details (if you read French -- no English version yet). This is a good first step which will probably lead to the French Army opening up WiFi in all 100 regions. There is much more going on with WiFi across Europe. (read more)
I have already rhapsodized about wireless Internet access and how amazing it is. But it is definitely one of those things that you have to experience first hand to appreciate.
This is what I see when I visit the Sprint website and try to delete the E-mails that I'm able to send to myself at their website, but not to the phone that I bought. (and which I bought, in part, so I could receive emails on it).
