I had the delightful experience to speak to a 'Head Hunter' from Helio about 2 years ago at a SuperBowl party. I told her, and most people that I knew that Helio was in serious trouble if that was the person they had hiring for Helio.

A corporate know nothing. Hey, Helio, how about hiring some people that have sold cellular phones or have been in the business for more than 1 day.

Amazing the way these companies are so bloated with people that stroke each others egos and have never sold, or it seems, even used a cell phone.

I've been in this industry for 20 years, had cell phone stores in the US & Mexico, distributed a couple million phones, had a paging company, seen the industry go from 35 pound transportables and Oki being the leader to today. She looked down on anyone in the business that did not have an MBA.

Too bad for Helio, Amp'd and others that non-corporations buy phones too.

There is a lot of talent out there, lots of guys who have been in this business for years and they are overlooked by theses bozos.

Helio will be gone in 12 months.

Get a clue.

Steve

I said 'no CHARGE'. I was not charged for using the iPhone with Wifi in Europe with the SIM removed.

I have a prepaid plan (GoPhone) and the phone would not work with the SIM in. Although I could not make phone calls, I could use all the Internet features. Web, email, Google maps, etc. It was convenient, considering the time difference it was very useable.

I did not have to unlock the phone or mess with it. I used the Ericsson GSM phone for calls.

Steve

I took my locked ATT iPhone to Europe. Because I have the 'GoPhone' plan, the phone does not work or even show a signal in Europe. In fact, you can not even call ATT at 611 or any carrier in Europe.

Once I removed the SIM card, I was able to use the iPhone and all it's features (except GSM calls) using Wifi. I was able to access the internet, my contacts, send and receive emails. It was not a perfect solution, but was pretty good.

There were no charges of any kind using the Wifi. Once I returned, I put my SIM back in and it worked right away in the Atlanta airport.

Using email to SMS was convenient and other than the telephone calls, (I brought a $10 Ericsson GSM European phone), I was doing okay.

What I really liked was:

1. Wifi data is faster
2. I had all my data
3. the Ericsson phone was small and because I used European prepaid, I always knew what I was spending.
4. $10 for an Ericsson disposable phone, seemed like a good deal.

All in all, it was not that bad. I routed my calls from Vonage (local US number) to the Ericsson European number on Vodafone. The incoming calls using Vodafone in most spots are FREE. If I went to a new country with a better plan (like Meteor in Ireland) I simply bought a new SIM and changed the forwarding on Vonage.

Everyone who wanted to call me, was able to call on a local US number (no charge to them) and the call was routed by Vonage toll free to me.

People on the web amaze me. Smart CHEAP, CHEAP people. I sell accessories and batteries for cellar phones.

I have tried to sell legitimate product on eBay at a TINY markup and you can not do it successfully. Batteries that COST $15.00 from the OEM are on eBAY for $.01.

And you complain about exploding batteries? PEOPLE ARE SO CHEAP AND SO GREEDY THAT THEY DESERVE TO LEARN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BRING IN CRAP.

I try to offer NEW, OEM product for $1.99 and sales are slow, becuase my customer can buy JUNK from Asia for $.40.

BLAME YOURSELF. GET USED TO IT.

90% of the "Motorola" batteries on eBAY are FAKE.

A large percentage of the batteries you received from Verizon under their warranty (Assurion) are FAKE.

No one wants to pay for anything that is original, new and high quality.

If you would like I will post the results of a CHEAP aftermarket charger battery explosion that happened in my home.

1 Lithium Battery in your cell phone can EXPLODE and hurt you very badly (or your loved one, CHEAPO) or can start a fire in your home or car.

The public has no one to blame but themselves. The manufacturers know who and where the FAKES are sold and where they are coming from, but no one really cares.

Think about it:

Verizon orders 10,000 replacement phones from Assurion at $100.00

The battery normally costs $15.00 each from the manufacturer, for a new OEM unit.

Put a FAKE in that costs $2.00.

$13.00 * 10,000 = $130,000 PROFIT on that little order.

Assurion replaces more like 100,000 or more phones per month.

Now take that and mulitply by Cingular, Nextel, etc and so on....

No need to rob a bank when you can make MILLIONS selling FAKE batteries.

Now imagine, laptop batteries cost $100 retail... The cells themself (usually 6 @ $4.50 each) cost $25 to $45. Substitute in JUNK and you get the picture.

The legitimate vendors go out of business, they can not compete. You are left with, well, what you have....

Exploding batteries.

Stop complaining, buy something from a legitimate vendor, sealed in an original package, or support legitimate dealers.

When I was in first grade my Dad told me, "if it seems to good to be true, it probably is."

Get it?

Steve