For those that have been in the Virgin Islands and remember as far back as say, Hurricane Hugo, the fact that Innovative provides a wireless product in addition to landline telephone, cable television and Internet services may not be a new one. For about a decade, Innovative had provided very basic cellular phone service using a capable, although dated, TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) network. There were no bells and whistles, but this network provided sufficient service to roughly 1,500 employees and customers throughout the territory for years.
The New Innovative Wireless product, launched in November 2011, is, to say the very least, nothing like its predecessor. The coverage is ample – customers are able to drive through Bovoni (well, ride through Bovoni, as a passenger only while using a cell phone, of course), cruise around St. John, and even chit-chat in several of St. Croix’s former dead zones without a “Can you hear me now?” moment. Phones no longer rival their 1980s counterparts – updated inventory includes handsets such as Samsung’s Galaxy S, the waterproof Xplorer by Samsung, and even the state-of-the art BlackBerry Torch in a variety of colors. Customers are now able to text, talk, and download while in the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, stateside and even abroad, thanks to partnerships with T-Mobile, AT&T and several foreign providers. The network has been tested from Argentina to Spain, and several countries in between, with only minor complaints regarding service. Most complaints were easily rectified with a bit of customer education.
Innovative’s wireless network supports more than just phones. The wireless locations also carry Samsung’s Galaxy Tab – a device that fills the gap between cell phone and laptop computer. With a display screen about seven inches wide, it can be used to update files, surf the net, and stream video and music. Plus, Innovative is the only provider in the territory that allows voice service on a tablet device. Innovative also carries MobileNet – a small modem that can plug into a laptop and connect to the Internet via Innovative’s 3G network (also called “air cards” or “data cards” by other providers). Download and upload speeds have been tested at over three megabytes using the MobileNet device, though those speeds do vary based on time-of-day, traffic on the network and other conditions.
Innovative has invested millions of dollars into a network that can rival national providers in terms of variety of devices and quality of service while providing customer service and solutions like only a local provider can.
For more information about Innovative’s new wireless product, visit www.innovativevi.net (Innovative’s new, and much-improved Web site), or check out one of the retail locations on St. Thomas at Nisky Center or Tutu Park, in St. John’s Marketplace, or on St. Croix at Sunny Isle/Estate Diamond or in Plaza Extra West.
