Best Wireless Provider?

[JoLLyRoGer]

So I signed up with Verizon's test drive the network for 30 days thing because I'm flat out sick of Sprint's constant coverage dropouts in places regularly drive through on my daily commute.

So far Verizon's service held up through all my usual deadspots in exchange for a couple of new ones although I only had 1 dropped call with Verizon where I'd usually have 5-6 dropouts with Sprint traveling the same route.

OTOH, I think Sprints vocoders "sound" better. I don't think Verizon places "comfort noise" on the line so when there is a pause in the conversation it sounds like a dropped call.

Before I had Sprint I had Alltel and I was pretty happy with them but that was when I lived in Tucson 'proper' and after talking with some people who are on Alltel around here I'm gathering they have coverage dropouts similar to Sprint's (maybe they share the same towers with Sprint).

So coverage aside because I don't really expect anyone here to be intimately familiar with dead zones in Southern AZ, Who's the best network based on Service Plans, Features, Natonwide Roaming, Nights and Weekends etc.



Here is what I like about each carrier.

Sprint:
Not much to brag about. Phones sound good when they work, many of my friends are on Sprint so in-network calling is free. I like having evenings starting at 7:00pm. Nationwide roaming is a plus because I travel for work some.

Verizon:
So far they seem to have the best coverage map in the local area and they offer a few smart phones I like but that's about it... The Unlimited Calling plan would be good if it were just my phone but I use a shared plan right now and we never go over anyway.

Alltel:
Had a good experience with them before. Coverage is sketchy like Sprint (which is the whole reasons I'm looking to switch). My entire family outside of my household uses Alltel so all of those calls would be in-network. I like the My Circle idea.

AT&T:
Have not looked into any of the GSM based providers.

 

[Gibson486]

ATT and Tobile are good, but it (more tmobile) gets spotty in some places in my area..... That said, I really like tmobile.

 

[QED]

I just switched from Verizon to Sprint and can say it certainly seems that Verizon has a bit better coverage than Sprint--at least in my area.

The strange thing is, from what I understand, Sprint and Verizon signed a contract to allow their customers to roam on the other provider's towers at no
charge-- so in theory the coverage should be pretty much the same.

 

[ThePresence]

I like Sprint.

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Originally posted by: QED
I just switched from Verizon to Sprint and can say it certainly seems that Verizon has a bit better coverage than Sprint--at least in my area.

The strange thing is, from what I understand, Sprint and Verizon signed a contract to allow their customers to roam on the other provider's towers at no
charge-- so in theory the coverage should be pretty much the same.

That's was my understanding of it as well although I can say with absolute certainty that durring my first "test drive" call, Verizon's coverage flat PWND Sprint's game driving up the same stretch of highway.

You tell me?

 

[MrBond]

I have Verizon and the amount of noise between pauses in conversation seems to vary with the phone. I had an LG VX6100 and switched to the 8300 and every time there was a break in the conversation I'd think I lost the call.

I think Verizon's data plans are pretty horrible, I've heard lots of complaints but I have a regular voice plan and don't use data, so I can't comment on that. Since it sounds like you're looking at smart phones, you may want to check into that.

I've had Verizon for 4 years now and only once did I not have coverage. We were driving in rural West Virginia on the way to go whitewater rafting and we lost the verizon phones for about 20 minutes. The Sprint phones were working, which was comforting because there was no one around if we'd have had car trouble.

Originally posted by: QED

The strange thing is, from what I understand, Sprint and Verizon signed a contract to allow their customers to roam on the other provider's towers at no
charge-- so in theory the coverage should be pretty much the same.

Verizon called that "Extended Network" for the longest time - they used Alltel a lot in rural areas. I have both a Verizon and a Sprint phone right now - I'm on Verizon's network with both of them at the moment.

 

[Turin39789]

Originally posted by: ThePresence
I like Sprint.

yea I haven't ever had a real problem with them. and sero means I will never leave while it lasts

 

[Drakkon]

Up until about July of last year I used Alltel exclusively in southern AZ. From Safford to Vail to Sonoita and Nogalas, all around Tucson, then up to Marana and everywhere in between. Never had a dropped call, never was "roaming", and was pretty pleased with the service. Specifically dropped TMobile because there coverage in Vail and down near sonoita/nogalas was crap.

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

All I really do with Data is keep up with e-mail and some light texting. Once in a while I'll snap a picture of something when I'm on a business trip and send it to my wife.

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Originally posted by: Drakkon
Up until about July of last year I used Alltel exclusively in southern AZ. From Safford to Vail to Sonoita and Nogalas, all around Tucson, then up to Marana and everywhere in between. Never had a dropped call, never was "roaming", and was pretty pleased with the service. Specifically dropped TMobile because there coverage in Vail and down near sonoita/nogalas was crap.

OMG a local who knows the terrain! How is your Alltel coverage coming up I-10 toward Benson when you hit that area passing through Davidson Canyon and then again where it gets down to that stretch of 65MPH right before you hit Moson Rd?

Also have you ever driven Charelston Rd much between Tombstone and Sierra Vista or across HWY's 80 & 82 for that matter?

 

[OutHouse]

i like T-Mobile. been with them for 4 years and have had zero issues.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Even though I work for T-Mobile, my best user experience has been from Alltel. I was with Alltel prior to starting at T-Mobile and in 5 years with Alltel, I never had even one dropped call. (This was in OH, PA, and WA though.)

If it weren't for employee pricing, I'd have never switched to T-Mobile, but for $9.99/month for 2000 minutes and unlimited data the employee plan is cheap enough to make the 2-3 dropped calls a month worth it.

My recommendation is either Verizon or Alltel.

ZV

 

[LuckyTaxi]

tmobile has awesome customer service.

 

[Scarpozzi]

It just depends on where you live....

I used to get dropped calls all the time with TMobile and Sprint.

I'm now with Verizon and get the best coverage, but the price is higher. All my friends are on Verizon so I never go over my minutes since they have free in-network calling for most of the plans.

 

[agibby5]

Originally posted by: Turin39789

Originally posted by: ThePresence
I like Sprint.

yea I haven't ever had a real problem with them. and sero means I will never leave while it lasts

Totally agree with you both

 

[Quasmo]

I like T-mobile, been with them since 2002. They have some of the best customer service in the business.

 

[JS80]

I'm crack addicted to $30 Sprint SERO. I can't pay $80/mo for cell service anymore.

 

[Anonemous]

Love Sero. For every dropped call (if there is one) you can call their automated system and get credited $.50 on your bill.

 

[Cuda1447]

Zenmervolt, I'm also a T-mob employee. Retail sales. Which department do you work in?


As for what Zen said, I'd agree that T-mob. is prob. not the best for coverage. Although their pricing is very competitive.

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: Anonemous
Love Sero. For every dropped call (if there is one) you can call their automated system and get credited $.50 on your bill.

Link to instructions?

 

[TwiceOver]

Alltel. They have the best coverage in my area. Plus (much like you) my wife's family is on Alltel.

 

[Xavier434]

I use AT&T. I switched to them from T-Mobile because of coverage issues. At the time, they were still Cingular and I found out from a friend who worked for them that they had the best coverage across the nation at the time. I was very happy when I made the switch. I also considered Verizon since they were pretty good, but they were also less bang for your buck with their plans. Currently, I have two phones and am on the family plan for AT&T so that my wife and I can share the minutes. It saves us money.

 

[Anonemous]

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: Anonemous
Love Sero. For every dropped call (if there is one) you can call their automated system and get credited $.50 on your bill.

Link to instructions?

Call *2. Listen to automated operator. When she asks for what you want? Just say: "Dropped call".

She'll something to effect, sorry for the inconvenience we'll credit you to the nearest 2 minutes (which is $.50).

(Don't abuse this, as you will be flagged and kicked off but some ppl on fatwallet/slickdeals have been able to shave $5-$15 off their bills).

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Quasmo
I like T-mobile, been with them since 2002. They have some of the best customer service in the business.

Everyone mentions this, and while I agree that T-Mobile's customer service is top notch, the reality is that in 8 years of owning a cell phone I have called customer service exactly 0 times. What would I call them about? Dropped call? That's not a CS issue. Broken phone? Never happened to me so far. Contract change? Stop by a store, much more convenient. Billing error? Hasn't happened yet.

Excellent customer service is a wonderful thing, but most people aren't going to ever use it.

To respond to Cuda, you can always look me up in Outlook. Name's in my profile.

ZV

 

[BHeemsoth]

Originally posted by: Turin39789

Originally posted by: ThePresence
I like Sprint.

yea I haven't ever had a real problem with them. and sero means I will never leave while it lasts

Same here, although I have only been using them for about three months, since I signed up for SERO.

Sprint roams for free on Verizon, and I've never dropped a call anywhere that I've traveled across New England.