Cell Phone Carriers

[Cook1]

Looking to get a cell phone (I know I know I should have one by now!) but want to get something that has some decent coverage. I know that my parents have Verizion and if they go a few miles out of the cities they can't make calls and such.

I know that most of the $39.99 plans are the same, so that's not an issue, just something with decent range.

Thanks guys

 

[Rallispec]

I have never not had reception using Verizon. I do a fair amount of travel too.

 

[nodoubts2k]

I say verizon, ive been in the middle of nowhere and it managed to work

 

[gotensan01]

I believe after Cingular bought out AT&t, they not only have the best coverage but also the largest market share at around 60%. I've used Tmobile for over 2 years now. I can say that they have good coverage in chicagoland area, New York city, and Urbana/Champaign.

EDIT: I did not say that Tmobile has crappy coverage elsewhere. I just stated that from personal experience, I know they work in the three areas mentioned above.

 

[JeffCos]

Verizon is best here, but they are also more expensive too. AT&T sucks, Sprint sucks more. T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile...LOL you've got to be kidding.

 

[blodhi74]

Sprint with free and clear America plan .... no roaming and a free phone

 

[gotensan01]

Originally posted by: JeffCos
Verizon is best here, but they are also more expensive too. AT&T sucks, Sprint sucks more. T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile...LOL you've got to be kidding.

My parents have Verizon and their coverage is good but not as good as tmobile by the burbs of chicago.

 

[Pepsi90919]

bell, telus

 

[mobobuff]

It really depends on your location. Certain cell companies have certain "monopolies" on certain areas depending on transmitter locations. Like in my town, Nextel has 4 towers within a 13 mile radius, so their service is really good, and you can do a lot of moving around this area and still maintain a decent connection. But with others like Sprint or Verizon, the chances of getting and maintaining a decent connection here or on the outskirts are horrible. The opposite of this scenario is true when traveling through the county adjacent to this one.

Just talk to a lot of people in your area and figure out what seems to be the best bet.

 

[gotensan01]

Originally posted by: mobobuff
It really depends on your location. Certain cell companies have certain "monopolies" on certain areas depending on transmitter locations. Like in my town, Nextel has 4 towers within a 13 mile radius, so their service is really good, and you can do a lot of moving around this area and still maintain a decent connection. But with others like Sprint or Verizon, the chances of getting and maintaining a decent connection here or on the outskirts are horrible. The opposite of this scenario is true when traveling through the county adjacent to this one.

Just talk to a lot of people in your area and figure out what seems to be the best bet.

:thumbsup:

 

[tranquilflow]

go verizon baby!

 

[Cook1]

Minneapolis MN area. I live in a sub just west of Minneapolis. If that helps any.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

if your someplace where verizon dosen't have some form of coverage you know your on the far side of hell

 

[Kerouactivist]

I would say cingular has the best coverage as far as in cities and out in the country but, generally their customer service sucks and I have had many dropped calls since the change over to all digital......

Even with all that I still stick with Cingular...I have a nation wide plan and I travel all over hell....and for that it is the best.

 

[Cook1]

Cingular doesn't offer plans in MN. Was trying them at first because they have nice phones

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: JeffCos
Verizon is best here, but they are also more expensive too. AT&T sucks, Sprint sucks more. T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile...LOL you've got to be kidding.

FYI, Virgin Mobile uses Sprint's towers/network. At any rate, I've always been very satisfied with Sprint.

 

[nan0bug]

Originally posted by: gotensan01
I believe after Cingular bought out AT&t, they not only have the best coverage but also the largest market share at around 60%. I've used Tmobile for over 2 years now. I can say that they have good coverage in chicagoland area, New York city, and Urbana/Champaign.

EDIT: I did not say that Tmobile has crappy coverage elsewhere. I just stated that from personal experience, I know they work in the three areas mentioned above.

Cingular buying out AT&T provided a lot more coverage, but at the expense of more dropped calls for whatever reason.

My AT&T phone was great until Cingular came into the picture, now I get on average 2 or 3 dropped calls a week.

 

[NutBucket]

BTW, ATT will soon be reselling phones on Sprint's Network. That will happen once the Cingular takeover is complete.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: blodhi74
Sprint with free and clear America plan .... no roaming and a free phone

Sprint has TERRIBLE coverage if you're not in a major metropolitan area or along a major freeway. Same with Nextel or T-Mobile. Look at their coverage maps and notice that they don't have coverage for areas outside of population centers or heavy travel routes. Granted, for more people this is more than enough, but it's not the kind of coverage that's going to work in rural areas.

Verizon and Alltel have the best coverage. I personally prefer Alltel, but Alltel only has a physical presense in 22 states, so if you're on the Western side of the country you will probably not be able to get Alltel service.

ZV

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: Cook1
Minneapolis MN area. I live in a sub just west of Minneapolis. If that helps any.

I don't know why your parents wouldn't be able to make call outside of the cities unless they set the phone to "home only." Just look at the map! MN is covered. Where Verizon doesn't have service in MN, they pick up Sprint PCS, Midwest Wireless, RCC Wireless, Western Wireless, Cellular 2000, Cellular Mobile Systems of St. Cloud, and probably others, all without roaming charges.

I live and work in downtown Minneapolis. I use Verizon Wireless and wouldn't choose any other. Verizon works very well for me in the metro area, and when I leave the area, I'm covered for free in the entire state, and most of the nation through America's choice. IN Calling is a real boon too, and as of midnight, IN calling applies throughout the America's Choice area, not just Verizon-owned areas. Unlike Sprint PCS customers, I don't need a $10 monthly option just to avoid roaming charges when off the network; America's choice is so good that very few people wouldn't be able to avoid roaming charges in the few areas where they apply.

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: nan0bug

Cingular buying out AT&T provided a lot more coverage, but at the expense of more dropped calls for whatever reason.

My AT&T phone was great until Cingular came into the picture, now I get on average 2 or 3 dropped calls a week.

More customers on the towers. Cingular sold their CA network to T-Mobile, for instance, so all the AT&T and Cing customers will be on what was formerly Cing towers.

 

[nan0bug]

Originally posted by: HotChic

Originally posted by: nan0bug

Cingular buying out AT&T provided a lot more coverage, but at the expense of more dropped calls for whatever reason.

My AT&T phone was great until Cingular came into the picture, now I get on average 2 or 3 dropped calls a week.

More customers on the towers. Cingular sold their CA network to T-Mobile, for instance, so all the AT&T and Cing customers will be on what was formerly Cing towers.

That explains it then.

 

[fishlet]

Check the reception through

here.

 

[dragonballgtz]

<---- Has Sprint.

Be smart and get Verizon

 

[Krk3561]

ATT works pretty good for me here