Cingular v Verizion

[MiranoPoncho]

In the market for a cellphone plan, it's taken my dad 8 years to try to get one, as he is afraid he will not know how to use it, and it causes brain cancer. Anywho, I was wondering, sience verizion is in our aerea, as well as is Cingular, for the family plan, 70 a month, which is better for our needs?
Currentley we are using an mci card, 30 a month, and a regfular analog phone for about 36, long distence not included. Slightly more payments, yes, but we're missing many calls and its just plain inconvient when We are within the same vicinity of eachother but know not for a ride due to lack of communication.

 

[cruiser1338]

TMobile is way better than either of them. And the rates are lower I think for Family Plans.

 

[HyTekJosh]

I like VZW beacuse of coverage and EVDO.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: HyTekJosh
I like VZW beacuse of coverage and EVDO.

EV-DO > *.*

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

http://www.phonescoop.com

http://www.howardforums.com

 

[alm99]

Originally posted by: cruiser1338
TMobile is way better than either of them. And the rates are lower I think for Family Plans.

Maybe in your area of massachusetts TMobile has acceptable service, but here in Central NY their service is terrible. Unless you are on the thruway or Rt 81 forget about having any service with TMobile.

Edited for spelling

 

[CalamitySymphony]

Simple.

Cingular is GSM 850/1900. That means you get to use cool new phones from Asia/Europe. (Samsung D600, W800i, K750, Nokia N90 etc etc), just stick in your sim card. Make sure you do get a Quad band phone if you want maximum reception though. (Samsung D600 is great).

Cingular also has huge coverage, and reception is awesome as well.

Verizon if you want the everyday crappy bulky and ugly Moto phones. However, you do get I believe, the best reception everywhere. (My Moto Razr V3 gets no reception on Cingular INSIDE mall in the middle of nowhere, while my friend's Verizon phone gets 1 bar.) Outside the mall is full reception, so there is difference in penetration as well.

With Cingular, your phone can be a world phone also... and you get Roll Over minutes, which are pretty awesome.

Forget T-Mobile. Worst coverage in the US. Almost NO building penetration. I've had T-Mobile, and everywhere I go, I get no signal or inferior signal compared toa someone else's Cingular/Verizon. This is in Massachusetts/ Boston Area.. even next to cities! (Which is unforgiveable, aka Cambridge)

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: CalamitySymphony
Simple.

Cingular is GSM 850/1900. That means you get to use cool new phones from Asia/Europe. (Samsung D600, W800i, K750, Nokia N90 etc etc), just stick in your sim card. Make sure you do get a Quad band phone if you want maximum reception though. (Samsung D600 is great).

Cingular also has huge coverage, and reception is awesome as well.

Verizon if you want the everyday crappy bulky and ugly Moto phones. However, you do get I believe, the best reception everywhere. (My Moto Razr V3 gets no reception on Cingular INSIDE mall in the middle of nowhere, while my friend's Verizon phone gets 1 bar.) Outside the mall is full reception, so there is difference in penetration as well.

With Cingular, your phone can be a world phone also... and you get Roll Over minutes, which are pretty awesome.

Forget T-Mobile. Worst coverage in the US. Almost NO building penetration. I've had T-Mobile, and everywhere I go, I get no signal or inferior signal compared toa someone else's Cingular/Verizon. This is in Massachusetts/ Boston Area.. even next to cities! (Which is unforgiveable, aka Cambridge)

I haven't ever had problems with T-Mobile, coast to coast.

 

[suse920]

Originally posted by: alm99

Originally posted by: cruiser1338
TMobile is way better than either of them. And the rates are lower I think for Family Plans.

Maybe in your area of massachusetts TMobile has acceptable service, but here in Central NY their service is terrible. Unless you are on the thruway or Rt 81 forget about having any service with TMobile.

Edited for spelling

Even in MA VZ is the way to go.

 

[Juno]

i was in finger lakes last spring and tmobile coverage was poor. i don't think it's highly recommended.

 

[alm99]

There are parts of central NY where Cingular will not get service, i.e next to lakes, most of the Syracuse Campus, the Adirondacks. There is one spot in NY besides the Adirondacks in NY where there is no service, but a tower will be up soon and that is in Deruyter, NY. A small town in the middle of no where.

 

[suse920]

Originally posted by: Nik

Originally posted by: CalamitySymphony
Simple.

Cingular is GSM 850/1900. That means you get to use cool new phones from Asia/Europe. (Samsung D600, W800i, K750, Nokia N90 etc etc), just stick in your sim card. Make sure you do get a Quad band phone if you want maximum reception though. (Samsung D600 is great).

Cingular also has huge coverage, and reception is awesome as well.

Verizon if you want the everyday crappy bulky and ugly Moto phones. However, you do get I believe, the best reception everywhere. (My Moto Razr V3 gets no reception on Cingular INSIDE mall in the middle of nowhere, while my friend's Verizon phone gets 1 bar.) Outside the mall is full reception, so there is difference in penetration as well.

With Cingular, your phone can be a world phone also... and you get Roll Over minutes, which are pretty awesome.

Forget T-Mobile. Worst coverage in the US. Almost NO building penetration. I've had T-Mobile, and everywhere I go, I get no signal or inferior signal compared toa someone else's Cingular/Verizon. This is in Massachusetts/ Boston Area.. even next to cities! (Which is unforgiveable, aka Cambridge)

I haven't ever had problems with T-Mobile, coast to coast.

Ugh it stopped working just after the NH line for me, but that was 3 years ago. I know for a fact that they have terrible to no service in Maine still

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: CalamitySymphony
Simple.

Cingular is GSM 850/1900. That means you get to use cool new phones from Asia/Europe. (Samsung D600, W800i, K750, Nokia N90 etc etc), just stick in your sim card. Make sure you do get a Quad band phone if you want maximum reception though. (Samsung D600 is great).

Cingular also has huge coverage, and reception is awesome as well.

Verizon if you want the everyday crappy bulky and ugly Moto phones. However, you do get I believe, the best reception everywhere. (My Moto Razr V3 gets no reception on Cingular INSIDE mall in the middle of nowhere, while my friend's Verizon phone gets 1 bar.) Outside the mall is full reception, so there is difference in penetration as well.

With Cingular, your phone can be a world phone also... and you get Roll Over minutes, which are pretty awesome.

Forget T-Mobile. Worst coverage in the US. Almost NO building penetration. I've had T-Mobile, and everywhere I go, I get no signal or inferior signal compared toa someone else's Cingular/Verizon. This is in Massachusetts/ Boston Area.. even next to cities! (Which is unforgiveable, aka Cambridge)

You apparently live in the wrong area then. In Seattle my t-mobile phone almost always has better reception than friends cingular and verizon phone. You have to go WAAAAY out into the mountains before the verizon beats the t-mo in coverage.

And yes, t-mo does have the best family plans out there, my wife and I love ours. Since that is not an option for the op, I would choose cingular only because I hate them less than verizon. I have never seriously considered either so I can't make a real informed decision.

-spike

 

[alm99]

Originally posted by: CalamitySymphony
Simple.

Cingular is GSM 850/1900. That means you get to use cool new phones from Asia/Europe. (Samsung D600, W800i, K750, Nokia N90 etc etc), just stick in your sim card. Make sure you do get a Quad band phone if you want maximum reception though. (Samsung D600 is great).

Cingular also has huge coverage, and reception is awesome as well.

Verizon if you want the everyday crappy bulky and ugly Moto phones. However, you do get I believe, the best reception everywhere. (My Moto Razr V3 gets no reception on Cingular INSIDE mall in the middle of nowhere, while my friend's Verizon phone gets 1 bar.) Outside the mall is full reception, so there is difference in penetration as well.

With Cingular, your phone can be a world phone also... and you get Roll Over minutes, which are pretty awesome.

Forget T-Mobile. Worst coverage in the US. Almost NO building penetration. I've had T-Mobile, and everywhere I go, I get no signal or inferior signal compared toa someone else's Cingular/Verizon. This is in Massachusetts/ Boston Area.. even next to cities! (Which is unforgiveable, aka Cambridge)

If you have rollover minutes routinely month to month you are on too high of a plan. Basically you are paying too much for service you do not use. The Razr will be out, or rumored to be out at christmas for Verizon Wireless.

 

[hemiram]

I've had Verison, and Alltel and was unhappy with both, especially Verison. Lots of dropped calls and bizzarre messages left all the time.

A couple of years ago I bought a new cellphone from AT&T, and soon after they were bought by Cingular. I'm very happy,
it's not perfect, but I can get a decent signal in places that co workers cellphones can't even get service in. I have NEVER had a
dropped call. Sure some sound really bad, but they don't drop.

My contract is up, and I will be getting a new free phone soon, and staying with Cingular...

 

[0roo0roo]

what cheap phones came with it?

 

[RichieZ]

Originally posted by: HyTekJosh
I like VZW beacuse of coverage and EVDO.

ANd how much does EVDO cost? $60/month if you sign up for 2 yrs, otherwise $80.

MediaNet Unlimited + Sony Ericson GC83 PC card = $20 for unlimited EDGE!

 

[Ornery]

He said he needed a Family Plan.

Reception is everything. Where do you live & travel? See what the coverage like is in those areas. Do your friends & family use a particular provider? Could make a HUGE difference in the number of minutes required every month. Not to mention, there's a reason they're using a particular plan. If it's because of the "cool phone features", weight their opinion VERY lightly! Ask specifically about reception first & foremost.

 

[geckojohn]

Originally posted by: cruiser1338
Verizon is way better than either of them.

Agreed

 

[lobadobadingdong]

Originally posted by: Nik

Originally posted by: CalamitySymphony
Simple.

Cingular is GSM 850/1900. That means you get to use cool new phones from Asia/Europe. (Samsung D600, W800i, K750, Nokia N90 etc etc), just stick in your sim card. Make sure you do get a Quad band phone if you want maximum reception though. (Samsung D600 is great).

Cingular also has huge coverage, and reception is awesome as well.

Verizon if you want the everyday crappy bulky and ugly Moto phones. However, you do get I believe, the best reception everywhere. (My Moto Razr V3 gets no reception on Cingular INSIDE mall in the middle of nowhere, while my friend's Verizon phone gets 1 bar.) Outside the mall is full reception, so there is difference in penetration as well.

With Cingular, your phone can be a world phone also... and you get Roll Over minutes, which are pretty awesome.

Forget T-Mobile. Worst coverage in the US. Almost NO building penetration. I've had T-Mobile, and everywhere I go, I get no signal or inferior signal compared toa someone else's Cingular/Verizon. This is in Massachusetts/ Boston Area.. even next to cities! (Which is unforgiveable, aka Cambridge)

I haven't ever had problems with T-Mobile, coast to coast.

I did, get off the beaten paths even a little and signal goes bye bye. (best customer service though, just mediocre coverage)

 

[Mo0o]

Rollover ftw

 

[Captante]

Verizon is pricy, but having driven across the country a bunch of times AND had phones from T-Mobile, Sprint, Cingular, Nextel & Verizon over the years I can say from experience that overall their reception is by far the best, however if you don't travel much & T-Mobile has decent reception in your area I think they have the cheapest deal at the moment.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: MiranoPoncho
In the market for a cellphone plan, it's taken my dad 8 years to try to get one, as he is afraid he will not know how to use it, and it causes brain cancer. Anywho, I was wondering, sience verizion is in our aerea, as well as is Cingular, for the family plan, 70 a month, which is better for our needs?
Currentley we are using an mci card, 30 a month, and a regfular analog phone for about 36, long distence not included. Slightly more payments, yes, but we're missing many calls and its just plain inconvient when We are within the same vicinity of eachother but know not for a ride due to lack of communication.

Your profile says you are from NY, but it doesn't say where, so my advise would be to visit Howardforums like Nik said, and ask about coverage in your area of NY in the Cingular & Verizon forums.

Your next step should be to go to both stores, and ask for coverage maps for your area, and for places you travel to frequently. Make sure the Cingular map is current, as Cingular & Tmobile used to share towers, but Cingular canceled the agreement back in the summer. A very dumb move IMO, because they did it before they finished upgrading the NY & NJ area.

If you find coverage to be about the same as I did, then you look at phones. Cingular will win this one hands down, as you can use any gsm phone with them. If you travel overseas, be sure and get a quad band phone, so it will work there too.

Features should be last on your list, because it sounds like you won't be paying the bill. Verizon wins this one, IMO because mobile 2 mobile text messaging is included with their family plans the last time I checked.

Good luck!