How is T-Mobile cell service?

[Zenmervolt]

T-Mobile's network is set up to capture a maximum of customers with a minimum of infrastructure. This is the same network plan pioneered (in the US anyway) by Sprint, and later adopted by Nextel and other companies like AT&T and Cingulair. The network covers major population centers and major traffic thoroughfares while ignoring rural areas because those areas are expensive to cover and have much lower population densities.

T-Mobile is also hampered by their use of GSM instead of CDMA. CDMA is a newer technology that provides a higher bandwidth for voice transmission and offers increased call clarity.

That said, T-Mobile has _exceptional_ customer service, and their GSM network is superior to the other GSM providers' networks (though technically inferior to CDMA networks). If you're in a major metropolitan area, T-Mobile will be a great provider. The service isn't by any means bad as long as you're in a coverage area. Just stay away from T-Mobile if you live in a rural area or if you frequently travel through areas that are not heavily trafficed because other providers will have superior coverage in those situations.

The company I'm working for right now offers both Verizon and T-Mobile phones to its executives. Those who travel extensively throughout the US typically choose Verizon because of better coverage in outlying areas, while those who travel often to Europe choose T-Mobile because Europe's infrastructure is almost exclusively GSM.

ZV

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
T-Mobile's network is set up to capture a maximum of customers with a minimum of infrastructure. This is the same network plan pioneered (in the US anyway) by Sprint, and later adopted by Nextel and other companies like AT&T and Cingulair. The network covers major population centers and major traffic thoroughfares while ignoring rural areas because those areas are expensive to cover and have much lower population densities.

T-Mobile is also hampered by their use of GSM instead of CDMA. CDMA is a newer technology that provides a higher bandwidth for voice transmission and offers increased call clarity.

That said, T-Mobile has _exceptional_ customer service, and their GSM network is superior to the other GSM providers' networks (though technically inferior to CDMA networks). If you're in a major metropolitan area, T-Mobile will be a great provider. The service isn't by any means bad as long as you're in a coverage area. Just stay away from T-Mobile if you live in a rural area or if you frequently travel through areas that are not heavily trafficed because other providers will have superior coverage in those situations.

The company I'm working for right now offers both Verizon and T-Mobile phones to its executives. Those who travel extensively throughout the US typically choose Verizon because of better coverage in outlying areas, while those who travel often to Europe choose T-Mobile because Europe's infrastructure is almost exclusively GSM.

ZV

GSM is far more clear than what I used at Cingular (non-GSM) and Sprint (PCS). Who uses CDMA?

Best of all, I LOVE knowing I am finally on the same frequency as the rest of the fvcking world. Fvck the United States having to be different while the REST of the world uses some other standard. I literally can turn off my phone, get on an airplane to Germany or to a Greek island, turn it on, and SMS my friends in California or call my mom at work in Washington. All completely clear with 5 bars of signal strength! Yes, on a Greek island 4 hours southeast of Athens!!!

Someday the US will completely get on the same page as everyone else and adopt GSM completely. Those providers like Verizon that have not adopted GSM will have no choice but to catch up or die!

*Note, I work for the German government. Meaning, I spend at least 6 weeks per year on business in Germany, and I like supporting the economy that signs my paychecks.

 

[Tiamat]

Really depends were you live/use the phone. Here in Boston, I have never had an issue with Tmobile with exception to the one time they were doing maintanence on their towers (for which i got reimbursed upon complaint). My girlfriend uses Cingular/AT&T and hasnt stopped complaining to me about how it isnt as good as tmobile ever since she had to switch (she was using tmobile, then parents wanted Family plan with AT&T).

A few of my friends use Sprint, and that too is pretty shady in Boston, although it is slowly improving.
Verizon is on par with Tmobile here. Everywhere in the city Tmobile has reception, verizon does as well, and vice versa.

 

[blurredvision]

Thank you GTaudiophile for the info. I've about decided to definitely order from Amazon, as I wouldn't get anywhere near the rebates if I ordered local from a store. I'll spend the same amount of money, but I'll be getting a nice chunk of change back (all of it basically with most phones I've looked at) around Jan/Feb.

Zenmervolt, here is a coverage map of my area. I currently live in the heart of Richmond, so I'm every bit on that dot. The only place I would be concerned of getting service is Irvine (and even then, I only visit there 1 every couple of months). I've marked Irvine on the map based roughly on where it's at. My friend who has service with T-Mobile said he was getting 1 to 2 bars of service most of the way to Floyd county, which I've also roughly marked. Note that Irvine's saying is "Where the Bluegrass Kisses the Mountains", which that Floyd county is very much INTO the mountains 🙂.

Also, I work in Lexington, so 99% of my time is spent in Richmond or Lexington. I would think I'm looking good as far as coverage is concerned, wouldn't you? Thanks for your reply.

 

[Kroze]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
T-Mobile's network is set up to capture a maximum of customers with a minimum of infrastructure. This is the same network plan pioneered (in the US anyway) by Sprint, and later adopted by Nextel and other companies like AT&T and Cingulair. The network covers major population centers and major traffic thoroughfares while ignoring rural areas because those areas are expensive to cover and have much lower population densities.

T-Mobile is also hampered by their use of GSM instead of CDMA. CDMA is a newer technology that provides a higher bandwidth for voice transmission and offers increased call clarity.

That said, T-Mobile has _exceptional_ customer service, and their GSM network is superior to the other GSM providers' networks (though technically inferior to CDMA networks). If you're in a major metropolitan area, T-Mobile will be a great provider. The service isn't by any means bad as long as you're in a coverage area. Just stay away from T-Mobile if you live in a rural area or if you frequently travel through areas that are not heavily trafficed because other providers will have superior coverage in those situations.

The company I'm working for right now offers both Verizon and T-Mobile phones to its executives. Those who travel extensively throughout the US typically choose Verizon because of better coverage in outlying areas, while those who travel often to Europe choose T-Mobile because Europe's infrastructure is almost exclusively GSM.

ZV

GSM is far more clear than what I used at Cingular (non-GSM) and Sprint (PCS). Who uses CDMA?

Best of all, I LOVE knowing I am finally on the same frequency as the rest of the fvcking world. Fvck the United States having to be different while the REST of the world uses some other standard. I literally can turn off my phone, get on an airplane to Germany or to a Greek island, turn it on, and SMS my friends in California or call my mom at work in Washington. All completely clear with 5 bars of signal strength! Yes, on a Greek island 4 hours southeast of Athens!!!

Someday the US will completely get on the same page as everyone else and adopt GSM completely. Those providers like Verizon that have not adopted GSM will have no choice but to catch up or die!

*Note, I work for the German government. Meaning, I spend at least 6 weeks per year on business in Germany, and I like supporting the economy that signs my paychecks.

I hear you on that about US not adopting standards that the rest of the world is using. It's so fVcking stupid. is it a penile size issue that you have to do things the hard way just to be different than the rest of the world???

i hate the standard system bs. help me find the 3/8 wrench, no no no, 1/16, no 5/8 etc...

omfg. i hate it so much compare to the metric where it's numbered from 1mm to whatever mm.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
T-Mobile's network is set up to capture a maximum of customers with a minimum of infrastructure. This is the same network plan pioneered (in the US anyway) by Sprint, and later adopted by Nextel and other companies like AT&T and Cingulair. The network covers major population centers and major traffic thoroughfares while ignoring rural areas because those areas are expensive to cover and have much lower population densities.

T-Mobile is also hampered by their use of GSM instead of CDMA. CDMA is a newer technology that provides a higher bandwidth for voice transmission and offers increased call clarity.

That said, T-Mobile has _exceptional_ customer service, and their GSM network is superior to the other GSM providers' networks (though technically inferior to CDMA networks). If you're in a major metropolitan area, T-Mobile will be a great provider. The service isn't by any means bad as long as you're in a coverage area. Just stay away from T-Mobile if you live in a rural area or if you frequently travel through areas that are not heavily trafficed because other providers will have superior coverage in those situations.

The company I'm working for right now offers both Verizon and T-Mobile phones to its executives. Those who travel extensively throughout the US typically choose Verizon because of better coverage in outlying areas, while those who travel often to Europe choose T-Mobile because Europe's infrastructure is almost exclusively GSM.

ZV

GSM is far more clear than what I used at Cingular (non-GSM) and Sprint (PCS). Who uses CDMA?

Best of all, I LOVE knowing I am finally on the same frequency as the rest of the fvcking world. Fvck the United States having to be different while the REST of the world uses some other standard. I literally can turn off my phone, get on an airplane to Germany or to a Greek island, turn it on, and SMS my friends in California or call my mom at work in Washington. All completely clear with 5 bars of signal strength! Yes, on a Greek island 4 hours southeast of Athens!!!

Someday the US will completely get on the same page as everyone else and adopt GSM completely. Those providers like Verizon that have not adopted GSM will have no choice but to catch up or die!

*Note, I work for the German government. Meaning, I spend at least 6 weeks per year on business in Germany, and I like supporting the economy that signs my paychecks.

CDMA is used by Verizon and Alltel.

CDMA is also, for all practical purposes, impossible to intercept or use to locate a phone beyond triangluation with cell towers and their ability to receive the phone's signal. GSM is far easier to intercept and decode, and the phone's location can be tracked much more precisely. This has to do with the way the signal is transmitted. CDMA divides the signal across multiple channels which means that each individual signal essentially fades in with the background "noise" of transmission.

As far as being on the same signal as the rest of the world, why be overjoyed about using the same outdated and insecure technology as the rest of the world?

Using GSM is not "catching up", it's backdating to an inferior technology that offers lower-quality voice transmission and slower data rates.

ZV

EDIT: GSM is cheaper to implement, which is the real reason that many carriers use it. As for the US choice of CDMA being a "penile size issue", it should be noted that it is Europe in this case that steadfastly refuses to use a newer technology simply because CDMA is an American invention (GSM was developed in Europe). This is not a case of the US being stubborn. It's a case of the US choosing the more advanced technology and Europe dragging its heels because it can't stand the idea of using an American system.

 

[Jzero]

The coverage is fine. The customer service is abysmal.

I was threatened by a T-Mobile rep (I have a police report to back this up). They never even apologized.

They overbilled me more than $100 and have not made good on it despite numerous requests.

When my then-fiancee tried to move her account into my name, the CSR never faxed the doc. We were told when we had the form re-faxed, she would be credited back to the date on the original COR form. It was not. After a lot of waiting on hold and being passed from CSR to CSR, they credited that account $20 (they owed us $50) and then closed it so that no further credits can be made.

T-Mobile currently owes me over $140 and a goddam apology for their awful service. I'm not holding my breath. Oh and look! My contract just expired two weeks ago. It's now been over a year (the overbilling occurred from DAY ONE due to a reseller SNAFU and T-Mobile has refused to credit me back. What's worse - it was for Sidekick data service on a phone that is NOT a Sidekick. They have proof of this AND they have proof that ZERO GPRS packets were ever transmitted to that phone - it's all there in the bills!).

The coverage seems great, but I'm not sure it's worth the cost.

 

[Gibson486]

I have had tmobile for about 5 years (ever since it was voicestream). I have never had a problem and i rarely drop calls. Customer Service has been really good for me (never had to wait long to get issue resolved). One time, I had an issue with my voicemail box (it would speak in spanish, not english) and they gave me a month free just for that inconvience. Coverage has been good everywhere I have went except the South East US (Florida, Georgia), but when I got the the south East US, it usually turns into the cingular network, but that said, coverage in the South East is pretty bad with GSM.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
Really depends were you live/use the phone. Here in Boston, I have never had an issue with Tmobile with exception to the one time they were doing maintanence on their towers (for which i got reimbursed upon complaint). My girlfriend uses Cingular/AT&T and hasnt stopped complaining to me about how it isnt as good as tmobile ever since she had to switch (she was using tmobile, then parents wanted Family plan with AT&T).

A few of my friends use Sprint, and that too is pretty shady in Boston, although it is slowly improving.
Verizon is on par with Tmobile here. Everywhere in the city Tmobile has reception, verizon does as well, and vice versa.

yeah, Sprint is pretty iffy here in boston. I don't get how they could have such medicore coverage in a city like boston.

 

[CVSiN]

Originally posted by: blurredvision
I've been thinking of getting a cell phone for quite a while now, but most places require for me to put down the minimum deposit in order to sign up. Apparently I have almost good credit, but not good enough. A friend recently went to T-Mobile and was able to get a phone with deposit, and was told that for those customers who typically have to put down a minimum deposit at places like Cingular regularly did not have to pay a deposit for T-Mobile. So I headed out today to check, and sure enough, they want me to pay a big larger activation fee, but only a few dollars more.

Now that I actually have an option for a cell provider, anyone with (or had) T-Mobile want to talk me in or out of going with them? I'm not super thrilled with their coverage maps around my location, but I'm hardly ever in the places that are marked "No Coverage". Also, my friend had went back home for the holidays, and was impressed with the coverage he received well into the mountains and the "No Coverage" area mapped out by T-Mobile.

So, anyone have any thoughts? I still need to double check with other providers to ensure I would still require a deposit. Since I've checked a couple of months ago, I've paid off an outstanding debt, and just paid off my 60 month car loan, so who knows?

love my t mobile account...
unlimited internet.. unlimited nights and weekends.. for 50 bucks..

 

[CVSiN]

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
its ok, the service is inexpensive, but i often get echoes or static in my calls. Its quite annoying.

thats your cheapo phone =P

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: Jzero
The coverage is fine. The customer service is abysmal.

I was threatened by a T-Mobile rep (I have a police report to back this up). They never even apologized.

They overbilled me more than $100 and have not made good on it despite numerous requests.

When my then-fiancee tried to move her account into my name, the CSR never faxed the doc. We were told when we had the form re-faxed, she would be credited back to the date on the original COR form. It was not. After a lot of waiting on hold and being passed from CSR to CSR, they credited that account $20 (they owed us $50) and then closed it so that no further credits can be made.

T-Mobile currently owes me over $140 and a goddam apology for their awful service. I'm not holding my breath. Oh and look! My contract just expired two weeks ago. It's now been over a year (the overbilling occurred from DAY ONE due to a reseller SNAFU and T-Mobile has refused to credit me back. What's worse - it was for Sidekick data service on a phone that is NOT a Sidekick. They have proof of this AND they have proof that ZERO GPRS packets were ever transmitted to that phone - it's all there in the bills!).

The coverage seems great, but I'm not sure it's worth the cost.

You really got some bad luck there!

TMO gave me like a $20 credit just because the process of moving my number from Sprint to TMO took more than three days!

 

[geecee]

No complaints about T-mobile here. The only weird thing is that I almost always get a great signal (i.e. 4-5 bars) or NO signal. Strange. I rarely ever get a weak signal.

EDIT: BTW, I live in a city so the service, aside from the occasional dead spot, is fine. I've run into a few places a little more remote where the service does not work at all (i.e. Vermont, southwest NJ).

 

[whoiswes]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I :heart: TMO! I have been VERY pleased with their CS. Their domestic coverage can be lacking in suburban areas, but they are VERY good in Germany/Europe. No trouble using my service over there. I've never had coverage issues in urban areas.

I joined TMO about this time last year via Amazon.com. After all the rebates and such, Amazon ended up paying me $20 for a Sony Ericsson T610 and Jabra Bluetooth headset.

i just did the same thing two months ago. for 400 shared minutes a month (unlimited between the 5 lines we have) i'm paying -$36 (yes, that's NEGATIVE) a month when you do the math for the entire year...

we've been pretty happy with TMo so far - the whole free-then-not-free WAP fiasco was a pain, but thankfully i barely ever used it. we get excellent reception in our area (KC, MO). the only thing that sucks is there is no backup analog coverage - once you lose digital, you don't have a phone anymore.

in any case, we've only had wireless for almost three years now - don't regret it one bit.