Thinking of ditching Verizon wireless.

[SketchMaster]

I'm playing with the idea of getting a smart phone since my life has now gotten busy enough that I have need for one and not just another a boy toy. I hate how Verizon likes to neuter their phones and no SIM chip is a pain, plus it looks like I could get a better plan since I don't really talk that much on my phone. (max was 200 min a month)

So I'm wondering what you guys have found that worked for you.

I'm looking for phone that has four things:

Is a easy to use, yet flexible smart phone that has a good community behind it for apps and other fun stuff. (If it 'ant broke, make it better! )

A reliable network that has a good voice/text plan. As odd as it may seem I don't really care about net/email access (right now), I want a phone that is easy to input data onto and don't want to carry a phone AND PDA around with me.

Wifi would be nice, since I have it at home and work I may as well make use of it.

T-Mobile's VOIP phone (or what ever they call it) looked neat, would be nice to have since once again I could make use of it at home and work.

Those are the main things I'm looking for, I'm willing to spend ~$250 for the phone. And yes, the iPhone crossed my mind but the plan is not what I want/need right now. Besides, you know in a few months they will have another iPhone out to piss all of us off again.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

i ditched VZW for T-mobile, and haven't looked back. it was worth the $175 ETF.

 

[fLum0x]

maybe it is just my locations, but AT&T sucks massive ass compared to verizon's coverage around here. Kind of upset that i switched and it is so bad.

 

[GeekDrew]

I personally prefer AT&T to VZW. I have a Treo 680 -- it doesn't have Wifi, but meets your other requirements. If you sign a contract with AT&T, see how much an AT&T Tilt is -- pretty much their best phone right now. I love it.

Oh, and you probably should have posted this in Gadgets, Gear, and Phones.

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: fLum0x
maybe it is just my locations, but AT&T sucks massive ass compared to verizon's coverage around here. Kind of upset that i switched and it is so bad.

It could be your location(s), and could also be your phone. Do other AT&T phones have reception issues at the same sites?

 

[ballmode]

depends on your location

 

[BigJ]

Before doing that I would check how your coverage is with other carriers in your area.

Around here, Verizon completely blows away Sprint, AT&T/Cingular, and T-Mobile. My family has experience with all of the 4 carriers and Verizon is the only one that gave us a consistent, quality signal compared to the others.

That being said, they're quite expensive compared to the other providers. So if coverage is similar, I say ditch 'em.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

AT&T, BlackJack II

 

[LtPage1]

I'm switching from Verizon to AT&T when my contract runs out this summer. I've had nothing but good experiences with coverage signal, and customer support- but man I want an iPhone.

 

[OdiN]

I have Verizon. I have had Verizon since they were GTE. Always excellent service and my signal is always good. I have a Treo 700w.

 

[imported_Mike]

Questions like these are pointless unfortunately. It almost entirely depends on your location. You should pose the same question to friends/coworkers. I had ATT and switched to Verizon. Coverage is the same in my area so it was not an issue.

 

[SketchMaster]

Originally posted by: Mike
Questions like these are pointless unfortunately. It almost entirely depends on your location. You should pose the same question to friends/coworkers. I had ATT and switched to Verizon. Coverage is the same in my area so it was not an issue.

Doesn't matter what service I go for, no one gets a good signal at my house. AT&T and T-Mobile look like they give the same coverage as verizon at my hose (2bars at best) so it really comes down to customer service, price and what phones they offer.

 

[pm]

Get an iPhone, hack it, and go T-Mobile.

The "hack" right now involves downloading a Windows program, checking a couple of boxes and then hitting the unlock button and takes less than 5 minutes. The hacked version comes with literally hundreds of apps that are an easy "installer" icon away from installation. And in a few months when Apple comes out with a new version, Ebay your hacked iPhone to Europeans who will pay you more for it than you paid originally and get one of the new ones. If you want to undo the software hacks, just hit "restore" under iTunes and it will turn it back into a regular unhacked phone again.

http://www.downloadziphone.org/

(and, lest anyone question how legal this is... unlocking iPhones is legal in the US for the next year or so under DMCA anti-circumvention exception #5, and AT&T and/or Apple do not ask for a commitment or contract when selling the iPhone... you don't sign or commit to anything)

 

[kedlav]

Ditched VzW about three months ago for Sprint (SERO ftmtfw). I picked up a Mogul, currently running with Touchflo (+Home of course, hence I'm not hindered by the shitty default Winblows interface), Slingbox, GoogleMaps, etc. All for $30/mo.

 

[QueBert]

I left Verizon after a few years, my Moto Q broke 3 times, I know it's not their fault but they didn't seem to want to do anything but give me another Q. They actually charged me 50 bucks for one of them (I have insurance) the 3rd break I expected them to offer me credit towards a different phone, but they offered me... another Q. I left and just got AT&T, not the best service around here, but better than T-Mobile, picked up a GSM phone off Craigslist and it seems okay. They offer free calling to all AT&T customers even land line ones with their new unity service. Most people I know have AT&T home phone so it might work out.

The selection of GSM phones is just outstanding, the stores don't have really a good selection but once you get into unlocked phones from other countries MAN there's a lot. I use to love CDMA, and I still prefer the call quality over GSM.

 

[lurk3r]

All phone companies suck, pick the one that sucks the least in your area. VZW does have a Samsung i730, I like it, fairly large touch screen, keyboard slides out the bottom of the phone, has WiFi. The phone is on its way out, its kinda big, you should be able to grab one cheap. Last year I got mine on the new every 2 for $100.

 

[randomlinh]

I want to leave verizon.. but everyone has it essentially, and coverage is great for me. it's just the phones suck ass. at&t would be next in line, but they would need to have an unlimited $50 plan.

 

[redice]

I just left Verizon for ATT...got out of the ETF too.

 

[SheauxDown]

I'm in the same dilemma, but I find myself going back to the same point: what good is a phone if you can't get service? Verizon has the best service where I live, and as to my understand the best overall 3G rollout in the US (Sprint's got WiMax and EVDO Rev A, but their service is spotty as to my understanding; AT&T's HSDPA isn't all over the map like EVDO is; T-Mobile barely has a 3G network at all). The phones might not be the absolute greatest, but at the end of the day, just like Verizon says, it's all about the network.