Wireless Phone Service ~ Which Is Best?
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TV ClubHouse: Archive: Wireless Phone Service ~ Which Is Best?

Spygirl

Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 04:54 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I'm currently with AT&T and their coverage in this part of Kansas stinks, so I'm looking for something else.

I know there are regional differences according to coverage and plans, but I'm hoping to hear from you about what service you have and what you like about it. There seem to be some major sales going on and I can't even begin to sort through them. Are there others going through this?

I don't even know what kind of phone to get! Help!

Costacat

Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 05:50 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I was thinking this same thing the other day. I've got AT&T now and, although the cellular service is good here in San Diego (for TDMA), their GSM sux. Which I found out the hard way the day of the fires, when I didn't have cellular service out by my dad's (using my brand new cute teensy tiny phone that was changed to GSM without my knowledge). I'm back to TDMA, but I'm not real happy with the customer service I got from AT&T when I was going thru the trying to switch back dance.

So, me too!! Who do you have? Do you like 'em?

The phone's not an issue with me. I want the teensiest tinest phone I can get. Not a flip (something about long curls and flip phones just don't do it) and no antennas either. Speakerphone is a must. Color isn't. And I want ONLY a phone. I don't want a camera and a phone.

FWIW, Spygirl, I've had Nokia's for a while now -- a couple of different models -- and I've had really good luck. I mean, if you can drop (well, OK, once I kinda sorta accidentally THREW) the phone and pick it up still in one piece and it still works, well, heck, that's a well-made phone. And, being all grace and beauty that I am, I drop the danged things about once a week.

Eliz87

Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 09:02 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
We use T-Mobile, which I think is affiliated with AT&T, and we've had excellent service.

Sunrvrose

Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 09:22 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Spygirl, We have had ATT and Cingular. We moved to the boonies (foothills of the Sierra Nevadas) about 15 months ago and after about a year we finally just quit having a cell because it didn't work here at all and we were only using 10-15 min per month for 39.00. Now we have learned that Verizon works here in many places. I've also talked to many other ppl who find that verizon is the only one that works in rural areas.

The funny thing is that when we complained to cingular, before we quit, they told us that verizon uses cingular towers so cingular should be good where ever verizon is good. But it isn't. I have no idea why.

But, nothing works here at our house. We could get service with verizon if we go about 2 mi to the end of our road and stand on top of our car. Not a really helpful answer.

Bob2112

Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 10:45 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Verizon has been the most aggresive company in expanding their coverage over the last 5 years and has some nice plans that include nationwide long distance, which is something I think you would use often given all your long distance friends and travelling.

The only service that I would not recommend is Sprint PCS. They have done very little in expanding their coverage area in the last 5 years and their customer service is terrible. Many coworkers and friends have dropped Spint PCS and switched to Verizon, T-Mobile or Cingular; and not one of them is disappointed.
Cingular seems very aggressive with their marketing promotions, so you may find a great service plan there.

I would stay away from the camera phones (spend the extra money on a digital camera that will take much better pictures) and you should be able to get a phone that you like and feels good for anywhere from FREE to under $100

See if you can try some friends phones at work and at home to see how the coverage is in those areas (plus any other areas that you expect to spend much time in, like the drive to aand from work to home).

Cathie

Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 11:59 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Spygirl, I have Cingular and have used it everywhere we travel and have never had any problems with it except in Kansas (Lincoln area). We were there recently for a reunion and had to drive about 10 miles to get a good signal. I don't know if the problem is a lack of towers or too many hills in the immediate area.

Allietex

Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 12:10 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I am still with Sprint after three years and a couple of different phones. I have had excellent service with them. When I started using a cell phone I lived in a rural area and Sprint was the only one that gave consistant service. I have seen no reason to leave them since I have moved to the city.

Tess

Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 12:35 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Verizon with a nice little Nokia phone here. Service coverage getting better all the time. Love the little flip phone. Their customer service people are very nice but spotty with their accuracy. DH has Sprint because his cell phone and service are provided by his employer. We've found when travelling that one of us has service at all times....it just trades back and forth between us. Overall, when we compare notes, I'm much happier with my Verizon service than he is with his Sprint service. He loses his signal frequently while I rarely do when I'm out and about locally.

Nifty feature of the Nokia phone is the GPS if you call 911. That's very helpful for certain groups of people.

Mygetaway

Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 02:43 am EditMoveDeleteIP
My son has one of the newer Nokia's with the color screen and no antenna. He has a hard time getting a signal inside some buildings (like our house) at times. The service is with AT&T and he is happy with it the rest of the time.

Cingular has roll over minutes and *free* call forwarding (with purchase of that little stand) which might be an incentive.

Tess

Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 02:59 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Mygetaway that is a good point about not having the antenna. Neither DH or I can get service inside a large grocery store but we have no problem in Target. He can't get service in the lower level of our daughter's school but can upstairs. I can't get service inside the RainForest Cafe but can elsewhere in the Mall of America. It's seems very random.

Tess

Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 03:25 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Spy, I was just watching CNN and they said that there are still major problems with people trying to switch their cell-phone service right now possibly due to the glut caused by the new ruling that people can keep their number from company to company. These problems seem to be especially prevalent with AT&T though they claim they authorized 4500 customers to switch in the past 2 weeks. Problems at the other end also because they also say that only about 200 of those changes went through. Upshot of the report is that it would be better to hang in there for a short while and let the big companies iron out the bugs, then switch.

Or, you could live on the edge and just switch today. :)

Sasman

Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 06:14 am EditMoveDeleteIP
In my area of North Jersey my Verizon works pretty well most of the time. My parents had AT&T and couldn't use it at their house so they switched to T-Mobile and are relatively happy.

If you switch service make sure that you can return the phone if you don't like the coverage. Most of them will allow this within the first 2 weeks or so.

Ginger1218

Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 07:02 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Remember how I feel about snow? well that is almost how I feel about AT&T LOL. They are the worse.

I have Sprint, and it is not bad.

I will say that I used to do some mystery shopping on the side, and I will say taht Verizon offers the best services and plans.

Secretsmile

Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 07:29 am EditMoveDeleteIP
We like Verizon best in my family.(Upstate NY and NE PA) My youngest son has Sprint and it's very spotty coverage. My daughter had AT&T and often had trouble with the signal downstate, near NYC. We are in the process of changes all the services to Verizon because we rarely lose our signal when traveling and they have a great long distance plan. I'm sure the carriers differ in various parts of the country we just are having better luck with Verizon,(lol, hope I'm not jinxing things)

We all love our motorola flip phones, my daughter dropped her's in boiling potatoes while cooking and they fixed it for free.

Bob2112

Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 09:46 am EditMoveDeleteIP
They fixed the boiling potatoes for free? Cool.

Wendo

Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 05:13 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Re: Cell service.

Nationwide, Verizon is the best (for non GSM service.) It's got good coverage across the US and, all in all, is very reliable.

For GSM service, Cingular, AT&T, and T-Mobile are the only carriers that offer it at this time. As to which one is better, it really depens on the location. Sometimes Cingular is better while AT&T stinks, or T-Mobile is good while Cingular stinks. So it's really dependent on what city or town you live in.

Landi

Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 07:17 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
here in napa, at&t is the best, except for ONE spot... my apartment. i can't get a dish here either because of these humongous pine trees. everyone else complains about how their signals drop, mine never do and i've used my phone all the way to fresno.

Lostintheglades

Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 06:06 am EditMoveDeleteIP
My service is a bit confusing...it was GTE...they sold out to Alltel, then Verizon who became the landline portion of GTE created a new Cell service, Verizion...lol...I stayed with Alltel and my coverage is great, I think they use Verizon when I'm roaming so you figure it out.

Spygirl

Saturday, December 13, 2003 - 09:32 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Well, the verdict is in.

I went with Verizon!

I got a great rate - they are running Christmas promotions - and I got a cool phone. I can even check my email and do AIM!

I was down to Cingular (was gonna go with their GSM), but their coverage is sooooooooooo spotty right now. I'll wait another 12 months before considering GSM - if I switch at all.

My brother has had Verizon since 1998, and he swears by it. He travels 3-4 days a weekend on a bus singing all over the country and he rarely has problems. In fact, in all the times I've talked to him, it was always my phone with the problems and he was the one traveling.

Also, I have 1000 mobile to mobile minutes - so when I talk to anyone with Verizon (i.e. brother), it doesn't come out of my anytime minutes!

My other option was t-mobile, and while I couldn't find anything wrong with it, I went with Verizon b/c my brother has it and we can do that mobile-to-mobile calling.

And, it seems I have some other people I can call, too!!! :)

I kept my same number, and so far everything is working fine. My AT&T phone is still ringing, but the new phone works.

If I am not happy with the service, I have until the Monday after Christmas to return everything for a full refund.

Thanks for all the suggestions here.

Wendo

Saturday, December 13, 2003 - 12:51 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Spygirl, my sister has Verizon and she has nothing but good things to say about them. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Congrats on getting the new phone and service. :)

Juju2bigdog

Saturday, December 13, 2003 - 02:41 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Spygirl, when we had a mobile, we had Verizon. It is a great service and no matter where you go, you almost always have service.

Ketchuplover

Saturday, December 13, 2003 - 03:46 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I don't have a cell phone :)

Juju2bigdog

Saturday, December 13, 2003 - 04:43 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Poop, KL. You can't call Spygirl for free.

Ohiomobprincess

Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 10:07 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Verizon is the best. Very few dropped calls and their deals are great!

Denecee

Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 10:18 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks Spy, for starting this thread. My son is coming home from Airforce Tech school for Christmas break and we will be looking into getting him a cell phone. He will be stationed in ND, so I'm not sure if we should start it up here or what. I'm going to call Verizon.

Spygirl

Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 10:34 am EditMoveDeleteIP
No problem! I figured with all the new cell phone packages and deals out there, others would be looking for good deals, too.

The phone I went with is an LG phone - LG VX4400B. It is a tri-band phone rather than all-digital. I would not get an all-digital phone since the moment you travel off a digital network, the phone will not work at all.

Happy hunting!

Bob2112

Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 10:53 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Spy, you picked my phone.

Call me for free sometime!

Spygirl

Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 11:07 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Hey! You've got yourself a deal!!! :)

Bob2112

Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 01:35 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
<...sits looking at cell phone...>

Juju2bigdog

Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 03:00 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
<sits looking at Bob>

Mygetaway

Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 06:05 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
WHATEVER YOU DO try not to get the Nokia 3586i.
There is an issue with the power button. This is the new phone we just got. Qwest only offers 1 Nokia right now. We turned ours in to repair for another one, but still have the same problem. The power switch does not want to come on at times. You end up taking off the back, taking out the battery, putting it back in, and trying again. The guy said this is an issue with this model for some reason.

They offered us another phone, but it's another brand. Then we have to replace all the accessories again..grrrrrrrr.