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[whytemyke]

Ok. So lemme put out my situation plain and simple. Verizon has seemingly shafted me on my minutes and I now owe them 200 bucks for the last couple months. They shut off my phone now, which, since it's summer and I only walk around my house and use my moms house phone, I don't really mind. But I lose my number in 2 more weeks, and that's something that I absolutely do NOT want.

So I'm going to switch carriers, port my numer (after I reactivate the account.) Verizon is offering me the 60 buck a month plan, which is like 900 minutes. I'm thinking of switching to sprint, which will give me 700 minutes (closer to what I actually NEED) for fifty a month, and they do that extra 100 minutes for only 5 bucks more per month.

However, coverage in both Verizon and Sprint are spotty at best around my campus (in the middle of michigan) so I'm thinking Nextel. Plus, as I understand, Sprint and NExtel are merging so eventually that push-to-talk and walkie-talkie system will all be integrated into one... hopefully. But that's not a big thing. The other thing with Nextel is that they offer a full 1000 minutes for only 56 bucks a month. My problem with Nextel, though, is that there are only a couple phones that they support which I really like, the main one being this black and yellow flip-phone. However, it doesn't even have a color display.... something that isn't NECESSARY but is definitely something I'd like to have.

The other reason I'm considering Sprint is cuz they have an awesome phone which isn't a flip phone, but does a lot of cool stuff (color display, web, text, push-to-talk and downloadable ringtones) and looks nice, too. Especially since it's only 50 bucks when I sign a 2 year contract.. something I've got no problem doing as long as I can keep my current number. Also, I LOVE Sprint's international plans, too, as I go to canada a few times a year and want to go to Europe more often, and Sprint offers awesome deals for international calling on your own cell phone, too. Very nice.

So basically I'm looking for input from GAF. I looked at T Mobile, as well, which seems like really good deals, but I know that they're coverage is horribly lacking outside of metropolitan areas. Any suggestions? Also, if you all have any input on what types of phones to get (something more practical than tech-savvy... I don't need something that's got a million different functions, but I don't want the bare-bones phone either), and I'd like a fairly durable phone. Something I can put in my pocket when I'm playing basketball and I won't have to worry about breaking if it gets hit or something (which is a feature I really liked about both the Sprint and Nextel phones... the Nextel was a motorola, the Sprint was made by someone else...not sure.)

So help me, compatriots in games!!! Please!

 

[StoOgE]

You would be better off asking your friends who they use, and how their service is.. because coverage might be awesome in one city for Sprint, but ass in another...

 

[DarienA]

I looked at T Mobile, as well, which seems like really good deals, but I know that they're coverage is horribly lacking outside of metropolitan areas. Any suggestions?

What? I've never heard this before. I use my T-Mobile all up and down the east in and out of cities and counties with no problem.

I suggest you do what Stooge said... see what provider those around you use, and have you checked T-Mobile's coverage map?

http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/national_popup.asp

 

[Tarazet]

What? I've never heard this before. I use my T-Mobile all up and down the east in and out of cities and counties with no problem.

I suggest you do what Stooge said... see what provider those around you use, and have you checked T-Mobile's coverage map?

http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/national_popup.asp

My mother took my T-Mobile phone to Florida. It didn't work at all. My experience with them has been so bad that at times, I contemplated coughing up the $200 cancellation fee just so I wouldn't have to deal with all the headaches...

 

[xsarien]

What? I've never heard this before. I use my T-Mobile all up and down the east in and out of cities and counties with no problem.
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Again, it largely depends on where you are. I'd attribute it to pretty much dumb luck if you're almost picking points at random and getting service. But the best advice - always - is to just see what's good where you are, where you're likely to be, and measure that against how much you're willing to pay.

Anyway, T-Mobile's GSM coverage in the U.S. as a whole is a little bit lacking, especially when you go over and look at how much the AT&T merger has benefited Cingular. Neither has the raw CDMA penetration that Sprint and Verizon have installed, but Cingular's definitely at the point now where this year might just be the year I join their little club after about 6 or 7 years with Verizon. The 30 day window to cancel without penalty also helps.

Maybe I'll get a CDMA pre-paid phone for emergencies if I take a road trip.

http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/Default.asp
http://onlinestoref.cingular.com/html/Maps/nation_GSM_map.htm

 

[DarienA]

My other half has AT&T now Cingular... she'd beg to differ about their coverage and customer service. We both work in DC well she works in Roslyn which is just across the way...

 

[xsarien]

My other half has AT&T now Cingular... she'd beg to differ about their coverage and customer service. We both work in DC well she works in Roslyn which is just across the way...

I've heard that the merger went a lot easier for Cingular customers than AT&T customers.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

I've heard that the merger went a lot easier for Cingular customers than AT&T customers.

i was originally ATT and couldn't be happier since the merger. My coverage is probably 2X as good as it was with just AT&T.

 

[whytemyke]

That Nextel/Sprint merger should be helping stuff out, too, though.

I know that Nextel has tons of excellent coverage in my college area, but I heard that their coverage really comes up lacking at times in terms of dropped calls and such. Plus, while I know places on my campus that it covers greatly, I also wonder about the phone availability for Nextel, as it seems that any nice phone I could get from them would run me at least double what it would for other companies (via rebates, etc).

The other reason I'm leaning towards Sprint is that their international options seem really interesting. it WOULD be awfully nice to be able to complete calls while I go to Canada, or if I should go to the UK/Europe again. I can't imagine how great that'd be to stand at the London Bridge and call my parents back in Detroit on my cell phone for only 7 cents a minute.

Another big thing I'm wondering is, while I know that eventually Nextel and Sprint will probably connect their walkie-talkie/push-to-talk networks, I don't know how long that'd be. I mean, if I knew it'd be done by the end of the year, I'd be on with Sprint faster than one could imagine.

The fact Nextel is running a good 1000 minutes for 56 dollar program right now, and the local guy in town said he'd throw in that yellow/black motorola flip phone for free really is making Nextel stand out though. I just hear a TON of horror stories about Nextel.

Any suggestions as to quality but economically savvy phones for these companies?

Thanks for the help so far you guys.

 

[mashoutposse]

I have Cingular. Decent service, and if you have manual network selection, you can forcibly roam on other GSM networks (T-Mobile, for instance) free of charge.

 

[Phoenix]

What? I've never heard this before. I use my T-Mobile all up and down the east in and out of cities and counties with no problem.

I suggest you do what Stooge said... see what provider those around you use, and have you checked T-Mobile's coverage map?

http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/national_popup.asp

Ditto. I have significantly more problems with Cingular which is supposed to be a much 'better' network yet has all sorts of drops and distortion all across the east coast.