Cell phone providers

[GBRulz]

My contract is coming up soon with Cingular. Ya know, the company that is raising the bar on customer frustrations and home to the most dropped calls anywhere? Ok, at least in GB....

What carriers do you use, do you like them? comments, etc....

I'm thinking of going to Verizon.

[Partial]

Well, more importantly than carriers is what towers they have in the area, and what services share towers.

CDMA is a newer technology (US Cellular, Verizon, Sprint, Alltel, etc) and they all share towers for the most part. Verizon and Sprint are going to have the best phones since they are the biggest companies.

GSM is cingular, T-mobile, and has several different frequencies. Cingular generally uses all of T-Mobiles towers, but T-Mobile doesn't use Cingular's IIRC.

With CDMA phones, most of the thinner phones are digital only. I have an older phone and it does both digital bands and has analog as well. It gets PERFECT reception pretty much everywhere in Platteville, where as last year I had a vx6000 (digital only) which got absolutely awful service.

I would read reviews on www.phonescoop.com when picking out a phone and service.

[MJZiggy]

I just misplaced my phone while out of town and had a great experience with verizon. I got a human by pressing 0 and they said I wasn't responsible for calls made in the last 48 hours (my phone had been missing 1 hour at this point) and when it was found, they reinstated and updated it immediately. No long holding sessions, etc. Their land-line division could take lessons from these guys.

[Fosco33]

I've had VW for 8+ years and can count on one hand the number of dropped calls. I've upgraded twice and never had an issue with any phone (LG is great).

Plus I get 15% off with my company and a VCard for national broadband access (anywhere really).

Generally good customer service, too.

[Partial]

HAHAHAH Fosco still has his VCARD

[GBRulz]

Well, more importantly than carriers is what towers they have in the area, and what services share towers.

CDMA is a newer technology (US Cellular, Verizon, Sprint, Alltel, etc) and they all share towers for the most part. Verizon and Sprint are going to have the best phones since they are the biggest companies.

GSM is cingular, T-mobile, and has several different frequencies. Cingular generally uses all of T-Mobiles towers, but T-Mobile doesn't use Cingular's IIRC.

With CDMA phones, most of the thinner phones are digital only. I have an older phone and it does both digital bands and has analog as well. It gets PERFECT reception pretty much everywhere in Platteville, where as last year I had a vx6000 (digital only) which got absolutely awful service.

I would read reviews on www.phonescoop.com when picking out a phone and service.

Well, I go up to northern WI alot and based upon service up here, I am pretty much limited to a choice of either Cingular or Verizon. T-Mobile doesn't serve the GB area, actually they don't serve anything north of Milwaukee. people who have Sprint/Nextel can't get service up north, so they are out of the question for me. All-Tel is not here in GB, either, Cellcom is. AllTell bought out several areas that used to be served by Cellcom, but agreed to not compete against them in the same markets.
U.S. Cellular has pockets of roaming up north, too...so, they are out of the question. Like i said, my choices are Cingular or Verizon. I like what I've been hearing so far from Verizon.

Verizon and Sprint are going to have the best phones since they are the biggest companies.

Um, any phone can be used to work with any provider, just has to be unlocked. There are few phones that are made that are exclusive to certain carriers. Verizon has the "chocolate" phone, but I could care less. I want a phone, not an mp3 player. That's what my ipod is for.

[retailguy]

Well, I go up to northern WI alot and based upon service up here, I am pretty much limited to a choice of either Cingular or Verizon. T-Mobile doesn't serve the GB area, actually they don't serve anything north of Milwaukee. people who have Sprint/Nextel can't get service up north, so they are out of the question for me. All-Tel is not here in GB, either, Cellcom is. AllTell bought out several areas that used to be served by Cellcom, but agreed to not compete against them in the same markets.
U.S. Cellular has pockets of roaming up north, too...so, they are out of the question. Like i said, my choices are Cingular or Verizon. I like what I've been hearing so far from Verizon.

Verizon and Sprint are going to have the best phones since they are the biggest companies.

Um, any phone can be used to work with any provider, just has to be unlocked. There are few phones that are made that are exclusive to certain carriers. Verizon has the "chocolate" phone, but I could care less. I want a phone, not an mp3 player. That's what my ipod is for.

I had Verizon for three years, NEVER had the same bill twice. Their bills are very confusing, frequently wrong, and customer service for me was AWFUL. I would not use cellular service if my only choice was Verizon.

I've been with Sprint for the last four years, and LOVE it. I hear what you're saying about service, my mother lives in the middle of nowhere in North Central Wisconsin and it DOES NOT WORK at all there. Not even analog roming.

My advice - Use Sprint and buy a prepaid phone for when you go north. I wouldn't let my dog use Verizon.

[GBRulz]

Retail, I am up north way too much to consider buying a prepaid phone.

Cingular works perfect for me when I'm not in GB. Up in northern WI, I am using Alltell's towers and my service works perfectly.

Another thing, there are alot of pockets in GB where calls suddenly drop or you have no service. For example, at my house I'm lucky to have 2 bars on my phone. and I live in the city, not in BFE. I think Cingular just needs more towers around here.

Well, as of the beginning of the year, they will be AT&T, so we'll see what changes come around I guess.

[Partial]

Well, I go up to northern WI alot and based upon service up here, I am pretty much limited to a choice of either Cingular or Verizon. T-Mobile doesn't serve the GB area, actually they don't serve anything north of Milwaukee. people who have Sprint/Nextel can't get service up north, so they are out of the question for me. All-Tel is not here in GB, either, Cellcom is. AllTell bought out several areas that used to be served by Cellcom, but agreed to not compete against them in the same markets.
U.S. Cellular has pockets of roaming up north, too...so, they are out of the question. Like i said, my choices are Cingular or Verizon. I like what I've been hearing so far from Verizon.

Ok. If you're going to remote areas, check with your provider if the towers are analog or digital and what "band" they use. If you go with Verizon, if they're analog towers make sure you get a phone that is tri-band. The digital only phones like the razr get poor reception in remote places because people don't think to ask.

I don't necessarily believe that to be true with the area being exclusive to Cingular or Verizon unless they are not lending their towers, because Cingular does both GSM 1900 and GSM 850 (Most GSM phones support quad band, which means GSM 1800, 850, 900, and 1900 for the sake of only having to cut down on manufacturing costs), and T-Mobile does one or the other, but whichever one they do, if cingular has a tower in the area supporting that the T-Mobile phone will work.

I realize they may not advertise up there or offer support / stores there ( which means you obviously wouldn't want to get it; thats the reason we don't have cellcom despite being able to get it for like 10 bucks a month 'cause my buddy is an employee there ), but I would imagine that their branded phones would receive service to some extent there.

I would personally steer away from GSM because the technology is older and flawed in my opinion compared to CDMA. Sure, CDMA has its flaws such as the signal weakening with more people on the network, but it has a greater range and traditionally has worked better.

Um, any phone can be used to work with any provider, just has to be unlocked. There are few phones that are made that are exclusive to certain carriers. Verizon has the "chocolate" phone, but I could care less. I want a phone, not an mp3 player. That's what my ipod is for.

That's not entirely true. While in theory it is, in practicality I don't see that happening with too many companies. While I realize phones can be unlocked and purchased, it is much easier with GSM phones because they are tied to SIM cards. Most CDMA companies will not unlock or relock a phone any longer. US Cellular is pretty much the biggest mofo in the world with this, because I can buy a Verizon branded V3c Razr for 50 bucks on eBay or buy theirs with its shitty US Cellular locked firmware for twice the price.

No one is saying you need to get a chocolate or anything else. Do what you want I couldn't care less. But, not all CDMA providers are going to carry all the same phones likewise all the GSM providers will not carry the same phones. The iPhone that is coming out by Apple has a year long exclusivity to Cingular and they are not allowed to unlock them to be used by T-Mobile or other GSM carriers. This is a prime example of a bigger company (Verizon, Sprint, Cingular, T-Mobile) versus a local company (Alltel, US Cellular, Cellcom, etc) getting better technology faster because they have more customers to sell it to.

[retailguy]

Retail, I am up north way too much to consider buying a prepaid phone.

Cingular works perfect for me when I'm not in GB. Up in northern WI, I am using Alltell's towers and my service works perfectly.

Another thing, there are alot of pockets in GB where calls suddenly drop or you have no service. For example, at my house I'm lucky to have 2 bars on my phone. and I live in the city, not in BFE. I think Cingular just needs more towers around here.

Well, as of the beginning of the year, they will be AT&T, so we'll see what changes come around I guess.

I hear you. I have ZERO experience with Cingular, other than I used to use Pacific Bell when I was in California.

Sometimes the demon you know is better than the demon you don't know, and VERIZON is a demon, of that I am sure.

If you're using Alltell's towers, why not use them? They must be in GB, right?

Had no idea you travelled into the wilderness that often. I see my mother a couple of times a year, and that's enough time to be in Northern Wisconsin. I don't, obviously, share the same love for it that you do.

Growing up there as a kid, on weekends, I had to drive 23 miles for a freakin' hot dog, and 12 miles for gas. Was great for three wheeling/snowmobiling and motorcycling, but that was about it for me anyhow. Never enjoyed fishing, and stopped enjoying hunting when my 16 year old brother mistook me for a deer.... Haven't been back in the woods much since.

[Partial]

Well, I go up to northern WI alot and based upon service up here, I am pretty much limited to a choice of either Cingular or Verizon. T-Mobile doesn't serve the GB area, actually they don't serve anything north of Milwaukee. people who have Sprint/Nextel can't get service up north, so they are out of the question for me. All-Tel is not here in GB, either, Cellcom is. AllTell bought out several areas that used to be served by Cellcom, but agreed to not compete against them in the same markets.
U.S. Cellular has pockets of roaming up north, too...so, they are out of the question. Like i said, my choices are Cingular or Verizon. I like what I've been hearing so far from Verizon.

Verizon and Sprint are going to have the best phones since they are the biggest companies.

Um, any phone can be used to work with any provider, just has to be unlocked. There are few phones that are made that are exclusive to certain carriers. Verizon has the "chocolate" phone, but I could care less. I want a phone, not an mp3 player. That's what my ipod is for.

I had Verizon for three years, NEVER had the same bill twice. Their bills are very confusing, frequently wrong, and customer service for me was AWFUL. I would not use cellular service if my only choice was Verizon.

I've been with Sprint for the last four years, and LOVE it. I hear what you're saying about service, my mother lives in the middle of nowhere in North Central Wisconsin and it DOES NOT WORK at all there. Not even analog roming.

My advice - Use Sprint and buy a prepaid phone for when you go north. I wouldn't let my dog use Verizon.

RG, they use the exact same towers Did she have a triband phone? New towers are all digital and are built around highly populated areas. Analog signal goes forever and is widely unused for the most part so it has pretty darn good range. I think it is funny, technically the only company offering service in Platteville is US Cellular, and they make a KILLING from all the students, but I see people with Verizon, Sprint, Alltel, Cellcom, etc talking on their phones happily ever after here.

The moral of the story is no company wants to finance all their own towers. That would be tooo expensive so they share.

[Partial]

Retail, I am up north way too much to consider buying a prepaid phone.

Cingular works perfect for me when I'm not in GB. Up in northern WI, I am using Alltell's towers and my service works perfectly.

Another thing, there are alot of pockets in GB where calls suddenly drop or you have no service. For example, at my house I'm lucky to have 2 bars on my phone. and I live in the city, not in BFE. I think Cingular just needs more towers around here.

Well, as of the beginning of the year, they will be AT&T, so we'll see what changes come around I guess.

Alltell and Cingular? Huh? Is it a really old phone? Perhaps they're both using good ol' TDMA, what they never should have ditched in the first place for phones!!

[Partial]

Retail, I am up north way too much to consider buying a prepaid phone.

Cingular works perfect for me when I'm not in GB. Up in northern WI, I am using Alltell's towers and my service works perfectly.

Another thing, there are alot of pockets in GB where calls suddenly drop or you have no service. For example, at my house I'm lucky to have 2 bars on my phone. and I live in the city, not in BFE. I think Cingular just needs more towers around here.

Well, as of the beginning of the year, they will be AT&T, so we'll see what changes come around I guess.

I hear you. I have ZERO experience with Cingular, other than I used to use Pacific Bell when I was in California.

Sometimes the demon you know is better than the demon you don't know, and VERIZON is a demon, of that I am sure.

If you're using Alltell's towers, why not use them? They must be in GB, right?

Had no idea you travelled into the wilderness that often. I see my mother a couple of times a year, and that's enough time to be in Northern Wisconsin. I don't, obviously, share the same love for it that you do.

Growing up there as a kid, on weekends, I had to drive 23 miles for a freakin' hot dog, and 12 miles for gas. Was great for three wheeling/snowmobiling and motorcycling, but that was about it for me anyhow. Never enjoyed fishing, and stopped enjoying hunting when my 16 year old brother mistook me for a deer.... Haven't been back in the woods much since.

I am very surprised you dislike Verizon. They're very expensive in comparison to the others but they have won many awards for their fast acting customer service.

[Fosco33]

Well, I go up to northern WI alot and based upon service up here, I am pretty much limited to a choice of either Cingular or Verizon. T-Mobile doesn't serve the GB area, actually they don't serve anything north of Milwaukee. people who have Sprint/Nextel can't get service up north, so they are out of the question for me. All-Tel is not here in GB, either, Cellcom is. AllTell bought out several areas that used to be served by Cellcom, but agreed to not compete against them in the same markets.
U.S. Cellular has pockets of roaming up north, too...so, they are out of the question. Like i said, my choices are Cingular or Verizon. I like what I've been hearing so far from Verizon.

Verizon and Sprint are going to have the best phones since they are the biggest companies.

Um, any phone can be used to work with any provider, just has to be unlocked. There are few phones that are made that are exclusive to certain carriers. Verizon has the "chocolate" phone, but I could care less. I want a phone, not an mp3 player. That's what my ipod is for.

I had Verizon for three years, NEVER had the same bill twice. Their bills are very confusing, frequently wrong, and customer service for me was AWFUL. I would not use cellular service if my only choice was Verizon.

I've been with Sprint for the last four years, and LOVE it. I hear what you're saying about service, my mother lives in the middle of nowhere in North Central Wisconsin and it DOES NOT WORK at all there. Not even analog roming.

My advice - Use Sprint and buy a prepaid phone for when you go north. I wouldn't let my dog use Verizon.

You must go over your limit or use lots of services (text/pix msg, downloading stuff, etc.). My base has been the same for years and is very consistent.

I'm thinking 'user error'

[Fosco33]

Note, I have 'America's Choice' plan - giving me no real 'roaming' - all the signals are generally full bars with the exception of Nashville, TN. Check out their coverage map for the North Woods from VW.

Yes, the VCard is back - you can be 'born again'. The thing works 'ok' - a little faster than dialup but when you're on a plane or in a cab, it's great. My company pays for this b/c otherwise I wouldn't get it.