My teenage son is going to the UK this summer for a month and I would like to get him a phone. Since my plan expires now also, I am thinking about a family plan and was going to sign with T mobile. When I checked their sevice network in the US, it did not look terrific. I live in PA and travel frequently in the mid-atlantic and northeastern states. What has your experience been with t-mobile in that area. is there another plan that would be better (I have posted on Europe forum as well)> Thanks in advance.

Check out Verizon Wireless, they have extension coverage in the Mid-Atlantic and New England areas. VZ wireless is also owned (49% Vodaphone, 51% Verizon) by UK telecom company Vodafone I dont know the coverage over there but you may want to check into it. T-mobile is unpredictable.....a friend of mine got a phone them and lives in the excellent coverage area on one of their maps....the phone worked ok everywhere except for one place, his house, He had to go out to the street to make a call. check into VZ wireless and there plans!

I meant Extensive coverage in Northeast...not extension

Verizon uses the CDMA network in the US, so their current phones cannot be used in UK/Europe. [They are planning to release CDMA/GSM phones soon, so maybe you can inquire about them.] Otherwise, you'll need to rent a GSM phone from Verizon, which adds to the cost.

In the US, T-Mobile uses GSM technology exclusively, and Cingular and AT&T are also moving to GSM. New phones from them should be GSM-compatible. Make sure you get a tri-band or quad-band phone.

Also consider the actual cost of using the cell phone in the UK. T-mobile charges 99cents per minute. It's convenient for the occassional call, or in emergency, but if you talk for more than a few minutes, then you may want to get an unlocked GSM phone and a UK-based SIM card.

As for the US, I've used Voicestream/T-mobile for quite a few years. They are okay in the cities in the NE, as well as along the interstates (but I don't think I-80 in PA is covered). You may want to get a phone from them and try it at your house. You should be able to get your money back and cancel the plan within a short time if you're not satisfied.

I'm like bluestructure's friend. I have T-Mobile and it won't work at my house in Massachusetts. Won't work at our vacation house either. Good thing we have regular phones at home.