What cell phone & plan do you use/travel with ?
Nov 23rd, 2003, 10:15 AM
#1
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What cell phone & plan do you use/travel with ?
Fellow travelers, what cell phone company do you find is the best as far as coverage, roaming, rates, customer service, etc. Who stinks at coverage on road trips, over the borders, ? etc. I am considering going mobile full time and the choices are overwhelming. Thank you in advance for any input you may have.
Nov 23rd, 2003, 10:29 AM
#2
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I use AT&T but it sucks in NYC. I'll probably switch to Verizon next year. In other parts of the country it has been better but still not great. I have the One Rate plan for $66 with taxes for 450 minutes a month.
Nov 23rd, 2003, 10:31 AM
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An article in The Wall Street Journal mentioned a federal law that just went into effect whereby you can keep your same phone number even if you switch providers. It is anticipated that many people will be switching (I know I've been waiting for this law to switch) and as a result, lots of good plans/deals will be popping up.
So maybe give it a few months and see what provider has a plan that works best for you.
Most of my friends who use their cell phones nationwide favor Sprint and Verizon.
So maybe give it a few months and see what provider has a plan that works best for you.
Most of my friends who use their cell phones nationwide favor Sprint and Verizon.
Nov 23rd, 2003, 10:59 AM
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Good advice, thank you all so far....T-mobile seems to have a good deal and free phones (rebate) for a low plan....I couldn't find any reviews though...They were advertising the ability to switch your home #..I am not in a hurry so I will be patient...
Nov 23rd, 2003, 12:07 PM
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I live in South Texas, and I love T-Mobile. My husband and I have 2 plans. His is $19.99 p/month and mine is $29.99 p/month. Both plans provide more minutes than either of us ever use. We recently took them to Spain and London where we used them for $.99/minute for calling ahead for hotel reservations and to reach each other when we went seperate ways. The international use feature was the reason we switched from Verizon, although I had no complaints with Verizon.
Nov 23rd, 2003, 01:28 PM
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I've had service with Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T. My bills generally stayed on the higher side and any time I travelled I had roaming charges. I also had poorer reception in certain areas of DC/Md and hated losing calls that way.
My service is now with Nextel and my service is actually EXCELLENT! I have NO roaming charges, the bill is generally what I expect it to be, and the service does seem better in poor reception areas. Direct Connect (their two way radio feature) has become a great tool of mine since my friends and family discovered the benefits too.
All told - I should have gone with them a long time ago and never taken the other plans.
My service is now with Nextel and my service is actually EXCELLENT! I have NO roaming charges, the bill is generally what I expect it to be, and the service does seem better in poor reception areas. Direct Connect (their two way radio feature) has become a great tool of mine since my friends and family discovered the benefits too.
All told - I should have gone with them a long time ago and never taken the other plans.
Nov 23rd, 2003, 01:53 PM
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I use Verizon's America's Choice plan. $34.99/mo, call to/from anywhere in the continental US with no roaming charges...which is great because I have to travel all over the country for work. The only time I haven't been able to get reception has been deep inside buildings and underground. Works great in NYC...I've heard people have problems sometimes with AT&T here.
Nov 24th, 2003, 03:31 AM
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I live in Atlanta and use Nextel for work, have Sprint for my personal cell use but I have used Cingular and T Mobile in the past and here is my opinion of these.
Forget Nextel! The whole office hates this service. The rates are astronomical if you are not using the walkie talkie feature and talk about dropped calls.
T Mobile - I found it was good for teh price you pay (relatively inexpensive package deals), however, the coverage area was not so great when traveling to/through more remote places.
Cingular - I actually dislike Cingular more than Nextel because their customer service is the pits!! Service was okay but for the prices they charge, there is a better service out there (getting to that).
Sprint - I have this one now and have had it for the past two years. I have ehard others complain about customer service but I have not had any issues. I also like their rates. I do have issues with their coverage. There are times that if I take one step to the right, I drop a call. The onyl reason I have not switched yet is because I really like their rates and we are paying for two cell phones and a home phone service and mu husband needs a ton of minutes because during the spring and summer he is on the road a good bit at various clinics. Also, sometimes calls go straight to voice mail without ever ringing even in my home area.
Verizon - I do not have personal experience with Verizon but most of my friends have it. I have cell service envy. They seem to be able to get amazing coveage wherever they are. We were at the GA-Alabama game and desperately trying to reach our critter sitter because we forgot to leave her check out to tell her it was in the drawer and had the worst time trying to get a signal. However, the friends who went with us let us use their phone and amazingly I got through on the first try. The same thing happened at a golf course. My husband was at a golf course up in N Georgia and he could not get a signal for anything to call me, yet his companion had no trouble using Verizon. Everyone who has it, loves it. My problem is the cost factor. It is higher but I guess you get what you pay for. I am seriously considering switching now that rates should be going down (keeping fingers crossed). Be aware though, the one complaint I have heard over and over with Verizon is that once you contract expires, they renew you for another x amount of years without your signature. That does not happen with Sprint. Once you have completed your contract, unless you change things around, you can cancel service without any penalties.
Forget Nextel! The whole office hates this service. The rates are astronomical if you are not using the walkie talkie feature and talk about dropped calls.
T Mobile - I found it was good for teh price you pay (relatively inexpensive package deals), however, the coverage area was not so great when traveling to/through more remote places.
Cingular - I actually dislike Cingular more than Nextel because their customer service is the pits!! Service was okay but for the prices they charge, there is a better service out there (getting to that).
Sprint - I have this one now and have had it for the past two years. I have ehard others complain about customer service but I have not had any issues. I also like their rates. I do have issues with their coverage. There are times that if I take one step to the right, I drop a call. The onyl reason I have not switched yet is because I really like their rates and we are paying for two cell phones and a home phone service and mu husband needs a ton of minutes because during the spring and summer he is on the road a good bit at various clinics. Also, sometimes calls go straight to voice mail without ever ringing even in my home area.
Verizon - I do not have personal experience with Verizon but most of my friends have it. I have cell service envy. They seem to be able to get amazing coveage wherever they are. We were at the GA-Alabama game and desperately trying to reach our critter sitter because we forgot to leave her check out to tell her it was in the drawer and had the worst time trying to get a signal. However, the friends who went with us let us use their phone and amazingly I got through on the first try. The same thing happened at a golf course. My husband was at a golf course up in N Georgia and he could not get a signal for anything to call me, yet his companion had no trouble using Verizon. Everyone who has it, loves it. My problem is the cost factor. It is higher but I guess you get what you pay for. I am seriously considering switching now that rates should be going down (keeping fingers crossed). Be aware though, the one complaint I have heard over and over with Verizon is that once you contract expires, they renew you for another x amount of years without your signature. That does not happen with Sprint. Once you have completed your contract, unless you change things around, you can cancel service without any penalties.
Nov 24th, 2003, 07:04 AM
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It depends on where you live and exactly where you will be travelling to, etc. No "one size fits all answer". Almost every carrier will have customers who think it's the best as well as those who think it's terrible.
For more than you really want to know on the subject, go to a Forum which deals with cell phones: www.howardforums.com. Howard Forums has separate sections by carrier as well as by Phone manufacturers.
I personally have had TMobile for just over a year. They are great for my needs and I have excellent service in my area (San Antonio, TX) and to places I travel. I previously had AT&T for over five years and was fairly satisfied with them but switched because their rate plans were not as good as TMO. Others have different experiences.
In an article on the wireless number portability (which went into effect today), one of the quotes was something to the effect that people have unrealistic expectations and therefore are never completely satisfied with their carrier.
For more than you really want to know on the subject, go to a Forum which deals with cell phones: www.howardforums.com. Howard Forums has separate sections by carrier as well as by Phone manufacturers.
I personally have had TMobile for just over a year. They are great for my needs and I have excellent service in my area (San Antonio, TX) and to places I travel. I previously had AT&T for over five years and was fairly satisfied with them but switched because their rate plans were not as good as TMO. Others have different experiences.
In an article on the wireless number portability (which went into effect today), one of the quotes was something to the effect that people have unrealistic expectations and therefore are never completely satisfied with their carrier.
Nov 24th, 2003, 08:58 AM
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We have the Family Choice plan from Verizon and love it. We have 2 phones and 1,000 minutes just to call each other, plus the minutes you get each month. (I forget how many.)
We traveled last summer from MA down to TX, throughout the southwest into Utah and WY and back east. The only place we had any difficulty was in the areas of the SW where there's virtually no cell towers (and no one is covered.) When we were in WY hiking in the Grand Tetons, we spoke to a fellow there who was extremely upset with his Nextel service. He said it had been useless shortly after he left the PA area. He in awe that we were using our phone.
We traveled last summer from MA down to TX, throughout the southwest into Utah and WY and back east. The only place we had any difficulty was in the areas of the SW where there's virtually no cell towers (and no one is covered.) When we were in WY hiking in the Grand Tetons, we spoke to a fellow there who was extremely upset with his Nextel service. He said it had been useless shortly after he left the PA area. He in awe that we were using our phone.
Dec 5th, 2003, 10:03 AM
#12
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Thank you for all your input. I just got a T-Mobile plan for $29.99 with 300 min., free long dist, etc. I am rarely on the phone so that works great for me. After Thanksgiving the offer was better with a free $150 Motorola phone plus a $75 rebate on top of it. All I paid is shipping and then will get the first bill in a month. The phone is high tech and a litle intimidating, but I am a manual reader and am trying to figure it out. Happy Holidays !!
Dec 5th, 2003, 10:45 AM
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I am a Canadian who travels to Florida and the the Northeastern states.
I have found that Verizon offers a great deal. You can purchase time as needed. The time expires after 60 days. You can refill your time prior to the 60 days and any time that remains is carried over.
Long distance calls to Canada are not extra.
It has saved me a few hundred dollars as I don't have to have a phone in my Florida apartment that was costing me money even when I was not there.
The only problem I have had with Verizon while traveling is that in certain areas, such as certain mountain destinations, it does not work.
I have found that Verizon offers a great deal. You can purchase time as needed. The time expires after 60 days. You can refill your time prior to the 60 days and any time that remains is carried over.
Long distance calls to Canada are not extra.
It has saved me a few hundred dollars as I don't have to have a phone in my Florida apartment that was costing me money even when I was not there.
The only problem I have had with Verizon while traveling is that in certain areas, such as certain mountain destinations, it does not work.
Dec 5th, 2003, 11:11 AM
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Thanks for this post, Wednesday. We signed up for Sprint almost a year ago because they promised us Alaska Airlines points...we're still fighting them for the points (Alaska gave us half because of all the trouble we've had, but Sprint still owes us...so be very weary of these promotions!)
Will certainly check out howardforums.com.
Will certainly check out howardforums.com.
Dec 5th, 2003, 01:34 PM
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We only use cell for emergency & REAL important calls (and wish everyone did, as pay phones are "fading" fast due to low usage) and have used TrakFone. We'll probably switch to Virgin soon, as it has service anywhere SprintPCS is, and costs 25cents/Min for the first 10 minutes of anyday, then 10cents/min thereafter, that day.
Dec 5th, 2003, 03:15 PM
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I am another satisfied Verizon customer. T-Mobile has horrible coverage in the Northeast, as has been my experience in coastal Maine, Massachusetts, and the mountains in New Hampshire.
People also seem to like Nextel's coverage around here. However, those walkie-talkie phones are too obnoxious for words. Like people didn't talk loud enought on their cell phones-now you can hear the other side of the conversation too.
Anyways, go with Verizon and sorry to vent...nothing else for me to do in this snowstorm!
People also seem to like Nextel's coverage around here. However, those walkie-talkie phones are too obnoxious for words. Like people didn't talk loud enought on their cell phones-now you can hear the other side of the conversation too.
Anyways, go with Verizon and sorry to vent...nothing else for me to do in this snowstorm!
Dec 5th, 2003, 03:32 PM
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I'm currently a satisfied Verizon user (after dumping Sprint, whose cell service was pathetic), using their America's Choice Plan (covering continental US). I'm very pleased with the coverage (I travel all over the US) and the feature set they offer. I find that the service in LA metro area can be challenging (the region's varied geography has my phone switching from digital to analog within a couple of hundred yards in cities like Santa Monica, which negates some of those nifty features like Voice Dialing), but overall I couldn't be happier. But really, it boils down to which one has the features and coverage for the price you're willing to pay. If T-Mobile suits you, great.
Dec 5th, 2003, 04:17 PM
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Hey I have a pretty reasonable Nextel plan!
Anyone using Direct Connect can open their phone and use the walkie talkie just like a phone and there's nothing obnoxious about that at all. Of course it can be very inexpensive when you can direct connect someone across the country at no additional cost.
In the Middle Atlantic region (Washington DC area) Nextel service is about the best and the costs are about the lowest. I haven't had to talk to customer service too often since my service has always been good.
For my family and friends that also use Direct Connect - that's my primary use cause it's totally free to me. Next I use my cell phone to call anywhere in the country without roaming charges or .25 cents a minute fees.
If anyone is looking to buy a cell phone they would be best advised to research all the companies and compare what they're selling and servicing. Then make your choice.
Anyone using Direct Connect can open their phone and use the walkie talkie just like a phone and there's nothing obnoxious about that at all. Of course it can be very inexpensive when you can direct connect someone across the country at no additional cost.
In the Middle Atlantic region (Washington DC area) Nextel service is about the best and the costs are about the lowest. I haven't had to talk to customer service too often since my service has always been good.
For my family and friends that also use Direct Connect - that's my primary use cause it's totally free to me. Next I use my cell phone to call anywhere in the country without roaming charges or .25 cents a minute fees.
If anyone is looking to buy a cell phone they would be best advised to research all the companies and compare what they're selling and servicing. Then make your choice.
