Cell phone carriers - which do you like?

Brad Mackey · **Posted:** Tue Nov 25, 2003 7:46 pm

I've been with AT&T for, hell, I guess 8 or 9 years. They are the best IMO if you travel a lot away from the Interstate system. Sure, there are dead spots up in the NC or VA hills where NO cellphone will work, including mine. But since AT&T has deals with every carrier, including the little guys who perhaps control only a few towers, there is never any roaming charge no matter where in the country I am. Every other carrier has places where they hit you with a roaming charge, which can be $3-5.00, plus an exorbitant per-minute rate. Only "no service" dead spot which surprised me is along NC49 between Asheboro and Charlotte.

If you don't travel out of NC/SC, just go for the best overall cost deal. There should be plenty of them in the next couple of months. Plus, the cell companies always roll out their best offers around Xmas, anyway.

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Tue Nov 25, 2003 8:01 pm

Now this is good stuff.

Although the iconoclast in me wants Nextel, Verizon is pretty much universally praised by everyone I talk to that uses it.

I've actually not been terribly unhappy with Sprint's coverage - it's that their customer service is so horrible that sent me packing. I also just heard they're laying off 2000 more workers, which won't help.

Thanks everybody...

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Karl Shultz wrote:

Now this is good stuff.

Although the iconoclast in me wants Nextel, Verizon is pretty much universally praised by everyone I talk to that uses it.

I've actually not been terribly unhappy with Sprint's coverage - it's that their customer service is so horrible that sent me packing. I also just heard they're laying off 2000 more workers, which won't help.

Thanks everybody...

I must be the only person in the world who has never had a problem with Sprint customer service. Except for my Sprint phone not working at my new house, I've been really happy with them.

Ashraf Farrag · **Posted:** Tue Nov 25, 2003 11:37 pm

MikeWhitney wrote:

Karl Shultz wrote:

Now this is good stuff.
Except for my Sprint phone not working at my new house, I've been really happy with them.

Muhahaah....I know how you can fix that!

http://www.cellantenna.com/

Been there, researched that when I didn't have coverage...

Regards,
--Ashraf

Diane Hall · **Posted:** Wed Nov 26, 2003 12:44 pm

Karl Shultz wrote:

- Alltel: out of the question. Nicholson had (has?) one. I've known Matt for a long time now and have NEVER been able to make a call to that phone and have it work.

Anyone with experience with any of the above carriers, speak up. My phone is so old that it barely works, so now is the time. Thanks!

Well, you've been able to call me when I've had Alltel haven't you? I've never had trouble with them and often have coverage where others don't. I swear by them. I know Matt has issues with his PHONE, but I don't believe Alltel built that.

Recently got a Verison phone up here in MA for a local number, should I need one. They seem to be the hot ticket now, at least around here. I've got no complaints, but the phone pretty much stays on "forward" and sits at home.

Good Luck!

Diane

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Fri Nov 28, 2003 9:36 pm

The outcome: Verizon. Phone number should change over "between 48 and 72 hours." Apparently a brand new system like this has a few bugs to be worked out.

I got my new phone tonight and even it's REALLY low state of battery charge, it's already lots better than the old Sprint phone. Clearer, less times that it freakes out, no echo...so far, I (and the people I've called) give Verizon two thumbs up.

The other thing that sold me was the customer service. I went to the Verizon store at Southpoint mall, on the busiest shopping day of the year, and got treated like a king. The store manager and I talked shop about what phones worked the best, and importantly, what phones the staff uses. They all chose an LG phone and said "I love it." So that's what I got. Very friendly people.

One problem though - I have to dial 919 (which is my own area code) if I want to call anyone in 919. They suspect this is a glitch in the number transfer system. I live in Durham now, but when I got my Sprint phone, I lived in Cary. They think this is root cause, and that it will go away once the number transition process completes. We'll see...

Tom Hoppe · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 10:16 am **Posts:** 387

Verizon own3z j000!

I've had Alltell, AT&T and now verizon. I like verizon the best. I haven't had anywhere where I lost coverage (never been to Wilson though

)

Their customer service rocks as well. With the new girlie in hotlanta, I went a "little" over my minutes a few months ago. 1100 instead of the allowed 700. They retroactively(sp?) set my bill to the 1200 minute plan so instead of $250 it was $79

-Tom

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Mon Dec 01, 2003 8:58 pm

I'm beginning to question my judgement.

I *tried* to talk to Nicholson last night. I got dropped probably 4, 5 times. I've got one out of five bars of signal here at my house with the thing sitting on its charging stand.

Next step is to go to the Verizon store *again* and see if the phone's busted. It's not like I live out in the sticks, I'm like 5 minutes from Southpoint (handy, since that's where Verizon is... :roll:

). If the phone is ok and things don't improve this week, I'm trying the next one, Cingular. I'll keep trying them until I find one that doesn't suck.

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Sat Dec 06, 2003 5:16 pm

A brief update - I just got back from returning my Verizon phone. It basically didn't work at all at my house. Borrowed a Cingular phone and it worked great so thats what I'm getting.

What a mess.

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Cell phone carriers - which do you like?

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