So I wanna get a cell phone

[Dawg]

I figure its time to enter the 90s and get a cell phone so I'm chumming the waters to get opinions on phones and services. I'm more interested in the service providers really...

I'm getting the phone primarily for evening and weekend use so I don't plan on getting alot of minutes in whatever plan I select since most throw in PM and weekends for free. Most of the providers seem to be in the same ballpark for price ($30-$40/mo) so it really seems to be more about coverage and service. All the providers I have looked at have good local coverage for me (benefits of living in the DC metro area). I hear about alot of people that switch plans for one reason or another...

Any insight or opinions you all feel like sharing?

Dawg

[SauerKraut]

I use Cingular Wireless because of the roll-over minutes. I've not had any problems with it anywhere i go. Even when i'm visiting friends waaaaay out on a farm in the middle of Oklahoma, not even static nor roaming charges.

[Vygramul]

I've always been happy with Sprint. However, CNN said that in a multi-city study, they found that Verizon has the best coverage and fewest drops. Verizon works in the Metro. Sprint does if you get a good phone, but mine doesn't.

[SauerKraut]

I've always been happy with Sprint. However, CNN said that in a multi-city study, they found that Verizon has the best coverage and fewest drops. Verizon works in the Metro. Sprint does if you get a good phone, but mine doesn't.


Yeah, i use to have Sprint too. Atlanta has lots of trees and i was always paying roaming charges, even in downtown.

[Crazy Hobbit]

I know Cingular pwns everyone down here in South Florida. I can get reception anywhere. Anywhere. Plus rollover minutes are good too.

I had MetroPCS which I think is more of regional market thing. They had unlimited calls 24/7 anytime but only in South Florida for around 45 bucks a month for everything including taxes etc. . For the amount paid and the abuse I gave the service (sometime being used a good 6-8 hours a day) it was great and unbeatable at the price. But I needed better reception & dependablity. But if I ever had to leave Cingular I would definitely go back to Metro PCS.

I think gauging cell phone service is to ask around your friend, coworkers and such. One particularly good method I used comes from working in the supermarket and inside the building at college. I could always tell who's service was Cingular because none of the other services worked inside those building. Almost 9 out 10 times I was right. If they can get good reception inside the concrete and steel then they should get good reception else where. I was right!

8)

[Dawg]

I should add that my girlfriend has T-Mobile so I could get on her plan and save money. But I also like the idea of using a separate plan that may have different coverage areas when we are roaming.

Keep the comments flowing! I wanna be an educated consumer!

Dawg

[Chalybos]

Service is everything. If you get a great deal, but can't get a signal, where's the bargain?

[Crazy Hobbit]

Combing plans was probably the main reason I left Metro PCS. My fiance has T-Mobile as well and was paying about 60 something in change for her plan.

Another good thing about Metro PCS is there was no contract. You could cancel anytime for whatever reason, no strings attached. They wouldn't hound you like AOL does lol. Anyways after her contract expired and I cancelled mine we both signed up for a Cingular plan with the Rollover minutes, 600 odd anytime, 2000 night/weekend, etc. and it comes exactly 81.62 each month. When we initially signed up, the agent gave us an initial 1500 minutes in our rollover pot to start with so that was cool.

So basically we went from paying around 110 each month in cell services on seperate plans that weren't so great to one combined plan for about 82 bucks with much better service and really no need to watch our minutes because of the amount we've accumulated.

[LilPuppy]

I don't know , I liked mine for awhile , then hated it.......WORK will track you down beware...

[SauerKraut]

I wanna be an educated consumer!

Dawg



with this group?



Not Bloody Likely.

[MadSci]

AT&T recently merged with Cingular so their coverage may be quite good in the upcoming months. I currently have AT&T and don't have any problems with them in the NYC area.

I'm getting this phone when it comes out :D
http://www.motorola.com/mdirect/hellomoto/experience/v600/flash/index.shtml

[Vygramul]

AT&T recently merged with Cingular so their coverage may be quite good in the upcoming months. I currently have AT&T and don't have any problems with them in the NYC area.

I'm getting this phone when it comes out :D
http://www.motorola.com/mdirect/hellomoto/experience/v600/flash/index.shtml

I find it hard to tear my eyes away to find a phone on that page.

[LilPuppy]

AT&T recently merged with Cingular so their coverage may be quite good in the upcoming months. I currently have AT&T and don't have any problems with them in the NYC area.

I'm getting this phone when it comes out :D
http://www.motorola.com/mdirect/hellomoto/experience/v600/flash/index.shtml

I find it hard to tear my eyes away to find a phone on that page.

:nod:

[SauerKraut]

AT&T recently merged with Cingular so their coverage may be quite good in the upcoming months. I currently have AT&T and don't have any problems with them in the NYC area.

I'm getting this phone when it comes out :D
http://www.motorola.com/mdirect/hellomoto/experience/v600/flash/index.shtml

I find it hard to tear my eyes away to find a phone on that page.

:nod:


I was going to say the exact same thing. My mouse cursor was hovering over the "small print" letters, just kind of circling them lazily.

[Dawg]

I'm leaning towards AT&T Wireless... the reviews I've seen of the various providers all have good and bad. With AT&T I can get a free camera phone from Sony Ericsson (http://www.attwireless.com/personal/products/phonedetails.jhtml;dsessionid=PLUQRDQP4IIQVB4R0G0C FFA?id=11300003&titleNumber=1). Doesn't have the lovely young lady fondling it, but it looks pretty nifty. If I thought I was going to do much text messaging I'd grab this one from Nokia (http://www.attwireless.com/personal/products/phonedetails.jhtml;dsessionid=X4QI1D5VOCWY3B4R0G0C FFA?id=1000039&titleNumber=1) (also free).

Dawg

[ignus]

i have AT&T, and all i got was some base model Nokia valued at $50 :x not even a color screen or any games more involved than "Snake"!

However, AT&T does have excellent customer service. the salesman was supposed to give me the phone for free, instead he made me pay the $50 and said they'd send me a rebate w/ the first bill. well it didnt happen, so i called and the cust. service guy gave me a $50 credit to my account, no questions asked :D

[laters]

I have AT&T, but I want to switch to Verizon because they seem to have much wider digital coverage and more phone options. I hear very different opinions from everybody else, so I am really unsure. The only reason I'm inclined toward Verizon is because my co-worker swears by them. I wish there were good review/comparison shopping Web sites for mobile services.

[SauerKraut]

It should be noted that my Cingular phone has the caller ID as "Sweet Bast4rd" without the "4" (bloody filter). So, when I called Otto last month, he kind of wigged out for a bit, trying to decide if he should answer it or not. Sprint or MetroPCS wouldn't do that for me.

[ignus]

It should be noted that my Cingular phone has the caller ID as "Sweet Bast4rd" without the "4" (bloody filter). So, when I called Otto last month, he kind of wigged out for a bit, trying to decide if he should answer it or not. Sprint or MetroPCS wouldn't do that for me.

:lol: