I need advice on cellular carriers: who is really good? who sucks?

[bertha katzenengel]

I must leave AT&T before I go into their nearest store and start screaming.

Your advice, please?

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. I had T-Mobile for years, and loved the hell out of them.

I only switched to AT&T because AT&T's international rates are SOOOOOO much lower than T-Mobile.

But I've also discovered I have better coverage with AT&T, and unlike others who complain about it, I've yet to have a problem with my service with them.

Sprint was awful, and whatever other carrier I once had I didn't like. When I switched to T-Mobile in 2003, it was like experiencing true cell phoneness for the first time. Plus their service department was consistently, every time I called, someone who spoke English as a native language, was friendly, helpful, courteous, and generous.

If not for the international calling, I'd still be with T-Mobile.

[Javaman]

6. Plus they are a blue company. ;) nt

[LeftyFingerPop]

2. I've had good luck with Verizon...

Really nothing bad to say about them.

My experience at the Verizon store has been good when buying my phone.

My coverage has been excellent.

The interface with their website has been smooth.

Your mileage may vary of course, but my experience has been good with them.

[Gormy Cuss]

3. CREDO is good.

It uses the SPRINT network for coverage. I have only a basic plan and it suits my needs. I've had issues with dead spots but some of my relatives and friends live in areas with sparse cell coverage no matter the carrier.

(CREDO used to be Working Assets)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_Assets

[petronius]

4. You might want to ask around and see who has good coverage in your area

Where I live, Verizon is pretty solid, but I've seen people on other networks having hissy-fits because there was no coverage (even though I had a perfect signal right next to them).

If you're somewhere where that's not an issue, I have not had a problem with Verizon (except for a massive over-advertisement on the battery life of my new LG Chocolate), and the plans suit my needs, anyway...

[dembotoz]

12. coverage is the key

i tend to drive and be in areas where coverage is limited at best.
your phone is only a fancy paperweight if you are in an area with no bars.
But come to think of it--If an area does not have any bars-what self respecting DUer is going to be there anyway.
Speaking of which-why am i at work when i am thirsty.

[lost-in-nj]

5. I have Sprint

and if anyone else you call has it the call is free
sprint to sprint

No problem with coverage either.

used it in the Bahamas
and hoping it will work in Bermuda

lost

[av8rdave]

7. I just put mine in my pocket...it's pretty small

[krispos42]

8. I have T-Mobile

I've had zero problems with them. I get plenty of bars nearly all the time, the Samsung phone I got with them works great, pictures I take I can then send easily to my on-line photo album, and I've never had any billing problems with them.

In fact, one time I tried to get one of those "free" ringtones, and then the place started charging me $9.99 a month! T-Mobile refunded me the money (twice) and blocked the company from billing me again. No fuss, no muss.

I like them.

[freethought]

9. I used to have Unicel but now I have Verizon

Their network coverage wasn't the best but where I was living in Maine, It worked perfectly fine. Not only that but it a NO-CONTRACT plan, of 400 or so minutes a month plus 15 free text messages, if you went beyond your minutes or the number of TMs you were charged. In nearly 7 years of having the plan I never, ever went over my minutes, not even close.

I recently moved south, and Unicel does not have coverage down here in N.C. So, I went with a pay-as-you-go-plan with Verizon. Network is great! However, I flat out HATE those damned contracts.

[LeftyMom]

10. Ask around where you live.

Some companies have big dead spots in certain areas or whatever that can be a big pain locally but not blemish a national coverage map. So I could tell you who I like here, but the plans and quality of coverage area will be totally different in another market.

[CabalPowered]

11. Another vote for Tmobile

I became a customer when they bought voicestream. Outstanding rates, my bill was never more than $25. Unfortunately coverage was spotty in my home and had to switch to verizon. My verizon bill is almost triple that of tmobile.

[AlCzervik]

13. i have had sprint for 8 years, my only complaint with them is so far the phones i've

had do not have sim cards so if you see a phone you want somewhere else it cannot be used with Sprint service--unless someone here knows otherwise. My contract is up and september and i will be switching to at&t. The drawback is that i get service almost everywhere, at&t, not so much.

[Fox Mulder]

14. I have Verizon and never have any problems with them.