The suggestion I received when I started looking for cell phones was that you should see if you can have people with cell phones come to your home or whatever location you most want to get reception at, and check and see how their reception is. Different companies have different patterns of signal strength and you don't want a company who will give you lousy reception wherever you want it most.
Bill and I have verizon. I have an uncle who sells nextel phones. You should decide whether or not you want the walkie-talkie option of nextel, which I would only get if you had a network of people you wanted to talk to who already have it.
then you need to think about plans and whether or not you want unlimited text messaging or what.
btw, you have poetry tonight, right? or are you coming for dinner?
As for Saturday, why don't you join me in going to the stilyagi picnic at 1 pm? There will be food, and other people who also like to play games. We can take whatever games we want - the weather's supposed to be clear (yay! no rain!) and set up outside.
-shrug- I've had them for 4 years and never had a problem. Granted, I was with AT&T wireless for 3 of those years but when I switched over they were just fabulous to me. Plus, their digital prices (for laptops & broadband) are a lot cheaper than Verizon, I love having rollover minutes, and they have the free mobile-to-mobile stuff.
My only other recommendation is NOT T-Mobile because everyone I know has had wicked problems with them.
I'd agree with you there. I've had Cingular for several years. Within the last eighteen months I can't count the number of "drops" I've had. It's a standing joke between me and my friends with Verizon that we just have fragmented conversations. On the other hand, my friends with Verizon never seem to drop. I was also atounded recently when I went to the cingular office to pay my bill in person and was told that there would be a $3.00 charge for paying in person. [boggle] My contract ends in July so I'm also looking for a new carrier. So far Verizon seems to be on the top of the short list. I haven't looked at T-mobile yet, though.
Try here - Amazon has a decent way for you to browse phones and plans, even if you don't want to buy from there.
For what it's worth, I've been pretty happy with T-mobile lately. Sprint had decent coverage, but not great customer service. I've also discovered I actually get T-mobile coverage at my parents' house, which I like. And I'd second the suggestion that Anne got.
I just switched to Verizon--I basically checked out a bunch of websites and looked to see who had a plan that I liked and also provided service in my area. I checked the customer complaint stats, too, as I mentioned above. I have to admit, though, that Verizon's signal is not very good in my apartment, which is kind of an issue since I have no landline--it's good enough to have long conversations with people, but it's usually two bars of service at the most. OUTSIDE of my apartment it's generally at full signal. But really the only way I could have checked that would have been by getting someone who already had Verizon to come over to my house so I could see their signal level--not a bad idea if you can find someone, but I didn't know anyone with Verizon service to ask.
I wanted T-Mobile, but they don't offer service in Madison. My sister has them in St. Paul and is very happy with them. Verizon did have the best plan for me--America's Choice is nationwide, so no roaming, and right now the promotion is free nights and weekends AND free "in-calling," so you don't pay when someone calls you. I get 450 any time minutes for the month, but I barely use daytime/non-weekend minutes anyway. It's $40 a month.
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(no subject)
Date: 2005-06-15 02:34 pm (UTC)Bill and I have verizon. I have an uncle who sells nextel phones. You should decide whether or not you want the walkie-talkie option of nextel, which I would only get if you had a network of people you wanted to talk to who already have it.
then you need to think about plans and whether or not you want unlimited text messaging or what.
btw, you have poetry tonight, right? or are you coming for dinner?
(no subject)
Date: 2005-06-15 02:36 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-06-15 03:44 pm (UTC)As for Saturday, why don't you join me in going to the stilyagi picnic at 1 pm? There will be food, and other people who also like to play games. We can take whatever games we want - the weather's supposed to be clear (yay! no rain!) and set up outside.
sound good?
(no subject)
Date: 2005-06-15 05:16 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-06-15 05:36 pm (UTC)As for Shakespeare in the park, that sounds fun. do you know what show? I always understand those plays better if I read the short version first.
Bill is out of town until July, but I'd be happy to come.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-06-15 11:00 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-06-15 02:36 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-06-15 04:34 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-06-15 04:48 pm (UTC)My only other recommendation is NOT T-Mobile because everyone I know has had wicked problems with them.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-06-15 10:18 pm (UTC)I was also atounded recently when I went to the cingular office to pay my bill in person and was told that there would be a $3.00 charge for paying in person. [boggle]
My contract ends in July so I'm also looking for a new carrier. So far Verizon seems to be on the top of the short list. I haven't looked at T-mobile yet, though.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-06-15 02:52 pm (UTC)For what it's worth, I've been pretty happy with T-mobile lately. Sprint had decent coverage, but not great customer service. I've also discovered I actually get T-mobile coverage at my parents' house, which I like. And I'd second the suggestion that Anne got.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-06-15 04:37 pm (UTC)I wanted T-Mobile, but they don't offer service in Madison. My sister has them in St. Paul and is very happy with them. Verizon did have the best plan for me--America's Choice is nationwide, so no roaming, and right now the promotion is free nights and weekends AND free "in-calling," so you don't pay when someone calls you. I get 450 any time minutes for the month, but I barely use daytime/non-weekend minutes anyway. It's $40 a month.