Cingular, Sprint, or Verizon?

Diego in Seattle · Post by **Diego in Seattle** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 7:45 pm

Looking into getting a phone in the next few days. Any strong feelings one way or another?

Mikey · Post by **Mikey** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:24 pm

Archive

Tiny · Post by **Tiny** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:27 pm

We have Sprint PCS here. It's OK...we are kinda out in the boon-docks here though, right between several major market strongholds, so that always makes things interesting.

I live right on the county line, bordering on Tippecanoe County (Lafayette, IN), and in this county, the population is pretty weak, so none of the big boyz ever invested in cell towers here.
The story I heard from a cellular store owner was that years ago, back in the late 80's when the technology was so new, a group of farmers got together and formed a sort of CO-OP to buy the territory rights for this county that I live in. The thought was that if they had the rights, they could control the direction of the company they let service the area (I was told that the point was to make sure they had effective service for farm usage). the guy said that they either hand picked the company, or helped start it up (I don't remember which), and called it US Cellular. Frankly, I've had US Cellular, Sprint, and Tracfones, and the US Cellular service was by far the worst of the three. This was several years ago though, so they may have gotten their collective heads out of their asses by now, I just don't know. I was a little skeptical about that story when I heard it, but nothing would surprise me when it comes to the influence of the farmers in this neck of the woods (pardon the pun -- "neck").

I pay too much for my current service through Sprint (almost $70.00 a month for a family share plan with 2 phones, text messaging, unlimited nights and weekends, and the fair & flexible thing, that allows you to have variable minutes per month); as we've yet to reach our limits on minutes, or texts in a month. We just don't use that much time with the free nights & weekends pkg.

My phone is pretty basic, as I don't need all that crap on my phone. I've got DSL at work, Wireless at home; I don't need internet on my phone. I don't need a camera. I don't need a PDA (that's what planners are for...) I would like to download ringtones, but it wasn't worth the extra $$ to me at the time. Maybe I'll upgrade when I get a little closer to contract renewal time.

My Phone:

Cingular is pretty much the big cheese around Lafayette, but they seemed a little expensive to me. (Besides their coverage area doesn't travel very well into the town where I work).

I hope this helps, but you've probably got many more options in your area than we do here; so maybe others can give you more insight into how the big companies work.

Bobby42 · Post by **Bobby42** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:31 pm

Verizon. Those who have 'em swear by them.

I have a Nextel Blackberry 7100i (company phone) that doubles as a hockey puck.

Derron · Post by **Derron** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:41 pm

I have 5 nextel ( Sprint) phones .

A few dead spots here and there, but about 49.99 a month for 300 minutes and unlimited direct connect. A lot of people in the construciton business have them, and we use the direct connect to talk to suppliers, customers, etc with out excessive charges.

If coverage and outlying areas are an issue, Cingular has good coverage, but shitty phones and a bunch of fucking morons in sales and service.

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:45 pm

Where do you live? Where will you use the phone?

Which ever comapny has the strongest signal in that area should be the one to use.

(DO NOT GET TEXT MESSAGING!!- A rip off with potential for catastrophic phone bills)

I use Verizon in the East Bay of RI and that is good here.

I was down in Greenvile, SC, last year and Sprint seemed to get the best signal there..

In other words, check with the locals!!

OCmike · Post by **OCmike** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:45 pm

I've had Verizon for several years now and have had maybe 10 dropped calls in that time. Like Bobby said...

patsy stone · Post by **patsy stone** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:46 pm

I haven't had a dropped call in the past couple years with Cingular. Been with them since I first got a cell phone.

OCmike · Post by **OCmike** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:48 pm

RACK Jack on text messaging. Less needing that crap ever. It's a toy for teenagers.

Raydah James · Post by **Raydah James** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 9:04 pm

Bobby42 wrote:Verizon. Those who have 'em swear by them.

Nope. Fuck Verizon.

I had Cingular for many years before switching to Verizon six months ago.

Ive had about 10 dropped calls in that time period alone, and was informed by a Verizon rep a few days ago upon buying a new phone that Cingular sim carded phones are a much better technology than Verizons non sim'd ones.

Less dropped calls, and strong reception everywhere.

Im actually switching back later on today.

Derron, Cingular fucked up my bill a few times-and had absolutely no problem taking said charges off the moment I told them..........they were fucking nailz for me.

War Wagon · Post by **War Wagon** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 9:08 pm

I use T-Mobile and can't complain. Three phones for $59.99 a month, 700 "anytime" minutes, free nights (after 9.00 pm) and week-ends, and free T-Mobile to T-Mobile, which is most of our calls anyway.

OCmike wrote:RACK Jack on text messaging. Less needing that crap ever. It's a toy for teenagers.

No shit! But my kid simply can't get along w/o it. We're on this plan where she gets 400 free test messages per month for $4.99 . Month before last she racked up 552 texts at .10 per overage it added an extra $15.20 to the bill (plus taxes...they fugging kill you with taxes and fees on phone service,) This month, she "only" had 402. She's been after me to upgrade to unlimited text messaging for $9.99 a month, and I'm like girl, 400 should be plenty.

Anyways, now that she's off at college, I'm hoping that her texting addiction will lessen, not get worse. We'll see. I may have to go with that upgrade afterall.

smackaholic · Post by **smackaholic** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 9:29 pm

Fukk prepaid plans. For me, they are a rip off. The OL got me a tracphone last year. 100 bucks bought me 1000 minutes. Used a little over half of them in a year. I have a phone for when I need one. Calls that can wait till I get to a land line, which is the great majority of them, do.

For those that need to be on the phone alot, a prepaid plan is cool, but, for emergencies, or even less urgent shit, they just don't make sense.

Mike the Lab Rat · Post by **Mike the Lab Rat** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 9:58 pm

The LabRat famiglia has been Verizon since before it was called "Verizon."

No dropped calls, which is pretty impressive considering that my wife uses her cell phone number as her business phone #, so she gets tons of calls.

No problems with the billing folks either.

War Wagon · Post by **War Wagon** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 10:03 pm

smackaholic wrote:Calls that can wait till I get to a land line...

What's a land line?

I dumped my home phone some time ago, and should have done it waaay sooner than that. Fuck SBC. More and more folks are starting to wise up and go exclusively with their cell. In 5-10 years, residential phone service will go the way of the 8-track, the cassette, and VHS...obsolete. Those 15 lb. phone books that TVO sits on when he gets a haircut will also start to dwindle in size, until they too disappear. In the future, the only land lines will be those used by brick and mortar businesses.

Luther · Post by **Luther** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 10:09 pm

Mrs. Luth and Lil Luth have Verizon. I don't need a cell phone, nor do I want one. But everytime they call the house from one of them I don't necessarily hear them that well. They have those entry level phones that came with buying the package.

Would buying a better phone improve the performance, or are most of the phones so close in quality that it doesn't matter?

Rip City

War Wagon · Post by **War Wagon** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 11:30 pm

Luther wrote:But everytime they call the house from one of them I don't necessarily hear them that well.

Here's what you need, Luth.

A mint condition Ear Trumpet courtesy of ebay...starting bid only $9.99.

Wolfman · Post by **Wolfman** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 11:33 pm

land line only !!
I hate phones--and currently
see no need to carry one with me--
"hello---I'm in the store shopping.....
blah-blah-blah !!"
good God and g-d--
do these people really need to be
connected to someone ALL the
fooking time ???
great $$$ maker for all
those corporations---for sure
next up---
implanted cell phones in
people's domes ???

PSUFAN · Post by **PSUFAN** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 11:35 pm

Sprint has been great for me, going on 6 years...I have the same phone as tiny.

War Wagon · Post by **War Wagon** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 11:40 pm

Hey Wolfie, a cell phone might come in handy the day that you fall asleep at the wheel of your Buick Century and roll that sucker down an embankment. You'll be grateful for the good samaritan who happens by and calls 911 on his cell phone.

Y2K · Post by **Y2K** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 11:53 pm

Verizon for the last 2 years and just renewed another 2 yr contract. the kid has a LG Chocolate,
The wife and I opted for a couple fancy LG camera phones. They were good enough to renew so we can say we are pleased with the Service. Billing and customer Service are excellent.

I had Cingular before that and the service was fine but the dipshits in billing and customer service need to be castrated so they can't produce offspring. Biggest bunch of fuckups I have ever dealt with.

that's my story...

Diego in Seattle · Post by **Diego in Seattle** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 12:17 am

Thanks for the info so far. I'm getting it mostly for emergencies, with perhaps a few quick calls mixed in. Yesterday I got a nail in my tire on my bike & needed to get a tow. Fortunately someone who we were meeting loaned me his phone, but there are times when I'm on long rides where there's no pay phones (or anything else) nearby. So I'm getting one mostly for moments like that, or calling should I need directions. I'll probably go with a $30-$50 phone with the cheapest plan.

Luther · Post by **Luther** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 12:38 am

Y2K, do you have an opinion on the question I asked regarding entry level phones in relation to the more expensive phones? Do you really get better reception with a more expensive mid level to upper level phones or is it like marbles...they all are about the same?

Rip City

Mike the Lab Rat · Post by **Mike the Lab Rat** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 12:44 am

Wolfman wrote:land line only !!
I hate phones--and currently
see no need to carry one with me--
"hello---I'm in the store shopping.....
blah-blah-blah !!"
good God and g-d--
do these people really need to be
connected to someone ALL the
fooking time ???
great $$$ maker for all
those corporations---for sure
next up---
implanted cell phones in
people's domes ???

I used to agree with you...and then I found myself in a head-on car crash in the winter, on a very rural road. The cell phone that Mrs. LabRat forced me to lug around actually came quite in handy that day.

Derron · Post by **Derron** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 12:46 am

You'll be grateful for the good samaritan who happens by and calls 911 on his cell phone.

That may get him a recording telling him to hold and then disconnecting him.

I called 911 on my cell phone from my driveway after seeing a car roll over on the highway. I was put on hold and then disconnected. Called back, put on hold and then finally connected to some bitch operator who copped an attitude with me when I bitched about the 7 minute delay.

Filed a complaint with the fire district, but I imagine they will tell me to pound sand.

This is becomming a major issue in this area. Its because guys like Dins keep their phones in their pockets and "accidentlly dial 911"

Y2K · Post by **Y2K** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 1:17 am

Luther wrote:Y2K, do you have an opinion on the question I asked regarding entry level phones in relation to the more expensive phones? Do you really get better reception with a more expensive mid level to upper level phones or is it like marbles...they all are about the same?

Rip City

I can pass on my own experience so far. my house is located in an odd spot to the cell towers since I am close to a bluff about 30 ft down and on the edge of the city with the next towers a distance away either across the river on the Yosemite Hwy or towards the lake and foothills(about 4 or 5 miles). I have now had all the LG line from entry to high end. The entry level phones had problems in certain rooms in the house downstairs but were flawless upstairs or outside. The Mid range we have now are better but for some reason hate the garage. I have all my wireless Interweb stuff in their with the 10 db Rangebooster Antenna's, Servers and various shiznit so maybe that's it. The daughters little Chocalate LG works everywhere all the time. It's a cool little phone, MP3 Player, Camera gadget and way to fancy for my taste but it performs excellent.

OCmike · Post by **OCmike** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 2:33 am

Mike the Lab Rat wrote:
I used to agree with you...and then I found myself in a head-on car crash in the winter, on a very rural road. The cell phone that Mrs. LabRat forced me to lug around actually came quite in handy that day.

Precisely the reason that I carry one.

Y2K · Post by **Y2K** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 2:45 am

OCmike wrote:
Mike the Lab Rat wrote:
I used to agree with you...and then I found myself in a head-on car crash in the winter, on a very rural road. The cell phone that Mrs. LabRat forced me to lug around actually came quite in handy that day.
Precisely the reason that I carry one.

I just use mine to textmessage during a busy commute. The real challenge how many words you can rip out in a minute at 70 mph in wall to wall rush hour commutes. Life is fun.

Diego in Seattle · Post by **Diego in Seattle** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 3:13 am

I've heard a lot of bad things about TMobile......don't think I'm going to go with them.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 3:23 am

Diego in Seattle wrote:I've heard a lot of bad things about TMobile......don't think I'm going to go with them.

#1 in customer service, right about #0 in network service.

Sprint has excellent network service, but they make the fuckups from the other CS departments look like rocket surgeons.

Jack wrote:Where do you live?

Yeah, Diego in SEATTLE ... what part of the country are you in?

Expect the job offer as a CSR at Sprint to be coming in soon, Jack -- you're perfect for it.

Oh, and RACK whichever admin(sup PSU) that came up with "Huge, you ass" in the font size...very nice.

War Wagon · Post by **War Wagon** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 3:31 am

Diego in Seattle wrote:I've heard a lot of bad things about TMobile......don't think I'm going to go with them.

Like what bad things?

No problems here...nary a dropped call, has service damn near anywhere I've been the past few years, and I've been all over. Good customer service. Got two brand new Motorola phones for free just for extending the service contract two years, which I would have done anyway.

T-Mobile doesn't suck.

Mikey · Post by **Mikey** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 3:37 am

I figure they're all pretty much the same. Otherwise, there wouldn't be much competition, would there? They're all out to make as much $$ as they can.

I could be wrong, but I really don't care. We have a Sprint family plan and it seems to work OK. I'll never give up my land line though, no matter what War Child says.

War Wagon · Post by **War Wagon** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:05 am

Mikey wrote:I'll never give up my land line though...

So you pay for redundant services.

P.T. Barnum nailed it.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:09 am

War Wagon wrote: Like what bad things?

No problems here...nary a dropped call

Flyover Zoners just don't get it, do they?

It's flat where you live, Whitey. It's extremely hilly where Diego lives.

Is that dim bulb lighting up yet?

Mister Bushice · Post by **Mister Bushice** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:15 am

Verizon. They have the best coverage area in cali among all of the major carriers here, and I've never had problems with them. The customer service has been good. My phone crapped out on me after the initial warranty and they sent me a new one in three days for free.

Text messaging can be a handy way to communicate a short amount of info very quickly. I have 300 messages for 3 bucks a month. I never use more than 100, but I find it useful to keep in touch with kids who are always on the move or if i just have to say something short and quick without having to conversate and waste minutes.

The only thing I'd like to see change is the way they bill cel phones. enough of this limit on monthly minutes with a major increase if you exceed the set minutes. What a rip off. 5 cents a minute up to 300 ,then 40 cents per minute after? why?

I'm surprised that has not been challenged to make it be like a regular phone with a base rate followed by per minute charge. With more and more people living via cel phones use it really should happen.

War Wagon · Post by **War Wagon** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:18 am

Cellphone towers are cellphone towers, and they all leach from each other regardless of hills, Dimsass.

Did you have a point that were struggling to make, or just flapping your diseased gums as usual?

I'll take "B".

Y2K · Post by **Y2K** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:20 am

War Wagon wrote:
Mikey wrote:I'll never give up my land line though...
So you pay for redundant services.

P.T. Barnum nailed it.

Well I sure as hell want my kids friends calling our cells all the time like when I'm busy with work and driving and shit.
I'm no sucker. I enjoy the constant disruption and when the room moms call about class parties and stuff I get to stop what important thing I am currently doing and chat. People with a land line and answering machine are plain stupid. Having an electronic leash is the only way to go.

TenTallBen · Post by **TenTallBen** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:21 am

Verizon is a piece of shit. After I went through the nightmare process of cancelling service with them, they proceeded to send me bills (which I paid) for 4 bucks, 2 bucks, 35 cents, 6 cents and a fucking penny. I never paid that one on principle. Customer service was shit. Fuck all of those people.

I've been with Cingular for over five years now and have no complaints at all with them.

Blackberry 7290 - never any dropped calls.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:29 am

War Wagon wrote:Cellphone towers are cellphone towers, and they all leach from each other regardless of hills, Dimsass.

Dude...

Please fucking tell me you didn't suggest that hills have no æffect on cell phone reception?

Wait...yeah, you just did.

One Whitey pile-on, cooooommmmmming up!

Tard...just because the only "hills" you are familiar with are debris from cardboard boxes that impede the progress of a forklift on a concrete floor...this doesn't quite qualify you to comment on them.

Of all the absolutely asinine shit you've posted, which reads like a Who's Who of moronitude, that was probably the all-time dumbest. Good fucking god, you're dense.

War Wagon · Post by **War Wagon** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:34 am

Y2K wrote: Well I sure as hell want my kids friends calling our cells all the time like when I'm busy with work and driving and shit.

Your kids friends call your cell?

I'm no sucker.

Yes, you are.

I enjoy the constant disruption and when the room moms call about class parties and stuff I get to stop what important thing I am currently doing and chat. People with a land line and answering machine are plain stupid. Having an electronic leash is the only way to go.

They have these things called off buttons on cell phones, and voice mail.

You should try it.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:46 am

e wrote:hills do matter.

Ya' think?

Sin,
Every Single Fucking Cell Phone User In The Western United States