Cell Phones Networks - who do you have?

[surgtech1956]

Who do you have for a cell phone provider/network and are you satisfied with it? We've had Verizon for probably 10 years and thinking about switching to something else, maybe Alltel. Our contact isn't up until next month, but Verizon's been sending me a letter every other month to upgrade/renew and every Verizon store I've gone into I can't get any good customer service and they either have just a basic phone or one can do just about everything except cook a meal.

[greycoral]

Who do you have for a cell phone provider/network and are you satisfied with it? We've had Verizon for probably 10 years and thinking about switching to something else, maybe Alltel. Our contact isn't up until next month, but Verizon's been sending me a letter every other month to upgrade/renew and every Verizon store I've gone into I can't get any good customer service and they either have just a basic phone or one can do just about everything except cook a meal.

Can't help you there, I've also had Verizon for a really long time. My husband, before we started dating, tried several different services (ATT, Sprint, T-mobile, Cingular), and he has said that Verizon's coverage has been the best out of all of them. A lot of the coverage issues I think have to do with where you live in particular though.

Verizon is pretty expensive, but I'm happy. I use my cell as my primary phone, we don't even have a landline, so the cost doesn't bother me all that much. It's $100 for two of us, with a ton of minutes, we never even use half of them.

[Blueberry]

We were with Alltel (which btw is now owned by Verizon) and had terrible service. I got no reception in my office, and couldn't drive 3 miles without dropping a call. Near downtown Raleigh. They were much less than helpful. When we canceled, they required that we pay the bill (even though it was for the next month that we wouldn't use because we canceled), we got a statement with a credit, and they "erased" the credit. It took well over 10 HOURS on the phone with them to get a refund check. Bad business practices in my book.

Verizon has good coverage, and we're fairly happy with them. Once in a while, I think about switching to AT&T.

CA

[wnyrider]

My husband and I have those pay as you go phones. I have been with Virgin Mobile for over 3 years and he started with T-Mobile a year ago. I don't use my phone much and pay 25 cents for the first 10 minutes then 10 cents after that. The service has been really good. My husband got in on the Gold plan the first year... Target had a sale which included a $100 card and free phone for only $88. It gives 10 cents a minute good for a year and if you purchase additional minutes, even as little as $5, it will extend your minutes for another year. His reception doesn't seem as sensitive as mine, but it is still acceptable. We have different phones, so I don't know if it is the plans or phones that makes a difference in signal strength. I bought a T-Mobile Gold plan for my elderly Mom too. Works for us!

[IFjane]

My DH and I both have ATT phones and do not have a land line. We live in the boonies and our service is great. However, as someone previously said, it all depends on your location and your carrier. (Coincidentally, my DH works for a company that analyzes cell phone signal strength from one competitor to another, all over the US.)

[OakLeaf]

I switched to Verizon 3 years ago because Cingular (now AT&T) no longer offered phones that had analog service. I'd been really happy with Cingular, but I needed a new phone. Verizon still offers a VX5400. It's a pretty basic phone, but that's how I am - I prefer another device to do everything else, so I can take notes when I'm on the phone. (Yeah I know I could do that with a Bluetooth headset, but that's still another device I'd have to carry.)

It's much less of an issue now than it was even 2 years ago, out east anyway - I think there still isn't digital coverage in a lot of places in the west? But anyway I don't want to reduce my ability to get help in an emergency by going with a digital-only phone, when I spend a lot of time in the boonies.

[TsPoet]

I had Verizon for years and was happy. My family all switched from Sprint to AT&T, so I switched, too.
We are all terribly unhappy. So unhappy we are considering eating the early cancellation fee and going back to Verizon.
We got Razr phones, cause that's what AT&T were pushing really hard. Two of us have re-charging issues and have had to buy new batteries. and we all three hate the phones.
AT&T reception stinks, dropped calls are the norm. I can't tell you how often my phone beeps to tell me I just missed a call when I am not moving, totally can't understand why it can get through to tell me it couldn't get through. If you accidentally talk at the same time as the person on the other end, the signal goes silent for a second.
Their customer service seems good, but doesn't do anything.
Can't wait to get back to Verizon. My mom and brother can't decide between Verizon and Sprint, they were happy with Sprint.

[pardes]

I have Virgin Mobile since I get totally rabid about companies that demand two year contracts.

The Virgin company is fine to deal with and very helpful. Coverage is fine for my area but then I probably only make a dozen calls a year so it rarely becomes an issue.

I have a cell phone for emergencies only. Talking on a phone for anything longer than a minute or two has never been a pastime of mine. Naturally this inflames anyone trying to reach me since I rarely answer the phone. Shrug.

[Crankin]

I have AT&T. We just switched in July, after 15 years with Sprint. We basically switched because my husband got an I phone and we also wanted the GSM phone, since he travels to Europe a few times a year. Sprint jacked us around and we finally had it.
I could care less; I am like Pardes. I hardly ever turn my phone on and I can't stand to be around people yapping on their phones in public. I used to keep it on all day, when I was teaching, since it's pretty hard to reach teachers. Now that there are no kids calling for rides, I don't see the point of having it on. No one calls me on my cell. My husband sometimes gets mad if he can't reach me, so I will check it at least once a day, if I'm not at home. I also see it as a safety thing, especially for when I am riding.

[TxDoc]

I had T-mobile (ex-VoiceStream) for a long time, and always been happy with it.

[SadieKate]

Doesn't it really make the most difference based on where you live? Network strength and least number of dropped calls would seem to me to be the most important. The same carrier in one area may not have the best coverage in another, no matter how big and powerful and all-knowing they say they are (ask me, I know from experience but I'm stuck due to my employer's contract).

[Becky]

T-mobile here for personal use, Verizon for work.

T-mobile: Best darn CS I've ever encountered. Very fair rate plans too IMO. Their coverage is still a little weak in our area, but it's improving and I'm willing to make the trade-off for the good CS.

Verizon: Awful CS. I occasionally need to deal with them about our work phones, and getting anyone to help me is like pulling teeth. However, they have the best network in our area, hands-down. That said, I'm not willing to pay their prices and deal with the CS nonsense for better coverage.

[OakLeaf]

I just had to comment on one thing, because I'm one of those who doesn't use the phone often, but I ALWAYS ALWAYS leave it on, and I get furious at people I know who don't.

Do you think you're the only person who might have an emergency? What if someone you love has an emergency and needs to reach YOU?

Almost all phones will let you assign different ringtones to different callers. You can make this as simple or as complicated as you like (and there are enough ringtones installed in even the most basic phone, to have a wide array without buying ringtones).

Example: I have one ringtone for family and ONE dear friend, and another for everyone else. If it's not family or D., I don't answer the phone when I'm running or cycling. Another example: DH's phone doesn't ring at all when it's from a Caller ID-restricted number.

If someone wanted to get fancy, they could have one ringtone for their spouse, another for their parents, a third one for other family, a fourth one for work, a fifth one for fitness buds, a sixth one for "other" friends, and no ring for people who aren't in their phonebook.

But IMO, intentionally making yourself unavailable to people you love, who might really need you, is an unacceptable solution to not wanting to be contacted by people you don't love. There are alternatives, even if you don't have the self-discipline to mute the ringer once you see it's someone you don't want to talk to. JMO. /soapbox off

[roadie gal]

We have Verizon because it's the only mobile service with coverage out here. (We have AT&T for our land line.)

[withm]

I just had to comment on one thing, because I'm one of those who doesn't use the phone often, but I ALWAYS ALWAYS leave it on, and I get furious at people I know who don't.

Do you think you're the only person who might have an emergency? What if someone you love has an emergency and needs to reach YOU?


THANK YOU! I have to agree. People who never turn their cell phones on may as well throw them away. I have 2 sisters who do this and it infuriates me no end. They have no problem calling MY cell phone, just to chat, but they never have their phones on, and when there is an emergency it is impossible to get hold of them. I just don't understand why they do this. They have not publicized their numbers, so it's not like just anyone would call them just to chat, but they are not available in emergencies and there have been many over the years.

Don't you think a 67 yr old should carry a cell phone when going out for a 5-mile run? Sheesh!

[Irulan]

ATT here. We've got a family plan with 5 phones on it. OK, not great but works for us.

[roadie gal]

THANK YOU! I have to agree. People who never turn their cell phones on may as well throw them away. I have 2 sisters who do this and it infuriates me no end. They have no problem calling MY cell phone, just to chat, but they never have their phones on, and when there is an emergency it is impossible to get hold of them. I just don't understand why they do this. They have not publicized their numbers, so it's not like just anyone would call them just to chat, but they are not available in emergencies and there have been many over the years.

Don't you think a 67 yr old should carry a cell phone when going out for a 5-mile run? Sheesh!

My cell phone is off the majority of the time. The only time I consistently have it on is when I'm travelling out of town. Around here the coverage is so inconsistent that it's much more annoying to have it on than not. I may or may not get calls... for DAYS. Voice mail shows up on a random basis. Even with the phone on, I may not get that emergency message. So I've taught my cell phone obscessed family to use my home phone.

I carry it on hikes and bike rides, but around here it's a false sense of security.

[Aggie_Ama]

I have T-Mobile because it was where I landed on my mom's contract in college. Now my parents, brother, husband and I are all on a big family share plan. We write a check to my mom and it stays cheap for us all. I am pretty happy with the phone service (though not motorola phones!), my mom says customer service is great. The coverage is spotty in some areas (far hill country, Dallas Metro) but otherwise great. I get 4-5 bars all over my house so I don't need a landline. Makes me happy as a clam to not have that bill! :) You can check the coverage area at t-mobile.com if you want to consider them.

[Irulan]

THANK YOU! I have to agree. People who never turn their cell phones on may as well throw them away. I have 2 sisters who do this and it infuriates me no end. They have no problem calling MY cell phone, just to chat, but they never have their phones on, and when there is an emergency it is impossible to get hold of them. I just don't understand why they do this. They have not publicized their numbers, so it's not like just anyone would call them just to chat, but they are not available in emergencies and there have been many over the years.

Don't you think a 67 yr old should carry a cell phone when going out for a 5-mile run? Sheesh!

I view it as something out of my control. Why get worked up about something someone else is choosing? They don't want to know that grandma died and when the funeral is? Ultimately, it's their problem that they missed it. Yeah, other people might get hurt feelings but again, you can't control it so why waster energy on it?

I get this a lot with customer and clients. No voice mail? Fine, if I have a question about your job and can't get a hold of you, your stuff gets bumped to the back of the line. I make a note of how many times I **tried** to contact them and leave it at that.

[Blueberry]

I have been known to turn my cell phone off to get some peace and quiet. I have asked my family (nicely) to only use it in case of emergency. My grandmother respects this, and I always answer her calls.

My mother calls it and chats and chats. Her conversations are more like a monologue of her complaining, and one can't even get a word in to say "I need to go now." The last time it happened, I was concerned and answered. I was on the side of the trail getting eaten alive with mosquitoes for better than 10 minutes before she drew a breath and I could say that I really couldn't talk. 5 minutes later she finally stopped complaining about her life.

So yeah - sometimes I turn it off. Guess there have been too many cries of wolf. And sadly there's no ring tone that will tell me whether my mom is calling with an emergency, or because she wants to complain.

CA

[SadieKate]

I screen my calls on my cell phone and don't answer when riding. I'll stop to check who called and listen to a voice mail in case it is an emergency, but in no way do I feel obligated to answer ANY phone at any time unless I know someone is trying to reach me for immediate reasons (doctor, family health, meeting me somewhere, etc.).

I've also been known to fake a dropped call with someone who I can't get stopped (i.e., my mother).

My home is my refuge and taking a phone along with me outside is for convenience and safety, not to extend obligation, guilt and duress.

Caller ID and durn hardheaded-ness is a wunnerful thing. Get yours today.:)

[pardes]

My home is my refuge and taking a phone along with me outside is for convenience and safety, not to extend obligation, guilt and duress. Caller ID and durn hardheaded-ness is a wunnerful thing. Get yours today.:)

EXACTLY! I couldn't have said it better. Being accessible is not an obligation unless you choose to be accessible. It astounds me that people expect you to be available 24/7 and then PAY for the obligation. A cell phone is a tool not a ball and chain.

[Flur]

I'm with Sprint. They went through a really bad patch (really, really bad) but things are changing with their new CEO and I'm really glad I stuck it out. Now when I call for something the person on the other end speaks fluent English and is empowered to help me, and I don't sit on hold for very long.

I wanted to switch to their Simply Everything plan, but I had two lines and needed to drop one to do it (I only used one so it seemed silly to keep the other one). Sprint didn't want me to drop the one b/c it looks bad on their stats, so they made me a deal - they gave me an extra 800 minutes for free, and gave me a $10 credit each month, so that I now have 1600 minutes per month (more than I could ever use) and my total bill for both phones is actually less than the Simply Everything plan. Plus, all my data, texts, mobile-to-mobile, Sprint TV and Blackberry push email is all included. I just stuffed the other phone in a drawer, but I was really glad I still had it with a live number when I lost my primary phone.

[Flur]

I just had to comment on one thing, because I'm one of those who doesn't use the phone often, but I ALWAYS ALWAYS leave it on, and I get furious at people I know who don't.

Do you think you're the only person who might have an emergency? What if someone you love has an emergency and needs to reach YOU?

DH hated having a cell phone and decided to go without one. But then we had that big blackout that plunged a quarter of the country into darkness, and a few other post 9/11 bomb scares (we both worked in NYC at the time), and he realized that something really could happen where we'd need to get in touch with each other right away. So he got one and kept it on. Now he's got an iphone and is addicted, and I'm constantly telling him to put the thing away!

[surgtech1956]

I would like to go with Sprint, through my employer I can get a discount(somewhere around 18% a month), but I've looked at their coverage map and its bad.

[Crankin]

I am sorry this is infuriating to you, but NO ONE has my cell # except my husband and kids. I think my dad might have it. So, who would call me? My kids are grown, and if they couldn't reach me, they would call the house.
Well, I do have 2 other people who have the #, but they know not to try and reach me this way. One of them has it for when we lead rides (it's on then).
My emergencies would probably revolve around cycling; if I was in trouble.
Ring tones drive me nuts. Who wants to hear someone's stupid music in public? It's not that I am screening calls. It's that I am perfectly happy waiting until I get home to make plans or talk to a friend. And, I do not call them on their cell phones, either.
I know this is a generational thing, although many of my friends seem to be obsessed with their phones.
I am not the norm, I know. I am generally a technology philistine who believes we would all be a lot better off being so connected.

[vinbek]

I've had just about every service there is - I am now back to Verizon. It was the only carrier with service at our mountain home and we don't have a land line there. I didn't want to go up there without having a phone. It probably depends on where you live and what coverage you need. Verizon is the only service in the Bear VAlley area. Bekki

[OakLeaf]

I am sorry this is infuriating to you, but NO ONE has my cell # except my husband and kids. I think my dad might have it. So, who would call me? My kids are grown, and if they couldn't reach me, they would call the house.

What YOU do doesn't infuriate me. What my husband used to do, and my parents still do, DOES.

This is the hypothetical call I'm talking about. "Mr. Oakleaf, this is the hospital. Your wife Oakleaf was in an accident and she was airlifted here. Your number was listed as ICE in her phone (and her driver's license). We need someone to make some decisions about her care, and it would be helpful to her recovery if someone she knows were present."

Maybe you'd be fine waiting til you got home to get one of those calls about your spouse or child.. Maybe they'd be fine with you not receiving it. But one of the things I believe about my family is that it goes both ways, and that they should be available when I need them, to the same extent that I make myself available to them - and to the same extent that they make emergency help available to themselves.

[bmccasland]

I have Alltel. When I was looking for a cell phone a few years ago, they had better national coverage than the other companies. "All digital all the time" often meant no coverage in the wide open spaces of the west. I haven't bothered to change out of pure laziness. My phone works when I need it. I have discovered that I don't get coverage in the marshes of the coast, but I really don't care either. I don't know about the other companies, but after Hurricanes Katrina/Rita and Gustav/Ike, Alltel did forgive going over my minutes.

As for reaching me... that's what my home phone is for, and it has an answering machine. My cell is my secondary phone, not my primary phone. I'm one of those people that really really doesn't like being forced to listen to other people's one sided conversations, like in restaurants (yesterday). I think too many people have taken multi-tasking to a new extreme.

Just because the phone rings, doesn't mean you have to answer it. We have the power over the phone, not the other way around.

[vinbek]

I think its a personal choice. I have a cell phone for emergency use only. I don't like to talk on the phone. I don't feel obligated to be available to anyone. I have a land line at home with an answering service. This summer I took my son to a boy scout sleepover on the USS Hornet. There was not any cell service in the belly of this huge metal boat. On Sunday Morning I went up on deck to call home to get messages. There was one from my husband, who needed help. He had almost completed the Climb to Kaiser and was 10 miles from the finish and fell and broke his clavicle. Someone stopped and gave him a ride to his car. He drove home all bloody and with the use of one arm. I left my son with the scoutmaster and drove home and took my husband to the hospital. It all worked out fine. If someone dies, there isn't anything you can do - but wish you had known earlier. I learned many years ago that the only person you can control is yourself. And you can choose to act or react to other people's choices. Bekki

[Crankin]

Yes, I survived a few emergencies before cell phones! Somehow, we were able to survive (just like our parents who never wore seat belts or put us in car seats;only kidding). If my phone isn't on, they can call home and leave a message and I'll get it. My husband does not have ICE in his phone, but he does have HOME. Well, HE leaves his phone on 24 hours a day, so I guess that makes up for my lack of wanting to communicate.

[surgtech1956]

Everyone I know who has a cell phone has it on, except DGF. I guess its a personal choice, if you have a cell phone and only want to use it for emergencies fine, except if someone is trying to reach you because of an emergency, so much for that idea. Most of the time I am either at work or at home.

[DDH]

We have AT&T family plan and we have great coverage here.

I get upset with my sister at times when she turns her phone off, mainly because if hers is off and something happens with her children, like they are sick and want to go home, or need something for a headache or minor things, then it's me they call and I am expected to take care of it.
My sister only has a cell phone so I have no way to call her, hence I end up being the one that has to take care of things. All the while she is home taking a nap!!!

I don't get upset about people not answering (except my sister) so much, but I get more upset about the fact that when I don't answer folks seem to get irritated with me. Now mind you, it's seldom I don't answer my phone. I have a child in school, and lots of things going on, so even when I am not sure of a number I answer my phone. On the rare occasion I'm taking a shower or doing something else in the bathroom, or I'm outside hanging clothes or mowing, and my phone rings where I cannot get to it, I do not expect to get the third degree because I didn't answer my phone one time out of 20 calls. That upsets me more than anything, and my husband tends to be the worst. LOL
He will call my cell, then call the house and then leave a irritated msg about how I didn't answer my phone and now I'm not answering the house phone either. Now that my friends, is annoying. I just shake my head and go on. What else can you do. LOL

[Crankin]

I just realized that when I said I like the phone for emergencies, but I rarely have it on, I meant if I had emergency.
I refused to give up our land line; I don't trust that 911 would work with a cell phone... I don't really like having voip for the land line, either. But, my husband, who is all things technical overrode me on this one.
Personally, I wish we didn't have all these decisions to make about something like a phone. I have been sort of watching the other students when I am in Cambridge for my grad. classes. Almost every single person, up to about age 35 always has his/her phone in hand and is looking at it when walking down the street or sitting and eating. I just figured out they are texting. Everyone seems to pull out their phone as soon as they are let out of class.
I guess I just don't like to talk on the phone. Nor do I have anything to say to that many people. I have to think most of these conversations are inconsequential. I am not trying to be flip, but why does everyone feel the need to be talking all of the time? I mean, I am very social in that I always make plans with friends, go out to eat, ride, etc. I'm not a loner. But, it just seems weird to me. Productivity at work must be suffering because of this.
OK, I'm off of my soapbox. I guess I'm just a cranky old lady.

[OakLeaf]

He will call my cell, then call the house and then leave a irritated msg about how I didn't answer my phone and now I'm not answering the house phone either. Now that my friends, is annoying.

My house phone is always forwarded to my cell. Everyone I know knows this, but my mom still insists on leaving messages on "both" numbers when I'm not answering (usually for the same reasons as you... or riding the motorcycle). :rolleyes: That is annoying.

[SadieKate]

Crankin, I'm with you about people on cell phones all the time but that is not the fault of the phone.

DDH, how old are your sister's children? If they aren't too young, why can't they wait for their mother? She's obviously training all of you very well.

Oakleaf, my SIL used to call our house, my cell, my husband's cell, my work, every number she had and leave the same GD inconsequential non-important message. I forget what we finally told her that worked but it was through gritted teeth and a forced smile. Sheesh. The other thing we told her was that we didn't take calls from blocked phone numbers so she was creating her own problem and to deal with it.