Cell phone providers

[TheMan]

Think I am ready to switch. Gearing up to make the smartphone jump. Looking for opinions on which carriers are best. I have Verizon, but their data plans are so expensive compared to Sprint, which seems to be my frontrunner. Is verizon's wireless worth the extra cost?

Sprint, verizon, at&t, t-mobile...Good bad, what's your thoughts?

Obviously it's location specific, but if someone tells me they constantly have low signal then that's a bad sign for that carrier.

 

[Airborneguy]

I've had Verizon for years, and have always been happy, but I almost witched to Sprint recently. The only reason I stayed is because I was grandfathered in to the unlimited data when they switched to limited plans.

 

[TheMan]

Yeah, right now they have 4 GB for the price of 2 GB plans. I was told by a friend that 2 GB should be enough for any normal person, so the 4 would be plenty. So between the two (Sprint and Verizon) it looks like the price is the same, except Sprint gives 1500 minutes vs. verizon's 700 for a family plan. And data should be a non issue.

However, t-mobile offers a $50 unlimited everything plan...kind of attractive. But, I hear it's the worst as far as coverage goes. Being in the Chicago suburbs should mean I'd have no issues with signal, but travelling I'd be a little leary. Unless someone can tell me otherwise.

 

[jmendez29]

It depends on what's important to you. My GF had Sprint before I put her on my family plan with me, my daughter and my parents. Her biggest frustration was the amount of dropped calls and spotty 3G service for her smart phone. Her phone kinda crapped out on her about 5 months before her contract was up but insurance covered it. When she got her new phone, there were just a ton of problems with it and it was in the shop more than it wasn't so she just decided to pay the penalty and switch to Verizon with me. Couldn't be happier.

Now, to be fair, I know a handful of people who are perfectly happy with Sprint. But I know a LOT more who left them to go to AT&T or Verizon. For my money, I'd rather pay a little more and have seamless service coverage. But that's how I feel about it. Your results may vary.

 

[hoppymonkey]

Check out a reselling carrier called Straight Talk. They resell Verizon's service for T-mobile prices. You may pay a little more for your smart phone , but you'll make it up fast for the pricing.

 

[Mparsons327]

I use Verizon with a 4gig data plan. I use my iPhone for everything and have never used 2gigs. So the unlimited probably won't be an issue. As far as coverage I have had AT&T and sprint for work phones. I always end up having to use my personal phone while working because of service problems. That being said my vote is for Verizon.

 

[Nova5]

Think I am ready to switch. Gearing up to make the smartphone jump. Looking for opinions on which carriers are best. I have Verizon, but their data plans are so expensive compared to Sprint, which seems to be my frontrunner. Is verizon's wireless worth the extra cost?

Sprint, verizon, at&t, t-mobile...Good bad, what's your thoughts?

Obviously it's location specific, but if someone tells me they constantly have low signal then that's a bad sign for that carrier.

Do you have unlimited data? if yes... STAY. you won't get it elsewhere.

I stream music from my home server to my Inc2, movies from netflix on vacations, and of course all the google syncing, weather apps, and browsing, etc that goes on with the phone. unlimited is nice.

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

I'd also recommend staying with Verizon if you have unlimited data. I have it and never seem to use very much but in the future I suspect people will burn more and more data on the phone and it's only going to become more and more expensive to get into new data packages. I've had VZW for 12 years and been fairly happy with the cellular service (but varied results with customer service).

Now that VZW has gone to sim card-based phones they've become really competitive in the phone offerings (especially with the iphone, if that matters to you) and you can root the phones and dump the VZW bloatware. If you root you can also turn your phone into a wifi hotspot without having to pay for the software to do that (it's like $15/mo).

Things are dicey in the cell phone industry. If the FCC approves the AT&T/T-mobile merger you might see Verizon/Sprint merging.

 

[WhineinAlbany]

I just recently switched to Virgin mobile - 300 talk minutes, unlimited txt, unlimited data for $35 per month on a smart phone. Seems good so far. I was paying $52 a month on Verizon for 400 mins with 500 txts per month on a "dumb" phone. The downside is that it uses the sprint network and only sprint towers (Verizon rents out towers to sprint for sprint contract users). It's good in cities and suburbs at least. Can't beat the price though, but I heard they will do data throttling next year.

 

[Daisyfraggle]

With virgin I get 300 min. talk and unlimited text, web etc. for $35/mo. They also have I think 1200 talk min on the $45 plan, and unlimited everything for $55.

 

[bengerman]

I just recently switched to Virgin mobile - 300 talk minutes, unlimited txt, unlimited data for $35 per month on a smart phone. Seems good so far. I was paying $52 a month on Verizon for 400 mins with 500 txts per month on a "dumb" phone. The downside is that it uses the sprint network and only sprint towers (Verizon rents out towers to sprint for sprint contract users). It's good in cities and suburbs at least. Can't beat the price though, but I heard they will do data throttling next year.

i had virgin for the better part of 2 years. the price is right, but good luck getting a live person on the phone if you ever need help, and getting help from that person is even harder.
$35/month for unlimited data/text and 300 minutes was nice, but you can only use virgin phones, and unless you spring for a droid, you can only use software/ringtones purchased from virgin. i had some serious issues with missed/dropped calls, missed texts even when i had good coverage, as well as double sent and double received texts.

right now i'm on t-mobile's month-to-month 4g plan. unlimited talk/text/data (throttling after 4 gb, IIRC) for $70/month. it's way better than virgin, better coverage, better service, better devices, etc, etc, etc.

my sister's boyfriend keeps telling me about simplemobile, a tmobile piggy-back, plans are cheaper with the same offers. phones are a bit pricey, just like any no-contract plan.

 

[TheMan]

Thanks for the tips and opinions...I have no data plan right now. Sounds like sticking with Verizon might be best, based on what i'm hearing (here and elsewhere).

I heard the AT&T/T-mobile deal was denied, no? I had heard that the FCC saw T-mobile as an important part of keeping prices at their lowest since they are the value minded provider.

 

[WhineinAlbany]

i had virgin for the better part of 2 years. the price is right, but good luck getting a live person on the phone if you ever need help, and getting help from that person is even harder.
$35/month for unlimited data/text and 300 minutes was nice, but you can only use virgin phones, and unless you spring for a droid, you can only use software/ringtones purchased from virgin. i had some serious issues with missed/dropped calls, missed texts even when i had good coverage, as well as double sent and double received texts.

right now i'm on t-mobile's month-to-month 4g plan. unlimited talk/text/data (throttling after 4 gb, IIRC) for $70/month. it's way better than virgin, better coverage, better service, better devices, etc, etc, etc.

my sister's boyfriend keeps telling me about simplemobile, a tmobile piggy-back, plans are cheaper with the same offers. phones are a bit pricey, just like any no-contract plan.

I've actually had the same problems you've described but with Verizon. I think it all depends on your phone towers and phone you're using. For me, my workplace was a deadzone for Verizon. Now on the Virgin mobile network, my signal is great. I love the new android I'm on (score on htc wildfire s for $100 black friday).

 

[bengerman]

I've actually had the same problems you've described but with Verizon. I think it all depends on your phone towers and phone you're using. For me, my workplace was a deadzone for Verizon. Now on the Virgin mobile network, my signal is great. I love the new android I'm on (score on htc wildfire s for $100 black friday).

the issues i was having were all in well-covered areas. i'd have 3 bars + 3g, and be in one spot all day (like work) and i'd get a text at say 5 pm that had a timestamp of 10 am.

it could be just me, or it could have been the deices (but it did happen on 2 different devices)

i know a few people who have had no problems at all with virgin, but that was not the case for me.

 

[Nova5]

I'd also recommend staying with Verizon if you have unlimited data. I have it and never seem to use very much but in the future I suspect people will burn more and more data on the phone and it's only going to become more and more expensive to get into new data packages. I've had VZW for 12 years and been fairly happy with the cellular service (but varied results with customer service).

Now that VZW has gone to sim card-based phones they've become really competitive in the phone offerings (especially with the iphone, if that matters to you) and you can root the phones and dump the VZW bloatware. If you root you can also turn your phone into a wifi hotspot without having to pay for the software to do that (it's like $15/mo).

Things are dicey in the cell phone industry. If the FCC approves the AT&T/T-mobile merger you might see Verizon/Sprint merging.

VZW has not gone to simcard operation yet. CDMA doesn't use or comprehend them. the LTE phones use a simcard yes, but thats a data only link. the CDMA Voice side of the phone doesn't use the simcard. the few Worldphones only us the their simcard on the GSM systems. They do want to change over to LTE Voice as well as LTE Data, that will take 10 years or so as you have to get everyone to change out their phones.

 

[TheMan]

So Verizon isn't willing to work with me. I'll be cancelling my service with them and starting up with Sprint or AT&T.

Basic gist, my gf's phone is dying. She is on a monthly pay plan with another carrier. I still have 8 months left on my contract with them. We had planned on doing a family plan when my contract was up, something needs to be done now though. I asked Verizon last night if her and I could create a family plan and start a new 2 year agreement with them. They said she could join my plan, but I could not upgrade unless I paid full price for a new smartphone. Phones are ridiculously priced at $400+, so I told them it was cheaper to cancel my service ($90 ETF) and start new with another company. After talking with several CS reps the final guy said, "Sorry there is nothing we can do for you." I told him I would be joining a new carrier tomorrow. His words were, "Ok, well if there is anything else we can do for you please call."

I honestly thought this was win-win for both parties. They get a new customer, plus lock me in for another 2 years at 3 times the cost of my current contract. Plus they keep a customer they have had for 8 years with not a single late payment. I guess it's true, cell phone companies treat the new customers better than existing.

I mean, over the next 2 years they would have received $4K in total payments from me...minus the minimal phone discount, they still would have made out big from the deal. I realize I had a contract already, but seriously, I was upgrading big time and also bringing in another customer for them...Am I wrong here? Was my request that difficult?

 

[WhineinAlbany]

I think they don't care simply because cell phone service is so over priced in this country and everyone is willing to pay. They get another new customer as soon as you cancel. You're just a number and unfortunately, it's much easier for them to get another number that won't ask for anything.

 

[bengerman]

So Verizon isn't willing to work with me. I'll be cancelling my service with them and starting up with Sprint or AT&T.

Basic gist, my gf's phone is dying. She is on a monthly pay plan with another carrier. I still have 8 months left on my contract with them. We had planned on doing a family plan when my contract was up, something needs to be done now though. I asked Verizon last night if her and I could create a family plan and start a new 2 year agreement with them. They said she could join my plan, but I could not upgrade unless I paid full price for a new smartphone. Phones are ridiculously priced at $400+, so I told them it was cheaper to cancel my service ($90 ETF) and start new with another company. After talking with several CS reps the final guy said, "Sorry there is nothing we can do for you." I told him I would be joining a new carrier tomorrow. His words were, "Ok, well if there is anything else we can do for you please call."

I honestly thought this was win-win for both parties. They get a new customer, plus lock me in for another 2 years at 3 times the cost of my current contract. Plus they keep a customer they have had for 8 years with not a single late payment. I guess it's true, cell phone companies treat the new customers better than existing.

I mean, over the next 2 years they would have received $4K in total payments from me...minus the minimal phone discount, they still would have made out big from the deal. I realize I had a contract already, but seriously, I was upgrading big time and also bringing in another customer for them...Am I wrong here? Was my request that difficult?

I've only ever had a contract with t-mobile, and they would let you extend your contract and get a pro-rate discount on a new phone. Is vzw not even letting you do that?

If so, I agree; drop it like it's hot.

 

[TheMan]

I agree with you Albany, I am sure they get plenty of new customers daily. However, isn't the saying always that it's cheaper to retain a customer than bring in a new one? Especially such a solid customer as myself...and additionally, I was trying to bring a new customer with me.

Bengerman, they flat out won't negotiate with me at all. I spoke with 3 reps. All of them said they can add the gf as new customer with discounts, but I have to pay full price. And when I said it was cheaper over 2 years to pay the ETF and drop them today the dude didn't seem to care.

The part that really bugged me was just the non-caring rep when I said I was going to drop them...I thought customer service was supposed to try to negotiate and keep you on board, this guy didn't even offer any sort of counter-option for me to accomplish what I was going for.

EDIT: Funny side note now, I have called Sprint and AT&T to find out what they are willing to do. They asked if I was switching or whatnot and I told them my Verizon experience...they are more than willing to give me discounts and help out for switching over...nice to feel like someone wants your business.

 

[lex990]

I was sprint and went to Verizon. I get corporate discounts with both. I liked sprint but had more dropped calls with it. Only reason I switched is my house was on a hole on sprints reception. No bars on sprint at my house. Full on Verizon. If I could get signal at my house I'd go back since they have the iPhone now

 

[TheMan]

Just an update...I wrote a letter to customer support (day after speaking with them on the phone) about my experience which I thought was beneficial to all parties involved and in it I informed them that I would be going to my local Sprint store after work to switch my service as it is cheaper in the long run for me.

They called my parents house for some reason...I'm guessing it is the original contact line since I was given the phone line from my parents 8 years ago (I haven't even lived with them for 6 six years now). My parents didn't get home till late and relayed the message to me. Verizon was sorry for the way I was treated and wanted me to call back to see what they could do. I had already switched as I said I would.

I had given them the name of the guy that would not help me. I'm guessing that when I said, "I am going to switch my service tomorrow" that he thought I was bluffing because apparently someone at Verizon was willing to work with me. Oh well, too little too late. They can hopefully teach this guy how to properly work with a customer instead of just letting them walk away. Lesson learned: If one guy won't help you, call back and talk to another.

I am happy to say that Sprint has been great so far. The phone is fantastic, Evo 3d. And best of all unlimited data for lower cost than verizon.