Which cell phone carrier?

J

JOhnH

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Right Seater
I'm thinking about getting a new Ipad and Iphone.
There are a couple of good carriers in my local area so that is not a problem, but a few times when we have been at remote airports, reception was ok on the AT&T phone, but not on the Verizon Ipad; and at other times it was reversed. I might just go with AT&T again, but I really don't like AT&T.
Who do you guys like for nationwide reception and decent pricing plans?
 
John,

We had both Verizon and AT&T devices with us when we took our six week road trip from here (Missouri) to:

Madison, WI
The UP
Duluth & Bemidji, MN
Grand Forks, Minot & Williston, ND
Ft. Peck, Great Falls & Glacier, MT
Yellowstone & Cody, WY
Sturgis, Rapid City, Chamberlain & Sioux Fall, SD

Those were all of our overnight stops IIRC and we streamed music, maps, etc while driving down the road.

Hands down.

Verizon.

No comparison.

It's the same here (Missouri and Arkansas).

Can't speak with authority about anywhere else.
 
I have had Sprint for 25 years in Florida. No complaints at all, except their customer service people are idiots. The service is fine. I travel extensively, mostly cities, and never run into any issues with service.

My company uses AT&T for our company Iphones. I decline the standard issue Iphone and take a credit that pays for the Android phone I want on Sprint. I am often traveling with colleagues who complain about not having service, when I have full bars.
 
Speaking as someone who travels all over the US and internationally, Verizon hands down.

You'll have full data in places other carriers can't get 1 voice bar.
 
The new cellular iPads are "multi-carrier" now. For example an iPad Air 2 will work on GSM (AT&T and T-Mobile) or LTE/CDMA (Verizon and Sprint) by just putting in the correct SIM.

Cell Phone, Verizon. But you will pay compared to other carriers, AT&T excluded.
 
We get Verizon signals in places where we couldn't get A T & T or T-Mobile. It's also a little more expensive.
 
I've traveled all over the country and really have no complaints with ATT, especially their LTE and HSPA+ (4G) service. Voice on ATT isn't compressed to the point of being muddy in high-density areas, which I've found to be both common and consistent with VZW and Sprint. Verizon claims to be 100% LTE, but their own coverage map appears to contradict that claim, depicting a drop-off to 3G in many areas. If you do fall back to 3G on VZW, it's more like a terminal dive than a fall, as the old EV-DO network is typically substantially slower than ATT's 3G/4G network. There is no simultaneous voice and data on VZW, either, at least on the iPhone. I didn't think that simultaneous voice and data was a big deal until I had it.

My recent experience with VZW's LTE network in a major metro area was less than impressive, turning in real-world performance noticeably worse than ATT with an iPhone and iPad side-by-side. And by worse, I mean bandwidth numbers in the low single digits. In my opinion, that is not acceptable for a company that brags about its network and charges a premium over the competition. It appears that ATT has done a good job with network expansion and enhancement over the past couple of years.

Of course, none of this matters if either VZW or ATT provides better coverage in the areas where you expect to use the service. Availability may make the choice for you. Consider data from RootMetrics, Sensorly, SignalMap, CellReception, and similar sites. There is no perfect carrier for all areas.


JKG
 
Straightalk.com
BYOP bring your own phone.
ATT or Verizon (it will be your choice) through them is 45$/mo. NO contract.
Unlimited minutes.
Unlimited data with throttling after 3gb. Edit: as of today; 5gB!
Tethering not available with my plan.

What is everyone else paying? This is awesome around here, ATT is almost double for the same!
 
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AT&T starts off more expensive, and then piles on more charges. Sprint is the cheapest, but had the least coverage nationwide. Verizon has the best network and is also expensive. We recently switched and got the best deal with T-Mobile. The 4G is faster than being on Wi-Fi in many places. Unlimited 4G included, with up to 5GB/mo. of tethered data, which eliminates the need for cell service on the tablet.
 
I was an ATT customer for a long time. It worked great in Alaska but less than great in Texas. One day while in the ATT store to upgrade a phone they hosed the transaction, then the correction, and then the next attempted correction. I bought out my contract on the spot and had a Verizon phone and iPad about a half hour later. I've never been happier. Good service everywhere I travel and their customer care is top notch. My overall cost went down from the same data package at ATT. Not enough to matter but it did not go up. I know others who have similar stories the other way around. We all find our way to what works for us.
 
VZW bandwidth at my house below. And this is effectively doubled as we have two phones enabled as wifi hotspots at all times.

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timwinters said:
VZW bandwidth at my house below. And this is effectively doubled as we have two phones enabled as wifi hotspots at all times.

attachment.php
Click to expand...

:hairraise:

What kind of data caps / rates do they have?
 
Coverage wise Verizon has a win.
Performance wise, I'm still very happy with ATT.
T-Moblie probably has the best feature set.
Sprint has the worst customer service in the world.

It used to be that you wanted a GSM (ATT, TMobile) carrier if you were going abroad most places, however, that's settled out in the "4G" days.
 
Verizon by far for best coverage...but you're going to pay for it.

I'd love to go with T-mobile, but I've dropped calls and had no service in remote places with them, like Chicago, NYC, and Washington DC. They can advertise all the speeds and features they want, but it doesnt mean **** until they get better coverage than Helen Kellers eyes.
 
We switched our corporate phones over to Verizon late last year. We do a lot of work at various Army forts and Marine Corps camps. T-Mobile was fine in the city, but in remote areas it was Verizon hands down.

I took a drive across the panhandle of Florida last summer on I-10. Most of the trip I had no data available on my T-Mobile phone while my wife's Verizon phone had 3 or more bars and accessed the internet just fine.

Where you go makes a difference, of course. And Verizon is not cheap. But it works for us.

John
 
I've had both AT&T and Verizon.... Verizon wins in most places. I just happen to be moving to the one area in the midwest where they apparently don't have data coverage.

Definitely verify it works where YOU live and need it. Every carrier seems to have dead spots.
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
Straightalk.com
BYOP bring your own phone.
ATT or Verizon (it will be your choice) through them is 45$/mo. NO contract.
Unlimited minutes.
Unlimited data with throttling after 3gb.
Tethering not available with my plan.
Click to expand...

You guys have cell service out there Dave?

I thought y'all were just now getting around to having eee-lec-tricity and indoor plumbing!! :D
 
We have been using Verizon for years, excellent coverage for most everywhere I go.
 
JGoodish said:
There is no simultaneous voice and data on VZW, either, at least on the iPhone.
Click to expand...

I know for certain the iPhone 6's support voice and data in any VoLTE area and 'Advanced Calling 1.0' feature is enabled on the account. Most Android smartphones that have separate CDMA and LTE radios will make the call on CDMA and use LTE for data (provided you are in an LTE area) so the capability is there with VZW's infrastructure. I don't have an iPhone 5S to test with, but if it doesn't I would say the limitation is the hardware not the carrier.
 
As far as the phone and data simultaneously on Verizon, I've noticed that if I have the LTE service on both an Android (Samsung) and Blackberry I have no issue with voice and data simultaneously.
 
SCCutler said:
:hairraise:

What kind of data caps / rates do they have?
Click to expand...

None, I'm grandfathered on the unlimited plan for $25/mo/phone.

Since our phones are our home internet access we blow through 30 to 50 GB per month.

I think they hate us. :goofy:

EdFred said:
Tim is grandfathered in under the old unlimited data plan, and as far as I know they don't have throttling.
Click to expand...

Correct on both points.
 
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timwinters said:
None, I'm grandfathered on the unlimited plan for $25/mo/phone.

Since our phones are our home internet access we blow through 30 to 50 GB per month.

I think they hate us. :goofy:



Correct on both points.
Click to expand...


Ya think ??:dunno::dunno:;)
 
VZN for me. Sprint SUX in SW. VZN usually has coverage in small towns, where the others don't. AT&T good for international travel, but lacking in small town coverage in US.
 
75% of the time Verizon would be fine, but in the Adirondacks, it sucks. I have to wade out in the lake or drive to a hilltop to get a signal from a tower in Vermont. AT&T is the only one that gives me any bars up here. I get it through Straight Talk.
 
Ken Ibold said:
I have had Sprint for 25 years in Florida. No complaints at all, except their customer service people are idiots. The service is fine. I travel extensively, mostly cities, and never run into any issues with service.



My company uses AT&T for our company Iphones. I decline the standard issue Iphone and take a credit that pays for the Android phone I want on Sprint. I am often traveling with colleagues who complain about not having service, when I have full bars.
Click to expand...


FWIW, AFAIK...Sprint has extensive roaming deals with VZ. It fills in their coverage holes very well. It is rate-limited to some unknown extent on data speeds when using VZ infrastructure but in practice it isn't too bad. So you're basically getting the benefit of some of the VZ network when you buy Sprint over AT&T.
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
Straightalk.com
BYOP bring your own phone.
ATT or Verizon (it will be your choice) through them is 45$/mo. NO contract.
Unlimited minutes.
Unlimited data with throttling after 3gb. Edit: as of today; 5gb!
Tethering not available with my plan.

What is everyone else paying? This is awesome around here, ATT is almost double for the same!
Click to expand...

Verizon used to play that game but lost a lawsuit a few years back.

The basis for the lawsuit was that charging to tether and/or hotspot the phone is essentially charging you for the same data twice. The customer paid for the data, so it's theirs to use how they want. The lawsuit was successful and now the various hotspot apps work on Verizon phones without root, though when you go into settings and try to fire up the hotspot that comes standard in a droid phone, you'll still get a "requires a $25/mo subscription" message.

Bastards.
 
warthog1984 said:
Speaking as someone who travels all over the US and internationally, Verizon hands down.



You'll have full data in places other carriers can't get 1 voice bar.
Click to expand...

I'd generally agree with you, but with one exception - California. I used to have a govt issued blackberry (AT&T) and at the same time my personal blackberry and then iPhone was Verizon. I had much better coverage with AT&T there. Verizon couldn't really spotty in some places.
 
I've had several and have settled in on Verizon for the last several years. Sprint was the worst .. both for coverage and customer service. I have a cell phone and a netbook with an aircard in it .. get good coverage and performance with both.

RT
 
Verizon has the better coverage. That said, I've yet to have any problems with AT&T, but I don't fly in particularly remote areas.

I am truly amazed that Sprint is still in business. There must be an awful lot of people who enjoy or can overlook poor service.
 
steingar said:
Verizon has the better coverage. That said, I've yet to have any problems with AT&T, but I don't fly in particularly remote areas.

I am truly amazed that Sprint is still in business. There must be an awful lot of people who enjoy or can overlook poor service.
Click to expand...

There are an awful lot more of people that will choose cheap every time.
 
From a corporate viewpoint-
We have over 200 people in the US on phones we supply them.

Verizon- best coverage, decent to fair customer service- Highest costs
ATT- decent coverage, fair customer service, middle costs
Tmobile- everything is great, except coverage. cheapest by far

No help with the other carriers
 
Verizon, primarily just because it's not AT&T. It's amazing how often and in how many places I get nothing. And when I get somewhere to call and complain the excuse 100% of the time is that they're doing maintence in the area.
 
Gerhardt said:
Verizon, primarily just because it's not AT&T. It's amazing how often and in how many places I get nothing. And when I get somewhere to call and complain the excuse 100% of the time is that they're doing maintence in the area.
Click to expand...
That's the main reason I want to change. But I wouldn't want to pay more to get less.
I'm currently grandfathered in with unlimited data on my two AT&T cell phones for $30/month each, but those two phones still cost $166/month. I'm not really sure what that other $106 gets me or how much a similar plan under Verizon would cost, although I am pretty sure I wouldn't get unlimited data. On the other hand, I don't really need unlimited data.

I'm trying to become free of AT&T.

At work, I switched from AT&T DSL and 5 phone lines ($450/month) to Brighthouse with faster internet and 6 phone lines for $300.

At home I switched from AT&T Uverse ($270/month without any premium channels) to Brighthouse with more channels and faster internet for $153, including all taxes and fees.
 
Not seeing enough typical rates for unlimited plans.
Post your single-phone rate and which carrier.
 
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