cell phones and plans

kina · 07-12-2007, 05:30 PM

I've decided I'm ready to upgrade. Haven't been on a contract for a year, so I'm not sure which on eto get. My cell phone is my only phone, no landline, so it has to be something reliable.

Thoughts?

Athallia · 07-12-2007, 06:57 PM

Do NOT go with Sprint, that's my main advise. Sprint sucks, I had trouble getting service in Manhattan out of all places.
I've had good service from both T-Mobile and Cingular. I've heard Verizon is good, but costly.

*Shira* · 07-12-2007, 07:47 PM

The last time I researched this was 3 years ago, so I'm sure my info is out of date. So rather than describing why I decided what I did then, I'll just suggest which criteria to consider...

If there are particular phone features important to you, those may dictate which service you choose. For example, if it's important to you to have an Apple iPhone, then you have only one carrier to choose from. Some carriers (such as Verizon) will disable features in the phone as a way of forcing you to use higher-cost services. For example, they may disable the feature that allows a person to connect a phone to their computer to load ringtones into the phone, instead forcing you to use the phone as an Internet browser to get the ringtones you want.
AT&T has a reputation for being slower with Internet access and such than other carriers. If you don't plan to use your phone for Internet access, then it doesn't matter. But if you do, keep this in mind.
If you have any friends with cell phone service on the carriers you are evaluating, ask them to bring their phones to your house and see what the reception is like. I dropped AT&T and moved to Verizon because AT&T reception in my own yard was horrid, even outdoors. Really horrid. So try to test each carrier you're considering in your own yard.

Ameretat · 07-12-2007, 09:15 PM

I work for T-Mobile and we have a new product called @ home service that there are two phones you can use for this plan so that you are have free mins when you use your phone from home or at any Hotspots area. And of course, there is myfaves rate plans. That's enough of my company plug.

One of the most important things I tell anyone when shopping for a phone is to do the research on any company that you are going to go with. Be careful of any online offers from outside companies. Online companies like Wirefly for example will charge you a early termination of $200 if you change ANYTHING of your rate plan within the first six months of service. Check coverage maps as well as ask people that you know who thier provider is in YOUR area. People who have great service in one area will not have the same service in other areas. Find out if friends's can get you a better discount if you use them as a referral. Think of how many minutes you think you will actually need. It's always wise have at least 100 mins remaining each month so that if you ever have an heavier month of talking you have a bit of a cushion. Also check to see if you have the option purchasing more minutes if you are about to go over. Check to see if a company charges you for voice mail, sending your bill, how much you will be charged if you make a payment with a live rep, etc. Check to see if you can get insurance for your phone. It may seem like it's unnecessary expense but when your phone is lost or stolen or drops in the toilet,it will come in handy. For a PDA phone o f any kind keep insurance on it all time. Regular cellphones, you should keep equip protection on for at least six months to a year. Most phones at full cost is an ugly surprise to customers.Check to see how often you can upgrade your phone. With new phones coming out every month, you don't want to be out of the good prices. My opinion on good phones. . . .Samsungs for construction workers and constant phone droppers. . .Nokias for simple users and music lovers (most Nokias come with a fm radio program). . .Motorolas are good but they are not my favorites. As a dancer, having a phone that I can get a 1 GB memory is awesome because you can download your favorite music on the card and dance anywhere. which reminds me. . .make sure that you can get software for your phone either with the phone or from the manufactors's website. Also check to see how your company to be will handle exchanging your phone if it has damage that is covered by your warranty. Do you have to send your phone in first or will they send it to you first?

I have more info. . .lol. . .if that's not enough. Good luck with your choice. There's alot out there.

mish_mish · 07-13-2007, 12:03 AM

My husband and I have been loyal T-Mobile customers since late 2002 or early 2003. I have a BlackBerry and all of the service is good. The customer service people are awesomely nice and I haven't had one bad experience or crazy surprising bills or anything.

aazura · 07-13-2007, 07:41 AM

Hi Kina, how timely given my recent phone problems! I'll just echo what Shira said -- coverage varies a lot by place and by provider so it's a good idea to check what coverage will be like where you use your phone the most. If that's your house, having friends check their bars when they're in your living room is not a bad idea.

From what I've heard (b/c I've been researching this lately), Verizon and TMobile are pretty reliable in Boston. I'm on Sprint, which I have to say SUCKS in Boston, though has gotten better in the last six months (I'm not constanting dropping calls in my living rooms anymore, though it still occassionally happens). Can't comment on Cingular.

I got my phone replaced when it died the other day, but as I'm no longer on a contract, I'd like to change my plan... just couldn't deal with it this week with everything else I have on my plate! But I'll likely check some online reviews of phones when I'm ready to commit. My plan of action is to choose the plan/carrier first (got that - I'm going w/TMobile), then choose the phone (next step), then make the committment. Hope that helps!

mish_mish · 07-13-2007, 08:49 AM

I want to put in a plug for my BlackBerry Pearl. It's small (not a giant BlackBerry) and very functional. If you can text message on a regular phone, you will have no trouble with this. I learned very quickly. It's cute, too!

micamica · 07-13-2007, 01:50 PM

Just to say it again, no Sprint!! The customer service is really bad, and they have a tendency to add things on that you didn't ask for. We are leaving our contract-finally!-and have never been happy with them. Now it they are saying "lost" the records of our $250 deposit, so who knows if we will see it again =(

gypsydanse · 07-13-2007, 02:29 PM

I also have T-Mobile, and have had no problems whatsoever with them. Cingular wanted a $750 deposit, and the manager of the Cingular store suggested that I go to T-Mobile. I did so, and have been with them ever since.

latriamou · 07-13-2007, 02:34 PM

i have sprint as do a lot of my friends and i've never had a problem with it. signal or service. i'm in maryland so that may make a difference, but i've traveled and also not had a problem. i've heard cingular is good as well.

latriamou · 07-13-2007, 02:34 PM

i've been with sprint since.... oh wow... 1997? maybe 98...

kina · 07-13-2007, 03:40 PM

my first cell phone was sprint and it SUCKED!!! but it's prolly an area thing. I didn't like T-Mobile's response to when I wanted to make an international phone call and they told me I had to sign a year long contract to do that. ticked me off no end, other than that, and the fact that I have never had a positive experience with their service reps, it's been fine.

What about phones, y'all? Which are the better ones? I don't need a lot of bells and whistles, want a camera phone, but don't really care for much else except good reception and durability, one made for construction worker types as I'm pretty clumsy.

Ameretat · 07-13-2007, 07:57 PM

[quote=kina;33262]my first cell phone was sprint and it SUCKED!!! but it's prolly an area thing. I didn't like T-Mobile's response to when I wanted to make an international phone call and they told me I had to sign a year long contract to do that. /QUOTE]

Wow?!?! Signing a contract to make a international phone call? That doesn't sound right.

kina · 07-13-2007, 08:26 PM

[quote=Ameretat;33331]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kina

my first cell phone was sprint and it SUCKED!!! but it's prolly an area thing. I didn't like T-Mobile's response to when I wanted to make an international phone call and they told me I had to sign a year long contract to do that. /QUOTE]

Wow?!?! Signing a contract to make a international phone call? That doesn't sound right.

Didn't sound right to me either, hence my annoyance with T-Mobile

But the actual phone service has been good.

mish_mish · 07-13-2007, 10:55 PM

I left Sprint for T-Mobile.

SamiraShuruk · 11-15-2007, 09:58 AM

My SprintNextel contract is up in February...thanks for all the info here. Lots to go on in researching where to go next.
What I REALLY want though- is a phone that I can easily download a zaghareet ringtone. Any ideas?? (for a good phone AND where to find a zaghareet ringtone!) :)

mariyah13 · 11-15-2007, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Athallia

Do NOT go with Sprint, that's my main advise. Sprint sucks, I had trouble getting service in Manhattan out of all places.
I've had good service from both T-Mobile and Cingular. I've heard Verizon is good, but costly.

Hmm, I had T-mobile for the last year and half in the city and it was pretty bad. Problems with getting service, plus weird crossed signals and dropped calls. I have cingular/att now and so far its fine. I've never had Sprint but my boyfriend has it and has had no problems.

tamrahennatx · 11-15-2007, 10:48 AM

I'm on a Cingular (AT&T) pre-paid plan. I have an inexpensive Nokia phone, as all I do is talk and text. My plan gives me 1000 anytime minutes, free nights and weekends, free calls to any other phone in their network, and my minutes roll over from month to month. They draft 69.99/month for the phone service and an extra 19.99/mo for unlimited text messaging straight from my checking account, and I've never been hit up with excessive charges. Phone service is pretty good, except in my neighborhood, but I think we must live in a cell service hole, because I see other people outside on their cell phones too.

Unlike a contract, I didn't need to make a deposit for my prepaid service, although I did not get a free phone (hence the basic model Nokia).

*Shira* · 11-15-2007, 11:01 AM

I'm thinking about switching providers when my current contract ends this coming June. I really hate the Motorola phone I currently have. It was a particularly expensive phone because it works on both the Verizon CDMA network and GSM technology (ie, I could take it to Egypt with me and it would work there). After having it just a year, I started having problems with charging it. I'd plug it in, and it would fail to start charging. This has been going on the last 6 months. I have to nudge the power cord into a particular position "just so" or else it won't charge. It also has a dismally short battery life even when it is allegedly fully charged.

Rather than merely replace it with a better phone, I want to switch carriers too because of problems with Verizon signal quality. Sometimes when I use my phone to make a call, I'll suddenly NOT hear the other person talking. If I wait long enough, it cycles through and their voice returns. These outages last for a length of time that feels like forever - often 30-60 seconds. That's a lot of conversation to miss. They can hear me fine, I just can't hear them.

I had a bad experience with AT&T when I lived in California (horrid sound quality and dropped calls at my house, which was awful when we were trying to sell our house and prospective buyers were calling our cell). I've been debating whether to try them again.

Lauren_ · 11-15-2007, 01:41 PM

I'm on Sprint and I have a fusic phone (like a built-in ipod). I LOVE the phone, though it's getting out of date now. I'll use it till it falls apart.

Sprint is a mixed bag for me. I have good reception, but customer service is a complete joke. Have a problem or question? Too bad!! The website doesn't always work right, it's hard to get a human on the phone and when you do they don't care. I tried going to the Sprint store for live service and had to wait 20 minutes to get waited on at all -- in a place where there's not a single chair. Then they told me their store is franchise owned, so they can't help me with my Sprint service. Whaaa???

phillyraqs · 11-16-2007, 09:39 AM

I have Verizon, and I've had good experiences with them.

Regarding phones themselves, I have the LG Chocolate phone and I HATE it. I really really really hate it. I can't wait to get rid of this phone. It's a slide phone and the buttons engage when you hold the phone to your ear, so I often connect to the internet, mute people, hang up on them, etc just by holding the phone.

Also, the phone will turn itself on when being jostled in your pocket or in your purse, so my phone will lose power quickly when I least expect it.

steffib · 11-16-2007, 09:56 AM

When it comes to coverage, things can be totally random. I used to have a terrible time with ATT, and then got pay-by-minute VirginMobile (which is on top of Sprint), and got good coverage. Now, with both using VirginMobile/Sprint, in the exact same place, our dining room table, my husband has trouble, and I am fine. (We both have $20 phones.)

mehndidancer · 11-17-2007, 09:09 PM

I just switched to verizon family plan with my husband. I cancelled ATT too expensive for what i use the phone for. I got the new samsung gleam u700. I am happy with it so far. (it has an mp3 player which i love) only problem camera button is on the side really small. i keep snapping pics of my pocket or purse.Also my husband works for the town i live in so we got it on a special employee rate. I saved money. the phone is so new not on website but trying to do download ringtones on the phone itself was complicated.But I did it. I needed "my house of the rising sun" ri

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