Well, I'm on Verzion right now, but since I use about 5000 minutes, it's not worth it. I'm looking at switching to either Cingular or Sprint. I travel a whole lot (but who doesn't on flyertalk!) so I was looking at getting some advice on which is better. My girlfriend has Cingular, and that's where the bulk of the 5000 minutes is going to, so if I get Cingular, the bill would be cheaper. Yet I like Sprint's huge network since I'm planning on going on a national road trip with a few buddies next summer. But then again, Sprint doesn't have any phones that interest me, and their business unlimited plan is $199/month. Any help would be greatful.

i've had verizon, t-mobile and cingular and dumped cingular. Nothing but problems with their junky phones and dropped calls. I don't know anything about Sprint, but then again I don't know anyone that uses it, so maybe that's saying something.

Maybe you should try to get your girlfried to switch to verizon instead!

I've been with Sprint and can say that in my experience their in store service is slow and sucks. However, with a business account, the people on the phone tend to go out of their way to accommodate us. The network is good, the nights and weekend plan included along with sprint to sprint is a plus. If you don't like their phones, and haven't checked recently, they've added a few... Also note that they are now with Nextel ("Sprint together with Nextel) so you have a few more options there as well. I think there are always good and bad, and the first place to start is to make sure your cell phone works at all points in your house, and then office.

I have had both Sprint and Cingular, and I would suggest using sprint if local in the US. Convince your girlfriend to switch to sprint or add a line for her on your sprint account, that way you can make use of the sprint to sprint. The downside to sprint is they have more dropped calls than cingular and as you already know, a little behind in design technology.

Thanks guys! Looks like I'm going to go with Sprint with the unlimited business plan. Again, thanks for your help!

We've had Cingular for some time, but they are a bit cincy on the phones they offer for free. Also, we experience various service failures and dropped calls from time to time, but it has gotten better since they merged with AT&T in that respect.

I'm thinking about Nextel when our current contract expires. I hear tell that when the disasters struck on the Gulf Coast theirs was the only network that had service - walkie talkie only I believe, but service nonetheless.

Anyway, I'm looking around a bit more in two years than I have in the past, but it may be one of those deals like auto insurance. I've been trying to get rid of the gecko for eight years now, but they always have the best rates.

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

[email protected]

I've been too many places where people with Sprint can't get service while I can get it with Cingular.

Depends too if you decide to travel internationally. With Sprint, you would have to carry an additional GSM handset, and pay much higher rates than Cingular or T-Mobile.

My company uses Nextel, and as a business customer, they provide us with excellent customer service (I manage the relationship with Nextel). Much better than any other service that I have dealt with (it will be interesting to see what happens now with Sprint). I wouldn't recommend Nextel for an individual subscriber, however. I'm happy with T-Mobile for my personal phone account.

neither stay with verizon. ive had the best coverage and quality with verizon. ive traveled also and have found verizon to have the best coverage EVERYWHERE! they have decent customer service to boot.

Cingular IMO is the best wireless provider you can use.

-GSM is the world standard in mobile technology;
-calling plans are decently priced;
-the most people in network;
-near landline call quality;
-the largest network in North America - not just US but N.A.;
-customer service is generally helpful;
-easiest upgrade option - new phone at contract activation price every 9 months - only extends contracts does not start a new one.

I've had them all- Verizon Wireless, Tmobile, Sprint PCS, Cingular, AT&T Wireless, Cellular One, and have come back to AT&T Wireless - now the New Cingular.

Get yourself a Motorola Razr and you'll be a happy camper being able to take your phone and number virtually anywhere in the world, or just around town.

-Vincent

Also did you check to see if you're employeers has negociated a discount for you with any company? www.cingular.com you can put in your work email and see if you qualify for anything special - this applies to many colleges and universities too.

-Vincent

Have you tried to use your Verizon phone outside of the U.S. lately? Verizon's system is CDMA, notoriously incompatible with overseas systems, even overseas CDMA!

OTOH, Cingular & T-Mobile both use GSM, which was designed from the ground up for world-wide compatibility. GSM phones (provided it's at least tri-band) can be used with any GSM system in the world, simply by swapping the SIM card (assuming of course, that your GSM phone is UNLOCKED).

I left Cingular a few years ago for Sprint and have had very good luck with them. Coverage is very good in the places that I usually go to. I switched because Fiance was on Sprint and we got better value being on the same network. Sprint seems to have the best plans.

What I would recommend is that you find out how Sprint coverage is in your home area. It might be great where you live and lousy where you work.

Regarding international, CDMA networks are being built around the world. I use my Sprint phone throughout China, and there are new networks being built in Eastern Europe using CDMA. As 3G and 4G networks progress, the jury is out whether CDMA or GSM will win, evnn though GSM is more pervasive today. I wouldn't switch or stay with a network, though, based on what MAY happen in the future. Find a phone, rate plan and network that gives you good reception. Also, check out www.howardforums.com for lots of info.

fduvall

Those networks are built as replacements for the old NMT450 networks and operate at 450 MHz. US phones are totally incompatible unless someone wants to do a tri-band version (450/850/1900).

As for what network to use, go Cingular. Sprint's network isn't large at all. They have excellent coverage through roaming partners but that often means you have no access to advanced features. Cingular, even when roaming, will still deliver text messages and voicemail notifications and in many cases data. If you talk to your girlfriend who's on Cingular as well, there's no other way to go as all your calls will be free. As for the coverage issue, here's the way to get better coverage on Cingular than any other carrier in the country.

Sign up for Cingular and get the phone of your choice. Then, go on Ebay and buy yourself an Ericsson T62u. Call Cingular and tell them you want to activate GAIT service on your SIM card. They SHOULD ask for your IMEI and ESN (both of which you get off the phone in the battery compartment). If they don't, ask for a supervisor. What you'll end up with is the best of both worlds; a phone with advanced features and a phone that will have coverage anywhere there's service (until analog goes away that is). You simply move your SIM card back and forth and use the T62 only when necessary. Your phonebook moves with the SIM.

If you decide to go this route, PM me and I'll send back some instructions on making sure the analog and TDMA functions work. You can force the phone to use any technology you wish at any time (say, if the GSM network has poor coverage but TDMA is strong). Note that you NEVER want to tell Cingular you're doing this. They even lock their SIMs to prevent you selecting other GSM networks so they'd definitely frown upon this. The upside to that policy is that they can't come back on you if you 'roam' as you had no choice... the PHONE did it!

I had Verizon. It sucked. "Can you not hear me?" is the answer.

I now have Cingular, which works good, so I am keeping it.

One of my buddies has Sprint, and he says he's sticking by it.

So, IMHO, both can do you no wrong, if it works where you need it.