Cell phone providers

[Fathom]

My current plan is up next month and I have been entertaining making a switch from verizon to sprint or att. Anyone with any experience making a switch or have any recommendations/suggestions? I might upgrade to a smartphone, does one company have a better data plan package? I've been pretty satisfied with my verizon service just want to look into other options.

[LMITOUT]

I have Sprint and it works great for where I live and the data is unlimited which other providers don't have anymore...and it's cheaper than others.

The downside that I discovered just this past fall is that Sprint lost a large portion of it's territory in the Dakota's and west into Montana, etc after the Verizon/Alltel merger so if you plan on doing much traveling that way your signal is going to suffer. If you're heading west on I-94 at around Jamestown, ND you'll start roaming and data speeds are snail-like. I take a handful of trips out there in the fall and now I'm thinking about switching to Verizon but I get a 18% discount through my work with Sprint which makes it a little more difficult to make that leap.

People are going to say that Company X works best for them and another will say Company Y, but in the end it really all depends on where YOU will be using it the most. If all the providers work great then you can start whittling it down by which plans and phones fit your needs.

BTW, if you're thinking about getting into a smartphone, starting on the 14th Verizon will be offering their data plans at 1/2 price so you can get 4GB for the price of 2GB. Nice incentive.

[luckydave]

Verizon has the best coverage in Minnesota. There's a reason the top state officials have Verizon phones.

[Smoker]

We are paying for them.

[LMITOUT]

There's a reason the top state officials have Verizon phones.

Both Verizon and Sprint are on the State bid contract. Either can be purchased.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

T-Mobile is concidered an orphaned child to some, but they have done us good for several years. They roam on ATT also.

[Finlander]

I went with Sprint as I purchased the iPhone and the main reason was good coverage. I couldn't get good coverage with T-Mobile, and I checked out the Sprint HSOforum and checked their signal strength for tha areas I go and that's what worked for me. iPhone is the BOMB!

[Down2Earth]

We have been with Sprint for 11 years. They used to be really good in treating their long term customer with some incentive and respect. That has since gone out the door and you are nothing more then just another customer. A new customer who has never been with Sprint will get treated better then a loyal customer. We are going to be switching at the end of Feb. I hear a lot about the ulimited data with Sprint but unless you are actually dishonest and tethering your phone with your computer you will never go over the 4g plan you can get. most will never use over the 2g plan. Plus Sprint is behind the times and currently switching over to the lte network.

[Kyhl]

I hear a lot about the ulimited data with Sprint but unless you are actually dishonest and tethering your phone with your computer you will never go over the 4g plan you can get. most will never use over the 2g plan. Plus Sprint is behind the times and currently switching over to the lte network.

I wasn't sure if I'd use more than 4GB and haven't yet in the first month with a Razr. I don't surf youtube. I just past 3GB this morning with a week to go on this months bill.

Since 4G in my basement runs four times faster than my home internet, I may be watching Netflix streamed from my phone to my big screen.

Actually, I'm kind of counting on that happening more and more as people realize that they can cut the cord with their cable ISP's, so I bought some VZ stock based on the idea.

[Down2Earth]

I wasn't sure if I'd use more than 4GB and haven't yet in the first month with a Razr. I don't surf youtube. I just past 3GB this morning with a week to go on this months bill.

Since 4G in my basement runs four times faster than my home internet, I may be watching Netflix streamed from my phone to my big screen.

Actually, I'm kind of counting on that happening more and more as people realize that they can cut the cord with their cable ISP's, so I bought some VZ stock based on the idea.

Yeah I can see if you are downloading movies it may take a lot, but I don't watch much TV. I'm still watching DVR of the second season of Sparticus

[lispeej]

Dont do it! Stay with verizon. I had a sprint data card that in the middle of my contract, they changed it on me without telling me. I got hit with a $500 extra charge i should've never gotten from the start!

I fought with them over the phone which wasted a lot of my time, money, and frustration. They eventually retracted the $500 and after that i cancelled them. I never got hit with an early termination charge because they knew what they did was wrong. I was told by a sprint rep that i'm not the only that this has happened to. I just can't wait to hear of a class action lawsuit!

Stay away from tmobile. Tmobile sucks all around. Slow service, and drop calls all the time... everyday....literally everyday.

Can't say much about att or others. You get what you pay for my friend.

my 2 cents

[rundrave]

my 2 cents is that when you see those verizon commercials on TV "can you hear me now" that's what you are paying for and why I am a verizon customer. I dont know if I would feel as confident getting service provided in some of the remote areas I travel with some company other than verizon.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I have a Sprint phone, and Verizon iPad.

Been with Sprint for 10+ years, and have been relatively happy with their customer service and phone service. I can make calls and receive texts virtually anywhere in MN or Canada I travel, with a few exceptions of course. There were some data speed growing pains with my change over to the iPhone4s, but they seem to have been resolved.

I've been on the iPad for 6-7 months or so with Verizon. Their data speeds are FAST! I don't have the numbers, but seat of the pants, it flat out smokes Sprint data. There are some areas where Sprint data is virtually non-existent, and Verizon still has exceptional speed.

As far as data usage, I consistently use about 1-2GB on my phone, and 5GB on my iPad. I was using that 7GB+ on my phone, but rarely use it for internet now that I have the iPad.

[Down2Earth]

I really want to switch from Sprint to Verizon but now that I actually sit down and think about it after I've cooled off I have to ask you Verizon users.

My Wife and I have the Family plan with everything data and any mobile to mobile and because of the new cost of $10 per smartphone our total bill will be 149.99 a month when we upgrade phones. This same plan with Verizon is going to be 179.99 a month with limited data, limited calling only 10 friends not any mobile to mobile and I use my phone for work and make a lot of calls to a lot of people. Even if I have to pay the $32 activation fee every time I upgade phones every 2 years I'm $300 dollars a head every year.

I'm really struggling with this it just seems stupid to go with verizon. I could buy 3 new fishing poles every year. Just want to hear your thoughts. I'm also not in an area with 4g but the guy said tonight it will be in my area in 6 months.

[JohnMickish]

They can do better on the price. See if you can get a discount thru your employer, credit union or whatever you can. We are on Verizon, have a nationwide calling package with two smart phones and one dumb phone with an unlimited data package and pay $150 month.

Everytime my contract is up I search the other carriers for a better deal and it always comes back to this. With Verizon, I can make a call or text from virtually anywhere, and that is worth the extra $10 a month to me. I work with people that have other carriers (and they pay much less than I do) and there are to many times when we get out of town that they have to use my phone to call home.

I will stick with Verizon, and when we get cable TV thru them in our area I will probably switch to them with that as well.

[Down2Earth]

They can do better on the price. See if you can get a discount thru your employer, credit union or whatever you can. We are on Verizon, have a nationwide calling package with two smart phones and one dumb phone with an unlimited data package and pay $150 month.

Everytime my contract is up I search the other carriers for a better deal and it always comes back to this. With Verizon, I can make a call or text from virtually anywhere, and that is worth the extra $10 a month to me. I work with people that have other carriers (and they pay much less than I do) and there are to many times when we get out of town that they have to use my phone to call home.

I will stick with Verizon, and when we get cable TV thru them in our area I will probably switch to them with that as well.

You must have been grandfathered in with the unlimited data plan? We do get a discount through my wifes employer 25% off with Sprint and 20% off through verizon but i didn't figure that in on either plan because that again is still in sprints favor and wanted to just compare apples to apples. In the senerio I gave would you pay the extra $300 a year to have Verizon? Remember no 4g here.

[Macgyver55]

Its always interesting to read these opinions on carriers. I know my daughters experience is probably the exception rather than the rule, but the point is what works for one may not work the best for another. My daughter recently got married and gave up her long held Sprint account in favor of Verizon which her husband has through his work. Several months into it and she flat out hates Verizon. The joke around here is her phone .... She is on her 3rd different phone in a matter of months and still has problems daily especially when she is at our house. They told her the first phone was defective and gave her another. That one had the same issues and she ended up arguing with them until they let her pick out a different model. Its somewhat better but its pretty bad when you still have to go out on the front step to talk so you wont drop calls when you are in a large metro area. I guess its probably a bit more aggravating after having her last service 8+years with little or no issues then having these problems.

[delcecchi]

My t-mobile has been fine. And it works on the west end of lake vermilion (by roaming on ATT network). I only use voice, so that's all I can tell about that.

[Kyhl]

I'm grandfathered into VZ's unlimited data. Two smart phones and one dumb phone for about $150 a month.

It does include free mobile to mobile and texting within VZ.

I also have had the experience many times of having the only phone that gets reception so everyone in our group uses my phone to call home.

There are dry spots in coverage. As mentioned above, it sounds like somewhere in Coon Rapids. My dad had issues where he lived for a few years on a farm between Elko and Webster. He also had to go outside to use a VZ phone where other carriers worked in that area.

As for speed, I regulary get 22-24mbps speeds on 4G. Considering the basic cable speeds are 12mbps, it's blazing. I run upgraded DSL at home that only gets 6mbps.

[Surface Tension]

If you only make and receive phone calls and not a lot of them like I do then look into a Tracfone.

It costs me $20 every 3 months (120 minutes and 90 days) and gets reception from any X, Y, or Z company.

[311Hemi]

Anyone know how AT&T coverage is up north....Leech, Detroit Lakes, Duluth, Mille Lacs...etc?

[Juan Grande]

I just got one of those Straight Talk phones from Walmart. You can get unlimited text/voice for $30 per month or you can add unlimited data for $45/month. They do have an Android phone, but most of the phones are average at best. Not sure who provides the cell coverage, but they have maps on their HSOforum showing coverage in various states. Best part is there's no taxes,fees or contracts and you can set your account to renew each month so you don't have to keep buying cards. I've only had it a couple weeks, but so far so good.

[PierBridge]

Anyone know how AT&T coverage is up north....Leech, Detroit Lakes, Duluth, Mille Lacs...etc?

Historically ATT shines in the Iron Range region. Other than that ATT does have a few issues..

[JohnMickish]

For me, I will pay $300 a year to make sure my phone works. I end up traveling thru some pretty remote areas and the piece of mind is worth that to my family.

[echotrail]

T-mobile works fine for me to. All I want is the capability of talking for a few minutes from time to time. 1,000 pre-paid minutes for $100 lasts me about 1 year and the coverage is good in the Kabatogama/Crane Lake area. I used to have Verizon and it didn't work up there.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

T-mobile works fine for me to. All I want is the capability of talking for a few minutes from time to time. 1,000 pre-paid minutes for $100 lasts me about 1 year and the coverage is good in the Kabatogama/Crane Lake area. I used to have Verizon and it didn't work up there.

Works for me up there too. I even use my weather app to check the radar.