How is your cell phone service?

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Originally Posted by skelly

I held off getting a cell phone as long as possible, but was finally convinced to get one for my recent move. I don't have a landline, now, and use it as my sole phone.

Before I moved I knew nothing about such matters, and a friend recommended T-Mobile. I got a cheap $20 plan w/ $5 additional for T-Zones (data / net functionality) and a Sony Ericsson T610. It was a neat phone, tiny, with a crappy camera and pretty nice data service support (good for MapQuest, white pages and such). However, the T610 is known for having poor reception, and what do you know? At my new place it got 2 bars at best, and dropped calls like clockwork.

I took it back within the 14 day period, and had the number switched to Cingular. I almost got the T616 (same as T610) but the Cingular sales lady acknowledged the poor reception problem. On her recommendation I got the Motorola V400 instead. So far it's been pretty wonderful in terms of reception and coverage (though I've not traveled much). It also has a TFT screen, which makes it much easier to look at than the T610.

Cingular's costing me about 40 a month -- 30 for the base plan (national, all the minutes I could need) with insurance and 1MB data transfer making up the rest. The data transfer is a sore point of this setup, as the 1MB can go pretty quickly and I'm spoiled by the unlimited access I had with T-Mobile. Cingular's web features are also lacking compared to T-Mobile's.

For example, with TM I could track up to eight movie theaters and check them at any time. With Cingular it seems I can only subscribe to one, and the data is pushed to my phone at regular intervals, eating up my data transfer allotment. Yuck. Cingular also charges extra for MMS and AIM / IM support, which were both free with T-Zones. Needless to say, I can't justify $3 extra per month, each, for such superfluous (though fun) features. Luckily, it does appear you can trick the phone a bit to send pictures to email addresses w/o paying for Cingular's MMS service.

Just as an aside, I hear T-Mobile and Cingular use the same towers. So, the reason I now get useable service at my home is likely due to the phone itself being better.

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Actually, I think it was T-Mobile borrowing AT&Ts. Now, it will be AT&T and Cingular using the same towers. TM will probably still be borrowing it as they dont have much.

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Originally Posted by ChaoofNee

Eew...

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I know it's a fugly phone, but according to reviews, it's good for the price, and has great reception. I'm trying it out, AT&T gives me 30 days to see if I like my phone or not. It was between this and the Nokia 3200 (They're both free with AT&T plans). The 3200, which has a camera, doesn't have features I would like on the 3595, basic stuff like support for a headset. I thought it would be neat to have a camera, but that's not important enough for me.

And out of curiousity, do any of you have insurance on your phone?

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Originally Posted by Shinobi128

I know it's a fugly phone, but according to reviews, it's good for the price, and has great reception. I'm trying it out, AT&T gives me 30 days to see if I like my phone or not. It was between this and the Nokia 3200 (They're both free with AT&T plans). The 3200, which has a camera, doesn't have features I would like on the 3595, basic stuff like support for a headset. I thought it would be neat to have a camera, but that's not important enough for me.

And out of curiousity, do any of you have insurance on your phone?

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I do. But than again, Nextel offers it when you have a plan with them. AT&T has a warranty for however long your contract is. But it only covers if there is something wrong with it not lost or stolen. They'll send you a new phone within 1-3 days. They ship pretty quick. For instance, if the battery isnt holding its charge, you call them up, let them know, they'll send you a new battery. Once you get the new battery, you just send back the old one. Same goes for phone itself. The only thing they might charge you is the shipping.

Fuck AT&T. Assholes.

Long story short, the plan I wanted is apparently no longer in effect as of last week, besides the fact that it's online. I talked to someone on the phone, and even though it is their mistake, they won't honor it. Fine, I'll take my business elsewhere. Which means, I won't be getting a cell phone for awhile now, until something just like it appears again. :mad:

I appreciated the help regardless, I'll put this newfound knowledge if effect at a later time.

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Originally Posted by Shinobi128

Fuck AT&T. Assholes.

Long story short, the plan I wanted is apparently no longer in effect as of last week, besides the fact that it's online. I talked to someone on the phone, and even though it is their mistake, they won't honor it. Fine, I'll take my business elsewhere. Which means, I won't be getting a cell phone for awhile now, until something just like it appears again. :mad:

I appreciated the help regardless, I'll put this newfound knowledge if effect at a later time.

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Now to think of it..they are assholes. I called 2 days ago to cancel my account. I spent about an hour talking to the person about cancelling my account. Stupid thing is I have to pay a "pro-rate" of the account since my billing cycle started the 21st (all GSMs billing cycle starts this date). I called to cancel on the 25th. So I was only charged like $5 for the extra 4-5 days. I called yesterday cuz I found out my phone was still active. Guess what, they said they dont have any information on me calling to cancel, but yet, I have a reference number for it. So instead of paying a pro-rate of 5 days, I'm being pro-rated for 6 days. Fucking assholes. I was pissed.

This is why more people need Verizon...

Oh, I'll shut up, now.

Ha! Last minute option, I printed up the deal, I went to the nearest store and told them I want this, no problem. I got everything I wanted, plus the activation waived. (I would've paid $36)

In the end, I have

200 anytime minutes
Unlimited Nights & Weekends
Free National long distance

$29.99 a month.

Take that AT&T rude cacksucker on the phone who said there was no way I could get this.

YYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

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Originally Posted by Shinobi128

Ha! Last minute option, I printed up the deal, I went to the nearest store and told them I want this, no problem. I got everything I wanted, plus the activation waived. (I would've paid $36)

In the end, I have

200 anytime minutes
Unlimited Nights & Weekends
Free National long distance

$29.99 a month.

Take that AT&T rude cacksucker on the phone who said there was no way I could get this.

YYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

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HAHAHAHA..congrats. I think it was more of the person not knowing what they were doing just like the person giving me all that bullshit about cancelling my account.

My stepmom had Cingular and they dropped her service 3 times and tried to charge her for reconnections. After the third time, she told them to shove their service up their ass.

Throw down the extra $8 a month for Verizon, dude.

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N/M, I still think you would have been better off with Verizon. I don't know anyone who likes AT&T.

Get the Tmobile Side kick. Best Phone/service EVER! In fact I am posting this thread on my side kick. If you go to Amazon.com, you can get a deal on the side kick. Mine was free after rebates. And I can go anywhere on the inter-web that doesn't require Flash.

Rule # 1 when dealing with cell companies, the guy on the phone knows dick. If you get shot down try someone else.

And YES get insurance, I have a 300+ dollar phone if I drop it or it gets stolen I get another free.

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Originally Posted by NoktUp

Get the Tmobile Side kick. Best Phone/service EVER! In fact I am posting this thread on my side kick. If you go to Amazon.com, you can get a deal on the side kick. Mine was free after rebates. And I can go anywhere on the inter-web that doesn't require Flash.

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The side kick is cool if you enjoy looking like a geek. :p

And you must start a thread with pics of the girl in your avatar. (NO not the kid) :lol:

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Originally Posted by burgundy

My stepmom had Cingular and they dropped her service 3 times and tried to charge her for reconnections. After the third time, she told them to shove their service up their ass.

Throw down the extra $8 a month for Verizon, dude.

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N/M, I still think you would have been better off with Verizon. I don't know anyone who likes AT&T.

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Well, like you said earlier in this thread, it really depends on the area. The majority of the people I talked to around here had AT&T, and it's worked for them just fine. I liked their pricing plan, so I'm giving it a try. *Hopes everything will turn out ok* :)

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Originally Posted by bandit

HAHAHAHA..congrats. I think it was more of the person not knowing what they were doing just like the person giving me all that bullshit about cancelling my account.

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The force was with me. :)

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Originally Posted by Shinobi128

I really don't like cell phones, but I'm close to getting one because I need it. I don't want to spend a lot of money either, the last thing I wanted is another monthly bill. I really don't want contracts either, but financially speaking, I might as well get one compared to prepaid plans. :\ How's the service for:

Cingular
AT&T
Sprint
Verizon
Nextel

They all seem to have ok plans, but how is your service with the above? After your contract was up, did you continue using them? Did you try something else?

Thank you in advance.

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http://24.media.tumblr.com/c58124274...kqfvo1_400.jpg

i see.

omg it's the world's strongest man

lol @ not liking cell phones 10 years ago

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Originally Posted by Mzo

lol @ not liking cell phones 10 years ago

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I didn't have a phone permanently until 2006 I think. It really didn't bother me. As much as I don't like relying on tech innovations, I can't see NOT having one now. It'd at least be a big pain.

Does James still not have a cell phone, or did he finally give up that fight?

I held out on getting a cell phone until around 2005.

My car broke down and I had to walk about 3 miles to use a phone. That was the end of the holdout, got a phone the next day.

I think I got one in, like, 2002 or whatever when I was slinging vacuum cleaners door to door.

I was a late cell bloomer as well.

If you think about it, anything before 2006 wasn't all that late. Cell phones have really become a standard possession in the last 8 years or so.

I hated the idea of getting a cell for a long time. I think I finally caved and purchased a GoPhone in '08 or '09.

I use Sprint and, at least in my area, the 3G is slow as molasses. I'd jump ship to a different carrier if I wasn't getting such a good deal on my service.

I'm on AT&T now and have liked them better than T-Mobile. 3G is plenty fast most of the time and I generally don't have issues with dropped calls or getting service. Dead zones here or there but that's usually if I'm in a basement or something.

Reading back on some of those old plans...seems $30/mo and even below was standard for certain plans. There's several phones on this plan but the bill is in the $200/mo range.

I have an HTC One-X that uses AT&T's LTE service which was activated here last September. My downstream fluctuates from 15 to ~30MB/sec, upstream typically stabilizes at 10MB with occasional breaches of 15MB/sec. It's quite excellent when it works, too bad that the low caps prevent anyone from utilizing it in any meaningful way.

I wish for a day of ubiquitous wireless internet so I can be completely rid of cable, but that won't happen in any cost-effective way anytime soon it seems.

I can't really remember how long I've had one. But I haven't updated to a smart phone. I can't justify monthly bill. It would increase my monthly bills by 1/3-1/5

I'll probably get one when I get a real person job.

Sprint sucks horribly in downtown Manhattan. Seriously, MANHATTAN.

I'm still holding out for hope that the Japanese buyout of Sprint will stop them from sucking so hard. We shall see.

The ghosts of the natives are causing interference. Not all of the beads in the world will sate them now.

Anyone here with experience with a 4G network? I know it's going to vary with a carrier/location but I'm curious to know about the overall consensus. I'm thinking of upgrading to the iPhone 5 pretty soon and was wondering the overall improvement of 4G over 3G.

My 4G LTE service (with AT&T) is noticeably faster and much more reliable than the HSPA+ fake-4G I had with my last phone. There's a particularly marked difference in how easy it is to get a signal. I used to have so much trouble getting a good connection in my building at work and at certain spots on the street, but those issues have cleared up completely.