What Cell Phone Do You Carry?

[Some Stupid Japanese Name]

Who you gunna believe?
Someone who supposedly works for the company, or the cat that deals with Kim Inman personally?

[bandit]

Gettin a new phone next week and I've done zero research. I want something that's fairly easy to browse the net with but not as expensive/not the iphone, and service recommendations. I've been with at&t for a while.

I might go sans data and hook up with metropcs if anyone has any good stories about them.

The idea of unlimited talk and text for 40/mo with no contract is immensely appealing.

I'm looking to get in on this type of deal too.
Do these providers have shitty or no reception out in the boonies, or do all providers pretty much have equal reception where ever there are towers?

These smaller carriers are limited in certain areas. The only way to tell if you're going to get reception in your area or boonies is to go to the store. For bigger carriers, they have a map of the areas they cover, areas have no service at all or limited service. As for recommendations, its best to ask people you know who have the service as they live within your area. I personally love Verizon (minus the high price tag) but I have no problems with reception what so ever. I had AT&T previously and I couldnt get reception in the house unless I was outside my house and I kept getting dropped calls. No problems with Verizon. Same probably with Nextel/Sprint.

You also have to look at other states besides your own. You may have reception where you are but if you go else where, you might not or get hit with roaming.

They have Alltel and MetroPCS playing on TV and radio but I rarely see them nor at the mall kiosks.

Shooting Love: Just because there are cell towers, doesnt mean you'll get reception. These cell towers are specifically for said service. However, if you're in an area that doesnt carry your providers service, your provider may roam and use another service providers towers. Which may charge you extra for roaming charges.

Those who actually work in the field may correct me if I'm wrong but I'm basing this on my own experience.

Verizon's coverage map - http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/C.../coverage+maps
AT&T - http://www.wireless.att.com/coverage...l=calltoaction
T-Mobile - http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/pcc.aspx
MetroPCS - http://www.metropcs.com/coverage/
Spring/Nextel - http://coverage.sprintpcs.com/IMPACT...es&language=EN

If you look at the maps, VZ has a lot more coverage than AT&T. So choose your carrier wisely. If you end up signing with them and you get bad or horrible service, you're stuck with them for 1-2 years. And if you want out before contract is over, you'll be paying $150-200 in ETF (Early Termination Fee)

[Shooting Love]

dang, thanks bandit, that's the full refresher course in mobile service shopping.
I've had the same plan with T-Mobile since 2004, and was generally happy with it.
However, in the area I presently live, I've had all kinds of reception problems and also issues with voice mail.

Months ago I did go into Verizon and AT&T stores to look around but wasn't at all interested in signing a 2 year contract.
All I want is basic unlimited text and voice plan. A rugged flip phone I can throw in my pocket and not worry about. And no contract.
And reception and no roaming charges from Florida to Vermont.
I'd forgotten about those coverage area maps.

I have asked around - everyone I know has fancy phone/camera/gps/internet/computer devices, so they're unable to offer advice on basic no contract plans.

[bandit]

dang, thanks bandit, that's the full refresher course in mobile service shopping.
I've had the same plan with T-Mobile since 2004, and was generally happy with it.
However, in the area I presently live, I've had all kinds of reception problems and also issues with voice mail.

Months ago I did go into Verizon and AT&T stores to look around but wasn't at all interested in signing a 2 year contract.
All I want is basic unlimited text and voice plan. A rugged flip phone I can throw in my pocket and not worry about. And no contract.
And reception and no roaming charges from Florida to Vermont.
I'd forgotten about those coverage area maps.

I have asked around - everyone I know has fancy phone/camera/gps/internet/computer devices, so they're unable to offer advice on basic no contract plans.

The reason why you sign up for a 2 year contract is because the price you pay for the plan and that you're locked into, offsets the cost of the phone. Thats is why you get a discount on the phone. Get a 1 year contract and the phone costs more than the 2 year. No contract, you pay full price for the phone. Whats not mentioned in the link above is the cost of the phone. Its great you're getting unlimited data/voice but you'll probably end up paying retail price of the phone (approximately $350-450)

Like everything, there are stipulations and things to look out for. http://www.metropcs.com/plans/default.aspx

There is no voicemail. its 19¢ when you're not within Metro's coverage area. If you dont care about if you have a cheap phone or how it looks, lack of features, MetroPCS's selection is up your alley.

I guess if you're getting the unlimited, you dont have to worry about your mins. I personally have 450 mins that I share with my fiancee and we barely use 100 mins per month. Everyone we know has Verizon so we get mobile to mobile. We had 700 mins and I convinced VZ to downgrade me to a lower plan (Loyalty plan - only for members whos contract is ending soon. I still have a year and a half left but they still gave it to me) so I can add blackberry service without jacking my price up too much. I paid $107 a month for 2 lines, 700 mins and unlimited txt. Now, I pay $117 a month for 2 lines, 450 mins, 500 out of network txt, unlimited in network txt and BB service on my phone.

So technically, I'm only paying $10 for blackberry service even though it costs $30. yes, I lose 250 mins and only get 500 out of network text, it doesnt affect us as we barely use it all.

[Shooting Love]

I have three or four obnoxioius friends who I try to avoid answering their calls, but when I do they fucking talk for like 10-20 minutes straight. I'd swear they're on meth or coke (well, the dude from LA is on coke anytime he calls on commutes from Phoenix to LA)
Even though I'm saying "Yo, I can't talk, I gotta go." they just keep on fucking talking. usually I hold the phone away from my ear and carry on doing whatever jerkin' off and they keep on talking with no idea no one is listening kinda like my posts on the internet

And anytime I hook up with some needy whore, I'm inundated with texts constantly, and if I don't respond instantly, I'm using minutes explaining myself before I'm allowed to lay some pipe up in that sweat box.

Know wut am sayin?

so fo sure
i'm on that unlimited

just talked it out tonight with the homies and been schooled on the situations,
once apple unviels their tethering dealio at E3 then it might be worth it for me to sign on to one of their fucking contracts and iphone it up.

[Wildkat]

Months ago I did go into Verizon and AT&T stores to look around but wasn't at all interested in signing a 2 year contract.
All I want is basic unlimited text and voice plan. A rugged flip phone I can throw in my pocket and not worry about. And no contract.
And reception and no roaming charges from Florida to Vermont.
I'd forgotten about those coverage area maps.

I have asked around - everyone I know has fancy phone/camera/gps/internet/computer devices, so they're unable to offer advice on basic no contract plans.

All of Verizon's plans can be had no contract, you just don't get a discount on the phone. So find a verizon phone you like on ebay, bring it in to a store and turn it on. No contract required.

[Razor Ramon]

THIS IS EXCELLENT NEWS!

Seriously, I may end up doing this from now on. I currently have a Voyager and I have no complaints with the phone after almost a full year so I'm keeping it. Signing a contract be damned.

[EvilMog]

Ive been with ATT(Cingular) for 4-5 years now. Its decent. I like the no roaming stuff. The coverage is not nearly as good in Wisconsin as it shows. If I go anywhere up north its very spotty. I'm also probably going to jump on the iphone bandwagon in July when I can get an upgrade price. Plus I want to see if they have a newer model. Which I hear may be out in June. I picked up the LG Vu about 6 months ago. Its just ok at best. I like that its small and light but the screen already is taking a shit. Its a nice looking screen but theres insn't nearly enough ways to customize the options. LOL @ not being able to add my own ringtone for texts. Decent cell otherwise. Touch screen texting worked very well until some moisture or something got under the screen. Iphone lite IMO.

[Razor Ramon]

Get BitPim. If you have a USB cord for your phone (I think the Vu comes with one) you'll be able to make your own ringtones on your PC then transfer them to your phone.

You're welcome.

[DumpTruck]

i use http://www.makeownringtone.com/ they've all come out pretty sweet and it's super easy to use