How is your cell phone service?

[bandit]

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.

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.

[Shinobi128]

Eew...

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?

[bandit]

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?

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.

[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.

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

[bandit]

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.

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

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.

[ChaoofNee]

This is why more people need Verizon...

Oh, I'll shut up, now.

[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!

[bandit]

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!

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.

[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.

---

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

[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.