Which cell phone company?

[Mrs. Happygilmore]

Hello!
Okay, now that we have decided that my husband is going on to do this and will be leaving for class Nov. 14th, we need to get a couple cell phones!

Does anyone have any recommendations as to which company to choose that covers best for the entire US? With the least amount of "lost signals"? Also that would have the best talk time, minutes, etc. plan wise? Not to mention reasonable monthly payments?

I thought maybe the ones with the walkie talkie type option may be better, but I'm not sure. Of course every company you call thinks there's is the best. I've known people who were told certain areas were in their calling area of their plan, and then they couldn't get a signal.


Thank you! Happy

[Lady18wheels]

Verizon. My brother and I ran together for a while. He had T-mobile. I could get a signal when he couldn't. Current co-driver uses Nextel. I can get a signal when he can't.

[Mrs. Happygilmore]

Lady18wheels,

Interesting to know that! When I worked at the hospital, almost all the doctors I worked with also used Verizon. I just never had the need to know if they worked Nation wide at the time I worked with them. Therefore I never inquired any further.

I definitly would like my Hubby to be able to get a signal. Why pay for the service if you can't even use it, ya know?

I'm checking out what plans they all have to offer while I'm waiting for opinions on these cell phones. That way, I will be able to decide soon, before Hubby leaves, so that he can take a cell phone with him.

Thank you!!!!

Sincerely, Happy

[btinc]

Verizon has been good to me, it will be hard to beat the coverage of the merger of Cingular and AT&T, i would look at the coverage maps of both.

[just_froggy]

I got t-Mobile. The only thing I don't like is that they don't have the greatest coverage. I got them in a hurry before my credit went bad after having my Cell 1 phones shut off. Never go with cell 1! They are not trucker friendly. My fiancee' is using a company Nextell and he says its not to bad.

[littleman2]

verizon I had Nextonothin I mean nextel could hardly ever get coverage. Verizon has the best covorage does not mean you won't get droped calls but you do have a good signal most of the time.

[GeorgiaDawgLover]

I have been with several companies.....SunCom, Alltell...okay I'll stop saying names. Only with Verizon have they given me the coverage that I needed. Verizon has a in call thing...when you two are on the same plan...calss don't count against ya!!!!!! Check it out. I love Verizon.

[Mrs. Happygilmore]

WOW! It's really looking like verizon is taking the win here! I will be checking it out more in depth. I sure appreciate the info. Because I was really considering Nextel at first, only because my brother-n-law and friend have that, but they don't travel nationwide. Even here in michigan they constantly have a failing signal.

Thank you! Happy

[d0glesby]

Definately Verizon, but I agree with a previous poster, the AT&T/Cingular merger might mean they have better coverage than Verizon these days.

I've used Cingular, wasn't impressed with their service or their coverage. I currently carry a Nextel phone for work (computer tech), and it is absolutely the worst cell company I've ever used. Horrible coverage, dropped calls, terrible sound quality, and they're expensive.

I've carried a Verizon cell phone since 1996, and have had zero problems getting a signal anywhere I go (aside from the Rockies in CO, AT&T is your best bet for that area).

[Mrs. Happygilmore]

Hello Friends!

We have decided to go with Verizon, thanks to all your help! It just sounds like they would be the best choice for nation wide, and they won the poll too. I'm going Monday to get our phones, so that we can learn how to use them before he leaves! LOL!

Thanks to everyone for all your input. Everyone on here has been such a big help, and all of you have good points to add to all the topics. With all the advice from your experience in the different topics on this message board, it has truly made it easier on our decision making and choices, etc.... I just wanted to let everyone know that we honestly are most grateful to each and everyone of you!

Thank you!
Sincerely, Happy

[LoneEagleNC]

you better listen to everybody but me on that one, i voted for sprint pcs, i have not had many signal issues with them (except places where no one gets a signal).

i am not a truck driver YET!!!!! but with God's help, all things are possible.

It looks like verizon is the winner, but a friend of mine that drives for KLLM has received every call i make to him, I call him alot since we both have sprint pcs and its unlimited pcs to pcs.

just my two cents worth

[Rob_0126]

Guess Im going with Verizon.

[razzamatazz]

money being no object the nextel with walkie talkie is a cool feature.
all carriers are the same, chose the cheapest,I'm using singular with a siemens phone and have no complaints.
siemen phones are made in germany,the best phone I ever owned followed closely by motorola.
stay away from nokia,they sare the absolute worst performance wise.

[Midnight473]

I prefer my Sprint and it has the walkie talkie now as well. Off the beaten path, coverage can be troublesome but on the main corridors there isn't a problem. I think pretty much they are all about the same these days. Just depends on whether you have friends that use the same service and you can get on one of the plans where you can call the most people for free.

[giddyupgo]

Dont be afraid to get a Nokia phone,They are reliable & the chargers for most of the older phones are the same as for the new phones.My wife has been selling phones for 8 years now,its what she has always used....if for some reason you happen to need a charger or hands free kit you can pick one up for a Nokia about anywhere..Dollar Tree,WalMart,Most truck stops etc.

Convienence has to play a part somewhere,no need in having any phone with any service provider if you have to go to particular carriers retail store to buy accessories. Thats my opinion..you can take it,put in inside your head & it would be like a BB rolling around in a box car.

[xrobertx]

:P
Cingular ??
It works 4 me !
8)

[Uturn2001]

About the only phones that I have heard real horror stories about is Motorolas.

I have verizon service and the wife and I use LG phones. Over a year now with the same phones and have not have 1 second of problems.

The other thing is to be sure to get a tri-mode phone since not all areas are digital yet and having a digital only phone could prevent you from getting a signal if you really need one, and with some companies could also place you in roaming when you might not really need to be.

[Coupdetat]

T-Mobile (Deuch Telecom) resells verizon airtime.