I just moved from Miami to Orlando, and for the first time in my life, I’m going to need to get a cell phone. In fact, we don’t have a land line here, so it’s going to be my primary means of communication (aside from the Internet). I am polling everyone I know as to which provider to go with, which plan (I know I’m going to need a lot of minutes), and even which phone (I don’t need anything fancy, and would rather get a free phone if possible). If any Dopers have any recommendations, advice, horror stories, or anything that can help me, please share. I’m hoping to make a decision and sign a contract around mid-week, and right now I’m leaning toward Verizon since my roommate is with them.
In the NY area Verizon is the best (in terms of coverage, and I have found customer service too). I think they used to be far and away the best, now the gap is narrowing, but still give them an edge.
I hate ATT, they screwed me, plus I got bad service.
As for phones, I had bad luck w/ Nokia, and good luck w/ audiovox, thought the menu of audiovox phones leave much to be desired - but the call goes through.
Ditto above on Verizon (and ATT) - in my experience you have to be just about standing on top of a mountain in East Ka-Bumfucked Butt Lint to not get a signal.
Verizon also has decent nationwide plans too. I’ve had an LG VX4400 for about a year and a half and it’s a strudy little piece of equipment…dropped mine I don’t know how many times and it’s only got a couple scratches & works fine. Battery seems to last forever too.
Definitely not Sprint. Whenever I got a call at home or work (which are only about a mile apart) I had dropped calls 9 times out of 10. I went to the Sprint store a few times to complain, and several people in line chimed up that they had the same problems. I have also heard the same from other people who use Sprint.
AT&T also sucks but they just got assimilated by Cingular so I expect my Cingular service will get worse.
Looks like I’m going to sign up for a Verizon cell phone at Best Buy tomorrow, now that I’m officially hired at my new job. I’m pretty sure I want to go with Verizon because my roommate and a few other friends have it, so I can talk to them for free, and also because the comments have been overwhelmingly positive so far.
I’m going to Best Buy instead of the local Verizon store because I can get a free phone from Best Buy. However, you have to sign a two-year contract. Is this standard operating procedure these days? I’m going to need a cell phone regardless (no land line where we live), but since it’s my first time, I can’t help but worry before making such a commitment.
I live in Tampa, and Verizon has the best coverage. My impression is that it is a little more pricey though, but comparing my experience with that of my gf (who has AT&T) I’d say its worth paying a little extra.
Yeah, it’s standard procedure, if you get the phone from them. However, you can also get plenty of used phones cheap. I used an Audiovox CDM 9000 that came from verizon and it worked great. That model and plenty of other used phones are available. Something to consider, all you need to do is be sure verizon supports that phone.
Nobody has towers everywhere, and all the companies have some dead spots. Before you sign, find a friend who is using the service you are considering. Buy her lunch if she’ll let you try calls from the places you live and work. If the phone works in your home and workplace, and the streets in between, then it’s OK. I know a guy who has to go out to his backyard to make a call when he’s home. No fun.
Well, I’m the proud owner of a free Nokia 6015i phone (not a flip-phone), and a 2-year Verizon contract! Thanks to everyone who offered advice! So far I get great reception from my home, and I feel confident in my purchase.