Cell Phone Service Providers

TeamTyler · Feb 24, 2007

Hello - I am looking to hear from anybody with current input regarding their cell phone service. We are being forced to leave Cingular (reluctantly) because over 50% of our minutes are Off Network towers and we are an unprofitable customer. We have 3 weeks to change providers.

Just wanted to know what is working well for other expeditors. Which companies are you using, their coverage network, reliability, cost, pros and cons, etc.

Thanks in advance!

LT

sixwheeler · Feb 24, 2007

After having been all over the country running team, with me using nextel and codriver using sprint, I can tell you this...nextel sucks
sprint has almost always got a signal.

Moot · Feb 24, 2007

I just finished a two year stint with Cingular. I couldn't wait to get back to Verizon. No dropped calls like with Cingular. Now if I could figure out all the features on the new phone...

Dog_House2691 · Feb 24, 2007

I have had Cingular One for a number of years and have had great service and good service plans.I havent found many areas that I dont have a clear signal.

TeamCaffee · Feb 24, 2007

We have Cingular, Sprint and Verizon and find all three work really good in different parts of the country. We could not pick one over the other. We have the same coverage on all three. The costs are all about the same, they all drop calls about the same and they all eat batteries up about the same! Long story on why we have all three but works out the best and cheapest for us this way.

greg334 · Feb 24, 2007

I have cingular or is it AT&T? What ever it is, I have dropped calls a lot but I also have the da*n phone forward my calls to my VM box which is not set up. I have worked with Cingular to fix this problem and they have concluded on 4 seperate occasions that I; need a new phone, need a new phone number, need to use digital exclusivly or should get one of those pda phones. The problem is with the phone account that is tied to that number (source for this is the level 3 techs).

But here is the problem I now have - I have the family plan with three accounts on the same plan. My father's phone was an older digital phone and they claimed it needed to be upgraded so he goes to the cingular dealer and gets this fancy new phone for $50 and another 2 year extension on the contract. So now I am stuck for another two years with them.

highway star · Feb 24, 2007

Three phones? Must be a good story. I have two, business and personal. The one I use most is Altell. I'm very happy with it. Excellent coverage, doesn't drop calls very much. The other is Verizon. So far, it's O.K. I switched from Nextel. Their customer service is absolutely the pits. It's a long story.

RichM · Feb 24, 2007

I have Cingular from the time back when it was Bell South Mobility,then Cingular Wireless,then Cingular and now AT&T which is BS as AT&t was forced to merge with Southern Bell Comm or fold. They kept the AT&T name afloat. But I am pleased over all with Cingular,we also had Verizon for another phone but for my needs Cingular worked out better.

TeamCaffee · Feb 24, 2007

Highway Star lets get together at MATS and exchange stories! One of the problems we had with the Cingular is if you go into a store that is not in the area you purchased it they cannot help you. The phone breaks while on the road you are just going to have to buy a new one. We have the Sprint wireless card and have found there supports is usually pretty good. Have not had any problems with Verizon so have not tested them. All bills are paid on line with no problems.

bernieh48 · Feb 24, 2007

Well the first reply about Nextel and Sprint was correct. We finall raised enough cain with nextel about their lack of cell service and they ave given us a hybrid phone. We have had it for 2 months now and it work great everywhere out here on the road. What it is, is the merger betweent Sprint and Nextel. It runs off of Nextel's towers for the beep side and Sprints' towers on the phone side. Works great! Call and complain to the retention dept. if you have either Sprint or Nextel and askk them about this new hybrid phone! It's the Motorola ic502

ABEJR2004 · Feb 24, 2007

Hey Greg334,

I just did a switch to Cingular/ATT and seem to really be having problems this week, my issue's are still not resolved. Call being forwarded to voicemail, dropped calls, i can call out but no calls comming in unless from another cigular caller. Being told it maybe monday before corrected (some kind of routing problem)

might be going back to Nextel/Sprint

AbeJr
TranStewart #6680
Stand Tall & Be Proud

jeffman164 · Feb 25, 2007

Love my Nextel. Get service almost everywhere. Wouldn't leave home without it.>Hey Greg334,
>
>I just did a switch to Cingular/ATT and seem to really be
>having problems this week, my issue's are still not
>resolved. Call being forwarded to voicemail, dropped calls,
>i can call out but no calls comming in unless from another
>cigular caller. Being told it maybe monday before corrected
>(some kind of routing problem)
>
>might be going back to Nextel/Sprint
>
>
>AbeJr
>TranStewart #6680
>Stand Tall & Be Proud

flatbedin · Feb 25, 2007

I've been with Cingular since '98, and yesterday while I was home we went and switched our service over to Verizon. I have been into my local Cingular store atleast a dozen times over the past six months since we did a upgrade with issue after issue. You can be in mid sentence and it will just drop the call. The number of dropped calls within the past six months has gotten WAY out of control... I realize that I am traveling from coast to coast, but my fiance is always near home with plenty of signal, and she has had numerous issues.

We have been sent different phones, bought a signal amplifier, called and complained more, and finally yesterday I called them and told them that they either give us a new upgrade, or else I was switching, and they litterally told me that there were too many people with problems right now to upgrade those with issues...

I now belong to the "IN" network..

I would rather spend the 175.00 per phone to end the contract, than to loose money on the road from not being able to communicate with a customer..

FAMILYEXPDT · Feb 25, 2007

Been with Alltel since 2000. They have excellent signal most places....have the "circle calling network" where you are not charged for your 10 numbers that YOU update when you want to change them...I am not charged minutes for any of my drivers cells...panther, comdata, and pdca. Becasue of this we have lowered our phone plan 3x and still have never gone over. They also offer an unlimited use air card for laptop that uses all of their towers AND all of Sprint's towers....I get connected online everywhere and when in cities get hi speed access. Very fast card I have also used cingulars and it was absolutely horrible on speed etc. Alltel charges 69$ a month for the laptop card. Now we add cards and give our drivers the choice of using them in their laptops. Most love them.

-Charlotte

RLENT · Feb 25, 2007

We have 5 phones on a 2100 minute family plan with Cingular for about 3 years now. We have some dropped calls (..... don't they all ?) but overall I have been happy. Previously had Verizon.

nightcreacher · Feb 25, 2007

do yourself a favor,be glad your leaving cingular,
best deal in cell is alltel,circle of friends
put all your dispatch numbers on the circle,and your most used numbers
59.95/month,no long distance or roaming 800 anytime mins,unlimited to m2m,after 9,and the circle is same as m2m,and vey rare to find a dead spot for usage
I've had alltel since 1998,

TeamTyler · Feb 25, 2007

Charlotte,

Thanks for your input about Alltel. My wife has been leaning towards choosing them. Do you ever have any roaming charges? Alltel says we may encounter a roaming charge in 4% of the US. They also have a 100 minute roaming "insurance" for $10 per month as an aditional option.

We really like the idea of having 10 free numbers for a circle network. Should save a ton of minutes. Is there anywhere the circle network does not work?

Have not heard much about their air card. We just got Cingulars air card 3 months ago, and it has been doing great.

LT

TeamTyler · Feb 25, 2007

Nightcreacher,

Thanks for the info. Never any roaming? They said we MAY roam in 4% of the US.

Glad to hear it works well for you. Looks like it may be our choice as well.

LT

nightcreacher · Feb 25, 2007

lt
ive been in roaming situation couple times but I've never been charged for roaming
my plan:freedom 900,not sure still available,but they have similar plans,this has the minimum amount of minuets for the circle of friends to apply,900 mins,I have insurance on the phone,I have access at 1900,instead of 2100,and I have a package for sending receiving pics and e mail,I use about 4000 mins month,and never spend ove 102 bucks
all of fed exs phone numbers are in circle,dare you to put me on hold

highway star · Feb 25, 2007

I'm with Altell and was told that there was a small chance of roaming charges, but I haven't seen any yet. The coverage is good and it doesn't drop calls too very much.