Posted: 3/28/2007 2:46:28 PM EDT
| I need a new cell phone provider. I've got Nextel and their coverage = poop. What's the "consumer" report for best Minnesota coverage, plans, etc.? I use my phone for business so I run a lot of minutes. |
im in the same boat as you... nextel BLOWS. i think my brother likes his sprint ( who ironically owns nextel now ) and i can honestly say for a while i had a 90% call failure rate... not cool when im on the phone with customers. what happens if i got hurt 40 feet up in a tree and CANT dial 911 ? |
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I've had a CDMA(Sprint or Verizon) phone since 1999. Near the metro areas and even a lot outstate, I have had great coverage. There are many a time that my friends with TDMA phones used to borrow my phone to make calls on fringe areas (most gun clubs are out of the way) of towns when theirs didn't work. They do this less now that they have switched to Verizon. At least when my company switched to Verizon from Sprint a few years ago, Verizon seemed to be able to roam for free anywhere sprint worked and they had their own towers, so there was almost always seemless phone coverage (data coverage is a different story if you need it for mobile web or for a laptop connection on the road). I had no reason to leave Sprint other than my company was paying for me to switch to Verizon. Inside heavily insulated building (high efficiency windows too), CDMA seems to get hit harder because of its lower power per frequency (spread spectrum) rather than a concentrated signal on one frequency that GSM has. For TDMA/GSM technologies, Cingular/ATT seems to be your better bet. Many of my coworkers have Cingular/ATT/whatever they call themselves today. According to many coworkers, TMobile has had horrible customer service skills, though they are usually the cheapest. TMo also seem to have the worst coverage in the fringe MN Metro. I don't currently know anyone left on Tmo. If they stayed with GSM, the seem to have switched to Cingular for customer service issues or coverage. If you like a "feature rich phone", then Verizon isn't exactly the best choice. They like to lock down their phones and charge you extra to use features like copying photos off you camera. They have many of the features, but be prepared to be nickle and dimed. In my experience, Verizon's customer service is fairly good. If you are thinking of swtiching to someone, ask about their refund policy. I believe Verizon gives you 14 days to try them out and let you cancel before you are locked in for your 1-2 year contract. You just pay for the portion you use. I've done this to try out their laptop card and decided it wasn't worth the cost for how little I actually traveled. (I would have kept it if I traveled more). Also, if you are a small business owner or even an employee, either find out what your company uses (if they issue any cell phones) and find out what discounts employees can get. If you are a small business owner, I don't believe you really need that many phones (and they can usually be in your employee's names rather than the companies) to qualify for business discounts. Give the Business account reps a call and ask them what they can offer you. Most of the local stores probably can't offer to setup your business discounts. Depending on the number of phones, I've seen anywhere from 8 to 21% off on the monthly fee. (21% is with a shitload of phones...so don't quite expect them to give it to you with only a couple.) Good luck in your search. There isn't exactly a right or wrong answer. Many of them are actually pretty good overall and they accel in some ways and suck in others. Some have better coverage in the area's you travel, some are cheaper, and some have much better customer service or phone features. If coverage quality is important and you stay in one area of the state outside of the metro, find out from people very local to you what works better there. Personally, Verizon is my choice, but I have many coworkers have Cingular who are happy (both of these having large discounts through my current employer). |
I was happy with Cingular, until I moved up to the northwoods and they said I spent too much time off network  Verizon cripples their phones, may not matter to you, bugged me. Can't use certain functions except as part of their pay services and what have you, ringtones ,up/downloading photos etc... I'd go back to Cingular if I was down there. |
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Verizon has done pretty well in the last 6 months. When I first switched a couple years ago they sucked, dropping calls and the like, but I haven't dropped a call in a while now and the quality of the signal keeps improving. That's not to say that months from today they won't be ass. My wife has t-mobile, and aside from being digital only which might not work for you if you're out in the sticks alot, it's been the best service I have any experience with. The quality has been consistently a B or better for at least the last 5 years. |
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I've had excellent luck with T-Mobile since 2000 (when they were some other company).. No dropped calls except when I'm on the road in far northern MN. Can't compare overall coverage since I haven't tried other companies except Nextel. We have Nextels at work and I wouldn't spend my own money on their service.. Bad sound quality, consistently getting "bonked" in walkie-talkie mode, etc. |
My T-mobile works fine in the cities. Get up in the north burbs and there are plenty of dead spots. My phone works in the street in front of my house but not in my house or yard.(kind of nice sometimes ) but a real pain in the ass when trying to take buisness calls. My phone also works right up until I get within 10 miles of our hunting property near hibbing then dies until you get about 5 miles past it. I must be jinxed ETA: If you ever decide to drive up hwy 65 you lose signal just past Mora and dont get it back ever!!!!!!or at least until you turn around and head home....
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The Nextel works fine most of the time if you are in a metro area or along major highways, but once you are off in the sticks it probably won't work. I do like the clarity of the Nextel as compared to the other stuff I have used over the last 15 years. We the direct connect feature a lot at work so I have to stay with Nextel. I have a Nextel unlimited anytime minutes plan for $199 a month. I do so much phone time that I need unlimited coast to coast minutes, so please let me know if there is something better. CY6 Greg Sullivan "Sully" Chief Instructor SLR15 Rifles TheDefensiveEdge.com |
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I have Qwest both for my residential and business. I tie into using their cell phone service as I can have one # service so if they call the business # and I am on location it automatcally rolls over to my cell. My Cell coverage for me...has worked all over the nation. Cingular/AT&T can lick my left nut .twistedmonkey...out |
Qwest wireless does not have their own network and it is simply rebranded SprintPCS (it's actually on a disclaimer on the bottom of their coverage web page). You are getting SprintPCS call quality and coverage with Qwest customer service. I've used Sprint in the past and had very few problems with them, so it may be worth it to you to get Qwest discounts with packaged services and one number. |
I used to have this service and it rocked. The only reason I don't still have qwest is because they wouldn't replace my POS Nokia which I'd had for one year and 3 weeks when it started dropping calls. Their customer service just sucks. They would rather lose a customer permanently (and it's been a few years that I've been on Verizon now) instead of cough up the 24.99 it woulda cost to replace my cell phone. They treated a loyal customer of 7 years like someone that just walked off the street. Sucks that almost all cell providers are like that now. They don't give a shit about customers. But the Qwest cell service was the best I ever had. They use Sprint's towers outside the Twin Cities BTW. |
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Flashdude beat me to it. I had T-mobile for a year, sucked. Went to Verizon for 2 years, at about 21 months my phone died, they wouldn't replace it. Major irritation. Found out I could get out of the contract at 22.5 months or so  So I did.Had Cingular for a 2 year plan, like it. Moto RAZR, no problems up here in the sticks either. Then I get a letter saying that I spend too much time off the core network, I have a month to line up service elsewhere before I"m dropped, and they won't get me for early termination (how gracious) Even tho they tried to do it anyways, and took 3 months to get the unlock code for the RAZR While shopping, looked at Verizon again, "hmmm, this RAZR isn't anything like my old one?" WTF, totally dicked over phone, new menus and everything, you wouldn't notice unless you used an unmolested version. Screw that. Have Cell One now, happy with them. No damn branding and BS on the phone, just how Motorola makes it. I likey my KRZR Biggest thing I"ve found on the RAZR and KRZR, seems the antenna is located down by the mouth piece. In a marginal area, not holding the phone with your hand covering it can make a big difference in keeping a signal. |
 This is a SHIT TON OF INFORMATION!!!  VERY good for me to hear so many good opinions on this subject because I'm PROBABLY going to be picking a cell phone next month... I'm going to have to learn how to use them someday... I've NEVER owned a cell phone my entire life!  Never really wanted to give people THAT MUCH ACCESS to my life... That's what I really need is more people calling me to tell me How To Live My Life.  So yeah. I might have to get a Cell Phone next month for both work (reimbursement program) & personal use... My fiance has Verizon Wireless, so I'll probably go with them in order to save some money/minutes. I like the coverage area. The thing is that I want a phone with a good antenna/reception so I can get pretty clear calls just about anywhere. What's the best type of phone for that kind of reception/clarity? I think a loooong time ago I read about dual mode, but I don't know what the new technology is what phones have the best connection, reception, and largest network area. I like Verizon's pretty large coverage area though. Plus I can get a phone with them for an okay price ($40/month). Other places like Qwest will charge me an arm & a leg for cell service added to my package of local phone, long distance, and DSL.
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Doesn't mean you have to answer it, ask mnandy about how often I actually have mine handy when he, or anyone, tries to call  
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I renewed my 2 year contract with MidWest Wireless, lets just see how this ALTEL does as the new owners. I have heard some nightmare stories about Altel and Cellular One. |