Cell Phones

GreekLetterGirl · #1 10-04-2002, 12:12 PM

Ok... I know that this has been discussed but my cell plan is up in November, I was wondering if anyone has any sugguestions on good providers. Currently I have ATT but i will NOT use sprint, I have used them before and I HATE THEM ( sorry I just had a HORRID experience) Anyways the things that I am looking for are:
Free Roaming
Free Long Distance
Free Nites and Weekends
I NEED to be able to check my peak minutes because I am ALWAYS going over them ( I work a TON and have a full course load so I am normally only home to sleep )
Text Messaging

i also want some what of a flash phone too...

If anyone has any sugguestions that would be great!!

Thanks

ilovemyglo · #2 10-04-2002, 12:20 PM

I use ATT and I love it, but since you are looking at alternatives, I also cuggest Verizon. I have friends who own a cell phone store that carries Suncom (ATT) and they use Verizon for their personal phones!! They have great service and all of the things you've mentioned I know of for sure (except checking on the minutes, I don't know about that). Everyone in my family but me has Verizon and they love them! I hate SPRINT too... uhm. NO!

pinkey08 · #3 10-04-2002, 12:21 PM

I have a nextel phone. They have free incoming minute plans w/ free long distance, and no roaming ,and for an extra $10 a month unlimited nights and weekends. You can always call the customer service line to check to see where you are with your minutes. They also have the two way radio feature on their phones. It is good to have if someone else has a nextel phone too.
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Hormone problems forums

sororitygirl2 · #4 10-04-2002, 12:59 PM

T-Mobile... it seems like some people complain about them here on this board, but my friends and find it better than most in our area (find out what is good in your area though, because something that's good in one region can suck in another).

But, anyway, T-Mobile's basic $39.99 plan is:

600 whenever minutes
50 text messages
Unlimited weekend minutes
Free long-distance and roaming

For $2.99, you can add 500 text messages
For about $6.99, or maybe it is $8.99, you can add free unlimited nights.

Also, you can call customer care and hear how many minutes you have used (updated everyday). The reps. are very nice and have fixed any complaints I have ever had... usually they give me lots of free minutes!

Edited to add: They used to be called VoiceStream.

IowaHawkeye · #5 10-04-2002, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sororitygirl2
T-Mobile... it seems like some people complain about them here on this board, but my friends and find it better than most in our area (find out what is good in your area though, because something that's good in one region can suck in another).

But, anyway, T-Mobile's basic $39.99 plan is:

600 whenever minutes
50 text messages
Unlimited weekend minutes
Free long-distance and roaming

For $2.99, you can add 500 text messages
For about $6.99, or maybe it is $8.99, you can add free unlimited nights.

Also, you can call customer care and hear how many minutes you have used (updated everyday). The reps. are very nice and have fixed any complaints I have ever had... usually they give me lots of free minutes!

Edited to add: They used to be called VoiceStream.

I pay $5 a month for unlimited nights

I love Voicestream/t-mobile - my plan rocks and I never run out of minutes anymore!

ZTAngel · #6 10-04-2002, 01:32 PM

What happened with Sprint? Just wondering because I've used them for three years and I haven't had a problem yet. (Yet being the key word

)

GreekLetterGirl · #7 10-04-2002, 01:41 PM

Thank you all so much, I am checking out T-Mobile ( I saw them when I was in Cali this summer) they seem to have a decent plan, IowaHawkeye and Sororitygirl2 ( sorry about that) have you had any problems with coverage or anything? Can you check your minute usage ?

ZTAAngel~ as for Sprint I had them for a year went thru 2 MASSVIELY expensive cell phone that didn't work and I never had coverage I was CONSTANTLY dropping calls ( like not on some dirt road i live in a very metro area and it NEVER worked) also the customer support SUCKED !!!! I advise all my friends NEVER TO GET THEM!! also a lot of my workmates have had HUGE problems as well I don't know if maybe it is just my area or I just had bad luck ....

sororitygirl2 · #8 10-04-2002, 01:48 PM

I'm not IowaHawkEye, but... yes, with T-Mobile you CAN check your minute usage (it is updated everyday). And I have been in lots of places and never had any problem with coverage. (except in TOTALLY desolate areas, like camping and on road trips, etc...)

IowaHawkeye · #9 10-04-2002, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GreekLetterGirl
Thank you all so much, I am checking out T-Mobile ( I saw them when I was in Cali this summer) they seem to have a decent plan, IowaHawkeye have you had any problems with coverage or anything? Can you check your minute usage ?

I've never had any problem with coverage - I get perfect reception in my chicago suburb, when I'm traveling around the city the coverage is a little less, but i've never had a missed or dropped call - and i get perfect reception from chicago down I-80 to Iowa.

if you check out www.t-mobile.com they have their coverage map you can check out. all of their phones are reasonably priced (compared to sprint - used to have them too

) and it's super easy to check your minute usage - i think you dial # and something - or customer service which is programmed in your phone already.

and one thing i love about t-mobile is: you program all of your contacts (phone #s) on a microchip - and if you get a new phone, you just put the microchip in the new phone and you DON'T have to re-do your phone list! very nice!

Thrillhouse · #10 10-04-2002, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ZTAngel
What happened with Sprint? Just wondering because I've used them for three years and I haven't had a problem yet. (Yet being the key word )

I am not sure what has happened.... I just got a print the other day no money down and a free phone. For the basics it seems to be a good service.

GreekLetterGirl · #11 10-04-2002, 02:08 PM

I know that not everyone had issues with sprint it just seems that my friends and family did, I suppose for basic they are good but I do agree some of their phones are over priced...

Also and FYI my very good friend from New Zealand who lives in the States now, has told me the the GSM network that T-Mobile uses has been used in NZ for about 10 years and is AWESOME I remember when he first moved here all he did was bitch about how crappy cell phone service was.... he explained it to me that our cell phone networks sit on top of an analog base network and sometimes when the phone goes out of reception it switches to analog and that is why it isn't always so good, but with GSM it doesn't do that it is an all digital network.

thank you to all who have given your advice

Now on to the next question what type of phone do you have and have you had problems with it.

I have used
Erickson ( 1st cell phone ages ago)
Sprint Samsung
Sprint Sanyo - i hated and loathe both of these phones
Nokia 3360 i like it but it is ok

i am leaning towards the
motorola V 60 if i go with T mobile
or the Samsung a310 ( i have friends who have it and love it I THINK IT IS SMASHING CUTE)

AOIIBrandi · #12 10-04-2002, 02:11 PM

I know Cingular has all those things and you can check your minutes on the internet also...

GreekLetterGirl · #13 10-04-2002, 02:21 PM

we haven't gotten cingular where I live yet

#14 10-04-2002, 02:43 PM

I have cingular and its awesome.

ZetaAce · #15 10-04-2002, 03:19 PM

I have AT&T and I love it. I get service everywhere and for a few extra bucks a month I get international service (I travel a lot). I have the digital one rate plan. Roaming, Long Distance, text messaging and all the good stuff is included. Plus everytime I renew (I've been a customer for almost 5 years now) they give me some type of bonus. You can check your minutes online too.

As far as phones go I have a Motorolla V60I that is tiny and user friendly.

One piece of advice: Do NOT get Sprint. I have two friends that had their service and one of them couldn't even get reception in her house (WTF). Plus they both had problems with voicemail AND reception while on the road.

ZA