Best Carrier for Cell Phone Coverage? (Atlanta, Kennesaw: appointed, real estate, 2009)

[atlantagreg30127]

Verizon has consistently been voted as having the best overall coverage in the Atlanta area year after year whenever the local papers and mags do the surveys among users. Typically,their customer service on the phone and in stores are very good too (though I highly recommend avoiding the Hiram store if you're in that area - they seem to send their reject employees there )

AT&T would probably come in second, though they get some complaints about their customer service. I used an AT&T prepaid for something on the side a while back and while the phone did ok in terms of service, I had to call customer service and thought I was talking to someone who was on their first day on the job... then another... then another. Well. You get the idea.

T-mobile is one I know is used by people I know who have kids who get them the prepaid ones that use the T-mobile service. They feel it's good enough for the kids, but not them (the parents).

Spring/Nextel: Bottom of the barrel in terms of customer service and coverage. I've heard nothing but complaints from anyone I know who have ever used them.

Metro PCS: Another one that's good for the kids due to the cheap pricing, but not practical for adults unless every single thing you do is local.

[DPAT]

Originally Posted by Legs1357

I have T-Mobile and I don't get service while in pretty much any building on Emory's campus/just walking around the Clairmont campus

Speaking of buildings... if you have Tmobile you can forget about getting service in ANY grocery store - unless you are all the way at the front (and even then it is spotty). I have experienced this ITP and OTP.

[PKCorey]

Sprint. Never an issue. Just started getting dropped calls once I switched over to a phone with a terrible RF factor which is only in the house but other than that, I've been fine with them.

T mobile. Terrible. They have gotten better but they still stuck overall. I remember, my sister came to visit and her phone would not work at all in our house or neighborhood...

[wxjay]

Verizon by far.

[pellur]

Even though people swear by their coverages here, signal strength really depends on your primary locations (Work,home,gym etc).

I have used this website Cell Phone Carriers - Cell Phone Service and Tower Search before to find the exact location of towers. Also read for people comments on where there is no signal.

Good luck.

[noah]

I use Sprint because they are cheap and fit my needs, no problem with phone service but their customer service of course is another issue.

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

Verizon has consistently been voted as having the best overall coverage in the Atlanta area year after year whenever the local papers and mags do the surveys among users. Typically,their customer service on the phone and in stores are very good too (though I highly recommend avoiding the Hiram store if you're in that area - they seem to send their reject employees there )

AT&T would probably come in second, though they get some complaints about their customer service. I used an AT&T prepaid for something on the side a while back and while the phone did ok in terms of service, I had to call customer service and thought I was talking to someone who was on their first day on the job... then another... then another. Well. You get the idea.

T-mobile is one I know is used by people I know who have kids who get them the prepaid ones that use the T-mobile service. They feel it's good enough for the kids, but not them (the parents).

Spring/Nextel: Bottom of the barrel in terms of customer service and coverage. I've heard nothing but complaints from anyone I know who have ever used them.

Metro PCS: Another one that's good for the kids due to the cheap pricing, but not practical for adults unless every single thing you do is local.

[Go Blue 99]

Verizon is the best.

We live ITP and my neighbors have AT&T. They both have IPhones and complain about the signal at home.

[StPaulEastSider]

Originally Posted by pellur

Even though people swear by their coverages here, signal strength really depends on your primary locations (Work,home,gym etc).

I have used this website Cell Phone Carriers - Cell Phone Service and Tower Search before to find the exact location of towers. Also read for people comments on where there is no signal.

Good luck.

This is an excellent resource... I plugged in the zip code where we anticipate buying a home - 30310 - and got reviews from people in that exact zip code.

Verizon is still the hands-down leader, with a 3.11/5 rating and 18 comments.

Sprint is second with 2.2/5 rating and 15 comments

+++++

Interestingly, when I plugged in 30311 into the cellreception dot com website, Sprint actually out ranked Verizon - albeit narrowly. Sprint is a lot more affordable... hmmm....

THANK YOU PELLUR ! !

[PeteyNice]

I will throw in another vote for Sprint. Anywhere I go ITP Sprint has been flawless. But what makes Sprint a real winner is the dirty secret. You can force your Sprint phone to use Verizon's network. Whenever I go home to NYC the first thing I do when the plane lands is switch to Roam Only (aka Verizon Mode).

[PeteyNice]

Originally Posted by PeteyNice

I will throw in another vote for Sprint. Anywhere I go ITP Sprint has been flawless. But what makes Sprint a real winner is the dirty secret. You can force your Sprint phone to use Verizon's network. Whenever I go home to NYC the first thing I do when the plane lands is switch to Roam Only (aka Verizon Mode).

I have gotten some questions about this so I wanted to clarify a few things:

1) This only works with Sprint itself. It does not work with Boost Mobile.

2) It is not simply a way to save money over Verizon if Sprint has poor coverage where you spend your time. If you roam a lot (more than 50% of your minutes every month), they will cancel your account and make you pay the early termination fee.

It is just an added benefit of Sprint if you are travelling somewhere that Sprint does not cover well. Also, you need to set it to Roam Only or it won't roam if there is even a faint Spring signal.

As always, use your 30 day trial period to determine how a provider works for you.

You should also check with your HR department and find out if the cell companies offer you any kind of deal. I can save 15% on monthly bill with Sprint, AT&T or Verizon for example.