thinking of leaving ATT for Sprint? (Greenville, Anderson: appointed, lease, credit)

[KClookingatSC]

I have been with ATT forever and they were great in the Midwest but coverage here can be really spotty... I hear Verizon is the best overall but also very expensive. Since coverage is a big issue for us would you think Sprint is a decent option since they are the only other provider with Iphone??

[ruvidu]

I depend on my phone to make $ thus I have Verizon. I want a signal everywhere I go and am seldom disappointed. Sprint coverage is just not there yett

[gvlgal]

I originally had Verizon and had really horrible reception where I live and had to go outside to talk on my cell phone, as did my neighbors. I switched to AT&T and had an excellent signal. About 10 months ago I wanted a smartphone and AT&T's plans were too expensive so I switched to Virgin Mobile, which accesses Sprint's network and the data signals are so weak that I mostly use my phone for calling. I ended up purchasing a tablet with 3G from AT&T and a data plan and have excellent data service. Others I know love Verizon and have had problems with AT&T. I don't know anyone who loves Sprint. In Sprint's defense, the Sprint subscribers have priority over the prepaid customers (Virgin Mobile), so if there is heavy activity for the Sprint towers, the Virgin Mobile customers will be bumped before the Sprint subscribers. I don't need a prepaid plan because of credit problems, but it's a cheaper alternative monthly for me because I don't need a lot of minutes. The downside is that I had to pay $300 for the phone and there is no local brick and mortar store. Customer service is terrible, but so is AT&T's, but at least you can go into an AT&T store for help.

[diddlydudette]

There is also Pageplus, a prepaid phone service, that uses Verizon's network. They have a $55.00 plan. I don't believe you can use an iPhone with it though but you also have no contract to mess with. Since they use Verizon's network, it may be a cheaper alternative for you if you're willing to give up the iPhone.

Unlimited Talk, Unlimited Text/Picture* Messages, 1 GB of Data

The 55 plan is the total package of talk, text and data. Talk and text all you want with no surprise bill at the end of the month. Plus, this plan provides 1 gigabyte (GB) of data usage - more than any other Page Plus plan provides. You can surf the web, check email and update your social status right from your phone. This plan is perfect for anyone who needs an unlimited plan with more data.

I use Verizon and get a employee discount of 20%. Last time my contract expired, I didn't renew for a long time. Verizon kept calling me with deals to get me to sign another 2yr contract. I kept turning them down. I had plans on leaving them because I don't like having to commit for 2 years. There's too much competition these days.

Anyway, Verizon finally made me a deal that I liked so I signed up for another 2 years. I got 2 free Android phones and a few other reductions for the first year.

In other words, with Verizon, let your contract run out and the longer you wait to re-sign, the better deals Verizon gives you to get your business back.

[NoodlesKnowles]

I have unlimited everything and 3 lines with Sprint, I have been overly satisfied with my service, I pay WAY WAY less than I would with any other company (around $150 a month, with a 25% company discount) At&T flat out told me they couldn't match it, and Verizon couldn't come close either(I get discounts with them too).
Service is good as well, no 4g in this area yet but neither does anyone else. the only place I have trouble with signal is between Greenville and Anderson I drop calls, but that has been my only dead zone. Verizons coverage is definitely better, but money wise Sprint kills them.

[Wolfgame]

How important is it for someone to be able to get in touch with you....or you get in touch with them (a sick child at school, medical emergencies, running late for work, news from your family). If you are not concerned with being able to get in touch with people, or them not being able to reach you......don't go with the best network. If you are, it is worth the peace of mind. Many have stated in this thread that Verizon is the best network. Check their 4g coverage maps and compare.....from what I have seen, the difference is glaring.

[NoodlesKnowles]

Originally Posted by Wolfgame

How important is it for someone to be able to get in touch with you....or you get in touch with them (a sick child at school, medical emergencies, running late for work, news from your family). If you are not concerned with being able to get in touch with people, or them not being able to reach you......don't go with the best network. If you are, it is worth the peace of mind. Many have stated in this thread that Verizon is the best network. Check their 4g coverage maps and compare.....from what I have seen, the difference is glaring.

voice(phone call)coverage and 4g(data)coverage are two different things.
4g isn't necessary unless you have smartphones and tablets and need a fast download speed(like for video conferencing, or if you use a lot of apps that are constantly updating)
And look up the definition of 4g, because last I knew At&t and T-mobile don't even use real 4g, just a faster 3g.

All in all again Verizon is the best as far as constant coverage, But I have never found myself in a situation with Sprint where I needed to make a phone call and couldn't, or someone needed to reach me and couldn't.

[NBNY2GRNVL]

Originally Posted by NoodlesKnowles

voice(phone call)coverage and 4g(data)coverage are two different things.
4g isn't necessary unless you have smartphones and tablets and need a fast download speed(like for video conferencing, or if you use a lot of apps that are constantly updating)
And look up the definition of 4g, because last I knew At&t and T-mobile don't even use real 4g, just a faster 3g.

All in all again Verizon is the best as far as constant coverage, But I have never found myself in a situation with Sprint where I needed to make a phone call and couldn't, or someone needed to reach me and couldn't.

The international commission that defines cellular industry terminology says that [u]none[u]of the current US networks can be called 4g, but they do anyway. It's all just a bunch of marketing stuff anyway. The real issue is available spectrum. When Verizon's LTE went live in Greenville you could pull 20+mg download speeds an an average weekday on Main St downtown. Today you are lucky to get 12 to 15 mg down. This is the reason Verizon is kicking grandfathered unlimited plans off after the next time you go to upgrade. They cannot support all their subscribers on their spectrum that is allotted for LTE.

[FitMom77]

We have had Sprint for 10 years now, and have no complaints. We actually use our cell phones as our primary phones- no land line. Also, my husband is a pilot and travels all over the country, the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada, and we have no issues even when he is in a really obscure place. Sure, there is the occasional dead zone, but we feel like we get great service for a great price.

[USNRET04]

I switched from Verizon to Sprint 3 years ago and never looked back. I very rarely have dropped calls, it's so rare that when I do have one, I'm astonished. Sprint is upgrading nationwide to the LTE. Data right now on 3G isn't bad, I use it daily and have no problems.

Verizon has cancelled it's unlimited data plan and even granfathered customers will lose it when they upgrade. Sprint so far is still keeping it's unlimited data plan and does not throttle you back like T-mobile does.

As for those second tier providers like Pageplus, Boost, etc.. They lease time from Verizon and Sprint, etc.. But often they are bumped down so that the main customers can use the cell towers. So while they are often a good deal, just be prepared for some slight inconveniences.