Cell phone carriers in Iowa (Cedar Rapids, Iowa City: rent, travel, work)

[MovingToIowa]

I like prepaid phone because I don't use them that often, but I'm having trouble finding what cell phone plans are available in Iowa (alltel, At&T, Virgin) does anyone know what providers will work in the area?

[mfrerkes]

Verizon probably has the biggest area of coverage, but carriers like Sprint, AT & T, and I-wireless (a local carrier) have a considerable coverage area as well.

[WoodwardGirl]

As someone who also likes prepaid cellular, I gotta say we haven't yet been reached by some of the better plans. Virgin isn't here, for example. I use Tracfone and find the coverage acceptable if not stellar. Part of the problem for me is that carriers that focus the carriers that focus on the population centers have no coverage out in the boonies; if you don't spend much time in the boonies, that shouldn't matter to you, but I'm one of those road-less-traveled-by types, and, of course, that's where I always am when the battery dies, etc.

[Trevor92]

There's several search engines on the web that will tell you what providers have licenses to serve your area. But the quickest way is just to go to the provider's website, try to look at plans and coverage, and see if they'll sell you something in your zip code. Do you have a specific area within Iowa or a zip code that is most important to you because there are different options in different parts of Iowa? It seems like alltel, US Cellular, and Verizon are all fairly popular in different places of Iowa. I know alltel has alltelU pre-pay, if they're an option in your area of Iowa. Verizon also has InPulse and I'm thinking US Cellular also has a couple pre-pay plans though I'm not as familiar with USCC. I'm even thinking At&t covers parts of Iowa and they have a GoPhone. Tracfone and Page Plus are other pre-paid options that work on another provider's network. I don't think Sprint (and Virgin which uses Sprint) cover much of Iowa, neither does T-Mobile.

[BillRadio]

One of the best prepaid deals in the country is Alltel U. You would be among the more fortunate to live in Alltel territory. However, tied for my prepaid favorite is T-Mobile2Go, and, while T-mobile doesn't serve most of IA, their 'affiliate", Iwireless does. There's a list of carriers on the Iowa Cellular Reviews page.

[MovingToIowa]

Originally Posted by BillRadio

One of the best prepaid deals in the country is Alltel U. You would be among the more fortunate to live in Alltel territory. However, tied for my prepaid favorite is T-Mobile2Go, and, while T-mobile doesn't serve most of IA, their 'affiliate", Iwireless does. There's a list of carriers on the Iowa Cellular Reviews page.

I have Alltel U right now where I am at in West Virginia and I am quite happy with them. I will be moving around the Cedar Rapids/ Iowa City areas and I can't seem to find anything. I went to several different companies sites and it looks spotty at best so I came here trying to see what other people have.

[Trevor92]

I don't know what's popular in the area or what may be the best. But according to the providers websites that I went to, IWireless, At&t, Verizon, and US Cellular are the local providers for those 2 counties. (Tracfone usually uses At&t's network.) Verizon and US Cellular don't have traditional pre-pay, they have more like a monthly plan, except paid in advance. So I would really check out IWireless or At&t if you want something more similar to pay-per-minute or pay-per-day.

AlltelU should work if you wanted to keep your WV number and it shouldn't cost any extra to roam, but they probably would not be able to give you a local number, you wouldn't be using alltel towers, and you may have to double-dial which is something my brother had to do when he had alltelU and was free roaming. Now that I've tried to present all possible choices, hopefully somebody with some more local experience will be able to guide you on the best choice.

[Moving Iowa]

I feel after the many providers I have used is that Verizon has the best coverage.

[British Bulldog]

My cheap little mobile pay as you go phone picked up all my friends and family over in England anywhere we went in iowa on a recent visit.We were on Vodaphone and T Mobile network and as soon has we landed in Chicago it went over to one of your networks.I have phoned from portugal,spain and andora on it and those networks never let you down.Try to find out the equivalent in the US and they will never let you down either.Happy dog and boning!

[tonya_leigh73]

US Cellular, here in Albia