Minnesota Cell Coverage - who do you use, and are they any good? (Duluth: school, live in)

[Lindenin]

I need to find a better provider. My research shows that Verizon and Sprint have the best coverage in this area, with T-Mobile and Cingular a step behind.

About 90% of my calls are from the metro area, and 10% in the hinterlands of Minnesota. Can some people tell me what cell service they have and how it does for them in the area?

[golfgal]

We have Verizon and have been very happy with them. In the metro you won't have any issues, outstate you may find some dead spots but those are getting fewer and fewer as more towers are built. We have had very good customer service from Verizon as well.

[BorderGirl]

I have Verizon and when I lived in Minnesota I never had a problem. It worked everywhere in the Twin Cities area and even way up north in International Falls, up on the lake even. The only place I had a problem was on the way to Grand Forks along Highway 2, a few dead spots but nothing major.

[handy]

The rural areas are covered fairly well by Unicel and Cellular One. I have Unicel (CDMA), but have also tried Cellular One, which uses GSM and seems to have more towers in rural areas. The major urban companies cover the main corridors, near as I can tell. I live in N. Central MN and travel a lot in the hinterlands along hwy. 2 from Superior to Grand Forks. There are a few dead spots, but not many.

[JenLee]

I have T-Mobile, and there is very good coverage from the Twin Cities any direction on the interstate highways. However, going up Highway 10 in central MN and coverage is spotty at best. Yet there is good coverage from Duluth to Grand Forks on Highway 2, so go figure. (I also have good coverage in both of those cities). I don't get any coverage going down highway 61 to Winona, however, and T-Mobile says that that route HAS coverage (which is why I got the phone for my daughter who was in school down there).

[Cruz Azul Guy]

I have cingulair and wouldn't recommend it to anybody. Honestly I have yet to find a cellular service I've been happy with in the Twin Cities area.

[Yorkie_Mom]

I have Midwest wireless, it has worked for me, and I have went to Colorado, New Mexico and all over. Don't know if they have it in the Cities, but I never have to worry about roaming, because if I know I will be out of area, I just let them know and they change me to another plan, until I get back into my own area with no extra cost!!!! How is that for service.

[Lindenin]

I think it is down to Sprint or Verizon, based on what I've heard and what others have told me. I should have added that my cell service needs to be nationwide (no out-of-network charges) and that I need to have broadband cell coverage in the twin cities.

I've heard many mixed reviews about Cingular in Minnesota. I think T-Mobile is OK, but their coverage map shows more dead spots in the tri-state area than other carriers.

[sarahrose]

Sprint has good coverage, however, there are still alot of "holes" so to speak......plus.......IMO, Sprint is more expensive. In the fall, when my contract is up, I'm switching to Verizon after 8 years with Sprint.

[mask2007]

I have had Cingular since the last 2 years and have never had a problem with the service. It works everywhere and I am planning to renew my contract with them this year!