Cell Phone coverage in DC (university, live, renewal)

[Lorieleanor]

My daughter will be attending University in D.C. beginning in August. Our cell phone contract is up for renewal. We currently have AT&T. It works fine where we are, no complaints but what about in D.C.?

I did a search on this forum and came up with threads from 2010 and 2009. Some said AT&T was good, others said Verizon was better.

Since it is now 2012, can anyone offer any comments? Especially regarding AT&T in D.C. as it would be much simpler to just upgrade her phone and continue with them.

[BoomBoxing]

I have AT&T and it works fine all over the DC metro. Only problem has been at big events (Cap games namely but usually that's all services).

[Lorieleanor]

Thank you very much !

[futureATLien]

Does Verizon still work underground(i.e. on the metro)?
When I was last in the area back in 09, I had friends who used their phones all the time on the metro. I havent had problems w/my at&t phone in any major city on the east coast.

[WASHINGTON BULLETS]

Sometimes cell phones do not work underground.

[killabunnies]

I have been with both Verizon and AT&T in DC and have to say AT&T is top notch (as the preferred provider to the govt, if I am not mistaken - but that also means the network is first to get overloaded in a govt "emergency")... then again, I haven't been with AT&T that long but as far as I can tell, my service is incredibly reliable, even on the commute out to the MD 'burbs.

Verizon was a bit spotty sometimes when I lived in PG County but worked just fine in DC proper.

I have had MAJOR issues with Verizon outside of service (service was really the ONE thing keeping me loyal to them - I drove out here from California and for five days on the road I only lost service maybe once for a 20 minute pocket in Wyoming or something) so personally I would not give them your money but that's just me. Verizon did work on the Metro to some extent but crapped out close to city center. Haven't tested AT&T in Metro yet.

[Lorieleanor]

Thank you all so much.

[cry_havoc]

I have a 4g phone and use Verizon.

Reception on the metro is hit or miss. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesnt. When it does work it is only 3g in the metro.

[HurricaneDC]

AT&T is pretty awful. I use Sprint and it rules.

[DCforever]

Sprint has the worst coverage in DC. Verizon is pretty good. Haven't any recent experience with AT&T