Boost Mobile anyone???

[lukenick1]

Does anyone use their cell service?? How is it? Do they use a sim card??

 

[lukenick1]

Nobody?????

 

[JB2K]

I've used Boost Mobile off and on over the past several years -- here's the scoop:

Boost sells two types of phones - one uses the nationwide Nextel network (and makes use of Nextel's walkie-talkie function). Those phones have model numbers starting with the letter "i" (such as the Motorola i296) -- and yes, since they are Nextel IDEN phones, they make use of the SIM card.

The second type of phone operates on Sprint's nationwide network -- those phones do not have the letter "i" in the model number, nor do they use SIM cards (since they operate on Sprint's network, they are CDMA phones, which do not make use of SIM cards).

As for coverage, I live near a major city -- a good rule of thumb is if you know for a fact that either Nextel or Sprint (depending on which phone you want) works well in your neighborhood, the Boost Mobile phones will, as well.

It should be noted for smartphone fans that Boost now makes a no-contract Android smartphone with the Nextel walkie-talkie built-in (Motorola i1 @ Best Buy).

 

[lukenick1]

I've used Boost Mobile off and on over the past several years -- here's the scoop:

Boost sells two types of phones - one uses the nationwide Nextel network (and makes use of Nextel's walkie-talkie function). Those phones have model numbers starting with the letter "i" (such as the Motorola i296) -- and yes, since they are Nextel IDEN phones, they make use of the SIM card.

The second type of phone operates on Sprint's nationwide network -- those phones do not have the letter "i" in the model number, nor do they use SIM cards (since they operate on Sprint's network, they are CDMA phones, which do not make use of SIM cards).

As for coverage, I live near a major city -- a good rule of thumb is if you know for a fact that either Nextel or Sprint (depending on which phone you want) works well in your neighborhood, the Boost Mobile phones will, as well.

It should be noted for smartphone fans that Boost now makes a no-contract Android smartphone with the Nextel walkie-talkie built-in (Motorola i1 @ Best Buy).

Thanks for that info.....I know we have a sprint nearby and i know people who use them and are happy. Not sure about nextel. So is it better that I go with the CDMA phone? I was hoping to be able to use my existing unlocked at&t phone with the boost sim card. Is that possible? We also considered Virgin but do not know anyone using them.

 

[JB2K]

Thanks for that info.....I know we have a sprint nearby and i know people who use them and are happy. Not sure about nextel. So is it better that I go with the CDMA phone? I was hoping to be able to use my existing unlocked at&t phone with the boost sim card. Is that possible? We also considered Virgin but do not know anyone using them.

You cannot swap AT&T/T-Mobile and Nextel/Boost SIM cards because even though the two groups of carriers use SIM cards, the handsets are based on two unique sets of technologies.

If you're looking at Sprint or Virgin Mobile, then yes, you may want to check-out Boost Mobile's CDMA phones to suit your needs.

 

[poohj80]

My sister had Boost and it worked well while she was home, but when she traveled she had a difficult time getting a signal except when she was around big cities which caused problems when her car broke down in the middle of nowhere GA. She now has Sprint.

 

[marius97]

I've had boost for has to be seven years or so. Coverage was initially spotty outside of major cities, but now seems to be excellent. And that is coming from someone who lives WAY out in the middle of nowhere. We drive all around the country here in MI and never loose signal. We've driven twice now from MI to Florida and never noticed any drop in signal strength. We just have the basic Nextel version though...and my wife reminds me of that fact every time she gets her phone out. I'd recommend Boost to anyone.