New York City--Cell/Internet and more..

[minnie56]

We are setting our daughter up in an apt in New York City..she will be attending school there.

Anyone have any recommendations for best Cell Phone 'deals' and also Internet/Cable companies that you might have favourable experience with?

We are told basically there are 2 companies for the latter in the city..Time-Warner and Verizon?

Thanks!

 

[LoraJ]

If she is given a choice, I would choose Verizon FIOS. I hear so many great things about it from those around here who have it.

For cell phone service, I think the most popular here is Verizon because you get better connections. AT&T gets a lot of dropped call complaints.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'm 8 miles out, and have verizon for everything. I used to have AT&T for cell, but couldn't make calls from my house!

 

[monkey68]

Where I live, we use Optimum for our internet, we started with the triple play package (internet, cable, and phone) an then when it was up, we said we were going to cancel our service, and they gave us more discounts on our services. For cell phone, we use AT&T. I haven't had any problems with dropped calls, and I get good service. We also get a discount because I'm on a family plan with my sister and she works for the department of education. Verizon is also pretty popular. One of my friends has T-mobile, and she gets decent service in NYC, but as soon as she goes anywhere else, she loses service.

 

[claudia]

DH works in Manhattan and uses Verizon....never have a problem....it's even pretty good when he's in the subway.

 

[minnie56]

Thanks for the opinions!!

 

[Imzadi]

Yep, NYC and surround areas are Verizon country. They took over the old, original landline company phone service from NYNEX, formerly, Bell Atlantic, known before that as the original AT&T, before the government made they split up their phone monopoly. So they inherited all the phone equipment, wiring and ultimately the cellphone towers, etc.

Verizon cellphones get the best reception. As others have stated, people with AT&T and T-Mobile have more dropped calls. Sprint people seem to get the absolute worst reception.

As for internet service, I just have basic Verizon DSL and it works fine for me. My router is wireless, so I get wireless service without having the wireless connect card service they have for more money.

There are various free internet hotspots in the city, where she can take her laptop to. Also, with a Starbucks on nearly every corner, she can sit there for free internet service when out & about.

 

[monkey68]

I just need to comment on Fios... my friend's boyfriend lives in Midtown, and he just installed Fios today. I was there today, and needed to go onto the internet, so I got to "test run" the Fios. Honestly, I didn't notice much of a difference in speed between the Fios, and the Verizon DSL that I used in my old apartment, or the cable line that we use at home. Maybe it has to do with the location, but it didn't seem to be worth the extra money.

 

[Caradana]

Verizon is the best we've got here, by far. Get her a Verizon Blackberry Curve, get one for yourself, and ask the store to configure the two of you for Blackberry Messenger. You'll be able to text back and forth live for free, anytime you want.