Switching from Verizon Wireless to AT&T Wireless

[crazelion]

Thank you for the amunition, lol....in DS defense, he has an old, OLD clam shell...no bells or whistles, he is at the point of neededing to be on par with society in at least being able to understand how to use a smartphone (even if he doesn't own one himself) We ran into that ourselves, the expectations of communiction at work etc...he has offered to pay his own way and be on his own for AT&T., but even with that offer I feel he is wasting his money which would be a TON for him, we need that car insurance to still be contributed to I also think he will be frustrated if he loses the coverage he is used to...but will certainly have him read those reviews!

I would suggest getting him a dumbphone besides a smart phone. I know all the driod and iphone4 junkies is calling for me behead now. You can do a lot customize a dumbphone. If go to the right websites. I have a LG Prime put games, apps, and ebooks on my phone. Also have gps that is offline so I want need to use my data plan. Data only cost me 15 bucks. Okay I don't have texting because I hardly ever text. I can get full websites with operamini and love it. The only thing I don't like about my phone is not 3G. I need a phone quick fast in hurry. I planinng on buying a 3G phone. I not in a hurry to change phones. I love my phone.

Another option is go to ATT wireless website and click on prepaid phones. They have a lot phones to choose from on prepaid. That is another option for you.

I happen to like ATT because I can change out sim cards if break my phone easily. I don't see myself ever getting iphone4. Driod maybe.

 

[bicker]

Bicker, how is the switch working ? any updates?

Well, overall things are okay. Reception is not as strong as with Verizon, but the difference is small.

There are some new things to learn about, with regard to this specific telephone. For example, it blocks Caller ID. We're used to having Caller ID Blocking as a feature in the network, and having to dial *82 before phone calls to folks who deny calls if Caller ID is blocked. That's still available, but our phones have their own control for Caller ID Blocking, with three choices (enabled, disabled, and enabled for folks who aren't on my contacts list).

Also, it seems that my car's Bluetooth system isn't compatible with this brand new phone. It sees only the contacts that were copied from my old SIM card to my new SIM card. Subsequent changes I've made to my contacts (corrections, deletion, additions) aren't showing up in my car.

Also, my company has a screwed-up root certificate, so I cannot connect to my company email. However, I have no problem connecting to my personal email, and I love having it right with me wherever I go. I also love being able to surf the web, as much as anyone would want to with such a small screen, from wherever I want.

The TXTing is great. The keyboard is not quite as easy to use as my old one (not as much room between the keys), but it is a significantly smaller phone, so that's to be expected.

I haven't gotten Zune up and running yet. Zune only let's you change out one device per month, and I let my wife change out her old Zune for her new phone first.

 

[SandrA9810]

I noticed driving to Indiana that there were some areas with no 3G coverage, but I was still able to make phone calls and connect to the internet, it was just a bit slower. I used my free month of GPS service for the road trip, and it was connected most the time.

Here's a couple articles I've read recently on Yahoo.

http://finance.yahoo.com/family-hom...cell-service-ratings-att-is-the-worst-carrier
http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/111455/4g-is-a-myth-and-confusing

 

[crazelion]

I noticed driving to Indiana that there were some areas with no 3G coverage, but I was still able to make phone calls and connect to the internet, it was just a bit slower. I used my free month of GPS service for the road trip, and it was connected most the time.

Here's a couple articles I've read recently on Yahoo.

http://finance.yahoo.com/family-hom...cell-service-ratings-att-is-the-worst-carrier
http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/111455/4g-is-a-myth-and-confusing

What kind phone do have? You may can get Google maps off online or some one for free.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

I have had both and there is not much difference between the two companies, at least service wise. The reason I switched to Verizon is because my Job gives me a 22% discount if I go through them.

The only thing I would be apprehensive about would be the phone. We tried a window based smart phone once (can't remember which one it is) and even the most tech savvy people in my family couldn't figure out how to work it properly.

It is currently stored in a closet collecting dust because we can't find anyone willing to take it

 

[SandrA9810]

I have a nokia E71x model. It has a built in AT&T navigator. Which I don't know if it goes against my data plan (I have unlimited), but I do notice it connects to the internet, same way signing into a messenger service like AIM or MSN.

 

[crazelion]

I have a nokia E71x model. It has a built in AT&T navigator. Which I don't know if it goes against my data plan (I have unlimited), but I do notice it connects to the internet, same way signing into a messenger service like AIM or MSN.

You can buy the Nokia 71x unbranded and unlocked and use wi-fi without getting a data plan.

I have Google maps on my LG Prime use the unlimted data plan which is 15 bucks.

I am serious considering buying the LG Cookie Plus that is 3G for cheap from amazon.com .

I really need to stay off the phone boards.

 

[SandrA9810]

You can buy the Nokia 71x unbranded and unlocked and use wi-fi without getting a data plan.

I have Google maps on my LG Prime use the unlimted data plan which is 15 bucks.

I am serious considering buying the LG Cookie Plus that is 3G for cheap from amazon.com .

I really need to stay off the phone boards.

I got my phone last christmas, so I have unlimited data for 30$ a month. It was my first smart phone, so I'm still trying to figure out all the bells and whistles that these things can do. It was also free, and I've ALWAYS had a nokia phone before. Maybe next renewal I can branch out and try something new. But I have spent many hours at Beach Club lobby surfing the net on WiFi.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I've had At&t for 8 years now (well they sold to Cingulair at some point, and then went back to being AT&T) I haven't had any major issues in those 8 years! The only bummer is that we don't get great reception in the mountains where my parents spend their summers, but that's literally no mans land, so that wouldn't be an issue for most.
Any time we have had an issue on our bill (there's been a few here and there, but by no means a chronic problem) they are courteous and quick to fix the mistake. Maybe we've just been lucky? In 8 years time though I would guess if it was just luck it would have run out every now and then.

Ditto. In the beginning of time (8-10 years ago) there were certain dead spots I would drive through between work and home, a 3 mile trip. Over the years more towers have been installed and only the most remote places lack service and I usually have no problems with reception. I remember when I couldn't make a phone call while at Knoebel's, but since they now use Sprint phones in the park there are towers nearby that I can connect through.

I recently upgraded to a phone with MotoBlur and I find the data connection speed to be fine most of the time. If it's slow loading, I give up, but then I'm not depending on the phone for business purposes. But then, I don't expect a phone with internet access to be a fast as a desktop or laptop with a direct connection either.

I have never had any reason to want to switch providers, even when we had Verizon for home phone service.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I have no experience with Verizon. I came to AT&T after using Sprint and T-Mobile. The main differences that I noticed are that I lose/drop more calls because of poor signal and there are a surprisingly high number of times when I can get a good signal but still can't make a phone call. I'm not sure how much of that is because I have an iPhone. I added my parents to my plan and there were lots of times on our last vacation together when their cheapo phone had no problems making a call or checking voicemail but my wife and I could not do either with our iPhones.

 

[Agri]

Another plus that I haven't seen mentioned about Verizon is that is free to call and text other Verizon customers. My best friend is in FL and I'm in VA, so unless he changed services, I would not change from Verizon. We save *so* much money on keeping in touch.

My Droid is on the way, but right now I still have my EnV Touch, which is what Verizon calls a "feature phone". I would not recommend this particular model, but with it, I can browse the web, use IM programs, and play plenty of games and use things like the Disney Parks app.

The Droid will have as much flexibility as an iphone for the *most* part as there are plenty of apps out for the Droid, much like the iphone. Just not always the *same* apps.

I had a Windows OS PDA 'back in the day', I cannot imagine wanting a Windows based phone. I love Windows, but not on a phone I cannot take apart and reinstall on.

 

[MouseMomx2]

Another plus that I haven't seen mentioned about Verizon is that is free to call and text other Verizon customers.

This is true for AT&T as well.

We have always had AT&T and have never had an issue. I have made several calls to Customer Service and they were always handled quickly and professionally. Our coverage has been great, even when traveling (and we travel quite a bit) and our service in Europe was great. We did turn off the data roaming on that trip and came home to our normal bill...no surprises or overages.

 

[mill4023]

If could have wait couple more months. The iphone is coming to verizon.

Any confirmation on that?
Last I heard, everything was still just rumors and guessing. Those "iPhone coming soon to Verizon" rumors have been circulating for at least a couple of years.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I have no experience with Verizon. I came to AT&T after using Sprint and T-Mobile. The main differences that I noticed are that I lose/drop more calls because of poor signal and there are a surprisingly high number of times when I can get a good signal but still can't make a phone call. I'm not sure how much of that is because I have an iPhone. I added my parents to my plan and there were lots of times on our last vacation together when their cheapo phone had no problems making a call or checking voicemail but my wife and I could not do either with our iPhones.

I recently heard about customer dissatisfaction was highest among AT&T users, but most of those who thought negatively were iPhone users. I never had an iPhone, have no interest, and don't think I have ever had a problem with dropped calls.

 

[Agri]

Any confirmation on that?
Last I heard, everything was still just rumors and guessing. Those "iPhone coming soon to Verizon" rumors have been circulating for at least a couple of years.

They're not exactly rumors. When the iphone was released, it was stated that AT&T had exclusive rights for the first few years, then other carriers would have iphones, too. The exact length of time for that exclusivity is unknown, but truthfully, I cannot imagine it lasting much longer. Most likely, as an article I've linked to at the end, the contract has changed over the years. AT&T no longer has an unlimited data plan, which really hurts smartphone users in general. Android-platform phones have begun to outsell the iphone, and I highly doubt Apple is going to want to keep the iphone exclusive much longer. Add to all this the fact that Verizon is now selling the iPad, I wouldn't doubt that the iPhone won't be too far behind. Maybe not January, but very likely sometime next year. I doubt Verizon would start selling an Apple product knowing that they would get a ton of inquiries as to when they're getting the iPhone unless it was on its way.

http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/10/apple-att-iphone-agreement/

 

[princessmom29]

I recently heard about customer dissatisfaction was highest among AT&T users, but most of those who thought negatively were iPhone users. I never had an iPhone, have no interest, and don't think I have ever had a problem with dropped calls.

I never had a smarphone with ATT, much less an iphone, and droppedcalls all the time. My Cellular South serivce doesn't drop nearly as often. I think it rellay dpends on where you are more than anything else.