Verizon, AT&t, or Sprint????

[2Tiggers]

Ok, so our cell phone contract is up and we can either stay, renew and upgrade, or change. We currently have Verizon. We have been happy with their service and only on occasion do we drop calls. We DO NOT have smart phones but we feel that our bill is high. We really need some sort of wifi so we are thinking of switching to AT&T or Sprint to get the smart phones and an Ipad with wifi for all. I need to call and see what this would cost but thought I would ask my dissers what they think of these cell providers....

So what do you think? I know Verizon and I would keep them but for what I need I would think that bill will be enormous! So how is AT&T or Sprint?

Thanks Dissers!

 

[mfd25wife]

Ok, so our cell phone contract is up and we can either stay, renew and upgrade, or change. We currently have Verizon. We have been happy with their service and only on occasion do we drop calls. We DO NOT have smart phones but we feel that our bill is high. We really need some sort of wifi so we are thinking of switching to AT&T or Sprint to get the smart phones and an Ipad with wifi for all. I need to call and see what this would cost but thought I would ask my dissers what they think of these cell providers....

So what do you think? I know Verizon and I would keep them but for what I need I would think that bill will be enormous! So how is AT&T or Sprint?

Thanks Dissers!

We were with AT&T and switched to Verizon. Our bill decreased. AT&T's billing is terrible. We had to get it corrected quite often, which was frustrating. The main reason though was because reception in our house was good for our friends with Verizon, but terrible for us. It would go in an out as we were talking but not moving. A text would require typing the text and hit send and then walk around or move the phone around in the air until it could actually send. It dropped calls all the time. We don't have Sprint here so it's not an option. My DD and I have iphones and ipads. DH has a droid phone and tablet. We use wifi with all, and they all work good with Verizon. We also make our phones Hot Spots when needed. I've only had to do it at hospitals where there is so many trying to use the free wifi, it's slow or traveling where there is not free wifi.

 

[mikehn]

Anytime you add smart phones and wifi devices to the mix, the rates are going to go waaay up regardless of which carrier you go with. Stick with verizon if you like them, and find a shared data plan that meets your needs. If you have multiple devices in the family, a shared plan probably is best.

 

[taaren]

The nice thing about Sprint is that they are the only major carrier that has unlimited data, so if you're going with smart phones and don't have to worry about watching your data, they're the way to go. (Also they get a lot more economical the more phones you add, the price per person goes down which is why we split a plan with my parents.)

However, most major metropolitan areas now have options for unlimited talk and text, and sometimes data with no contracts, if you want to just try out smartphones and whether or not you like them.

Other solutions for the data-hungry is to use your home internet connection, make it wireless, then when you want to use data use that as your wi-fi network. We sometimes use our own wi-fi on our phones since the part of the volcano we live in does not get good service from any of the carriers, its just a feature of the spot where this property is located (and yes, my brother has had Verizon and T-Mobile and every carrier in the last several years and none of them work here. Its a dead zone).

 

[Fire14]

I personally have verzion, my brother has sprint and was looking to change ( i don't know why), my dad had at+t and switched to vzw. My bill went down 20.00 by going with share plan but you need to assess it for your family everyone is differant.

 

[JerseyTink]

How about Straight Talk through Walmart? I left AT&T only because the Straight Talk plan was so much less expensive. I bought a smart phone for $180.00. Got the unlimited talk, text & data $45.00/ month plan. That alone would have saved me about $40.00 a month but, I bought a multi-month plan which brought the price even lower per month plus, bought it through ebates at a 4% rebate. I figures out that the new phone will be paid off in less that 5 months. So, I am saving over $280.00 this year. Plus, my phone works on the Verizon network so I still have excellent coverage.

 

[vacationer1954]

We have AT&T. I recommend Verizon.

 

[DawnM]

If you can get signal! We used to get it here but do not anymore. The Sprint signals around our entire area stink. I would drop calls all the time.

I now have Straight Talk with an unlocked ATT phone. Dh gets his phone through work. The kids have Spot Mobile as they don't use their phones much.

Dawn

The nice thing about Sprint is that they are the only major carrier that has unlimited data, so if you're going with smart phones and don't have to worry about watching your data, they're the way to go. (Also they get a lot more economical the more phones you add, the price per person goes down which is why we split a plan with my parents.)

 

[Bonniec]

If you can get signal! We used to get it here but do not anymore. The Sprint signals around our entire area stink. I would drop calls all the time.

I now have Straight Talk with an unlocked ATT phone. Dh gets his phone through work. The kids have Spot Mobile as they don't use their phones much.

Dawn

Agreed! We're here in Orlando and Sprint is TERRIBLE. I can't wait to get out of the contract. It's a shame because I was really happy to switch to them. But it's a rarity to find a decent spot to get any kind of a connection. We had to get an amplifier for our house because there is no service at all in our neighborhood. ATT and Verizon were both more expensive, but at least our phones worked.

 

[DawnM]

They sent me TWO amplifiers and neither worked. I spent OVER 16 hours on the phone with them over the course of 2 weeks trying to figure out what to do.

They "upgraded" our towers near our house and we no longer got any signal.

I finally explained to them that even if I could get the amplifier to work, I couldn't actually USE the phone within a 2 mile radius of my house, meaning I would need to hang up the phone with people and then have to call them back when I got home. NOT ok.

I further explained that I have CHILDREN and that a very large percentage of all accidents happen within 5 miles of your house. I told them I needed full coverage within that 5 mile radius so that I could call for help if I needed it.

That last part is what finally got them to allow me out of my contract.

Dawn

Agreed! We're here in Orlando and Sprint is TERRIBLE. I can't wait to get out of the contract. It's a shame because I was really happy to switch to them. But it's a rarity to find a decent spot to get any kind of a connection. We had to get an amplifier for our house because there is no service at all in our neighborhood. ATT and Verizon were both more expensive, but at least our phones worked.

 

[Bonniec]

I finally explained to them that even if I could get the amplifier to work, I couldn't actually USE the phone within a 2 mile radius of my house, meaning I would need to hang up the phone with people and then have to call them back when I got home. NOT ok.

That is exactly what we have to do.

 

[DawnM]

For the amount of $$ you pay for a contract plan, you shouldn't have to do that.

I am much happier paying a fraction of the cost to Straight Talk and not having a contract.

Dawn

That is exactly what we have to do.

 

[thedonduck]

Agreed! We're here in Orlando and Sprint is TERRIBLE. I can't wait to get out of the contract. It's a shame because I was really happy to switch to them. But it's a rarity to find a decent spot to get any kind of a connection. We had to get an amplifier for our house because there is no service at all in our neighborhood. ATT and Verizon were both more expensive, but at least our phones worked.

We live in Orlando and have Sprint. The ONLY spot we have issues is around the airport, but all carriers will have issues there! I do not have any issues at our house nor while driving around doing errands or going to Disney! We have been with Sprint since 2004 and I don't see us leaving any time soon!!!!

 

[Bonniec]

We live in Orlando and have Sprint. The ONLY spot we have issues is around the airport, but all carriers will have issues there! I do not have any issues at our house nor while driving around doing errands or going to Disney! We have been with Sprint since 2004 and I don't see us leaving any time soon!!!!

Okay, that is very odd. We get absolutely no service at Disney at all unless I log directly into their wifi. We definitely can't make calls. What area of Orlando do you live in? We are near the Davenport/Celebration area. I do find I have better service at my work which is close to downtown Orlando. But even around the Sand Lake areas I have problems. DH got switched to Verizon through his work, and now he has no problems at all. All of us are using iphones.

 

[thedonduck]

Okay, that is very odd. We get absolutely no service at Disney at all unless I log directly into their wifi. We definitely can't make calls. What area of Orlando do you live in? We are near the Davenport/Celebration area. I do find I have better service at my work which is close to downtown Orlando. But even around the Sand Lake areas I have problems. DH got switched to Verizon through his work, and now he has no problems at all. All of us are using iphones.

We used to live in the Meadow Woods/Wyndham Lakes area and just moved to Avalon Park!!! Like I said just around MCO we have issues at times (which everyone will), but generally have no issues! At Disney we never use their WiFi because Sprint has LTE there now and it is seriously amazingly fast!!!!!!! We usually end up using FaceTime while we are there with no issues and I talk on our phone a lot there too! I used to have issues in WI with Sprint having service, but they really seem to be stepping up their game! I don't want to leave because I really love the unlimited plan!

 

[imsayin]

Sprint is awful. We had dropped calls, calls that wouldn't go through and texts that wouldn't go through. This was for at least the last 6 months we were with them. It was so frustrating trying to communicate with my teens as they were out and about. Texts would be delayed, sometimes went through 10 hours later. Their customer service was pathetic too. Switched to Verizon, so far so good.

 

[Judique]

Sprint is awful. We had dropped calls, calls that wouldn't go through and texts that wouldn't go through. This was for at least the last 6 months we were with them. It was so frustrating trying to communicate with my teens as they were out and about. Texts would be delayed, sometimes went through 10 hours later. Their customer service was pathetic too. Switched to Verizon, so far so good.[/QUOTE


We have Sprint service though Virgin Mobile for the past 2 years. At first it was excellent. Then we had about a 3-4 month period that was horrid. I almost gave up on Sprint, but my bad memories of Verizon made me stick it out. I have serious issues with the Verizon company, but overall the cell phone reception was the best. (I really hate to admit that.) Nonetheless I will not return to Verizon due to their horrible customer service on principle. And I can't seem to shake them - they keep trying to get my business back! Two years after deleting them out of my life they send me a $2 credit on my last bill? And a credit not a check!!!! Wake up Verizon, I think I've departed your contract.....keep the 2 bucks and never contact me again!

Right now, we are experiencing excellent service and reception with Virgin on the Sprint network. Can't beat the no contract price.

I've had no problems in Florida when we've been there. Going back early January. I have had serious lack of service in North Carolina with both Sprint and Verizon while driving through on I-95. One time my boss called and I had to hunt for a signal to call back.

 

[Riles_and_Gabe]

I have had sprint for just over 2 years and have been very happy with their service. In general I don't enjoy speaking with customer service but I find them to be no worse than any other company. When I bought my iPhone at the store I found the sales reps to be very accommodating. Overall I would definitely recommend them.

 

[richmond282]

Not to hijack the thread or anything, but how does straight talk work? Do I have to buy a new phone (I have Verizon HTC Rezound)? I'm still under contract, but assessing my options for when it runs out.

 

[BelleBeautyandtheBeast]

I have Sprint. I personally don't have much to complain about with them. I do wish they had more towers with better signals around here. I love the unlimited everything.

If I ever dump Sprint I am heading towards prepaid service. Much cheaper!

Around my area Verizon is the one to go with, they have the most towers.

There are sites on the internet where you can search and see what towers are nearby.