best cell phone plan?

[falcondrivr]

this question is unrelated to airplanes but i thought who better to ask...
ive been on the att one-rate plan for a few years and its great but eating my lunch cost-wise. im all over the country so the plan fits me but my usage is approx 3000 min/mo. and going over my monthly minutes puts my bill at almost $500/mo. att offers a new promo plan if you switch to their GSM network but ive heard the coverage is terrible.
any suggestions on other carriers or on this new GSM thing. also, i hate flip phones or else id probably go to sprint.

fd

 

[greg20]

How much do you use it?

How often are you using your cell? For lots of research I'd say take a look at the alt.cellular.* newsgroups available through groups.google.com (among other places). I'm frequently all over the US and I have Sprint PCS with a Sanyo SCP-4700 (not a flip phone). I'm not trying to advertise them but I've had good service and fair prices (4000 minutes 350 anytime 3650 nights/weekends) for $40/month. This is for 'from anywhere in the US, to anywhere in the US' service. Some people complain about Sprint's 'lack of coverage' in some areas but I haven't encountered that yet. Granted I'm not a heavy user during the day but the nights/weekends minutes really come in handy especially if I'm on the east coast after 2100 and calling the west coast where it's only 1800 local. My contract runs out this month and I'm looking to upgrade to Sprint PCS Vision since I like gadgets. Hope this helps you out.

Edited for typos.

 

[152SIC]

I think that the best cel. plan out there is Verizon's Americas Choice Plan. The coverage is excellent and as a corporate pilot I end up in some pretty far-out places. For about 100 bucks a month you can get 1500 anytime minutes, unlimited nights and weekends and 1000 mobile to mobile minutes (to other Verizon users only.) I have spoke with many other pilots who use plans from Sprint, AT&T, Alltel, T-Mobile, etc... and Verizon always seems to be the best deal out there. They also have a single rate plan where you will have no roaming whatsoever but that package is more expensive and like I said the coverage through the America's Choice Plan is excellent.

BTW: If you happen to find any plan which is better please let us know! Thanks

 

[CRJ puppy]

I have 2 cells phones on different plans so I avoid that $500 type of month bill...

Here's what I have:

Sprint PCS (the Sanyo -4700 previously mentioned) with 900 anytime minutes and 8100 night & weekend minutes. Cost before taxes: $80/month (with taxes, just shy of 90, but variable dependent on your home address)

Then for where Sprint has no coverage (including oddball places like Anguilla, and east boo foo) I have the ATT ONE RATE plan with the Nokia 5165 'phone. This plan is $85/month (before taxes) for 650 anytime/anyplace, etc etc minutes. This 'phone has been great 'cause as I said....it works in places where ATT has agreements (like Anguilla) for no additional fees!! (69 cent roam PLUS long distance fees for the sprint phone from Anguilla.)

Anyway, the point (despite having 2 phones) is I almost ALWAYS have coverage on one network with no long distance or roaming charges, and I manage the minutes through 'phone use...using the Sprint 'phone as primary (<-- if you are on their network, you can't beat their prices).

All together I'm paying about $180/month for that priviledge, but I gotta work at it to use up all those minutes.

Hope that this helps.

 

[InstructorPuke]

Cell Phone

I have Nextel. For $65.00/month I get 300 anytime, unlimited nights and weekends, unlimited 2way (which should be nationwide by June), and unlimited free incoming. No roaming or long distance charges ever. I have only been one place where I didnt have any service and that was Minot N.D. Plan works great for me because most of my cell phone usage is incoming from home.

Just dont get Alltel. They will put it to ya. Their coverage map shows that they have great service but when I was in CMH (shown covered on their map) I got charged $118.00 in roaming calls. When I called to complain they gave me this line of BS "the prevailing wind currents in the state of Ohio are blowing your cell signal to a tower that isnt on their network) Needless to say that was that.

 

[flx757]

My wife (also a pilot) and I have a Sprint PCS plan where we share 2000 anytime minutes, have unlimited night and weekend minutes, as well as unlimited PCS to PCS minutes (so we can talk to each other), and the total bill for both phones is $85/mo. That's for two seperate phones with seperate numbers.

I know many people complain about Sprint coverage and customer service, and I agree that both leave a lot to be desired (especially the customer service), but we rarely, if ever, run into a coverage problem. And it's really hard to beat the price for what we get.

 

[UGApilotDAWG]

Was in the bookstore the other day trying to find some good news about the industry that might keep the class dates coming and came across Consumer Reports or a similar magazine rating cell phone plans....
VERIZON won easily.
Sprint was on the bottom - My wife and I hate Sprint - the phone hasn't been too bad ... coverage in most areas..but going to the Sprint stores for service or car charges was useless...no help whatsoever ... so needless to say our next one will be someone else...
Alltell and Cingular weren't tested...
Thanks for the heads up on Alltell - I'll pass them up
And I can't purchase Cingular because I hate their driver! (Can you tell we're Southern?)
Think we'll choose either Verizon or Nextell..also AT&T wireless scored well.

Hope that helps!
Les

 

[boman]

Falcondrivr,
I recently switched from AT&T to T-Mobile after receiving some insane bills for going over the 1200 anytime minutes alloted. I picked up a Tri-band Motorolla V60 flip phone so it is usefull throughout the world. For $99+tax I am on a budget of 5000 anytime minutes throughout the US (including ANC and Hawaii with good coverage) with no roaming fees. I can't imagine coming even close to exceeding that limit.
I enabled the phone to work in all markets abroad so in theory it will work anywhere that has a functioning cell network. It is priced at $2/min in Europe and goes up from there to the most expensive region Russia, which is $6/min. Everywhere else falls between.
Now, I want this coverage so the company can contact me at any time and there will never again be "Hotel Lockdown" when things are potentially changing with the pax flight schedule. For personal calls I will continue to use calling cards purchased locally.
Hope this helps!
Cheers

 

[PennEagle]

Two Phones!!

I'd echo the thoughts above that Verizon offers the best VFM. I've been on the America Choice Program for a year, and have never had my phone 'roaming' anywhere in the US from SYR to VRB to IAD. Also, they threw in a second phone for the wife for an extra $20/month.

 

[tredding@swa]

VERIZON

hands down.... did the research 2 yrs ago.... still the best. Go w/ Americas Choice Plan that fits your budget..... all ceel phones have problems, but less of these nationwide w/ Verizon for sure!!

Tred

 

[FL510GV]

Next Generation Cell Phones

I just moved back to the States after 3+ years in Europe. The US is at least 3-5 years behind Europe and Japan on cell phone technology. The "rest" of the world uses a dual band GSM network (900,1800). T-Mobile (Deutsche Telecom) and ATT-Wireless are in the transition to GSM (1900). Based on my experience flying worldwide for the last 3+ years from Europe, the US has to go to a standardized system and since the rest of the world uses GSM, it stands to reason that GSM will be that standard. There are just too many people that demand that their cell phone work in Europe and the US (and Japan too).

The major benefit of GSM, however is what is called "number portability". The rest of the world has required it for several years, but the US isn't requiring it for another 3 years or so. Every GSM phone uses a small chip called a SIM card. The SIM card is your phone #.... so I can take my SIM card out of my phone and put it into any GSM phone in the world and and that phone has my calling plan and phone number... this means you never have to change your cell phone # again. I have what ATT Wireless calls a "Gateway Phone", the Siemens C46 (TDMA and GSM 900,1900)... there are also Tri-band GSM phones 900,1800,1900. TDMA is US legacy digital and GSM is next generation/worldwide capability). This phone solves the GSM coverage problems that GSM has as it grows in the US because it works on the old and active digital network. My plan allows for 1000 minutes from anywhere to anywhere at any time in the Continental US and International roaming on a per-call basis ranging from .35c to 1.35 per minute.

I don't care who you buy your cell phone coverage from and all plans run about the same for time etc., but if you want to keep your cell # from now to eternity and you want worldwide coverage, GSM is the way to go.

Good Luck

 

[greg20]

Base rate?

FL510GV said:

My plan allows for 1000 minutes from anywhere to anywhere at any time in the Continental US and International roaming on a per-call basis ranging from .35c to 1.35 per minute.

Would you mind telling us how much the phone was and how much the monthly plan is (that includes the 1000 US minutes + per/minute roaming?) Thanks. Might be something to consider if my job takes me internationally.

 

[Gumby]

Cell phones...

Here's my 10 cents for a mere 2cents. I had Sprint for about 2 years, and wound being restricted by the daytime minutes, and having a bunch of the nightime minutes left over. SO, I made the jump to AT&T. I went with the dual band initially and a Siemens phone that worked internationally, based on the salesmen rec.

I'm no rocket scientist, but I found the Siemens phone to be not so "user friendly". I went back to the store, and was talked into a GSM phone. The coverage for sure, is pretty sparse in the US, but is getting better. I was told it would be a few years before GSM catches up with digital. They have a coverage map on the site, and the coverage was at everyplace where my trips took me, so I took the plunge. I did go with the unlimited plan for 99 bucks, so that's been pretty good. That doesent include Intl. use of course.

I had a flip phone w/Sprint, and had problems with them, which I dont have w/AT&T. The customer service seems to be better than Sprint also. The Intl. service seems to be OK in Europe and the Caribbean as well.

I have heard from alot of friends that have T-mobile, and are very pleased w/the service.

 

[FL510GV]

greg20 asked "Would you mind telling us how much the phone was and how much the monthly plan is (that includes the 1000 US minutes + per/minute roaming?)"

When I signed up the phone was $100 with a $100 rebate after 1 mo service... so doing math in public, that makes the phone free (don't have a clue if the special rebate is still available, but there's always some deal out there-- shop around). The 1000 minutes plan is $99.99 per month and includes international roaming with the per-call charge.

Gumby said "I found the Siemens phone to be not so "user friendly"

The Siemens phone is definately not the most user friendly out there, but it provides the best coverage with GSM capability in the US.

FYI... It's way cheaper to pay for a plan that has more minutes than you normally use than to go over your minutes by a little. I learned this lesson the "pay"-nful way...

 

[P3tarbaby]

Here's my pitch...I have a side business with Excel Communications. Our wireless uses the Sprint network, so you have their coverage areas (which in my experience has been excellent) but we have our own customer service (which I think is the biggest complaint I hear about Sprint) with LIVE operators and we have some different phones (some flip, some not). Rate plans range from 300 to 4500 minutes with unlimited night and weekends and free mobile to mobile. You can check it out at my website if you want more info: http://www.globalgoldmine.com

E

BTW...we also have a new local plan for your home phone that for $49 you get 10 calling features like caller id, etc., unlimited local calls and unlimited FREE long distance. Awesome plan!

 

[falcondrivr]

thanks

first id like to say thanks for all the feedback. i got more info from you guys than all the calling plan websites put together. this is what i came up with. att is trying to push their GSM network and have a plan called the $99 Intl. Charter Plan. this deal gives you unlimited domestic calling for a hundred bucks and any intl. calling when youre overseas for additional bucks. the GSM network is new and doesnt provide the coverage that ATT has currently, but you can get around that: the Siemens 46 phone is dual capable. both TDMA and GSM, which means you can get the benefit of $99 per mo for completely unlimited calling in the states, and go to Europe and direct dial. also with the GSM world phones, you keep your phone number for the rest of your life if you want. i switched my current # right over to the new phone.
they offer a bunch of phones with the plan but the seimens 46 is the only dual one on the market (if you find a phone you like that they dont offer, they will let you use it as long as it is GSM1900 compatable for Europe)
Sprint has the next best plan out there; and Verizon also. but this ATT plan in my opinion is unbeatable.
ill let you know how it goes in the future.
fd

 

[upallnight]

alltel

check out alltel before you sign the papers.

 

[BLUE BAYOU]

I can't wait for my Sprint contract to expire. Their coverage is great, but the plan I need (2 phones-- 1 for the wife) costs us about $100/mo. Any new change in my program will actually give us more minutes for the same price but all their anytime minutes begin after 9PM during the week-- which really stinks... I've heard good news from my friends who utilize Verizon and Nextell.

 

[jetdriven]

My wife (also a pilot) and I have a Sprint PCS plan where we share 2000 anytime minutes, have unlimited night and weekend minutes, as well as unlimited PCS to PCS minutes (so we can talk to each other), and the total bill for both phones is $85/mo. That's for two seperate phones with seperate numbers.

I know many people complain about Sprint coverage and customer service, and I agree that both leave a lot to be desired (especially the customer service), but we rarely, if ever, run into a coverage problem. And it's really hard to beat the price for what we get.

I just went to www.sprintpcs.com and the plan is 85$ PLUS 10$/mo for unlimited nights and weekends PLUS 15$/mo for a second phone. That equals 110$/mo before taxes (easily 15$/mo) and you only get unlimited PCS-to-PCS with a TWO YEAR CONTRACT.

You must have gotten one sweet deal. I have been a sprint customer for 6-7 years and they are just as bad as ever. Im going verizon March 1.

 

[chperplt]

AT&T ALL THE WAY

AT&T has a new plan called the nationwide charter plan.. $99 bucks give you unlimited use day and night. $39.99 for 1000 minutes anytime and it all comes with no additional charges. No LD or roaming at all..