Cell Phones and their comanies

[Iceman21]

Cell Phones and their companies

Since I will be doing an inordianate (sp?) amount of flying this summer, I am preparing myself for all the odd emergencies that come up when you are a CFI. So I decided that I need to pick up a cell phone.

However, I have crappy credit as of now and I most likely would need a deposit to open an account with anyone.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to go about doing this and what companies you guys recommend?

I would like to get Nextel but they seem expensive and strict about their accounts. I have had AT&T, but I get crappy signals in Chicago here. Those are the two companies I have had experience with, and I would like to hear some stories about other companies good or bad.

Thanks in advance.

 

[ILLINI]

I think Sprint has a max limit of $250 for a deposit if your credit is not the best. I use Sprint and haven't had problem with digital service in any of the decent sized cities or along highways. Don't expect to get coverage in those tiny cities out in the middle of nowhere though. I've heard that Veriozon also has very good coverage, but I don't have any personal experience with them. Rumor has it that Nextel will be losing their exclusive rights to their direct connect (walkie talkie) feature this summer. If you can wait a couple months you may be able to get this service with other cell phone companies. Just a thought if that is something that you might be interested in.

 

[Diesel]

try at&t's go phone. No contract and you reup every month. Very very good rates.

 

[boeing luva]

I've had sprint, verizon, and t-mobile phones. I had to get rid of sprint because they would never work anywhere around where i lived or worked and this was chicago! I finally got rid of them when i was in the middle of bumfuq missouri about an hour away from the nearest good size town (kirksville) and that was the only place i could get anywhere near a full signal. I've heard they have gotten better in the past few years though. Never had a problem with verizon or t-mobile though.

 

[Iceman21]

try at&t's go phone. No contract and you reup every month. Very very good rates.

I used to use the prepaid AT&T service but I couldn't justify paying 35 cents a minute if I put 25.00 on the account.

I don't know I will have to do the numbers again and see where it stands

 

[mattfish42]

I like sprint. Not too expensive, and so far I've only found one airport (Rochelle) where the PCS signal wasn't there, but switching to cellular still worked fine.

 

[Iceman21]

Hey Fishsticks

Tell everyone I said "hey" over there for me.

 

[mattfish42]

I'll do that!

 

[OOramperpilot]

T-Mobile rocks for me.

Iceman,

I've been with T-Mobile for about five years now and when I first signed up my credit was shakey at best. I got the phone as a birthday present and I was a little concerned that I wouldn't be able to get an account, but when I went in to one of there stores, they signed me up on the spot. As a matter of fact the agent told me she could give me as many as four phones! Why I would need that many was beyond me so I declined and went with just the one.

I can't vouch if they are still as generous but you might give it a shot. I get great coverage (boondocks are still a problem from time to time) and my experience with their customer service has been very top notch. I have heard a couple of horror stories that would say otherwise but I think that would happen with any cell company.

Just my two cents, YMMV.

 

[Typhoon1244]

Cell Phones and their comanies

What's a "comanie?"

 

[avbug]

I have no idea about the coverage or cost, but T-mobile is the way to go, because Catherine Zita-Jones (Douglas?) fronts for them.

 

[350DRIVER]

T-Mobile has by far the best plans on the market and will work with you if your credit is not the best. A friend of mine had poor credit and he said that the only thing he had to do was pay like a $60.00 activation fee and like $50.00 more dollars for his phone since when he applied his credit came back bad... This is much better than paying some ridiculous Sprint deposit fee or anything else along those lines.

I am on a 3000 minute ANYTIME plan - it is called a regional plan which is all I really need for like $39.99 per month and no other company can even come close. Cingular, Sprint, and all the others give you very little anytime minutes and think you will use "off peak" minutes so that is why the plans sound so good- To me 400 "anytime" and 3000 nights and weekends would do me little or no good since I don't really talk from 9pm to 7am where those "off peak" minutes are applicable...

T-Mobile also gives you free internet access per month for an additional $2.99 or so on top of your plan.

They also have a national plan where for $99.00 a month you 5000 ANYTIME MINUTES ANYWHERE IN US- no strings attached- Sprint charges over $200.00 for a plan where you get even less minutes-

If you are comparing plans then T-Mobile is by far the best way to go with regards to "anytime" minutes-


3 5 0

 

[Flying Illini]

I use Cingular...never had a problem. As a matter of fact driving back from Ok City after a trip to CAMI our van had a blowout at about 10pm. Somewhere on highway 80 in Oklahoma (i think). ANyway, no one else had service to call a towtruck...my phone was the only one out of 12 that worked. Cingular rocks...never had a problem in nearly 2 years of service.

 

[ksu_aviator]

I pay $40/month for 400 anytime and unlimited night and weekend minutes at Verizon. My experience with them has been exceptional. They have made billing mistakes but they listened to my complaint, and agreed to make the change with out arguing. They have done that several times.

When I had Sprint, the coverage was spotty and the customer service was non existant. I spent on average 30 minutes per call waiting for an agent and on several occasions they would transfer me to someone else, that I would have to wait another 15 minutes or more to talk to. I know people that still have Sprint and they still complain about the coverage and customer service. If I where you I'd ignore Sprint all together.

 

[52vincent]

T-Mobile also gives you free internet access per month for an additional $2.99 or so on top of your plan.3 5 0

My guess is, it's not free then