cell phones

[learflyer]

anybody know of any decent two for one cell phone plans out there? In other words, do any of you guys have two cell phones, with two different phone numbers (one to take with you on the road and one for the wife at home) with one phone bill? We are hoping not to spend money on two seperate plans. Thanks.

 

[flx757]

A lot of people (including me on a regular basis) complain about Sprint, their service and coverage. But, they do have a good plan for people with two phones.

We each have a phone (with separate numbers), we share 2000 anytime minutes (nationwide long distance), we have unlimited nights and weekend minutes, and unlimited PCS to PCS minutes (so we can talk as much as we want to each other or to any other Sprint PCS phone without using the 2000 minutes). The total cost for both phones, including all taxes and replacement phone insurance is around $89/mo. That is the total cost for both phones.

Even though I am often frustrated by Sprint's lack of customer service, and sometimes spotty coverage, we have been unable to even come close to this cost for a similar plan with any other carrier, if we can even find a similar plan. However, there will probably come a point when cost only goes so far, and we will end up paying more and getting less just to go with a more reliable company. We're waiting for November, when the laws change to allow you to keep your same number when switching providers. We'll see if this might bring about more competitive pricing.

 

[bigD]

I use AT&T. It's kind of like the anti-Sprint. Good customer service, but you pay for it. I have friends using Sprint paying half of what I do for essentially the same plan. I used to have a Motorola phone, but over the Winter switched to one of those baby Nokias. I like the size, but the phone sucks. It's had to be replaced twice so far because some of the buttons stopped working. Last month, my 3rd phone began to develop the same problem.

I'm back to Motorola again - permanently this time.

 

[banned username 2]

 

[Gulfstream 200]

star tac may be old school, but nothing has worked as good since

 

[fredflyer]

I got Verizon, the basic plan is 400 anytime minutes, unlimited night and weekends, and 1000 cell to cell (as long as it's a Verizon cell). That plan is $39.99 plus $20 a month for each additional phone. You share the minutes between the phones, so if you talk your a$$ off and she doesn't, no big deal. If you want more minutes, the plans go up by 200 anytime minutes for another $20 a month (they also add on extra cell to cell minutes). The thing I like about Verizon is that I've had no problems with their customer service and the reception I get is great anywhere I go. I had AT&T, and Verizon's signals are much better (can you hear me now?).

 

[Dragonbravo]

Vorizon has a great plan, but.... "Can you hear me now?" get used to saying that, a lot!

 

[avbug]

I've been an ATT customer for about three years now...and if that's good customer service, I'm about to lose all hope. I'd like to find a call center where some of these people hide out, and selectively lure them into the open where I could rip their beating hearts from their chests and use them to feed rabid groundsquirrels. It would be a small meal.

The worst service yet I've had on cell was a trial program with QWEST.

 

[350DRIVER]

I presently have T Mobile and they have by far the best rate plans that are available. I plan to renew in Oct. when my service is up to expire since I really have no complaints whatsoever. The biggest problem with Sprint, Cingular, Cell One, AT&T, etc, is that they all give you lotsa "off peak" minutes but how much is one really going to use from 9pm until 7am in the morning. If you take a look at the "peak" minutes per plan and compare that to T Mobile then you will see that by far T-Mobile has them all beat for the price.

$39.99/month gets you 1000 ANYTIME/ANYWHERE minutes.

$49.99/month gets you 3000 ANYTIME/ANYWHERE minutes on a regional plan.

You can add the free nights/weekends if you want but having 3000 I have never needed to do that since I have never went over that amount. You can also get the T Zones for for an additional $2.99/month which I use alot for weather/news.


I think the most expensive plan they have is like $129.99/month for 5000 ANYTIME/ANYWHERE minutes with FREE and unlimited nights and weekends. They usually have a special promotion where this drops down to $99.00/month for this plan which is a pretty sweet deal.

None of this 200 "peak" and 2000 "off peak" minute stuff.

hope this helps..

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[flx757]

Believe me, we have checked, double checked, and triple checked, and if all you care about are rates, then the plan I described in my previous post beats anything anyone has to offer. This is 2 phones, separate numbers, 2000 ANYTIME/ANYWHERE minutes, (no offense 350DRIVER, but 2000 minutes is a lot of "peak" minutes), UNLIMITED nights and weekends, and UNLIMITED PCS to PCS along with UNLIMITED PCS web access. All for less than $90 a month TOTAL for both phones. And this includes all taxes plus replacement phone insurance.

I don't think any of those T-Mobile plans described in the previous post come close to this.

Again, if all you care about are rates, this is the best deal. If other things are more important, then you might want to shop around.

 

[350DRIVER]

UNLIMITED nights and weekends, and UNLIMITED PCS to PCS along with UNLIMITED PCS web access. All for less than $90 a month TOTAL for both phones. And this includes all taxes plus replacement phone insurance

Look at T-Mobile then the post- you DO GET FREE nights/weekends. I guess you must get alot of peak minutes then huh?! I personally don't use the phone that frequently from 9pm to 7am nor do the majority of my minute usage come on the weekends. Let me get this correct, you get unlimited nights/weekends (swell), PCS to PCS, and web access so how many PEAK minutes do you have to "share" between both phones.?????? I would assume not a whole lot.... Plan for plan I still think T-Mobile has ya beat.

I guess it all depends if you are going to use the "phones" to talk to the "one" other phone holder or actually use it quite often to talk during the "peak" times of the day....

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[350DRIVER]

ok- 2000 to share for $90/month- overlooked that. I guess it all depends on what you are looking for. I bet they don't have a comparable 5000 Anytime/Anywhere for the $129.99.??


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[Vladimir Lenin]

Verizon, 800 minutes anytime, 1000 mobile to mobile, free nights and weekends, 65 clams a month, works everywhere, even Caribean (some parts)

 

[flx757]

That's right, 2000 minutes. And the PCS to PCS minutes are to ANY Sprint PCS phone, not just the ONE other phone. The total bill that we pay to Sprint each month, which includes everything, taxes, fees, insurance, etc. etc. etc. is $88.91. I don't really care if they have a 5000 minute/$129 plan. Why do I need to spend $129 when $89 covers all we need and then some?

Like I said, we have researched this thoroughly. The original poster was asking about 2 phones with separate numbers. For that, this is the best deal out there, hands down....IF all you care about it price.

 

[Eric]

I have Verizon. Two phones, seperate #'s, one bill. 400 anytime, unlimited nights/weekends, 1000 verizon to verizon.

Customer service has been excellent.
I'm in Florida, and my phone worked and wasn't roaming in Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole, WY.

I think it is about 60 /mo for the 2 phones.

 

[FL717]

Hey flx757:

You mean that when I call you on my cell phone, you're not being charged for the minutes we talk?? It sounds like a great deal.

I'm moving as you know, and if that is true, I think I'm going to change my current PCS service to the plan you described.

Did you go through the company for a discount on that plan, or through Sprint directly?

 

[medic&cfi]

I have the same plan as flx757. He's right it's the best deal out there. I used to hate Sprint, but their customer service is getting better and better.

 

[Paladin]

You might want to check out Nextel. They offer a lot of company discounts...for example, with FedEx employment I only pay $44 for 1000 minutes a month and unlimited weekends and nights. Plus you get the two-way stuff, which I really only use for work. The coverage so far is very good and they are expanding the coverage every month. Excellent customer service as well.
Cheers,
Markus

 

[350DRIVER]

I suppose (and even agree) that if one would need two lines and looking for the best deal out there (with regards to two lines/phone to phone) then your plan may be best. I didn't read the posts entirely before posting but I still am sold on how T Mobile works without regards to a "second phone" or phone to phone minutes. I personally am not married nor do many of my friends use that plan so it would be next to impossible for me to justify switching over .



3 5 0

ps> after four drinks or so the brain starts to give in just a tad

 

[Timebuilder]

I had AT&T, and Verizon's signals are much better (can you hear me now?).

I have had AT&T for 3 1/2 years. They used to be a great company, although you DO pay through the nose for the customer service.

Lately, customer service has not been so good. In fact, it is BAD.

Here's something I observed: I can be driving by a cell tower, and lose my call. I found this curious, so I began asking some other tech heads about this. Apparently, AT&T uses the TDMA service method, and Verizon uses CDMA, which is not compatible. Those towers I was passing were likely CDMA towers, and there are more of them. That means better coverage for Verizon and anyone else that uses CDMA, and not as good for AT&T or other TDMA carriers.

AT&T is going to be adding GSM as the new service standard, and eventually will drop TDMA. Verizon may add GSM, too. That will take several years, and I don't recommend switching to a GSM phone for at least three more years, unless you use your phone in Europe, where GSM is the predominant standard.

My service agreement with AT&T goes up in January, and I will likely go to Verizon, which my friends have. They LOVE their customer service and rarely have a problem. Recently, my friend had a problem with their phone and got a Samsung A320 phone free. When I had a problem, AT&T was going to make me BUY a new phone, one of those crappy miniature Nokias, if it turned out to be a phone problem instead of a system problem.

I'll take my phone number to Verizon and call myself "wiser" than I was before.