Cell phone networks -- Verizon vs. US Cellular

[wmw999 2,589]

I'm at a point of planning to change my cell phone company; my contract at ATT is up, and the ideal choices are either Verizon or US Cellular, due to their covering where the ancestral family summer camp is. Since no one around here has either, I'm wondering if it's just a matter of evaluating price etc, or is there anything else to beware/be aware of.

Uses are going to be mostly voice, some smartphone stuff (e.g. GPS, and I'll probably end up with some apps, but I'm not a heavy user now -- I'm happy with a voice-only phone).

thanks

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[rwieder 0]

Wendy-
We opted for Verizon Wireless. I've been literally all over the world with it, and all of us have free cell 2 cell all kinds of goodies. The coverage is awesome, I've been 35K feet in the air before and have called my wife to let her know I was 1/2 hr out or so, so since Verizon was GTE Mobile-Net we've had excellent results and service. Good luck! Best-

-Richard-
"You're Holding The Rope And I'm Taking The Fall"

[ryoder 1,590]

T-Mobile isn't an option?
They just dropped the contract requirement.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[NWFlyer 2]

I know nothing about US Cellular, so it's hard for me to make a comparison. I've been with Verizon for over four years now, and the biggest plus I've noticed with Verizon is that the coverage area is extremely wide. They bought up a lot of the small rural carriers, so I'll often find a Verizon signal much farther out into the middle of nowhere than I expected (and if I'm around people who have other carriers, I usually have the better connection, if they even have it at all).

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

I know nothing about US Cellular, so it's hard for me to make a comparison. I've been with Verizon for over four years now, and the biggest plus I've noticed with Verizon is that the coverage area is extremely wide. They bought up a lot of the small rural carriers, so I'll often find a Verizon signal much farther out into the middle of nowhere than I expected (and if I'm around people who have other carriers, I usually have the better connection, if they even have it at all).

I've had Verizon work just about everywhere I've gone (which isn't that far or impressive). I had coverage in Glacier NP, but didn't at Big Bend. So if you're going to start running drugs through the Texas desert, you may want to go with someone besides Verizon.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Opie 0]

I use U.S. Cellular because they are the only company with good coverage where I live and work. My only complaint with them is they now have a 200MB roaming data limit. After you hit the limit you get throttled down to sometimes a 1x rate which pretty much renders a smartphone useless except for voice and texting.

This is really frustrating considering I have a nationwide plan with unlimited voice/data/text plan. So consider where you will be using the phone carefully if you travel. I travel frequently and run into this issue often but need to stay with them for coverage while I'm at home for work

[wmw999 2,589]

Thanks -- these are exactly the kinds of inputs I'm hoping for. We're planning on traveling extensively over the next years, so coverage is prime. And right now those are the only 2 that offer coverage where we plan to spend lots of summertime.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

I can't compare or contrast because I've been on Verizon forever.

BUT...

I drive truck and travel over much of the US (mostly eastern, no west coast). Verizon works everywhere.

Middle of Michigan's UP?
Middle of nowhere in Kansas?
Banjo music country down in the South?

Yup, works just fine. Voice and internet.
Some places are still 3G, but those places are becoming fewer and further between.

I haven't been anywhere where it didn't work in several years.
I've only been doing internet (using a WiFi hotspot thingy) for a little over a year. But it works well and it works everywhere I've tried it.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo