Ann Arbor plans/phones/providers

[emckinst]

We're moving to Ann Arbor in a few weeks, and looking for recommendations for a provider...

1) we need a share plan
2) I travel about once a month, so a nationwide network is fairly important
3) we need about 700 anytime minutes
4) any comments on coverage in the A2 area?

Yes, I have done research online for the biggies -- verizon, sprint, alltel -- so I know what kind of $ I'm talking about, I think (in the $70- 90 range for a plan for the 2 phones). But I'm basically clueless about digital, analog, different protocols, etc., so I'm hoping someone will step in and provide a more knowlegeable opinion about best provider, bet phone for someone who really only needs voice services, etc.

Thanks tons, from an old newbie.

[DemoMan]

One suggestion, if you travel much, is to check out Flexible Freedom from Alltel. For $49.00 you can get 700 anytime minutes, unlimited night and weekend minutes, 100 Total Freedom minutes that you can use No Roaming anywhere in the country. It you add this plan to a family share plan, the anytime minutes are shared but the night and weekend minutes and I believe the Total Freedom mins will both be seperate pools for each line.

I'd recommend either Alltel or Verizon. Each should provide excellent coverage and they roaming agreements with each other so that when one is not available, the other is the perfered partner. I would say go with the one that offers the phone that you like best and offer you the best price. Both companies offer trial periods. You might test each one to see which works best in your home and the places you visit most often.

For Alltel, I recommend the V60i. It is $29 now after rebate. The T720 still has some bugs, but I hear it works much better since they have updated the software. My friends have them and have had no problems. I personally use the V60 and have had no problems at all with it on Alltel's network and it works equally as well when I roam on Verizon.

[ComicalMoodyDan]

ALLTEL or Verizon Wireless would be your best bet. I've heard bad things about Sprint PCS in Ann Arbor so you should avoid them.

[mothra76]

I would suggest Verizon or Alltel. I havent used Alltel, but it looks like they have some good coverage. I have Verizon and I go to Ann Arbor a few times a month and typically pull up full bars of service. One thing you might want to pay attention to is Alltel's night and weekend plan, depending on your plan, you may only be able to use your night and weekend minutes in your home area. With verizon's america's choice plan you can use your night/weekend minutes anywhere on the A/C network.

[DemoMan]

On National Freedom, Alltel's version of AC, night and weekend minutes follow you wherever you go. This is the same as Verizon.

Brad

[emckinst]

Found out tonight that Alltel doesn't offer Ann Arbor phone numbers -- closest is Jackson or Toledo... I don't think I want people to have to call us long distance from Ann Arbor. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-frown.gif[/img]

So looks like I'll try Verizon... any phone suggestions?

[bambam9]

I'm a student at U of M, and I also live in Ann Arbor, and I just started a plan with Sprint a month ago. I have the 8100, and I don't have any complaints, and neither do most others I know who have Sprint. I live on the northeast side of Ann Arbor, and my coverage is fine there as well. Some people have mentioned that the building penetration isn't as good as Verizon's, but I wouldn't put Sprint totally out of the question yet.

Just my two cents.

[Rasputin]

I have had good coverage with Verizon in Ann Arbor.

[mothra76]

As far as phones go for Verizon, if you are interested in color, try the LG 4400. Steer clear of the Motorolla T720.

[CaptainLoose]

I have both Sprint and Verizon coverage in Ann Arbor. From my experience, either will provide good coverage. I will eventually settle on one (maybe!)...I'm leaning toward Sprint because its substantially cheaper for large shared minute plans, especially if you include unlimited cell to cell. My wife and several of our kids have this feature so we talk all over the U.S. for free. I don't know where you travel, I typically travel to Chicago or Columbus and have equivalent coverage either place. I use a Sanyo 8100 with Sprint. Sanyo phones are generally the best phones for Sprint although I am planning to purchase the Samsung i500 PDA when it arrives. I use a Motorola v60i w/ Verizon; also a quality phone but a little dated. I will say that the Sprint store in AA lacks a quality staff - i.e., they're not very helpful or knowledgeable compared to other stores I've used. I purchased my last phone at the Novi store; Best Buy in AA also carries Sprint and the sales person there was helpful.

Welcome to AA...Hope you enjoy it

[CDMA]

DemoMan, Flexible freedom? I can't find it on the web site. I just got two phones and they are both on National freedom. The plan you mentioned sounds like something I would rather have because of more minutes. Are you sure it's a current plan?

[MrDrew]

I live right next to the University of Michigan main campus in the heart of Ann Arbor, and I have personally used T-Mobile (current provider) and AT&T (I left AT&T for T-Mobile). I know people who have Sprint, Nextel, Cingular and Verizon. Here's my general experience by provider. If you let me know where in Ann Arbor you will be staying... I'd be happy to let you know how coverage is in that specific area.

-- AT&T Wireless: AT&T has both TDMA and GSM service here. They have descent outside coverage around most areas of town. Some areas are of good indoor coverage, but many areas of town have inconsistent areas of indoor coverage. On the TDMA side, AT&T will often roam onto Cingular (800mhz). GSM users are typically out of luck and have to deal with the annoying "NO SERVICE." I would very rarely get system congestion or other coverage independent problems, but AT&T always seemed reluctant to fix their coverage issues.

-- T-Mobile: I find T-Mobile coverage around town to be amazing! People with Verizon phones often talk of having flawless service (and most of the time they do!)... BUT there have been several areas where my friends with Verizon phones couldn't use their phones, and I had nearly full strength on T-Mobile. I have never experienced system busies or any other problems. T-Mobile is, in my book, the best provider in town. Granted... they do have a few rough spots here and there (like the University of Michigan's North Campus... thought all providers are rough there.) Overall though, they seem to have the best coverage. They also have excellent plans.

-- Verizon (/ Alltel ) : Verizon in town is mostly quite good. My friends with Verizon have good coverage all around town, and once you leave town (going any direction but west) coverage is among the best... especially out in the rural areas outside of Ann Arbor. System trouble is rare with Verizon. On the negative side, there are some MAJOR dead spots in town. Several areas around town (mostly inside) switch to analog or NO SERVICE... quite often with the phone being unable to receive calls. Verizon has a slight edge over other carriers around the University of Michigan's North Campus. Overall, I’d place it as second to T-Mobile. Verizon gives you the least bang for your buck in terms of plans, however.

--Sprint: Sprint is a bit of a mixed bag. Most areas of town have good coverage. Almost anywhere outside has good coverage, but indoor coverage is somewhat inconsistent. Many places indoors around town will push Sprint to NO SERVICE (or analog roaming on Verizon). Sometimes there are problems with system busies. Your personal experience with vary greatly depending on your exact location. Sprint does have VERY good plans and early nights... so often a bit of inconvenience is worth the sometimes-lacking coverage.

--Nextel: I don't have a lot of experience with Nextel users around town, but I have heard that coverage is mostly good.... but system busies and dropped calls are a way of life.

--Cingular: Cingular has good to excellent coverage around town... (both indoors and out). I have heard that there are often system busies.



My tentative ranking would go something like this: (FROM BEST TO WORST)

1. T-Mobile
2. Verizon
3. Cingular / AT&T TDMA / Nextel
4. Sprint / AT&T GSM

[emckinst]

Thanks everyone so much for your help.

We went with Verizon, the America's Choice Family plan. We each got an Audiovox CDM9500, which seemed to be well rated by others on this forum, and fit our very basic needs.

Thanks again! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

[DemoMan]

CDMA,

Flexible Freedom is a plan they offer but do not advertise in all markets. They advertise it mainly in markets where the competition is tough to beat. You might call them up and ask about it. I like it b/c it gives me the freedom (no pun intended) to travel outside of my local area and still use my phone w/o paying an arm and a leg for it. I believe that each phone gets 100 total freedom mins each month, but I'm not sure....they may just pool the 100.

Also, did you get your Caller ID issue resolved?

Brad

[CDMA]

No, I still have no caller id. The rep said that it would not work in Detroit because I am roaming on Verizon. I even went to Monroe Michigan to upgrade my PRL to the new 703 PRL. Even in that area it did not work and customer service said that it would not even work there because l was not actually hitting an Alltel tower. In other words, they told me that the tower that upgraded my phone to the new 703 PRL was not Alltels and that it was some kind of extended network. It sounds fishy to me. I would appreciate some more help here.