Verizon vs Alltel...decisions, decisions

[kameleon33]

Our contract will be up with Alltel in September. We have always had Alltel but I have been considering Verizon. It used to be that so many people in our area did nothing but complain about Alltel but since their recent upgrades in towers in our area now they do nothing but complain about Verizons coverage and 'dead spots'. We live in Upper Sandusky which is SE of Findlay by about 25 minutes. It is a small more/less rural area. Right now I have a Motorola T720 and my husband has my old Nokia 5185i phone (which we will be replacing when we get our new contract.) We only use the service no more than about 60 miles away from where we live except for hunting season when he goes down to the SE corner of Ohio (which I see Verizon doesn't cover much of, but Alltel does). My instincts are telling me to stick with Alltel.....but still undecided for sure. Anyone have any helpful insight on this decision. Thank you so much for your help.

[Etorres777]

Originally Posted by kameleon33 Our contract will be up with Alltel in September. We have always had Alltel but I have been considering Verizon. It used to be that so many people in our area did nothing but complain about Alltel but since their recent upgrades in towers in our area now they do nothing but complain about Verizons coverage and 'dead spots'. We live in Upper Sandusky which is SE of Findlay by about 25 minutes. It is a small more/less rural area. Right now I have a Motorola T720 and my husband has my old Nokia 5185i phone (which we will be replacing when we get our new contract.) We only use the service no more than about 60 miles away from where we live except for hunting season when he goes down to the SE corner of Ohio (which I see Verizon doesn't cover much of, but Alltel does). My instincts are telling me to stick with Alltel.....but still undecided for sure. Anyone have any helpful insight on this decision. Thank you so much for your help.

I say go with Verizon

[MSE Environmental]

Originally Posted by kameleon33 Our contract will be up with Alltel in September. We have always had Alltel but I have been considering Verizon. It used to be that so many people in our area did nothing but complain about Alltel but since their recent upgrades in towers in our area now they do nothing but complain about Verizons coverage and 'dead spots'. We live in Upper Sandusky which is SE of Findlay by about 25 minutes. It is a small more/less rural area. Right now I have a Motorola T720 and my husband has my old Nokia 5185i phone (which we will be replacing when we get our new contract.) We only use the service no more than about 60 miles away from where we live except for hunting season when he goes down to the SE corner of Ohio (which I see Verizon doesn't cover much of, but Alltel does). My instincts are telling me to stick with Alltel.....but still undecided for sure. Anyone have any helpful insight on this decision. Thank you so much for your help.

This is an easy one....stay with Alltel, but tell them you are thinking of leaving so they'll up your offer to stay with them. Verizon is fine, but their plans ususally don't offer the same benefits and minutes that Alltel's do for the same $.

I love Alltel, but you still gotta do what is best for you. An expired contract is like currency....but you gotta spend it.

Stick with Alltel and get you one of the new LG 5550 phones. You'll be glad you stayed.

[agentHibby]

Verizon and Alltel roam on eachother for free. Verizon has a few roaming partners that Alltel does not have like thumb cellular in MI.
Prices on plans are very close to being the same.
Unless Verizon has a much better network than Alltel or you have many friends on Verizon would want to use mobile to mobile, Verizon or Alltel are almost the same.

[lilprincess2]

I'd have to agree with agenthibby. If you won't be using alot of the mobile to mobile minutes i'd just stay with alltel since they are almost the same.

[ComicalMoodyDan]

In most areas ALLTEL and Verizon's network seem to be about the same. ALLTEL has much better rate plans though. If you are happy with ALLTEL just stick with them.

[kameleon33]

You guys have confirmed my decision. Almost everyone we know are on Alltel so we can use our mobile to mobile with them. I work in a Medical Office and the doctors were so disappointed with Alltel that they recently switched to Verizon. I guess that is what was confusing me as to which plan to go with. Their basic problem though was fact that they didn't have caller id and I told them all they had to do was switch their number as we had done to one that was compatible with caller id. A couple that lives next to us used to have Verizon....upon traveling to Arizona to visit relatives their service was very spotty, but someone they went with who had Alltel had no problems so they have sinced switch to Alltel. I checked out the LG 5550 phone and think I may check into that. As for an entry level non-flip phone for our daughter...I was thinking maybe the Kyocera KX line? Any thoughts? Thanks alot for all your help guys You're making this alot easier.

[kjmattson]

If you're looking for an entry-level non-flip phone, you can't go wrong with the Nokias (3585i and the newer 3587i).

[kjo]

Yes the Nokia 3585, 3586,3587,3589 series are great phones. you can't go wrong with one of these.

[ComicalMoodyDan]

The Nokia 3587i is a nice looking phone with a color screen. It's also inexpensive and I've heard it picks up well. Click on the link below to view it.

Nokia 3587i

[kameleon33]

I notice on the coverage map of the two providers that they are different. Don't they share the same towers though? Or is that only while roaming? How about service reliability, reception, dropped calls, ect...does one rate better than the other?

[agentHibby]

Alltel has better network in Arizona, than Verizon where Alltel has a license.

kameleon33, If you will ever go to Arizona or the west part of Florida you may want to keep Alltel since they have the better network. Verizon has a great network in those areas. Alltel's is just a little bit better.



To those wireless gurus I just never could figure out why did the Verizon picked Airtouch's network {Cellular B block}, than picking southwestco's network {Cellular A block} since southwestco had the better network, and gave it to Alltel in 2000.

[scottb]

Originally Posted by TNDan21 In most areas ALLTEL and Verizon's network seem to be about the same. ALLTEL has much better rate plans though. If you are happy with ALLTEL just stick with them.

Maybe there are different plans in different areas. Here in NC Alltel's National Freedom 750 minute plan is $55 per month--thats about 13.6 cents per minute. VZW's America's Choice 800 minute plan is $59--that's also about 13.6 cent per minute. I doubt that's a coincidence
Both have similar features, unlimited N/W and M2M.

[warriorfootball9]

Originally Posted by kameleon33 I notice on the coverage map of the two providers that they are different. Don't they share the same towers though? Or is that only while roaming? How about service reliability, reception, dropped calls, ect...does one rate better than the other?

The alltel store here in Streetsboro told me that use share towers.

[ballazck]

I live in Ashland, OH by Mansfield.GO WITH VERIZON. They have much better service around Ohio and have coverage all around. Plus if a lot of your friends r with Verizon you can use your In network calling minutes!

[Sprint PCS 411]

Like they said STICK with Alltel (i mean if ur friends are on them...)

but then agian do what is ever best for you...

[AnthroMatt]

Verizon and Alltel essentially have the same coverage thanks to roaming agreements here in Ohio, do they not?

[SQFreak]

Well, on paper, VZW and Alltel have identical coverage after roaming agreements in NC, but in the major metros, VZW is superior in call quality and coverage quality (i.e. VZW has fewer dead spots).

If you're happy with Alltel, stay with Alltel. (The Phoenix area is one of a very few areas that VZW will not roam on Alltel. Most places, VZW will allow in-market roaming on Alltel because they're in love with Alltel or something, but not Arizona.)
If you're unhappy with Alltel (as nearly every Alltel customer around here is - I know two people still left with Alltel now; the rest switched to Verizon Wireless), switch.

[kameleon33]

Originally Posted by SQFreak Well, on paper, VZW and Alltel have identical coverage after roaming agreements in NC, but in the major metros, VZW is superior in call quality and coverage quality (i.e. VZW has fewer dead spots). If you're happy with Alltel, stay with Alltel. (The Phoenix area is one of a very few areas that VZW will not roam on Alltel. Most places, VZW will allow in-market roaming on Alltel because they're in love with Alltel or something, but not Arizona.) If you're unhappy with Alltel (as nearly every Alltel customer around here is - I know two people still left with Alltel now; the rest switched to Verizon Wireless), switch.

What about in Ohio....does Verizon tend to rule in that market also?

[ComicalMoodyDan]

Most of ALLTEL's Network is quite good. In my opinion its just as good as Verizon in many cases and sometimes even better. I've heard ALLTEL is pretty good in Ohio. There is only one market that I know of that ALLTEL is bad in and that's in Myrtle Beach, SC.

They are pretty freaking awful in the Myrtle Beach area.

[ballazck]

VZW is the one with Native Coverage in Ohio. Mostly, Alltel uses Verizon's network in Ohio. The only exception is in southern Ohio where I found our phone was using Alltel's Network. Since you live in Ohio(I do too) I would definately go with VZW.

[AnthroMatt]

Originally Posted by ballazck VZW is the one with Native Coverage in Ohio. Mostly, Alltel uses Verizon's network in Ohio. The only exception is in southern Ohio where I found our phone was using Alltel's Network. Since you live in Ohio(I do too) I would definately go with VZW.

Alltel is quite strong throughout the Cleveland Metro area and Youngstown as well. They use their own network there. Until about a year ago (I think) VZW didn't even have service in Youngstown and totally relied on Alltel for service. Alltel lacks a presence in central Ohio though.

[agentHibby]

Originally Posted by ballazck VZW is the one with Native Coverage in Ohio. Mostly, Alltel uses Verizon's network in Ohio. The only exception is in southern Ohio where I found our phone was using Alltel's Network. Since you live in Ohio(I do too) I would definately go with VZW.

That is not 100% true. Verizon does have the largest native network in Ohio. There are areas that Verizon roams on Alltel since they have no license in Ohio, like the northwest corner of the state. Alltel has the second largest network in the state until AT&T/Cingular deal is complete. Only part of the state they don't have is the central and southwest part. Alltel roams on Verizon there.

[ajw625]

I would have to disagree with the Verizon customer who lives in Ashland. You must go to Columbus frequently or something. You certainly must not drive North out of Ashland very much. If you did, you would realize that Verizon's service is horrible between Ashland and Sandusky. Dropped calls, dead spots, etc... Alltel's service in the Cleveland area and Northwest Ohio is far superior to Verizon's IMO. Not to mention this four county area where they recently bought out Cell One. They are trying to catch up to Alltel, but I fear they never will in this area. Alltel has been here much longer than Verizon so they have had more time to build out their network. It's funny, Verizon is only interested in having good coverage in big cities. Whereas, Alltel is interested in having good coverage in the rural areas and the big cities.

Alltel and Verizon roam on each other in most parts of Ohio, so it doesn't really matter which one you have, except if you live in this area. Alltel is clearly the superior choice. Thanks and have a good day!

A. J.

[party141]

Just an update for those living in North Central Ohio. Allel seems to have the better coverage as they do first concentrate on the rural areas and then the bigger cities. With their new My Circle program it does not matter who your friends have. You get 10 free numbers to call anywhere in the United States.
It does not matter who they have as their provider, home or wireless. I don't think there is another company out there that offers anything like that for free. Go with Alltel!

[BillRadio]

Being a frequent OH visitor, I agree with the Alltel camp. They have a slightly better network where both Alltel and Verizon both have service. They do NOT share any cell sites, but DO share some towers. Verizon does NOT roam on Alltel in the Cleveland market, but DOES in the Toledo and Yougstown markets. OTOH, Alltel DOES roam on Verizon in all 3 areas, based on their PRL from last spring.

But just because Alltel seems to have the better odds of providing service, doesn't mean they don't have their bad spots...like in your office. In this case, if you don't have bad service, don't change, but if you do, there is no better reason to try something else.

[jones]

Originally Posted by SQFreak Well, on paper, VZW and Alltel have identical coverage after roaming agreements in NC, but in the major metros, VZW is superior in call quality and coverage quality (i.e. VZW has fewer dead spots). If you're happy with Alltel, stay with Alltel. (The Phoenix area is one of a very few areas that VZW will not roam on Alltel. Most places, VZW will allow in-market roaming on Alltel because they're in love with Alltel or something, but not Arizona.) If you're unhappy with Alltel (as nearly every Alltel customer around here is - I know two people still left with Alltel now; the rest switched to Verizon Wireless), switch.

The Area in Question is Ohio,
not NC.

[strunke]

Originally Posted by jones The Area in Question is Ohio, not NC.

This post is 2 years old....so it doesn't really matter

It's been dug up from the grave lol.....

[Ironwalt]

Originally Posted by strunke This post is 2 years old....so it doesn't really matter It's been dug up from the grave lol.....

Well strunke, If OP sighed up on a 2 year. They just may be back on the market for new service again by now.