WirelessAdvisor.com

Gish · 07-02-2002, 3:46 PM

Hello everyone,

I have been reading this forum for some time and decided to join. I need some help finding a wireless provider. I am currently using SunCom out of Southern VA. The downside is SunCom/AT&T does not cover my home (Lillington, NC) but covers most places when I travel (San Fran, St. Louis, Mrytle Beach and others).
The five providers I am looking at are Nextel, Cingular, Sprint, Verizon and VoiceStream.
$50 a month is my budget.

Nextel National Connect
$39.99 300 Peak/3600 Nights/Weekends
$0.50 Voice Mail
$0.50 Caller ID
$10.00 Web Premium (Doesn't use mins, unlimited)

Cingular Nation
$39.99 350 Peak/3500 Nights/Weekends
$4.00 Web (Uses mins)

Sprint PCS Free and Clear
$39.99 350 Peak/3650 Nights/Weekends
$5.00 Web (Uses mins)

Verizon America's Choice
$40.00 300 Peak/Unlimited Nights/Weekends + Web (Uses mins)

VoiceStream Get More
$39.99 600 Peak/Unlimited Weekends
$5.00 Unlimited Nights
$2.99 Web (up to a 1MB a month)

Which provider works and is the best value in St. Louis, San Fran, Raleigh/Durham and major interstates? I assume wireless web is just another way to say WAP. I don't need anything more (like connecting to my laptop) but I want to have room to grow. Who offers the best WAP service? I also use more Nights/Weekend mins than peak. I was originally looking at Cingular, but Nextel's prices seem to be catching up. Any recommandations are very welcome.

Thanks,
Kevin

TNDan21 · 07-02-2002, 5:30 PM

Verizon would proabely be your best choice.

Jack · 07-02-2002, 8:02 PM

With Nextel and Voicestream make sure there is going to be a digital signal where you travel because if there is no digital signal you have a paperweight.

Sprint is a good provider and should serve you well if you stay within their digital network

Jack

Mike · 07-03-2002, 11:26 AM

Since you live in Lillington, NC that would eliminate VoiceStream as they only have roaming in North Carolina. You must live in their market to go with them. Same for all carriers.

TNDan21 · 07-03-2002, 2:07 PM

With Cingular being GSM in North Carolina and in the parts of VA they serve being TDMA that kinda rules them out too. You don't want the hassle of there split technology network. Nextel has Digital only coverage on there network so its more limited, plus there phone's are ugly and expensive, and there known to have high standards of credit checks.

That pretty much leaves you with Sprint PCS or Verizon Wireless. Verizon has more coverage then Sprint and with Sprint anytime you leave there network you are going to be racking up roaming charges. Verizon has better rate plans right now and there America's Choice Network is larger then the Sprint PCS Network.

Gish · 07-04-2002, 6:50 AM

TNDan21:
I have heard some very good things about Verizon. I have also had bad experiences with friends using verzion, but it may just be the area they are in. How good is Verizon's customer service and WAP? If I remember correctly WAP is provided by MSN. Does Verizon/MSN limit you to certain WAP sites or can you access any WAP site?

I know Cingular is GSM in North Carolina. Is Cingular GSM in the St. Louis market?
I agree Nextel is more limited but my major concern is that all the cities that I listed (in my original post) and major interstates are covered. Even though Nextel phones are more expensive, I (personally) would not consider the phones ugly.

Jack:
I have Sprint at home (land line) there isn't much of a choice where I live, needless to say the service is horrible. I have been hearing a lot about roaming charges and even TNDan21 stated that in his second post. If thats the case I don't think Sprint would be a good option.

Mike:
Even though my home is (Lillington, NC) my cell phones home will be (Edwardsville, IL) as that is where I will be attending school. I believe Edwardsville is covered under the St. Louis market. I am sorry if I caused any confusion.

TNDan21 · 07-04-2002, 3:36 PM

Well Gish this is going to be a hard one. If you are going to be signing up in a Cingular (TDMA) market under a Cingular Nation Plan that is a very good choice as you don't have to worry about roaming charges at all. The reason why I recommended against Cingular in NC is I thought that was the address you was going to use and GSM coverage is limited in the states right now.

I believe Edwardsville, IL is most likely a TDMA market for Cingular. If it is then consider Cingular. I'll tell you what plug in the zip code that you plan on signing up your wireless service with on Verizon's and Cingular's website and look around.

Cingular Wireless

Verizon Wireless

TNDan21 · 07-04-2002, 3:44 PM

By the way where are you at in Virginia? Do you like your Mitsubishi T-300 and SunCom service in your area?

Jack · 07-05-2002, 8:57 PM

Gish

Did you pick another provider yet

Jack

aiwapro · 07-05-2002, 9:16 PM

So you live in Virginia Gish, not NC?

bobolito · 07-08-2002, 7:52 AM

Cingular does not have split technology. They have two technologies. In some places they sell one kind, and in others they sell the other. When people say they have split technology they are misinforming people because it gives the impression that if you are using one of their technologies and travel into an area where they sell the other you will have a dead phone and that's not true at all. Bottomline, they use two technologies, TDMA and GSM, and coverage for both technologies overlaps across the entire US although GSM coverage is more limited. They just sell either one technology depending on the region but that doesn't mean that where they sell one technology they don't have coverage with the other technology.

07-12-2002, 1:00 AM

07-12-2002, 1:08 AM

If u have the choice of Nextel. Get it. Don't forget u get 100 direct connect minutes with that. Have a friend with Nextel? Nextel allows ur phone to be a modem for ur laptop. Only one draw back is it uses ur minutes. Theres plans out there that will let u have unlimited internet time for ur laptop. Also Cards are avaiable. Goodluck in chosing a phone.

07-02-2002, 3:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
Gish No more newbie here! Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Choices Choices.... Hello everyone, I have been reading this forum for some time and decided to join. I need some help finding a wireless provider. I am currently using SunCom out of Southern VA. The downside is SunCom/AT&T does not cover my home (Lillington, NC) but covers most places when I travel (San Fran, St. Louis, Mrytle Beach and others). The five providers I am looking at are Nextel, Cingular, Sprint, Verizon and VoiceStream. $50 a month is my budget. Nextel National Connect $39.99 300 Peak/3600 Nights/Weekends $0.50 Voice Mail $0.50 Caller ID $10.00 Web Premium (Doesn't use mins, unlimited) Cingular Nation $39.99 350 Peak/3500 Nights/Weekends $4.00 Web (Uses mins) Sprint PCS Free and Clear $39.99 350 Peak/3650 Nights/Weekends $5.00 Web (Uses mins) Verizon America's Choice $40.00 300 Peak/Unlimited Nights/Weekends + Web (Uses mins) VoiceStream Get More $39.99 600 Peak/Unlimited Weekends $5.00 Unlimited Nights $2.99 Web (up to a 1MB a month) Which provider works and is the best value in St. Louis, San Fran, Raleigh/Durham and major interstates? I assume wireless web is just another way to say WAP. I don't need anything more (like connecting to my laptop) but I want to have room to grow. Who offers the best WAP service? I also use more Nights/Weekend mins than peak. I was originally looking at Cingular, but Nextel's prices seem to be catching up. Any recommandations are very welcome. Thanks, Kevin

07-02-2002, 8:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jack Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,475 Phone(s): Motorola T720 Provider(s): Alltel Devices: Sirius Satellite radio, ipod, laptop, pda Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	With Nextel and Voicestream make sure there is going to be a digital signal where you travel because if there is no digital signal you have a paperweight. Sprint is a good provider and should serve you well if you stay within their digital network Jack __________________ Current Plan with alltel 3000 anytime minutes w/nationwide LD $74.95 a month---Waiting not so patiently for the Alltel version of the V710

07-03-2002, 11:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
Mike Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tampa Bay Area Posts: 282 Phone(s): Motorola RAZR V3, Motorola V60c, Motorola V551 Provider(s): T-Mobile, Verizon, Cingular Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Since you live in Lillington, NC that would eliminate VoiceStream as they only have roaming in North Carolina. You must live in their market to go with them. Same for all carriers. __________________ Mike a/k/a Shepp elsewhere on the net http://www.pcsws.com/ T-Mobile is the third largest wireless network in the world - and growing!

07-05-2002, 8:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
Jack Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,475 Phone(s): Motorola T720 Provider(s): Alltel Devices: Sirius Satellite radio, ipod, laptop, pda Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Gish Did you pick another provider yet Jack __________________ Current Plan with alltel 3000 anytime minutes w/nationwide LD $74.95 a month---Waiting not so patiently for the Alltel version of the V710

07-08-2002, 7:52 AM	#11 (permalink)
bobolito iPhone 3G 16GB (White) Join Date: May 2002 Location: New Sanfrakota Posts: 12,378 Phone(s): iPhone 3G, RAZR V9, Sierra 875 3G Aircard, HP iPaq Classic 110 Provider(s): AT&T Mobility Devices: WiFi cards/Access points Thanks: 3 Thanked 11 Times in 10 Posts Images: 50 My Auctions	Cingular does not have split technology. They have two technologies. In some places they sell one kind, and in others they sell the other. When people say they have split technology they are misinforming people because it gives the impression that if you are using one of their technologies and travel into an area where they sell the other you will have a dead phone and that's not true at all. Bottomline, they use two technologies, TDMA and GSM, and coverage for both technologies overlaps across the entire US although GSM coverage is more limited. They just sell either one technology depending on the region but that doesn't mean that where they sell one technology they don't have coverage with the other technology. __________________

07-02-2002, 5:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
TNDan21 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kingsport, TN Posts: 5,958 Phone(s): LG enV2, Samsung t219 Provider(s): Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile Devices: iPod Nano Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Verizon would proabely be your best choice.

07-03-2002, 2:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
TNDan21 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kingsport, TN Posts: 5,958 Phone(s): LG enV2, Samsung t219 Provider(s): Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile Devices: iPod Nano Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	With Cingular being GSM in North Carolina and in the parts of VA they serve being TDMA that kinda rules them out too. You don't want the hassle of there split technology network. Nextel has Digital only coverage on there network so its more limited, plus there phone's are ugly and expensive, and there known to have high standards of credit checks. That pretty much leaves you with Sprint PCS or Verizon Wireless. Verizon has more coverage then Sprint and with Sprint anytime you leave there network you are going to be racking up roaming charges. Verizon has better rate plans right now and there America's Choice Network is larger then the Sprint PCS Network.

07-04-2002, 6:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
Gish No more newbie here! Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	TNDan21: I have heard some very good things about Verizon. I have also had bad experiences with friends using verzion, but it may just be the area they are in. How good is Verizon's customer service and WAP? If I remember correctly WAP is provided by MSN. Does Verizon/MSN limit you to certain WAP sites or can you access any WAP site? I know Cingular is GSM in North Carolina. Is Cingular GSM in the St. Louis market? I agree Nextel is more limited but my major concern is that all the cities that I listed (in my original post) and major interstates are covered. Even though Nextel phones are more expensive, I (personally) would not consider the phones ugly. Jack: I have Sprint at home (land line) there isn't much of a choice where I live, needless to say the service is horrible. I have been hearing a lot about roaming charges and even TNDan21 stated that in his second post. If thats the case I don't think Sprint would be a good option. Mike: Even though my home is (Lillington, NC) my cell phones home will be (Edwardsville, IL) as that is where I will be attending school. I believe Edwardsville is covered under the St. Louis market. I am sorry if I caused any confusion.

07-04-2002, 3:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
TNDan21 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kingsport, TN Posts: 5,958 Phone(s): LG enV2, Samsung t219 Provider(s): Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile Devices: iPod Nano Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Well Gish this is going to be a hard one. If you are going to be signing up in a Cingular (TDMA) market under a Cingular Nation Plan that is a very good choice as you don't have to worry about roaming charges at all. The reason why I recommended against Cingular in NC is I thought that was the address you was going to use and GSM coverage is limited in the states right now. I believe Edwardsville, IL is most likely a TDMA market for Cingular. If it is then consider Cingular. I'll tell you what plug in the zip code that you plan on signing up your wireless service with on Verizon's and Cingular's website and look around. Cingular Wireless Verizon Wireless

07-04-2002, 3:44 PM	#8 (permalink)
TNDan21 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kingsport, TN Posts: 5,958 Phone(s): LG enV2, Samsung t219 Provider(s): Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile Devices: iPod Nano Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	By the way where are you at in Virginia? Do you like your Mitsubishi T-300 and SunCom service in your area?

07-05-2002, 9:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
aiwapro Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,455 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	So you live in Virginia Gish, not NC?

07-12-2002, 1:08 AM	#13 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	If u have the choice of Nextel. Get it. Don't forget u get 100 direct connect minutes with that. Have a friend with Nextel? Nextel allows ur phone to be a modem for ur laptop. Only one draw back is it uses ur minutes. Theres plans out there that will let u have unlimited internet time for ur laptop. Also Cards are avaiable. Goodluck in chosing a phone.

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