T Mobile or Sprint PCS in Minneapolis/St Paul Area

[Brian6329]

I have Sprint PCS in the Twin Cities area. I am planning on getting a local friend his first wireless phone as a holiday gift. I have narrowed my choices down to Sprint and T Mobile. I guess my question is this. In the areas around the Twin Cities and suburbs, which carrier provides better coverage within the areas they cover? I realize that T Mobile has a larger metro area footprint, but in the areas around here that both carriers cover, is their one that is definately better overall than the other? Who has the better overall coverage inside buildings such as malls, stores, attractions, etc?

If one has weaker coverage than the other overall, are chances good that the other carrier will play catch up and will improve coverage holes in areas that they claim are already "full coverage", even if it's really too weak to work?

Any info would be appreciated. Again, I'm really only interested in these two carriers in and around the Twin Cities area.

Thanks!

Brian

[Apoc]

You should get the VZW local price plan 1000/National L/D $39.99 a month, and All of ND/SD/MN is your home calling area. Or you can go $39.99/550/1000 MTM/ULT'D N&W. So thats really good

[Brian6329]

Thanks for that calling plan advice, but that had nothing to do with my questions. I was asking about coverage quality around here between those two carriers.

Brian

[eagle63]

Brian, I live in the Twin Cities and used Sprint for 3 years up until last month when I switched to T-Mobile. I left Sprint because of coverage gaps and "network busy" messages when I would try to make calls. I also had tons of dropped calls. So far, my T-Mobile service has been significantly better than my sprint service was. Have yet to have a dropped call or a "network busy" problem. better call clarity and fewer coverage holes in my experience as well. As for the suburbs, I mainly have used my phone in the southern metro (bloomington, edina, eagan, etc.) and the coverage is great, but I would assume the northern metro is good as well.
I'm sure Sprint is great in other markets, but in MN and the TC Metro, I think T-Mobile has 'em beat. Hope this helps!

[photoeditor]

I think TMobile and Verizon have been the ones to beat in the Cities the last few years -- at least if JD Power is anything to go by. I know both have worked well for my cousin.

[tyreekate]

I live in Bloomington and I have had Sprint in the past and now have t mobile. Hands down t mobile is better then Sprint. I could never use my Sprint service anywhere in my house! I tried every phone in Sprints arsenal and nothing. trouble ticket after trouble ticket. Not to mention their ghetto CS reps. I have never talked to so many rude people in my life. I have had t mobile now for 3 weeks and Im not use to hearing my phone ring indoors. Sprint has some pretty cool toys but if you want to use them t mobile is the way to go. Just to keep the mention of Verizon going, They have excellent coverage and reception in the twin cities but The phones they offer are somewhat ancient but thats my opinion.

[Brian6329]

Just because Sprint was poor inside your house, doesn't mean that T Mobile is better all around. What is your experience with Sprint/T Mobile around town, not just your house?

Brian