Alltel or Cellular One

[Alienware_51]

In about a month I can upgrade to a new phone with Cellular One. BUT then my contract is extended for another year. I don't know which one to choose, because I like Alltel's new SmartChoice plans better than Cellular One's data packages. But Cellular One has better coverage.....so I am really confused and don't know what I should do. I plan on getting some kind of smartphone....help!

[RadioFoneGuy]

Up to you on what is more important. To me I would rather have coverage, Data isnt going to work worth a crap if there is no signal. You live in the sticks so you should be able to get decent data speeds. Make sure if you keep Cell one check the phone to make sure it can do EDGE, they still offer alot of GPRS phones and blackberrys. My Blackberry is so slow on GPRS (dial up speeds). Your V3 is probably GPRS.

I like the Blackberry Pearl and the 8800. I kinda like the 8800 better because it still has the scroll wheel not the joystick like the pearl has. I also like the Moto Krzr.

I just got a free Nokia 6103 its not a bad phone, but the 6126 is better.
I gave the 6103 to my wife cause it was to much of a pain to get it in test mode.

[UFO]

I really agree with CellOneTech in that it's up to you as to which is most important.

The 3 big reasons people seem to chose a provider are coverage, cost, and choice of phone. You're a very knowledgable cell guy Alienware so there's probably not much I can add to try to help you out. But the coverage is important, and it sounds like Cell One's is better overall in your area, but is it better in areas where you spend the majority of your time? Is it that in most of your areas Cell One gives you a stronger signal than Alltel or Alltel gives no coverage? I guess they're basic questions but you really only need 1-2 bars to make a call and coverage in the next town over that you never visit won't help you out that much. As for the cost, the plans are pretty self-explanatory and you've probably examined it more closely than I have. As for the phone, that's probably the least important factor because a lot of the phones are similar. But don't I recall a post from you a little while back about possibly moving to New Mexico? If you're not real sure about the future, I would probably wait until November until you're a little more sure about your future and you can make any decision immediately. Alltel might have EVDO in your area by then, but then again, EVDO might not mean much if you don't get any bars. High speed internet and a million minutes don't mean much if you don't have any bars either. But I think it'll really come down to coverage, cost and phone. What is the coverage difference, is it worth the price difference, and what are the advantages to each. Cell One seems real focused on improving coverage right now while Alltel's focus seems to be on upgrading the network to EVDO. But in the future, who knows? There's no real rush so at least you have a lot of time to think about it and you don't have to make a decision right away.

[RadioFoneGuy]

Well said.

He has had both companies, so it sould give a good idea whats out there.

[Alienware_51]

Ok, I'm not moving to New Mexico, Im just going there for a little vacation

But I think I'll stay with Cellular One, I'm hopefully going to get a Blackberry Pearl, but I'm not sure I will be able to handle the bill.

Right now I'm convinced that Alltel won't be putting any towers up in Presqule Isle county for at least 2 more years. I don't think Alltel has ever added a tower to my county since the CenturyTel buyout a few years ago!

[RadioFoneGuy]

Originally Posted by Alienware_51

Ok, I'm not moving to New Mexico, Im just going there for a little vacation

But I think I'll stay with Cellular One, I'm hopefully going to get a Blackberry Pearl, but I'm not sure I will be able to handle the bill.

Right now I'm convinced that Alltel won't be putting any towers up in Presqule Isle county for at least 2 more years. I don't think Alltel has ever added a tower to my county since the CenturyTel buyout a few years ago!

No idea if Alltel has built anything out that way or not. I have seen 2 sites built down this way in the past 3 years and they were talking about going on our Ellsworth and Cross Village towers but thats about it. I am building a new site on Alltels tower in Cadillac this week.

[UFO]

Originally Posted by Alienware_51

Ok, I'm not moving to New Mexico, Im just going there for a little vacation

But I think I'll stay with Cellular One, I'm hopefully going to get a Blackberry Pearl, but I'm not sure I will be able to handle the bill.

Right now I'm convinced that Alltel won't be putting any towers up in Presqule Isle county for at least 2 more years. I don't think Alltel has ever added a tower to my county since the CenturyTel buyout a few years ago!

lol oh ok, I gotcha on the vacation to New Mexico. I just remembered that thread in the back of my mind so I wasn't sure!

The Pearl looks very nice, but blackberries just seem a little too 'businessy' to me. I went to the local Alltel store today to look at the Q which is apparently the CDMA version of the Blackjack from what I can gather (Though I'd prefer a Moto to a Samsung). It was a mall location that still uses dummy phones though. When I asked to see one the rep had to go into the back room, take it out of the box, remove all the plastic, etc. But when he handed it to me, I just wanted it. I'm debating between paying retail for the Q, adding a line and giving my old phone to a family member or Ebay, or going around to a bunch of retail stores to see if anybody will do an early upgrade for me.

On my last trip back to SW Virginia I noticed that Alltel hadn't added any new towers but Verizon had. I would still rate Alltel as the best there, but now there are some places where Verizon is actually better and Alltel roams on Verizon which was ridiculous to think last summer when I switched over from the big V and their great 'Extended Network' they provided me with. I do wish Alltel would devote more of a balanced attack to improving coverage to at least keep pace with other providers and their EVDO upgrades so I feel your pain Alienware. But also from what I've heard, where Alltel is building, it's mainly to improve coverage in former Western Wireless areas because some big areas and roads were neglected. So I do think Alltel will eventually re-focus their efforts back to their traditional strongholds, I'm just not sure if it will be this year.

[RadioFoneGuy]

I love my non windows based Blackberry. I would love to get a Pearl or a 8800. Not sure if the newer ones have windows or not. Blackberry or Crackberrys as they have come to be called are addictive. It nice to have instant email and not have to navigate thru fricking mobile websites to get email.

[mockwireless]

Originally Posted by Alienware_51

In about a month I can upgrade to a new phone with Cellular One. BUT then my contract is extended for another year. I don't know which one to choose, because I like Alltel's new SmartChoice plans better than Cellular One's data packages. But Cellular One has better coverage.....so I am really confused and don't know what I should do. I plan on getting some kind of smartphone....help!

I use a Treo 650 from CellularOne. I love it. Good Luck.