Sprint Vs. Verizon SE MN

[kerryrey]

I need to know if anyone has any ideas for the SE MN rural areas is Sprint or Verizon is better. I need the data plans that either of these companies offer so I really want/need to stay wit one of these two companies. Sprint is really bad about roaming in smaller populated areas. I am curious if anyone who has Verizon could give me some information about their signal and if Verizon roams down by Wabasha MN or Harmony MN or Spring Grove MN. Any information please let me know.

[PCSuser]

If you are looking for data Sprint would be your best option. The reason I say this is that they DO NOT cap data (like VZW does). Sprint's unlimited data is truely unlimited - where as Verizon caps theirs at 5KB (right?).

Also, the thing about Sprint roaming is not true. The reason is that Sprint allows you to force roam on your handset, so if you don't have a good Sprint signal then you can force roam to Verizon - even when in market.

Verizon does not allow you to force roam. Another thing is that Verizon negs some PRLs therefore this means that even though a roaming provider might be present Verizon says you can't use it - but Sprint lets you use whoever is available.

I think looking at your needs Sprint would be better - no cap on data, you can force roam, and they don't block roaming either. Also bluetooth is NOT crippled on Sprint (VZW cripples bluetooth). Also Sprint does not have the UI that VZW has.

And if you like downloading applications Sprint is better beacuse they allow you to download JAVA apps which from 3rd parties are free - there as VZW makes you pay for their more restricted BREW apps.

Another point I just want to make real fast is that when downloading ringtones VZW takes it and remakes it into a .qcp file which make the sound quality poor. Sprint does not do this - with Sprint you can download .mp3 ringtones, and what not.

Any questions just ask.

[UFO]

I would agree that Verizon would probably not be the best choice for you for data. If you compare the data service, Verizon caps data, doesn't allow their customers nearly the data roaming capabilites of others, and charges the most for their service. Between Verizon and Sprint, I would go with Sprint. However, even with Sprint, you'll be in the rural areas that you mentioned and Sprint may be a hassle. Sprint's PCS signal doesn't do that well in rural areas. There will probably be many areas where, before you switch over to a roaming partner, your phone will have too weak of a signal to use but too strong to switch over, requiring you to manually go in and switch the phone over which is either a hassle to do or something something that you won't think about or fool with many times, and you'll just hang onto a bad Sprint signal. Sprint is probably not the best choice for coverage, but a better overall data choice compared to Verizon.

But for the areas you mentioned, you really should also look at Alltel. They just took over the Midwest network in Minnesota and the rural areas you mentioned look like they were Midwest strongholds. Nobody else is even close. Overall, I'm about sure they would have the best covered network in Rural Minnesota in the areas you described. Sprint and Verizon both fall back on Alltel/Midwest in some of those rural areas, but if you're with Alltel, you won't have to go through several miles of poor/bad signal before switching over. You also won't have to worry about any problems that some people sometimes experience trying to roam on a data network. For the best quality service, it's usually best to be a customer of the company who's signal you're actually using. For data plans for smartphones, Alltel also now has the Smart Choice Packs which are competitively priced, where you get unlimited data on your line and nights at 7, unlimited texting, and My Circle on all lines on your account. I really think when it comes to the best service, from Rochester through SE MN, Alltel would be the natural choice and very hard to beat for quality of service and they have some good data plans also.

[JasonWells]

I have friends with Sprint. As of the last 1-2 years, the quality seems quite good in MN. Yes, they love the unlimited data and force roaming option. I have used VZW on two seperate occasions and have been displeased with the way they govern the phones to not being able to use available cell systems in poor quality areas. Also, VZW may be more $$. The best luck I have experienced has been Alltel, but watching others with Sprint in these areas has been a pleasant surprise. Good Luck. Try to personally speak with many people that use different cell companies in the specific areas you are questioning. And let us know your results, if you can.

[Dogma]

Sprint is really bad about roaming in smaller populated areas. I am curious if anyone who has Verizon could give me some information about their signal and if Verizon roams down by Wabasha MN or Harmony MN or Spring Grove MN. Any information please let me know.

I am not sure how Alltel's data plans rate against the other two mentioned providers. But on shear coverage alone in these few rural areas you specify, I can tell you right now Alltel will have the superior coverage. These small towns you listed are in historic Midwest Wireless markets, which are now under the Alltel flag due to the purchase. Anyone who tells you Sprint or Verizon is just as good in the more rural areas is plain wrong in that aspect. I know that the Midwest Wireless stores in Rochester are being transformed into Alltel stores as we speak....sounds like they will be done end of July sometime. You may want to research Alltel's data plans to see if they are comparable to the others. Even if the Alltel plan turns out to be a little less economical, you may want to pay the difference in order to have the radio waves to use your PDA/phone! Just my two cents.

[PCSuser]

I am not sure how Alltel's data plans rate against the other two mentioned providers. But on shear coverage alone in these few rural areas you specify, I can tell you right now Alltel will have the superior coverage. These small towns you listed are in historic Midwest Wireless markets, which are now under the Alltel flag due to the purchase. Anyone who tells you Sprint or Verizon is just as good in the more rural areas is plain wrong in that aspect. I know that the Midwest Wireless stores in Rochester are being transformed into Alltel stores as we speak....sounds like they will be done end of July sometime. You may want to research Alltel's data plans to see if they are comparable to the others. Even if the Alltel plan turns out to be a little less economical, you may want to pay the difference in order to have the radio waves to use your PDA/phone! Just my two cents.

Well, while Alltel is the king in rural coverage, they don't beat Sprint's data prices. Therefore, I would suggest signing up with Sprint - and this way you get Sprint's pricing, but you can free/unlimited roam on Alltel's EvDo network.

That is what I would suggest. And no one bring up the 'ToS says no excessive off-network roaming'. Well Sprint has yet, to date kick anyone off even for 100% roaming...

So yes, I would go with Sprint.

[Buickman]

I am curious if anyone who has Verizon could give me some information about their signal and if Verizon roams down by Wabasha MN or Harmony MN or Spring Grove MN.

It wouldn't make any difference if you went with Sprint or VZW, because they both will be roaming on Alltel (the old Midwest Wireless system) in that area. Like Dogma said, I would just go right to the source for your service. I never get that far south, but in the past I've found the Midwest Wireless system to be very good in southern MN.

[Dogma]

Well, while Alltel is the king in rural coverage, they don't beat Sprint's data prices. Therefore, I would suggest signing up with Sprint - and this way you get Sprint's pricing, but you can free/unlimited roam on Alltel's EvDo network.

If Sprints data package is more than a few dollars on the better side of the deal it may be worth going with them. But if its only a couple bucks, you may be better off with Alltel...as you will never have to roam or experience the inherent problems that can come with roaming when both providers offer service in the same market. For instance, your phone with Sprint could pull a weak signal from a Sprint cell tower (and drop data packets over EVDO) when an Alltel tower closer with better signal maybe near by for you to roam on. This can also cause issues with voice as your mobile may monitor a weak paging channel from your native provider and cause poor call quality (low signal) when the #1 roamer on the PRL has a better serving tower nearby. That is just the nature of the beast when competitors serve in the same markets and at the same time are also roaming partners.

On the other hand if you had Alltel and went to Minneapolis for business, you would most certainly roam on Sprint due to the fact Alltel doesn't have the license for serving that market, hence no performance problems.

Are these roaming issues rampant network wide, no. But they are known to occur.

[Fire14]

If Sprints data package is more than a few dollars on the better side of the deal it may be worth going with them. But if its only a couple bucks, you may be better off with Alltel...as you will never have to roam or experience the inherent problems that can come with roaming when both providers offer service in the same market. For instance, your phone with Sprint could pull a weak signal from a Sprint cell tower (and drop data packets over EVDO) when an Alltel tower closer with better signal maybe near by for you to roam on. This can also cause issues with voice as your mobile may monitor a weak paging channel from your native provider and cause poor call quality (low signal) when the #1 roamer on the PRL has a better serving tower nearby. That is just the nature of the beast when competitors serve in the same markets and at the same time are also roaming partners.

On the other hand if you had Alltel and went to Minneapolis for business, you would most certainly roam on Sprint due to the fact Alltel doesn't have the license for serving that market, hence no performance problems.

Are these roaming issues rampant network wide, no. But they are known to occur.

I also agree, you do not hear very many people complain about Alltel on service & CS as well as coverage. At least with them you would not have to worry about roaming or force roaming your phone in bordeline areas.

Plus they have some good plans from my understanding, I know if they were available here in NJ, I would choose them from everything I hear about them & how well my parents talk about their coverage. (The only place I heard of coverage problems was in the Williamsburg VA area)