Newbie Tech Question RE: CDMA - help me see the light

[DiscoPuppy]

Hi Everyone,

As my contract with Verizon expires in a couple months, I have been researching whether to stay with them or move to a different carrier.

I suppose that this basically turns into a CDMA vs. GSM compare/contrast question, but without going into technical abstracts or jargon (those are usually WAY over my head), I wanted to know just a few things.

Although I've been satisfied with Verizon for the past few years, I have a roommate that uses T-Mobile. He's always got phones that are WAY cooler than mine, and has a couple that he rotates around. Since he's got that chip thingie, it's as easy as taking the chip out of one phone and putting it in another without having to talk to customer service AND all his phone book entries are transferred along with it.

Verizon phones tend to be kinda not-so-good-looking, and they always have huge honkin protruding antennae. They made the process of changing phones around easier last year by allowing you to enter an esn number yourself, BUT you do still have to get online to do it, and your phonebook entries won't transfer along.

For someone looking for new service, what compels him/her to go with Verizon (or any CDMA carrier) over, say, T-Mobile or Cingular when there's more flexibility and choices for the latter? If I do decide to change carriers, how difficult is this BringYourOwnNumber process?

Thanks in advance for any technically-challenged-targed information.

[Andy]

Hey,
Well, it's a lot of things. Many people might choose VZW because of Coverage, Customer Service, Free IN Calling and others.
I, for example, chose VZW because it's the most reliable service where I live and coverage doesn't stop once you go into the mountains to enjoy the outdoors, etc. Also, coverage is generally great to places I travel to nationwide, Free IN Calling saves me tons of money each month, and Customer Service has always been nice and helpful to me when I needed them; additionally, I've never had a problem that I needed to call CS, just questions which they always answered quickly.

You are right, GSM phones do look better than CDMA phones and it is easier to transfer phones; that is an advantage of GSM.

Taking your number to any carrier shouldn't be a problem, although a problem might happen to you. I transfered two numbers(one from T-Mo and one from Cricket) and everything worked out fine.

Hope this helps,

Andy

[twopiece]

Not sure of where you live but if its a large metropolitan city, most carriers should work pretty well. I'm fortunate to live in NYC and whatever carrier I choose should have decent coverage.

[Mobile Mike]

Most people go with Verizon for their network, and call reliability. Like any of the other carriers, there are dead spots. For me, I have never had a problem. I have both VZW and T-Mobile. For me, Verizon has the best call quality and reliability. T-Mobile is no slouch, though. If you want a supercool phone with a SIM card, head for the GSMers.
Otherwise stick with Verizon.

[ZaphodB]

I have to admit that I really, really miss the ability to swap my SIM card into a different phone and just go. (Be aware, though, that if you do it constantly, you may bend the card or otherwise damage it, so always keep a backup of your data.)

I was on T-Mobile, and I went with Verizon rather than Cingular because Verizon, being the incumbent carrier here, has towers in neighbourhoods that have long since stopped allowing cell towers to be built. It's the only provider that works in most of Bel-Air, it's the only provider that works north of Sunset Blvd. in the hills, and it's the only provider that has service in large wads of the foothills.

I am having issues with the T-Mo to Verizon number port. It's actually Verizon's fault -- the number got dissociated from the account somehow and we're coming rapidly up on a week trying to get it fixed.

[MOTOhooligan]

Originally Posted by DiscoPuppy

Although I've been satisfied with Verizon for the past few years, I have a roommate that uses T-Mobile. He's always got phones that are WAY cooler than mine, and has a couple that he rotates around. Since he's got that chip thingie, it's as easy as taking the chip out of one phone and putting it in another without having to talk to customer service AND all his phone book entries are transferred along with it.

Unfortunatly, GSM handsets are usually "cooler" than CDMA handsets with a few notable exceptions and the ability to change handsets just by swapping the SIM card is easy and convenient but if you have been satisfied with Verizon you may want to ask your roomate about service limitations on T-Mobile's network. Although I also am considering changing to T-Mobile soon, I know their network covers most places I will need to be. GSM has a much smaller coverage footprint than CDMA mostly because it is the newer technology in the US and GSM's penetration is not as great as CDMA.

Originally Posted by DiscoPuppy

For someone looking for new service, what compels him/her to go with Verizon (or any CDMA carrier) over, say, T-Mobile or Cingular when there's more flexibility and choices for the latter? If I do decide to change carriers, how difficult is this BringYourOwnNumber process?

As long as T-Mobile's coverage is as at least about the same as Verizon's I see no reason why you shouldn't switch. Porting your number from Verizon to T-Mobile should be very easy since they are both national carriers. All you need to do is go to T-Mobile with your last Verizon bill and they will be able to take it from there. Remember not to cancel your service with Verizon as your Verizon account must be active to port to T-Mobile. Your Verizon account should* be cancelled automatically once your number has been fully ported to T-Mobile.

*If you have a "type one" number this can complicate the process and cause any number of problems with porting your number to a new provider. "Type one" numbers are numbers "leased" to wireless carriers by local wireline carriers and this can create problems during the porting process.

[Scrumhalf]

Another factor to consider is which network your family and friends are on. My wife racks up about 400-500 minutes on M2M alone on her ATT line which are free of course. You may also find it cost-effective to pick a carrier based on this criterion. Phone coolness is something I would consider desirable but non-essential......

[MOTOhooligan]

Originally Posted by Scrumhalf

Another factor to consider is which network your family and friends are on.

There's no clear choice, I have some friends & family on CellularONE-Western Wireless, some on Sprint, some on T-Mobile and some on Verizon, one on Nextel and one on Cingular. The person I call most often on my mobile is my wife and she'll have a line on our "Family Time" plan. Other than that I'm just going to use my unlimited night and weekend minutes and free LD to call the other people I know.

[NYCDru]

In February 2003 I switched to Verizon because ATT was doing bad things wioth plans and the coverage in my workplace was not all that good. ( And I am in Manhatan). So far there coverage and consistancuy has been half the reason i have stuck with them. The other half is the fact that I can be more than fine with the 39.99/400 plan thanks to most of my friends being "IN". (Like more than half infact).

Ask him were he can't make and receive calls. Then go there and see if you can.

[WiggyFife]

Originally Posted by NYCDru

In February 2003 I switched to Verizon because ATT was doing bad things wioth plans and the coverage in my workplace was not all that good. ( And I am in Manhatan). So far there coverage and consistancuy has been half the reason i have stuck with them. The other half is the fact that I can be more than fine with the 39.99/400 plan thanks to most of my friends being "IN". (Like more than half infact).

Ask him were he can't make and receive calls. Then go there and see if you can.

I mirror your statement here in my market. VZW & IN are becoming more valuable to me all the time w/ more of my friends & family joinig VZW. Keep up the good work VZW!!!

[DiscoPuppy]

Well, I did it. My decision coincided with NYCDru's advice, to test reception on where calls will be made and received. I have to say on the SonyEricsson Z600 (might be even better on a Nokia, though), I've noticed that there is a depth of clarity I've never experienced on Verizon in my area. So far so good.

Only complaint is that the voice mail indicator is actually a text message. ugh - it will take some getting used to.

[KenS]

Originally Posted by DiscoPuppy

For someone looking for new service, what compels him/her to go with Verizon (or any CDMA carrier) over, say, T-Mobile or Cingular when there's more flexibility and choices for the latter?

Well, I've been a VZW customer for years, so in my case it's partly inertia. However, I have thought about the others when renewals came up, and the main reason I've stayed is analog support in really rural areas and good digital signal most places (i.e., coverage). VZW also has always provided good tech support (my startac antenna broke every six months, and it was always a painless quick replacement, and half the time they waived the $10 service fee).

I also see the phone as a utility, rather than an accessory, so the stylistic aspects of VZWs offerings don't offend me (I'd rather have a black brick I can't break than a pretty phone, but that's just me). I keep my phonebook on computer, and sync it to the phone, so info portability isn't an issue when changing phones.

Still, the GSM phones are attractive for things like Bluetooth support (I've waited a long time for the V710, and it was overpriced and not as functional as comparable GSM phones) and I do think that SIM card is a really nice feature. And coverage is less of an issue today than it used to be (and it will likely be even less of an issue in two years when I'm next up for renewal), so my next provider may not be Verizon. Then again, it may.