Unicel in Burlington, VT

[VT999]

So.... I am looking for cell phone providers in the Burlington, VT area. I would prefer T-Mobile but they do not offer startup in my area, and I am not interested in Verizon at all. I have looked at Unicel but would like some advice as to how good their coverage and service is. I will be using my phone all over New England mostly but will also use it nation-wide from time to time. I prefer a GSM network for international use (with a new SIM card). I understand Sprint/Nextel is available here too but, again, would prefer a GSM network.

Anyway, has anyone any info on Unicel service compared to any others? Please school me if my assumptions or facts are skewed on GSM, SIM cards or anything else I wrote.

Thanks....

[agentHibby]

Do you like Rural Cellular because they have a better network in VT than VZW.
Or is there something else is why you don't like VZW.

Rural Cellular usally is equal to or slightly better than VZW in most markets where Rural Cellular and VZW crossover.

[VT999]

I am most interested in GSM networks. T-mobile, Cingular and Unicel use them but only Unicel offers coverage in Burlington. I am looking for versitility, and I understand that I would not be able to change the SIM in a VZ phone if I were to go to say, Canada. Nothing personal against VZ, I am not interested in Sprint or UScellular for the same reason.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by VT999

I am most interested in GSM networks. T-mobile, Cingular and Unicel use them but only Unicel offers coverage in Burlington. I am looking for versitility, and I understand that I would not be able to change the SIM in a VZ phone if I were to go to say, Canada. Nothing personal against VZ, I am not interested in Sprint or UScellular for the same reason.

If you are going to Canada, as you mentioned, CDMA phones work very well there and there is no need to switch out a SIM Card in order for the phone to work.
Also, If Unicel is the only GSM network in your area, I would not sign up with Cingular, even though they use the Unicel network. Cingular has started to enforce their 50% roaming rule to some people, and if you are going to be roaming a lot on Unicel you may be SOL after a while with Cingular.

[VT999]

Yeah. I forgot that all North America is on the 850/1900 frequencies. Thanks for the heads up on the roaming limits too. It seems like Unicel is the only GSM provider in Vermont. T-mobile and Cingular won't start up a plan here since they roam on Unicel.


I am still wondering though how Unicel stacks up to the other GSM carriers not only in Vermont but also nation wide. Anyone else have any experience with them?

[Andy]

On a nationwide basis, unicel would be roaming on other GSM carriers, mainly Cingular and T-Mobile in metro areas I suppose.

[jones]

Only you can test the reception/call quality inside
your House and places you go.
Try Unicel Plans and trial period
return otherwise.
GSM is very Good in Canada.

[EdwardP]

Originally Posted by agentHibby

Do you like Rural Cellular because they have a better network in VT than VZW.
Or is there something else is why you don't like VZW.

Rural Cellular usally is equal to or slightly better than VZW in most markets where Rural Cellular and VZW crossover.

T-Mobile picks up Unicel on roaming at Exit 15 on Interstate 89 (somewhere west of Concord) in New Hampshire. From that point and for the remainder of I-89 going into Vermont and right to the Canadian border, Unicel coverage was non-stop.

[Fullstrength]

Originally Posted by Andy84094

If you are going to Canada, as you mentioned, CDMA phones work very well there and there is no need to switch out a SIM Card in order for the phone to work.
Also, If Unicel is the only GSM network in your area, I would not sign up with Cingular, even though they use the Unicel network. Cingular has started to enforce their 50% roaming rule to some people, and if you are going to be roaming a lot on Unicel you may be SOL after a while with Cingular.

Any GSM phone from a US carrier will work in canada, as long as it 1900/800. There is no need to switch out your sim, unless you want to pay non roaming rates.

[dmarkson]

Unicel has shut down most of their GSM-1900 network, so its mandatory to have GSM-850.

Unicel is the only GSM service in VT (except Killington which has a couple of T-Mo towers)

[Blaise]

Unicel is definately the way to go in Vermont and Upstate N.Y.. I have both Unicel and Verizon and Unicel has better coverage and fewer dropped calls. I live and travel in the Champlain Valley. Unicel has Nation Wide plans that roam on other GSM towers. Go to your local Unicel store and ask some questions. They also have a 30 day trial period - Nothing to lose.

[cellphone junkie]

Originally Posted by VT999

Yeah. I forgot that all North America is on the 850/1900 frequencies. Thanks for the heads up on the roaming limits too. It seems like Unicel is the only GSM provider in Vermont. T-mobile and Cingular won't start up a plan here since they roam on Unicel.


I am still wondering though how Unicel stacks up to the other GSM carriers not only in Vermont but also nation wide. Anyone else have any experience with them?

I have Unicel in Alabama and have had much better service since I switched exclusively to them. I have had Verizon, Alltel, Nextel and none compare to Unicel in the areas I travel. I also know that they are constantly looking for different ways to give the customers what they need as far as plan options.