Novice requires help

[batteybill]

Our daughter started driving 6 months ago, so we are breaking down to buy a cellular phone!!
We live in Central NJ(close to the Summit New Jersey exit of I-78). Our daughter will use the bulk of the cell minutes: friend in a town in southern NJ called Elmer(856 area Code), and a good friend in the Atlanta suburbs. Matter of fact she will attend college in September either at the Univ of South Carolina(Greenville SC), the state capital or Auburn Univ(Auburn, Alabama), which is north Alabama. We also have family in Orlando Florida. So we need coverage from Central NJ to very southern NJ(exit 3 NJ Pike), So Carolina, northern Alabama, Orlando and the Atlanta burbs.
Over the last 6 wweks we have visited all the providers. We are ready to supply the specific #'s we would call, expect them to enter into their computer database and advise if they cover these areas under their basic plans. Of course all we get is "no we don't operate that way", & get handed the colored/shaded maps, which are very confusing. We want a basic plan for $19.99 or $29.99 with the free phone for the year contract.
Verizon appears from reading the forum to have good NJ coverage, but is more $$$$$$$$, and doesn't provide free phone at the price points we desire. Friends & co-workers have had complaints w/ AT&T and Sprint from customer satisfaction perspective. My wife thought T-Mobile had the best deal for us, but I liked the Cingular rep, and like the rollover concept. She didn't think Cingular's
southern coverage was that great.
Anyone out there care to offer an opinion on coverage from T-Mobile & Cingular from Central NJ to and from these 5 areas.

[rallykid]

I would not rely on a free phone to help you choose your provider, the cost of the phone is the least thing to consider. Find the provider with the best coverage and then pick the phone. Verizon has deals on the Motorola v120e right now for $29, so if you decide to go with them then that is not much of a cost. I am not sure about NJ since I don't travel into there more than once or twice every 5 years or so, but I have family in Northern Alabama (Florence Area) and have never had any problems there with Verizon. As far as cost, even if it is $10 more per month then it seems that it would be worth it to have good coverage in all of the areas you need. I know there are cheaper plans out than Verizon, but I also know that Verizon is going to give me coverage when and where I need it, that is why I haven't switched providers, to me it is worth the extra $.

[jediknight]

i agree with rallykid, don't make your decision on whether you get a free phone, make it on coverage. a free phone is useless if you cannot use it because of lack of coverage. phones are affordable these days and the extra $10/month is minimal for a plan if it serves you better.

i had sprint and cancelled it, switched to verizon, their coverage is much better for me. i have friends that also have switched from att to verizon. i cannot say anything about t mobile or cingular because i've never used them but i live in middlesex county nj, work in nyc, call my dad in orlando, my niece in wet palm beach and other family members across the country, never had a problem.

i would suggest trying verizons' 15 day trial offer, use the phone for 15 days, make calls to your different locations and see. now the only thing to consider is whether you'd get the same quality making the calls from nj or from the states where she might attend school.

[spridle]

Please don't buy the free phone. Thats the biggest mistake a wireless consumer can make. The free phones are generally poor quality. As rallykid suggested before, select the carrier first and then the phone. What good is the phone if the carrier doesn't provide service where you need it? For your needs I would suggest Verizon's Americas Choice $39.99 plan. Yes it's more then you want to spend, but you want reliable coverage don't you? Verizon covers NJ and Greenville, SC really well. Verizon is in the process of purchasing the CellOne system in Alabama and will then have Auburn, AL covered.

Glenn