Sprint Nationwide vs Verizon Americas Choice

[SanDiegoShaun]

Sprint Nationwide vs Verizon Americas Choice
I have been trying to find out how often it is that you Roam off network or off your plan on either system. When you travel do you ever find with either Sprint or Verizon that you are in areas when you must pay additional chargers to use your phone. If you do, how often does it happen and where were you traveling.

I have ATT now and it works great everywhere but my house, this is the reason I need to switch to a new nationwide plan. I know that Verizon has the National Plan but it is a no frills plan and I was looking for something a little more.

[scottb]

I have traveled up and down the east coast with very few roaming areas on Verizon's Americas Choice network. I imagine the east coast is probably Verizon's most covered region, so you'll probably want others' opinions since you are located in California (why is this post in the NE forum?). From what I've heard, their coverage in CA is a bit spotty.

You mention a "no frills" plan. The America Choice plans, along with the promotions, ($5 per month) are where you get the frills like unlimited N/W, additional peak minutes and 1000 M2M minutes. These are worth $5 per month IMO.

Verizon also has a national plan where there is no roaming anywhere in the US (provided you have a signal). This plan has no frills.

I have no personal experience with Sprint so I'll leave that to the others.

[northform]

I think by frills he means things like PCS vision not night/weekends.

Don't go with Sprint if you want coverage.

The problem with Verizon's no roaming provided you get signal is that they lock the phone so that it will only work with their prefered partners. There might be areas where there is compatable signal, but your phone will show nothing.

I would suggest Cingular TDMA if you weren't in CA. It's the most widely deployed network in the US.

Verizon's not bad, but a good portion of their coverage is analog (not in cities, but in rural areas).

You can lock your Sprint phone so that it won't roam automatically. This will prevent unwanted roaming charges.

For Verizon coverage check out: http://www.verizonwireless.com/image...repay_natl.gif

[SanDiegoShaun]

Thanks..Frills could be Nights and weekends/ Family Share, etc. It seems that many people say they have issues with Americas Choice on Verizon because they have been in Verizon areas and then got charged for being off network. Sprint seems as you can lock it so that does not happen.

[jayc]

If you don't have the latest PRL and don't pay attention to your roaming indicator there is a possibility of roaming charges. I find people take "risks" in areas they know are roaming but they like to play the "my phone said extended network" story.

[Jack]

Sprint

All of sprints phones can be set to Sprint pcs only. If you then want to use them outside the area then you need to set your phone to automatic.

Verizon

Americas choice has good coverage but I have heard they are shrinking the coverage

Jack

[Spuds]

I was wondering if you can help me I am in Connecticut in the east and I need to pick out a phone service... Would someone out there recommend something to me... Please

Spuds

[Joe0378]

Verizon's America Choice Plan...get service in CT.

Get it now and get the current promos which end soon. They include extra peak minutes, unlimited n/w minutes, and 1000 m2m minutes.

[Spuds]

Could you let me know what phones you like One for me one for wife and one for 16 year old

[NYCDru]

Originally posted by: jayc
If you don't have the latest PRL and don't pay attention to your roaming indicator there is a possibility of roaming charges. I find people take "risks" in areas they know are roaming but they like to play the "my phone said extended network" story.

Hey, does Verizon, like Sprint let you lock your phone from roaming?

[Joe0378]

Yes and No. You can choose "Home Only," which then your phone will only use the Verizon network in your local calling area. It's good if you're not traveling. However, if you plan to travel, you may want to turn that off by going back to Automatic B since you will get no service, even on the America's Choice plan. This is an option more for the local calling plans. For the America's Choice Plan, just rely on your roaming indicators:

I would not worry about it...make sure you have the most current PRL and as long as your phone says Verizon Network (roaming indicator off) or Extended Network (roaming indicator blinking), you are ok. If your phone says Roaming or if you roaming indicator is solid, then I would not use the phone.

I would suggest the v60i. However, a new phone is due out today, the LG-VX4400 which looks real cool, so you may want to look into that one as well.

[mreg]

Originally posted by: SanDiegoShaun
Sprint Nationwide vs Verizon Americas Choice
I have been trying to find out how often it is that you Roam off network or off your plan on either system. When you travel do you ever find with either Sprint or Verizon that you are in areas when you must pay additional chargers to use your phone. If you do, how often does it happen and where were you traveling.

I have ATT now and it works great everywhere but my house, this is the reason I need to switch to a new nationwide plan. I know that Verizon has the National Plan but it is a no frills plan and I was looking for something a little more.

In was with Sprint for about three years. When I started with them they were the only provider that included long distance in their basic plans and that acted like you were "Home" whenever you were an area where there was Sprint Network coverage. They have Sprint Network coverage in most major cities and on major highways, with fair building penetration. In other areas you are roaming, and have to pay roaming charges and long distance (unless you restrict your phone to Sprint Network only in which case you will get no service in non-Sprint areas). Sprint also sells an excellent selection of phones and you get good bang for your buck with their minute plans. The cons are that their coverage is spotty even in some of the areas that the Sprint Network covers, so you get dropped calls more than you'd like. And their customer service and billing is absolutely torturous. Going into a Sprint store feels like you've entered a check-cashing place. If it works well where you intend to use it, and you don't mind having to deal with their customer service, Sprint can be a good buy.

I've been with Verizon for about a month (in New York City). The most notable difference is that dropped calls are rare and building penetration is better. I get a strong signal in places in the city where Sprint was weak. Their customer service and stores are MUCH more friendly, helpful and well run. I don't consider my current Verizon plan no-frills -- for $55 I have 500 AT, 1000 M2M, unlimited nights and weekends, and unlimited Web and laptop usage (uses minutes).