Service Providers in West Palm Beach

I have lived in the Tampa Bay area for the last 15 years and for the Last 8 plus years I have had GTE (now ALLTEL). They have proformed well for me.
I am being transferred to Boca Raton, Florida and have rented a condo in Wellington. The biggest issue for me is a phone that works well (almost all the time) at work and at home.
I will need a National Plan because I travel by car most of the time. I would also like a one rate - I have heard storries about people getting the wrong towers and such.
The only Provider I know has a weak signal in Wellington is AT&T. The realtor had this service and had to go about one block to place or reiceve a call.
I would be greatful for any advice, I have joined, I am waiting the password from the email.
Thank you
James Powell

[Jack]

James

Why not stay with alltel and get a national plan.

Jack

The only problem is I need a West Palm Beach local phone number
James

[ComicalMoodyDan]

If you need good coverage and a national plan your best bets would either be Verizon with a America's Choice Plan or Cingular under a Cingular Nation Plan.


Verizon Wireless


Cingular Wireless

Thank you for the two companies, with the info on this site I think it is harder to pick a provider.
To my understanding and talking with reps from both Verizon and Cingular today, I still would like some help.
Cingular is 800 TDMA and I thimk the original B side carrier, but they will be changing over to GSM 1900 the first of the year. AT&T has alredy done this in this area. I have heard about GIAT? phones, but still do not know of the availability.
As for Verizon, I think this used to be primco in florida be for the switch to Verizon. If this is the case I do not think the coverage is that great. I look at the Americas Choice plans and the PRL List on this site showing in this area it would go to Sprint first if no Verizon signal can be found, if neither are available it would go to AT&T analog. Which I think would be roaming off of the network. The singal rate plan did not even have a brochure in the store, the sales person did not know much about it except the prices- which are high. also there are any night and weekend minutes for free at this time. If I am wrong or need to ask something else please let me know.
James

[ComicalMoodyDan]

If you go with Cingular stick to a TDMA/Analog phone for right now as GSM is rather limited at this time in the US. The GAIT phone is not avaible for Cingular yet either.

[bobolito]

If you get a TDMA phone from Cingular you shouldn't worry about that. They still have many years of life before they get shut down even after Cingular switches over to GSM. At that point, they will be offering both TDMA and GSM service so existing TDMA phones will still work just fine. The only thing is that after the switchover you won't be able to get a TDMA phone from them but existing TDMA subscribers will be able to keep their phones for the next few years to come. I am thinking that eventually they will gradually give incentives to move people over to GSM service but that will take years. In the meantime, I'll keep my TDMA phone until GSM coverage nationwide is comparable to TDMA or CDMA.

[cryogenic]

It sounds to me like Cingular will be the best bet for him, as he did state that he wanted a "single rate" type plan where no roaming fees would be incurred regardless of whose towers he's hitting. Cingular does have an advantage here in that they'll be able to use AT&T's TDMA towers as well, along with any other TDMA or analog towers around if necessary, all free and included in your minutes. Unfortunately, it seems that nobody here can speak for the actual quality of service there.

[Mike]

In Tampa PrimeCo became Verizon. I am not sure if it was state wide or just in Tampa. GTE Wireless became ALLTEL. Even if they took over PrimeCo that was many years ago and have been adding to the network over the years since then.

Cingular will not convert to GSM in Tampa until the fall of 2004, so don't worry about a TDMA phone. By the time they have converted their US network to GSM you will be ready for a new phone as it will be several years yet. Their GAIT phone, the Nokia 6340 has been recalled, and may never show back up. What they may get is the Nokia 6345 but there is no date for that yet.

As cryogenic said, Cingular will probably be your best choice, and just get a TDMS phone for now to use that network.

I had sprint since 98 have it as a second phone in the family.. it worked just fine all through palm beach county, martin, boca and up to atlanta savanah areas.. the voice quality could be better but it always worked wherever i was in fl on 95 or turnpike.. currently for my business its nextel and i notice certain spots have wholes .. but it works just fine all through north fl .. i was in talahasse about 2 weeks ago.. nextel worked just perfect ..
I am currently looking at the ATTWS GSM plan for 1000 min anytime fo 39.99 .. from what i have read on these boards the GSM network is going to be mostly complete like Sprint or nextel nowadays is by 2003 mid year ?

this is all i know .. hope it helps

Shane

[TampaTrev]

I've noticed posters dismissing Verizon as a good choice in those markets formerly PrimeCo and that isn't necessarily good advice. I've been with Verizon in the Tampa Bay market since they absorbed PrimeCo, and have been pleased with the Verizon coverage. They've done a lot of network expansion in Florida, and they have a mutual "extended network" cooperative agreement with Alltel which adds awesome total coverage into outlying areas. I really don't think anyone considering a carrier in Florida would be disappointed with their coverage.

I'm not pushing Verizon necessarily; I just don't want people ruling them out for the wrong reasons. That said, for the original poster looking for good coverage and a national plan, both Alltel and Verizon offer good choices.

[roamer1]

I'd also recommend AT&T TDMA in addition to Cingular -- I found coverage nothing short of excellent on a recent trip to southern FL (and yes, I spent a fair amount of time in Palm Beach County in addition to the Keys, Fort Pierce, Alligator Alley, etc.) You're likely to get much better rates with AT&T GSM, but given that the network is new, coverage is likely to be quite quirky for the next few months.

VZW is reported to still have a lot of coverage issues in Palm Beach and Broward counties (Miami/Dade and the Keys are fine.)

-SC

[mikeman075]

I live in Palm Beach county, Florida and I've had Cingular for the past two years. I find them to have great coverage everywhere around here. The Nokia 6340 Gait phone has been available here since early September and it works well. I bought mine at the Boynton Beach store but I'm sure there's something in Boca or Wellington. I highly recommend Cingular.