Are we better now or before with cell phone companies?

[RobCruz]

Before Verizon Wireless, Cingular, Sprint Wireless, and AT&T Wireless there were the Pacific Bell Wireless, La Cellular or Airtouch before the merges. Do you think we are better now? Like reception & phone plans? Other says it was better back then because there was no drop calls and clear connection all the time. There were few cell phone subscribers back then and because people with good jobs can only afford it. Others say we are better now because the phone plans are so cheap and affordable compare five 5-10 years ago. We now get free nights and weekends with the phone plane compare before? What do you think from your own experience throughout the years?

Thanks,
Robert

[Verse]

Good question. When I got my first cell phone with Airtouch, my plan was 30 anytime minutes and 500 N/W (no long distance). I paid about the same as I do now for 400 anytime, unlimited N/W (w/ LD), & 1000 mobile to mobile, not to mention all the free digital features like caller id, etc. So definitely the packages have gotten better along with better technlogy.

Whoever said there was no static and dropped calls in the past must've been living in a dream world. If you want a bit of nostalgia, some phones can force analog calls. I'll make a list of things I'm most grateful for having:

Free long distance, unlimited N/W, 2 way txt, longer battery life, caller id, free voicemail, vibrating alert.

[Jodi]

I remember having Airtouch...and not getting reception 1/2 the time! When I switched to Cingular, it was heaven compared to Airtouch...(so what did I know then?!). Once ATT & VZW & Sprint came along with digital signals, I quickly left Cingular & moved onto better things.

Like the previous post, I had 20 anytime minutes & 500 N/W minutes for $19.99 with Airtouch. I thought I was getting such a deal! Things have gotten better in my opinion.

Jodi

[Kurtster]

I'll know more once I choose my new carrier and phone, but I can safely say that so far I like the way things used to be much better.

I got better reception and way fewer dropped calls with analog and first gen. digital phones than I did with the last year under Cingular GSM.
Airtouch was great, GTE was even better for me. I'll probably have Sprint or Verizon by this weekend and will have a first opinion on my new carrier within a month.

[larry]

I noticed on another thread you mentioned that you heard Sprint has huge dead areas around the Bay area. I don't think that's the case anymore. It might have been a couple of years ago but they have completed a massive expansion upgrade both there and here in LA. You could always buy a phone and test it out without actually activating it. You can make test calls to customer service at *2. You can also carry it around for a few days to check out the signal meter. I'd recommend any of the Sanyos if you do. Type of phone can make a difference with Sprint