900/1800/1900 phone in San Francisco Bay Area????

[kingkevo25]

Hey, I've been in the market for a new phone ever since I sold my Sony Ericsson s710a. I was really set on getting a Sony k800i, but I discovered that it was only a tri-band phone that uses 900. Now I know the US uses 850 over 900, but does anyone who lives in the SF bay area know if I'd survive not being able to use the 850 band? My friend has T-Mobile, and I think they abandonded 850, and he says he doesn't get service in all of Alameda (the city), not to mention it sounds like garbage when he calls me. Now I know theres a 850 band k790a, but Its not out yet and I dont want to wait (and id rather have its 3g coutnerpart). Any advice? I live in San Leandro btw. Besides the k800i, I'm considering the w810i because it is quad band, but it has a smaller screen and only a 2mp camera (compared to the 3.2mp k800i). Thanks.

[ShoresGuy]

Cingular uses both 850 & 1900 since they switched over to AT&T's old network a couple years ago. As a result, they may have better coverage in areas where T-Mobile doesn't do well. T-Mobile uses only GSM 1900 after they bought the old Cingular GSM 1900-only network. It's true that they use GSM 850 but that's only a roaming option for certain parts of the US (i.e. they roam on Dobson a lot in the Southwest but not in CA or the Bay Area).

I haven't been back to the Peninsula or the East Bay for a couple years so I don't know how the coverage is now. My Nokia 5100 (GSM 900/1800/1900) did ok around 680/880 and Jack London Square in Oakland.

Sorry that I can't be of more help,

[Spasser]

I have been using various 900/1800/1900 Nokias on T-Mobile since I moved to SF in 2002 and I definitely have worse coverage than my friends using phones sold by their providers. Cingular definitely seems to have better coverage all together, but friends with T-Mobile plans seem to get better coverage too. I don't know if it's because their phones roam over to Cingular's 850 network when they don't get 1900 coverage, or if it's the phone model or something else. Nokia phones used to be generally good at getting coverage.

I lived with this coverage for almost 4 years, so I guess you can get by with a 900/1800/1900.

I am looking to get another phone and I have also considered getting Cingular since I am a bit tired of the spotty coverage. I was almost decided on the Nokia 6280, but then I found out it doesn't have 850. That leaves the N80, which has all 4 GSM + WCDMA. I currently have 6630 (Symbian S60 like the N80) and I am not too happy with the misc bugs, slow speed of UI, power consumption etc. That's why I was considering the 6280 even though it a step "back" to the S40 platform.

[Andy]

I know someone who switched from 10 years of Verizon to T-Mobile in the Bay Area and he is very happy. From what I hear, T-Mobile is great in the Bay Area overall.

[Telekom]

I have been using various 900/1800/1900 Nokias on T-Mobile since I moved to SF in 2002 and I definitely have worse coverage than my friends using phones sold by their providers. Cingular definitely seems to have better coverage all together, but friends with T-Mobile plans seem to get better coverage too. I don't know if it's because their phones roam over to Cingular's 850 network when they don't get 1900 coverage, or if it's the phone model or something else. Nokia phones used to be generally good at getting coverage.

I lived with this coverage for almost 4 years, so I guess you can get by with a 900/1800/1900.

I am looking to get another phone and I have also considered getting Cingular since I am a bit tired of the spotty coverage. I was almost decided on the Nokia 6280, but then I found out it doesn't have 850. That leaves the N80, which has all 4 GSM + WCDMA. I currently have 6630 (Symbian S60 like the N80) and I am not too happy with the misc bugs, slow speed of UI, power consumption etc. That's why I was considering the 6280 even though it a step "back" to the S40 platform.

Roaming is not a substitute for weak coverage with your home carrier. T-Mobile only uses their native network (former cingular 1900 network) in California. I've heard that people aren't thrilled with the performance of the cingular "blue" network in the bay area, but that may be just the few comments that I've seen. cingular customers will be better able to judge how good the blue network is when the agreement to share the old 1900 network ends (shortly I would think.)

[wirewatcher88]

After 5 years of service I was very very dissapointed in what I deem to be a "Deceptive" direct mailing marketing scheme. What it is : MY wife & I activated 2 lines on the same day under both our names with the same exact calling plans about 1/ 1/2 years ago. Recently we received a "Love me letter" from Verizon stating we had achieved "Merits Status" for being exceptional customers and as a result could upgrade our phones early and have camera phones etc . with a host of new ammenities. We get to the Verizon store after planning to get our new phones only to find that Verizon will only allow one of us to activate a new phone with the $100 discount but the other would have to pay!!! We only became aware of this after we called an 800 number and were told by the store manager. NOWHERE on the mailer does it state that only one phone is eligible and in fact at the bottom in small print it says no more than 5 phones eligible. This is tantamount to false advertising and I know they figure most people will just pay the extra $100 once they are there . Not us .This mailing was sent out in the San Francisco Bay Area but dont know how far beyond that it went.
We are now going to discontinue Verizon as soon as the plan expires. very mad since verizon used to be an honorable company. WW88