comparing plans

[PugetSound]

Hello,
I'm new to this, but was hoping that there would be a matrix of plans/options on this site. Wishful thinking, right? Does anyone know of a plan comparison matrix on any other site?

We're in Washington State and presently have a joint Qwest account linked to our home telephone and DSL service. We use it to talk to each other, for Puget Sound, Oregon and some other long distance calls. We're happy but not thrilled with it. Qwest is offering a two-year agreement with either $150 bill credit, a $99.99 Sanyo 8200 camera phone or a $49.99 Nokia 6225 camera phone. Or, they offer a one-year agreement with a $75 bill credit. My phone is old enough that it's hard to find handsfree devices for it, so upgrading probably wouldn't be a bad idea. But, before committing to two years, I'd like to compare the offers of Qwest with the other major companies. How do I do this?
Thanks,
from PugetSound

[Chinasaur]

1. How many minutes do you use/need?
2. Are you associated with Boeing? Emp and contractors get 25% discount from Sprint, VZW and Cingular.
3. Do you only need Long Distance for WA, OR and ID? Some cell plans offer substantial savings but only allow LD calling in region.
4. What is more important to you - Price or coverage?

These are the kinds of questions people will need to know to better answer your question.

Luck!

[PugetSound]

OK, we share a 600 daytime 3000 night/weekend hitting about 550 daytime. We're not associated with Boeing. We also need some long distance coverage for east coast, but could do those calls with home phone. Coverage is more important - it would be useful to be able to use the phones in the mountains/hills around the northwest also. For those uses my old AT&T service/phone was better.

[PugetSound]

Also, just found link that compares plans and compares phones for our zip code.
http://www.*************/product/fin...av=1&trk=TNPHP

[Andy]

Check out other carriers coverage for your area first. I would suggest a phone that has analog backup. I'm not sure if Qwest allows you to fall back on other carriers CDMA/AMPS networks and how much roaming would be, but I'd suggest a CDMA/AMPS carrier.

I uploaded Verizon and Cingular's coverage maps. Qwest's coverage map wouldn't load, but you can find it at:
http://www.qwestwireless.com/product...e=CrossCountry

U.S. Cellular is also not a bad carrier, if you live within their licensed home area, check out their coverage at:
http://www.uscc.com/uscellular/pages...hwestUS654.gif

Depending on where you are it looks like U.S. Cellular and Verizon might be your best bets, unless Qwest offers you a way to roam cheap with your plan.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by PugetSound

Also, just found link that compares plans and compares phones for our zip code.
http://www.*************/product/fin...av=1&trk=TNPHP

This link you provided doesn't seem to be working for me since there's *** in it.

[larry]

Originally Posted by PugetSound

OK, we share a 600 daytime 3000 night/weekend hitting about 550 daytime. We're not associated with Boeing. We also need some long distance coverage for east coast, but could do those calls with home phone. Coverage is more important - it would be useful to be able to use the phones in the mountains/hills around the northwest also. For those uses my old AT&T service/phone was better.

Keep in mind that Sprint phones can roam off network with a roaming included plan. I'm not sure what type of roaming Qwest offers (if any).

With that said I would avoid the Sanyo 8200 as it has a lousy sounding earpiece and speakerphone. The Sanyo 8300 which is coming soon is better as are most other phones.

[PugetSound]

Sorry about that, it's on "*************."

[PugetSound]

I guess that this site doesn't let me name commercial sites?

[Andy]

Just put a space between some of the characters you're trying to type, puget.