I live in the Wash DC area but want travel to Northern MN. I want roaming coverage up there. Sprints coverage maps show roaming coverage all over the place using other networks, but do they really work? I'm currently with AT&T.
Northern MN is very spotty no matter who the Cell company is. You're with ATT now?? You mean Cingular? I think you'd have the most problems with a GSM carrier. Even in Mpls/St Paul GSM can be spotty. What I'd do is go with a prepay provider like Beyond Wireless..... www.gobeyondwireless.com . They cover most of the state (except the very very far north) and even if you pay the 4x/min of the "yellow" areas, it can be as low as $.40/min and you have no long term commitment..............
Yes Sprint has a great roaming partnership with many carriers. In fact they no claim to cover more of the US population than any other carrier with the latest PRL.
Thanks for all the tips! Yes, I'm with Cingular (sorry, I still shop at Peoples drug store [now CVS]). I'm trying Beyond Wireless. Sprint might be good but I'm not willing to make a 2-year commitment. Plus, Beyond has a rubber-insulated Panasonic phone called "DuraMax" and the name sold me. I like durability. Are the phones Beyond or any other pay-as-you-go carrier typically "Unlocked" phones? And, can anyone's coverage map really be trusted?
Yes. The maps T-Mobile provides at http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage are VERY realistic. Use the Personal Coverage Check and click on the "Check Street Level Coverage" icon.