My sister just moved to Roseburg and her Verizon phone is always on extended network (USCC). Would USCC be the best choice or should she consider T-Mobile or Edge Wireless?
I would pick USCC over T-Mobile. There isn't a lot of GSM coverage in OR. IMHO AMPS is still a must have. Do you know if Sprint is down in Roseburg?
If Sprint is there it is an affiliate market. Looking at Sprint's map it seems like coverage is limited to I-5 and not much else.
Hmm... So same coverage as T-Mobile, and more then likely she would only have a bucket of roaming minutes for $10.
Just a thought...but if she likes her phone and Verizon in general... maybe she should go on to a local plan instead of America's choice????? I know national long distance (outside oregon & washington) isn't included on these plans but it's only 5 dollars more a month Otherwise she would never have to worry about being on "extended network" everywhere in Oregon and Washington that she gets a signal would be covered. The 39.99 plan local gives you 500 anytime minutes, unlimited night and weekends, "In" network within your local calling area, and no worries about roaming. like I said... just a thought. I know this might change her contract..but if she leaves Verizon...she'll have to sign up on a new contract with some other company anyway. Good luck! Let us know how it goes...
That is a good idea. But most providers normally state in the contract you sign, that they can terminate your contract if you are off network (roaming) a lot.
But Verizon does not do that. That doesn't mean they won't start doing that some day. The bigger problem would be that she would not be able to get a Local Roseville number from Verizon. Both T-Mobile & Edge have their good/bad points, but w/T-Mobile she can visit home and still be on the 'home' network. While Edge's and US Cell's plans have improved a lot over the last year, the chances are better she'll be roaming off-network with them when out of town. US Cell may have superior coverage in the boonies, though.
Right, and I think getting a local number is what is important for her...so that if work calls they are not calling a Portland number to reach her. If VZW cannot give her a local number she doesn't want to stay with them.
I don't see why she shouldn't be able to get a local number. I used to be on the local plan and never had a problem in Roseburg when I drove down there on the job. The company's phone went dead...but my Verizon one didn't :browani: I'm looking at the flyer right now (Oregon/Washington flyer) for the local plan and america's choice. The local plan shows Roseburg and the entire south west tip of Oregon covered in Local Digital Choice All-Digital Home Airtime Rate and Coverage Area. So if she was on the local plan...she would never have to worry about roaming anywhere in Oregon and Washington... no need to worry about the extended network.... and according to the map she would always be in a digital area...unless she goes about 100 miles east...then it looks like there is a little gap and then coverage again with no problem. If there is something particular you want to know about this map...let me know. I'll see if I can answer it or maybe try to scan it and post it. The America's choice plan show All digital coverage about 25 miles around I-5 and extended area network where the local gives you it for hometime rate. If she on extended network....it's free also...as long as she isn't a complete ROAM on her phone it shouldn't matter. Verizon doesn't charge like Sprint (if your roaming more than half the time... which in my opinion is Stupid!) I mean come on you pay the extra so you can roam and then they set limitations! Roseburg isn't in the free (what they give you in plan) Local IN network coverage area... But I have a Upper part of Oregon flyer.. maybe down there it's different. But if not....I know you can add it...for a extra fee
Correct, but if the coverage on the map is only extended network (free roaming), as my sister says that is all she gets and the map seems to indicate since it is not "IN Network", then it would seem as though Verizon does not have its own native service in Roseburg. If this is the case it is highly unlikely they will have local phone numbers.
You are more and likely right about them not having there own coverage on the America's choice plan...seeing as how it is extended roaming. On the local plan all that area is home rate calling. It's a big area... they should have local numbers. http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/...view&cm_re=Home Page*Top Nav*Plans-LocalPlans... just click on the coverage map. good luck
Verizon has no local numbers for Roseburg. Input ZIP 97470 (Roseburg) and you get this message: "We currently do not have service for zip code 97470. If you would like to try a different zip code please enter it now."
US Cellular has the best coverage in the area, and they charge a lot more than VZW. I'd stick with your VZW plan, as long as the roaming annoyances don't bother you too much.
USCC charges more? Only if you want a national plan right? When I had USCC on a local plan in FL it was cheaper than anyone else.
FWIW, VZW has a PCS license for the area that includes Roseburg, but has yet to build anything out. (If they do, it'll likely cover I-5 and little else.) Both 850 carriers there (USCC and Ramcell) are CDMA; there's basically nothing else. For strictly local use Ramcell is probably OK, but I'd recommend USCC as a first choice if having a Roseburg number is important. -SC
VZW allows its customers to roam on both USCC and Ramcell in Roseburg. I still think that, unless you need a local Roseburg number, sticking with your VZW account is the best idea.
I am in Southern OR and am currently on USCC, and considered a move to VZW. The latter told me that their service here is via USCC and therefore would only be Analog and not Digital. Therefore make sure that your potential of continued VZW in Roseburg would be Digital if that is important to you.
Roseburg's sister your best bet is to go T-Mobile the service really sucks in oregon unless your in the middle of a large city. I lived in Corvallis, OR and had similiar issues. -sofuqinghot
VZW gave you outdated information. VZW users have full digital roaming capability on USCC, who operates a very decent CDMA network in the area. VZW users also have digital roaming capability on SPCS. Both are at home rate on the America's Choice plan. This really isn't all that complicated. It's actually been made a lot more complicated than it needs to be. So I'm going to restate my position again, clearly, and let the issue rest: - If you need a local number, go with USCC if you want the best coverage in the area. - If you don't care about a local number and some minor roaming annoyances, stick with VZW. You'll get better pricing, better coverage than USCC (since you get SPCS roaming too), and your usage will be billed at home rate. As for T-Mobile, I think T-Mobile is suitable if you spend the majority of your time near I-5 in southern Oregon. Otherwise, I don't recommend them. OK. I'm done. Do what you like, it's your money.
Nobody had much to say about Edge? What's their reputation up there (aside from the AT&T mess)? I was the PM for the launch build of the Edge system in '00 and '01. Thought they followed up with more sites.
hey TProphet, Any word when Verizon will build a PCS network in Oregon?? or are they waiting for Qwest PCS licenses and network before they build??
I can't tell you VZW's plans. However, bear in mind that VZW acquired former Qwest spectrum, but not the towers in most markets. Sprint had right of first refusal, and purchased many Qwest towers. VZW has had PCS spectrum in southwest Washington and southern Oregon for a couple of years now. It's my understanding that there is a FCC-imposed "use it or lose it" clause in the license, so this is where I'd look first to externally gauge VZW's plans. You can find more information about cellular and PCS licenses at Wireless Wavelength.
Yes, I forgot Ramcell (although I'm not sure why--when they were added to the VZW PRL it was a fiasco at the time since they weren't a friendly roamer, and were prioritized above Sprint). Their network was mostly AMPS the last time I passed through their territory, although they claim to run at least some CDMA. Fortunately they're south of Roseburg and cover only about 30 miles of I-5 in southern Oregon.
