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What's the Best Family Plan in rural IA?

Discussion in 'Central US Wireless Forum' started by diamondflowers, Jun 24, 2006.

  1. diamondflowers

    diamondflowers New Member

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    Glad I found this web! I'm not versed in wireless systems so need your help in:

    Find BEST DEAL for a FAMILY PLAN in Stanwood Iowa (30 miles east of Cedar Rapids). USCellular & Verizon are available for sure. Cingular is also available thru Cedar Rapids. I have searched on web and Nextel does appear if I enter our zip 52337 but not sure we'd have good service. Need free nites and weekends as early as possible. Iowa Wireless has 5pm but one of my son's is in Ames and area is served by Tmobile so not covered as home.

    thanks a bunch!:)
     
  2. GSMboys

    GSMboys Banned

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    Well with US Cellular you can get a nationwide plan - pay extra from Night and Weekends, then when you leave the USCC area the nights and weekends as well as m2m do not work -- so I don't think USCC would be a good choice for your needs. USCC is a CDMA carrier.

    Cingular shows native coverage (via their detailed service map) with roaming outside of their native coverage. Cingular has reliable service, good selection of phones, and the ability to swtich phones whenever you want (via a SIM card) - they also offer 1 and 2 year contracts. Night/Weekends are available @ 9, and you can get them at 7 if you pay an extra $7. Cingular also offers Push-To-Talk if that is a neccessity. Cingular is a GSM carrier.

    Verizon is good in your area as well. They have ok priced plans, and offer nights and weekends. The only drawback from Verizon is that you MUST sign a 2 year contract, and you CAN NOT upgrade your phone (even if it is unlocked) - you must wait until your contract is up to upgrade your phone with Verizon. VZW offers 9pm night/weekends. Verizon is a CDMA carrier.

    You actually might want to check out Sprint, they have great Fair and Flex plans, and they offer 5(?) PM nights and weekends. They offer great service in your area, and have the best roaming nationwide of any wireless carrier (the most in sq miles - IMO). They have great customer service, and features - including Push-To-Talk. Sprint is a CDMA carrier.
     
  3. diamondflowers

    diamondflowers New Member

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    Thanks so much for the information.
    I was considering Sprint as well because of their offer, then I went to Best Buy and they said they didn't have very good reception in my area (not sure how long ago they had tried that). I am on hwy 30 between Mt Vernon and Clarence Iowa (rural area) and Sprint itself doesn't appear as an option when I search by zip code. Nextel does appear and they have been bought by Sprint so that is confusing...

    on USCellular, is it true that if you get the nationwide fam plan you can get the free nites /weekends too?

    Thanks again!!
     
  4. GSMboys

    GSMboys Banned

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    I am not sure about your questions with USCC - but I do know that if you travel outside of a USCC market/area you WILL NOT be able to use your night/weekends. (no matter what plan you choose).

    One thing you might want to do is get Alltel - even if they arn't in your area you can still roam on VZW or USCC - and you get all those great features including My Circle, and N/Ws, m2m, PTT, and all the starndards as well. Alltel is a CDMA carrier. If you do choose Alltel you will have to provide them with a address in a serivce area which they service, then you can put your home address as the billing address. Alltel is has great plans, features, and phones - and you don't even have to go under a contract to get one of their plans (if you get a phone off E-Bay or another Alltel phone from a friend)
     
  5. Studogvetmed

    Studogvetmed Member
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    Hi! We have sprint out in Colorado. We chose them because they had the cheapest add on for early nights and weekends. We are paying an extra 10 bucks a month for that and it was good on both of our phones for one fee. If you're a good negotiater you may be able to get it for free if you email during your trial period. Cingluar would be $7 per phone for earlier nights at 7.

    My wife is from Olin, IA (not too far from Stanwood). When in Olin, we are on a precarious digital/analog roam cycle because they are down in the gully, but found in most of the surrounding areas you either picked up good digital roam, or the native sprint from Cedar Rapids. Not exaclty sure how good it was in the standwood area....

    Sprint just started a 30 day trial period. Check them out and you have 30 days to put the phone through their paces and can cancel without ETF and only pay for a portion of the service if you cancel.

    I'd think about doing a trial with both Cingular and Sprint and see which one has better reception. Though it's getting better, roaming on Cingular in most midwest states outside of high populated cities is touch and go. Cingular has new street level maps you can search to be sure you have good single where you need it. Sprint doesn't have such a tool.

    That is weird about nextel, their differences in technology (iDen versus CDMA) may be the reason you see one and not the other when you enter your zip code. I'm surprised Standwood doesn't show up. I wonder if it's just on the fringe of coverage area.... I know anamosa get's sprint coverage.

    Good luck!

    Stu
     
  6. GSMboys

    GSMboys Banned

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    Actually Cingular charges $14 for the family plans to extend their nights and weekends to 7 (not 7$ per phone - the 7$ is for single line plans with one phone) - sorry it was my mistake on my earlier post...
     
  7. Studogvetmed

    Studogvetmed Member
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    I stand corrected. Just checked the website. I either misread it when I did my research in February, or they have changed it...

    Cingular service doesn't seem to like the standwood zip, either, but if you plug it into their coverage map page, it doesn't not like it. I wonder if it's a "roaming" area for cingular as well...

    US cellular may be the best "local" provider, and if you don't travel much has some decent deals, but you do have to pay for nights and weekends, but they seem to all come with "call me" minutes where in coming calls in your local area are always free, which may be as good as nights and weekends, except they have to call you, but check the fine print.
     
  8. diamondflowers

    diamondflowers New Member

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    Thanks for the information and suggestions.
    I went out gathering brochures of plans w/ diff companies. ALLTEL is another possiblity now... mmmmmm I will have to check their web page for plans.

    Right now, only reason Im thinking of USCC is becs they have free incoming and for $10.00 adtnl for the whole share lines you get free 7pm nites. Verizon doesn't have the option to purchase early free nites and it doesn't offer free incoming either so I had to rule them out. It's a bummer becs they have EXCELLENT COVERAGE HERE.

    Sprint.(concern is COVERAGE) The only thing I worry is that I may be roaming if I use it in Stanwood. There is just that white area (non covered area) on their map on highway 30 right in between Mt Vernon and Tipton that is white and I am afraid that it may not have not only "not very good reception" but also be paying for roaming. Olin is just about were that white area of non coverage is and that is around where I am at. Otherwise i found brochure where it offerzs 550 min for $70.00 a mo for 2 lines with free nites starting at 6pm. USCC is $40.00 for 1000 min (one line), $10.00 for 7pm free nites, and 15.00 addtnl per line. But $0.45 cents min overage vs Sprint is only $0.10 I am not too worried about travelling outside our area. If need to we can switch to Nationwide plan for 1 mo I believe.

    There are so many things to consider! I had to do a spreadsheet to look at everything w/o confusing myself!!!

    Still undecided but may have to do USCC if Alltel doesn't work out.
    And then need to start search for a good phone.
     
  9. Studogvetmed

    Studogvetmed Member
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    Sounds like you are on the right track. My wife's family has US cellular and are very happy with them, but they signed up back when 7pm nights and weekends were free and included!

    For sprint, roaming is usually a non-issue, because all of their plans include free roaming, though the fine print says that you can't have over 50% of your monthly usage be roaming. Wish I was out there on vacation to test it out for you!

    Look into Alltell, they have some excellent plans and coverage, including a new situation where you can indicate 10 different numbers (mycircle) as free outgoing calls for every phone on your plan. Each phone could have 10 different numbers. Of course if you call someone else on a different provider during peak hours they will be charged, but at least you won't!

    Good luck on your hunt! And remember to take full advantage of any and all "trial peroids" you may have. If it doesn't work for you, don't keep them!

    Again, good luck!
    Stu
     
  10. Andy

    Andy Diamond Senior Member
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    If ALLTEL is available I would consider them. They usually have a very good network in the areas they serve, and their plans are very customer friendly.
     
  11. Ironwalt

    Ironwalt Junior Member
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    I 2nd that. Alltel has some great plans and real good service in there areas.
     
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  12. strunke

    strunke .:|Always Covered|:.
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    Hey if you are looking for two lines this is probably the best deal....

    http://www.alltel.com/specials/2FOR75.html

    75 a month, 1000 anytime minutes, free nights starting at 7pm and weekends, and mobile to mobile. Also it qualifies for the free My Circle program which allows you to make and recieve calls from any 10 numbers for free......probably the best plan you will find for two lines.
     
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  13. Still observing

    Still observing Junior Member
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    I gotta say that i wireless will probably give you the best coverage at home. With the kid at ISU, you can get MEGAtalk that includes DSM area for a few $$ more.

    No overages with MEGAtalk, unless you can find a way to squeeze more that 43,500 minutes into a month.

    :)

    You can get more information at the dealer in Tipton, or drive to CR's Lindale Mall store. If you go East, check out DeWitt or Clinton dealers.

    http://www.iwireless.com/plans_coverage.asp

    http://www.iwireless.com/plans_detail.asp?plan=25

    :wink:
     
  14. agentHibby

    agentHibby Iowa Cellular Guru
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    Want the most minutes Iowa Wireless is the best choice
    US Cellular is the next best Choice if you want a network that is a little stronger across Iowa. These are good options if you are just going to be around Ames and eastern Iowa. If going into IL then US Cellular and Verizon would be best choices.

    Iowa Wireless Map
    [​IMG]

    US Cellular coverage file below
     

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  15. strunke

    strunke .:|Always Covered|:.
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    Looks like gsm, probably performs the same as T-Mobile.

    Ok, just checked, it is T-Mobile, but everything else is different. It is run by Iowa Network Services. But the Network it runs on is T-Mobile's. Similar plans also, assuming T-mobile still does the 39.99 for 1000 minutes.
     
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  16. Still observing

    Still observing Junior Member
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    Strunke, iws is it's own company, with its own marketing programs. T-Mob has a minority ownership, but that is becoming a majority position. Who knows when they will decide to pull the plug and become T-Mobile Iowa? 16 months, perhaps. But that's another post. :browani:

    Bottom line for customers, is that they offer a completely unique all-you-can-eat plan that is ideal for younger people who spend the majority of their time talking locally (meaning mostly eastern iowa). They also offer other billed plans that are generally quite generous if you're not a big talker.
     
  17. our3rotts

    our3rotts An Iowa Gurl...
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    I don't have a family plan, as DH has his work phone & our daughter isn't old enough to need one.

    I recently switched from Verizon to Cingular & have been happy.
     
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  18. strunke

    strunke .:|Always Covered|:.
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    Oh yeah, sorry nothing against iWireless, i was mostly addressing the reception issues reported with sprint and T-mobile in that area. And iWireless runs primarily on T-Mobiles towers, so it would be the same. That's all, they look like good plans though. Plus it's locally owned so the CS is typically much better.

    Now that I look at it, it may run on Cingular as well, if that is the case then I talk to our3rotts about reception.
     
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  19. diamondflowers

    diamondflowers New Member

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    Wow! I really appreciate all the suggesetions and information. Too bad rural areas have such limited options. I got T mobile from DesMoines some 4+ yrs ago & have been delighted. If you want World Class Customer Service... they have it!!! But free mobile to mobile doesn't work becs IA wireless covers this area. Same with Cingular. Just in the last cple of weeks I've had many calls drop right outside Stanwood, maybe becs they just signed an agreement and we can also now use Cingular's in my area.
    Iowa Wireless won't work for us because my son just moved to Ames for college and that area is served by Tmobile so the free 5pm nites won't work, nor does the free weekends. He will be using minutes anytime he makes a call. I am not able to make international calls w/ my calling card. I do this all the time with my Tmobil. not sure why they BLOCK the ability to do this!
    Verizons offers are not the best in our situation. $70.00 for 700 min?? free nites/weekends only starting 9pm.
    I checked Alltel, but the fine print also limit the free nites/weekends as well as mobile to mobile and the free 10 ph#s to their area. What a bummer because I would have gotten an address to get their service.

    US Cellular seems like the best deal for us w/ 1000 min anytime for $40.00 for one line $15.00 addtnl lines + $10.00 for extended free nites starting 7pm. total for 4 lines cost per month is $95.00, which is not too bad since we are now paying $40.00 each for 2 separates lines (diff is 1000 per line!! we don't do much travelling. mainly for use in our home area & their home area is huge. T mobile has the highest min offer now 1500 anytime for $40.00, too bad family plan not as good)... I am still going to try Sprint/nextel just in case they have improved coverage in our area, although I doubt it. their map coverage hasn't changed for our area.
    Anyhow I HOPE IA WIRELESS SOMEHOW BECOMES TMOBILE SOMEDAY! THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO OFFER THE BEST!!
    *** I am looking at www.myrateplan.com and www._____________ They both offe...ne prints to make sure? I am ok w/ 2 yr plan.
     
    #19 diamondflowers, Jul 1, 2006
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2006
  20. djjim

    djjim Senior Member
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    The fine print? I use my free M2M and N&W and My circle everywhere I go regardless of whether I am on Verizon's network aor Alltel's. As long as you are on a National Freedom plan, these benefits work nationwide in free roam areas as far as I know.
     
  21. 0siris

    0siris New Member

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    Diamondflowers,

    Sorry for the delay in getting into this. I work for USCC. Remember that we, too, have a 30-day trial period. That trial period, no matter which carrier you choose, is VITAL to determining if the service is for you.

    As for N&W and CALL ME service areas, you're covered for all but about 4 counties in the northwest corner of the state, the upper 2/3 of Illinois, and the southern half of Wisconsin, over to Omaha and Lincoln (more as we integrate areas recently purchased from Alltel), almost the entire eastern half of Missouri. N&W minutes applies in all of that. CALL ME minutes (incoming) only while actually on the USCC network.

    Give us a try. Based on what I see, I think it's going to be a good fit, especially since you mention you don't travel much or far.
     
  22. diamondflowers

    diamondflowers New Member

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    Thanks so much for the reply on US Cellular. I think I am going to try them. I was going thru myrateplan.com which directed me to Let'stalk.com for USCellular. Free Razr V3c, but they do charge the $30.00 activation fee and are not able to waive it. They also charge 5.98 per line for each of the 4 lines for the free nites and weekends even though it is a shared plan so I am not going to sign up for that one now. (I can always add it later for $9.99 by calling customer service there). They will not waive the $30.00 activation fee at all unless it is done directly thru their uscellular.com web. but their Razr V3c is more expensive and the Nokia 6550i is also much more expensive if purchased thru their webpage so I am going to go thru letstalk unles you guys know of something better online :) If I have to travel, i will just have to change the plan for one month. I was told that is possible. Do you think I can take my phone to Peru (South America) and use it there w/ another service provider? I will be calling them today as I need to cancell my Tmobil which ends july 6th. Let me know if anyone else has another website that offers better deals !! :)
     
  23. agentHibby

    agentHibby Iowa Cellular Guru
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    I would take T-Mobile to Peru you have better chances of using the phone to roam than US Cellular. I sure US Cellular has some international packages, but I don't hear much about them. The company you would roam on is Movistar Peru if US Cellular can offer an internation package for that.
     
  24. maximus

    maximus Member
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    Those 4 counties will soon be USCC territory.
     
  25. fishcube

    fishcube New Member

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    Hmmm.. so for the call me to work we have to be using a USCC tower? I take it as long as one is in the local call area that we would be using a USCC tower? Also, you didn't include Oklahoma, which is on their local map (we have family in northern Oklahoma). About call me, does that mean mobile to mobile or does it also include land line to our mobile phone too?

    We just signed up with USC, after having Cingular (they dropped us because of the 50% deal, we seemed to be using US Cellular towers most of the time) and then went to Verizon a month ago, and had no reception where we are. So switched to USCC (3 days ago) and have great service as of yet. They are even adding a tower anyday 1 mile from town. We have 2 bars and crystal clear calls.

    We really don't care about night and weekends, since our 800 minutes is plenty. When we were with Cingular we used about 150-200 min a month.

    About easyedge, I'm trying to access it so I can download wallpaper and ringtones but it keeps saying "unable to retrieve catalog, Please try back later". I've been trying for days...???
     
  26. agentHibby

    agentHibby Iowa Cellular Guru
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    Call me minutes are good for any incoming call no matter who is calling you.

    US Cellular has a license for almost All of Oklahoma except for the panhandle
     
  27. iowacingular

    iowacingular New Member

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    iWireless does not run off of T-Mobile towers. T-Mobile service ends near Ankeny, IA going up I-35, and that's where I Wireless service begins. I Wireless is a totally seperate company, the only thing T-Mobile has to do with it is they are an affiliate. Just thought I would get the record straight.

    Do you know approximently how long that will be, and how long untill we start seeing more U.S. Cellular service in Nebraska? I also heard something a while back about MN coverage being expanded as well as Kansas.
     
  28. 0siris

    0siris New Member

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    Hmm... there's usually a number in parentheses after that message. Do you happen to have that number? If it's "534", that's a failed authentication. Either our authentication server didn't properly create an account for you, or the phone itself didn't properly program its login info in. We should be able to fix that if you call us from a different phone.
     
  29. fishcube

    fishcube New Member

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    The number is 554. ??
     
  30. fishcube

    fishcube New Member

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    Also, anyone know if US Cellular is going to come out with a usb modem?
     

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