[Lippy]

I'm just about ready to join the hordes of cell phone users, but I have no idea how to begin. I want something basic and inexpensive. Any information is welcome.

[Rose]

Supposedly, Verizon has the best reception although I have Sprint becaue the whole family does and I got locked into it before I found out how much better Verizion is. You will learn that everyone hates their cellphone service provider anyway but it seems that the best of the worst is supposed to be Verizon.

[omnivorette]

Having had Sprint and AT&T, and finally settling on Verizon...Verizon is the best of the 3, but still not perfect. There are dead spots in Manhattan, for example. But overall I'm pretty pleased with Verizon.

[mongo_jones]

do you mean service or machine?

i gave up my cell-phone last year--i don't need to be reachable, or able to reach people, at all times.

[Stone]

there was an article in some newspaper today about how Manhattan ranks next to last in cell-phone coverage for major cities. Supposedly, the dead spots are growing. I didn't have time to figure out how that could be because the person turned the page.

[Kikujiro]

I just got one of these, which is neither basic nor inexpensive, so not much use, but I thought I'd mention it anyway.

[Vanessa]

'bout time you replaced that vintage machine you've been carrying

v

[Orik]

I think this was discussed before (on OA?). If you're an occasional user (that is, most people still have your land line number), your best bet is Virgin Mobile. The phones are cheap and there's a very low effective monthly minimum (you need to charge your account with $20 every 3 months for it to remain active). I think they actually use the Sprint network.

Switching over to one of the major carriers (with your number) is relatively painless. They all seem to offer plans around $40-$50/month for 300 minutes + unlimited weekend minutes.

One more thing - Amazon are currently offering deep rebates on many models, on top of the carriers' rebates:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/brows...3866101-6303305

(interesting to look at the reviews, nobody is happy with their phone or service)

[Ron Johnson]

I have Verizon and the reception is good but the customer service is terrible. They overcharged me for three months straight and then only agreed to take off the over charges if I agreed to extend my service contract by an additional year.

[Wilfrid1]

I use Virgin, thanks to advice received on that previous thread, and it's been fine for me - an occasional user, who doesn't need anything fancy, and doesn't want to spend much on something which he finds mildly annoying and inelegant.

[Lippy]

I'm sorry to have been repetitious, but I was unable to find the previous thread. If I'm leaning toward Verizon at the moment, it's only because that is what Ranitidine has and there may be an advantage in both of us having the same service.

[GG Mora]

Lippy, on Nov 1 2004, 11:53 AM, said:

I'm sorry to have been repetitious, but I was unable to find the previous thread. If I'm leaning toward Verizon at the moment, it's only because that is what Ranitidine has and there may be an advantage in both of us having the same service.

I'm not sure if this is a country-wide option, but here in Vermont, Verizon lets you add a "line" (second phone with separate number) to your existing service for an extra $20 a month, and you can share your monthly allotment of minutes. Also, calls made between the two "lines" don't count against your minutes. Sweet option, especially for us hicks who use about 15 minutes a month.

[Lippy]

Yes, that's what I'm looking into. I'll piggyback onto Ranitidine's service.

[fantasty]

Stone, on Nov 1 2004, 12:06 AM, said:

there was an article in some newspaper today about how Manhattan ranks next to last in cell-phone coverage for major cities. Supposedly, the dead spots are growing. I didn't have time to figure out how that could be because the person turned the page.

Do you happen to remember where Chicago ranked? I was there this weekend and service was *awful*.

[beans]

I love/hate Verizon.

Their customer service does stink. And the no roaming/one nation thing isn't entirely true. Everytime I travel to Alaska I have horrendous bills for the few calls I make or receive.

However, my boss just snagged some deal with Sprint and supplied phones to all of the managers, switching over from Verizon. Holy cow! Text messages that take two days to arrive! Voice mails that are twelve hours after they were sent! Made me appreciate Verizon a wee bit more.