Best carrier to jump to?

[Traxan]

I guess my search skills fail. I was hoping to find a recommendation for the best carrier to switch to after jailbreaking the phone. I've had enough with AT&T.

TIA.

[thegoldenmackid]

What is about AT&T. T-Mobile is the next most used, but there are numerous downsides. Where are you in your contract?

[iBookG4user]

You could switch to T-Mobile, but in my experience in SoCal AT&T has better coverage. Does AT&T not get good coverage in your area?

[SFStateStudent]

+1 ^^^ I have to agree with the above posters. When does your contract end, and how good is your AT&T service? T-Mobile is nice, but it's not great. No VVM, No 3G, and no MMS or Tethering at present.....:eek:

[Traxan]

I'm in San Francisco but plan to move to LA soon. Coverage is weak. I once could not get a 3G call out standing in an outdoor park. And I am really sick of all the AT&T fees. I have the $39.99 plan and routinely pay $90-$100.

[MikePA]

I have the $39.99 plan and routinely pay $90-$100.
How is this ATTs fault?

[dhlizard]

I guess my search skills fail. I was hoping to find a recommendation for the best carrier to switch to after jailbreaking the phone. I've had enough with AT&T.

TIA.

If you stay in US, AT&T or T-Mobil (no 3G in US)

[SFStateStudent]

OP, I'm here in the Bay Area as well and there are very few spots in San Francisco that don't have excellent 3G & Cellular Data Network coverage, at least from my experience. I'm in San Francisco and all the way south to San Francisco State University-Daly City and coverage is pretty awesome. Are you near Dolores Park, and the Mission District? I think coverage has been a bit spotty in that area, but that's been it for me....

Trust me, T-Mobile is worse & SLOWER; but they might be cheaper with fewer services and slower services (EDGE v. NO 3G)...:eek:

AT&T coverage is pretty awesome in Los Angeles (except parts of Long Beach, near the water) & Orange County and Palm Springs....

[Applejuiced]

Not many choices besides AT&T, only tmobile with no 3G for the iphone. Only very slow edge speeds for internet and shaky coverage.

[jmann]

No VVM, No 3G, and no MMS or Tethering at present.....:eek:

I agree with the first, until someone can make a hack to use the apn info to hopefully enable the VVM. But my MMS and tethering are working perfectly. Why do you think they don't work?

[Applejuiced]

I dont think its that simple.
Its a feature that has to be installed and enabled on the particular carriers network.


I agree with the first, until someone can make a hack to use the apn info to hopefully enable the VVM

[Traxan]

So I guess I gotta wait for AT&T to finally piss off Apple and a deal with Verizon is struck. :\ Ok thanks guys.

[jmann]

I dont think its that simple.
Its a feature that has to be installed and enabled on the particular carriers network.

Well it has been set up on T-Mobile's network finally, about a week ago. T-Mobile releases Visual Voicemail (http://www.cnet.com/8301-19736_1-10302039-251.html). Now all we need to do is wait for a work-around. :)

[SFStateStudent]

I agree with the first, until someone can make a hack to use the apn info to hopefully enable the VVM. But my MMS and tethering are working perfectly. Why do you think they don't work?

I have two brothers that have 3G/3GS iPhones with T-Mobile and they don't have MMS or Tethering available.....:eek::eek::eek:

Their iPhones still don't have VVM, b/c they aren't Android phones....

[Applejuiced]

Interesting.
I wonder if it will be compatible with the iphones voicemail feature. I know theres many other hacks and programs that provide it outside of its native voicemail button thats built in.
About the MMS I got it to work on my brothers 3G on Tmobile and pics come out nice and in crisp quality. I couldnt get the Tethering to work however. Every time I tried it would give me a message that plan not compatible and it would completelly delete the profile from the phone. Maybe I needed to play with the internet settings a little bit more.


Well it has been set up on T-Mobile's network finally, about a week ago. T-Mobile releases Visual Voicemail (http://www.cnet.com/8301-19736_1-10302039-251.html). Now all we need to do is wait for a work-around. :)

[leomac08]

What is about AT&T. T-Mobile is the next most used, but there are numerous downsides. Where are you in your contract?

FYI - 1.)VERIZON WIRELESS is the most used one, then 2.)AT&T, then 3.)SPRINT, then 4.)T-MO!
:)

[dhlizard]

FYI - 1.)VERIZON WIRELESS is the most used one, then 2.)AT&T, then 3.)SPRINT, then 4.)T-MO!
:)

An iPhone won't work with Verizon or Sprint networks

[SFStateStudent]

FYI - 1.)VERIZON WIRELESS is the most used one, then 2.)AT&T, then 3.)SPRINT, then 4.)T-MO!
:)

Pretty sure "thegoldenmackid" was talking about iPhones on AT&T = #1 and T-Mobile iPhones = #2; b/c Verizon and Sprint have "0" iPhones......:p:p:p

[bradl]

Let's be blunt.

If you have an iPhone, you only have one other option: Jailbreak, Unlock, and T-Mobile on Edge. Other than that, jailbreak, unlock, and move out of the country. Verizon won't handle a GSM phone on their CDMA network. Sprint won't either, as the hardware is incompatible.

Second, I'm in Sacramento (Folsom, to be exact), but have to make frequent trips to Redwood City. with the exception of between Fairfield and Vallejo, I get a full signal the entire way, including going past SFO (in that pass between Fairfield and Vallejo, I drop to 3 bars). I have never had any horrible service with ATT through the entire US 101 and I-80 corridor. I've even had full bars going down I-5 through Central California (only place where it dropped was around Kettleman City; even the Grapevine had great service), so I can guarantee that service in the Bay area is great.

As far as the bill, that's on you, not ATT. You may want to check that, not blame ATT for something that you're using more of and they are charging you for.

BL.

[rcogar]

This is a little off the course of this conversation, but not off the subject completely. How much would it cost to get an iPhone with an at&t contract, then immediately buy out of it, in order to get service with T-mobile? I have read that it would cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $175 to buy out of the contract, but what would I have to pay after that, for the iPhone? Would I have to pay the $600 or, whatever it is that it costs to buy one without an at&t contract, or would it be less?

[shadowd7]

in america I think you only have the options between AT&T & T-Mobile..... and depending where you are thats how it should suit u....
T-Mobile has the BEST PLANS PERIOD!!! ($50 unlimited!! $60 w/txt and like $80-90 w/ internet & Txt)
but since they are a small network they have less coverage....

[Tokiopop]

Can anyone from the UK comment on T-Mobile on the iPhone? Does 3G work?

[dhlizard]

To me, this issue comes down to plain common sense.

If you decide to get an iPhone, some of it's best features work better, no far better, on AT&T than with T-mobile. There is no disputing that fact.

Many posters get an iPhone, but no data plan or a cheaper T-mobile plan which comes with only Edge speeds.

Why would one purchase a Porsche, Ferrari, or Corvette, then only drive it up and down the alley in the back of their house ? Take it out on the open road and use the car in the manner it was designed !

If you cannot afford to use the full features of the iPhone, then get a stripped down phone and enjoy the cheaper phone bill.

Either you can afford an iPhone or you cannot. If you cannot, give up that daily Starbucks latte an you will easily have plenty of money in your change jar at the end of the month to truly enjoy all the things the iPhone can do.