Forced to chose Sprint or Verizon: Better of two evils?

[JaySC]

I love how the last few posters didn't bother to read the whole thread that they were posting to. Thanks guys, he's already made up his decision.

Good choice! Thanks for all the updates, and let us know how it goes with Sprint (and the Pre). I'm jealous, I've yet to play with one.

 

[kdarling]

I would go with Sprint, their phones aren't locked into that stupid verizon menu style and we have wifi/gps phones. ...

I am in no way a Sprint fanboy or a Verizon hater, or a AT&T fanboy/hater...I'm giving you my honest opinion that Sprint is better especially if you have the roaming agreement we have here to roam off Verizon.

Likewise, I'm not a Verizon lover (they're too slow getting new phones), but I find myself forced into constantly defending them, because people keep repeating incorrect or old info.

Verizon does NOT mess with the UI of their smartphones.

Verizon does NOT remove WiFi... if a CDMA phone has WiFi on Sprint, it also has WiFi on the Verizon model. (They sometimes change battery, RAM and CPU speed though.)

Verizon DID keep GPS access to themselves for a long time... because their A-GPS implementation relied on mucho custom server support that they had planned on charging large businesses for. (They did not foresee the rise of so many standalone GPS units and apps.) However, that's changing as well.

Thanks for the good info about roaming. Really, you don't get top data speeds if roaming, though?

Cheers - Kev

 

[marksman]

I love how the last few posters didn't bother to read the whole thread that they were posting to. Thanks guys, he's already made up his decision.

Good choice! Thanks for all the updates, and let us know how it goes with Sprint (and the Pre). I'm jealous, I've yet to play with one.

Welcome to the internet? Who cares if he made up his mind. People are still allowed to share their opinions. Other people read these threads too besides the original poster.

 

[RebootD]

Update #2

Well something lost something gained!

After a few days I realized Sprint's coverage map is a big fat liar. We only get about 3 bars outside and {R} or 1 bar inside so that doesn't really improve that much over AT&T. (Granted AT&T had no bars so anything is an improvement)

The good news is my friends here and on the interwebs let me know about the Sprint Airave and to call up Sprints Customer Service and ask to speak to Retentions, the last line of defense agaisnt cancellations. I explained I wouldn't have bought a Pre and signed up had the actual signal strength been given to me up front. I also had the rep do a check and did notice my sub-division is indeed in a bad spot. Suffice to say my free Airave is coming this week without monthly fees! If you aren't familiar it connects to your broadband modem/router and lets you boost your signal through VOIP of sorts.

Other than that I think we just live in a global almost-dead zone because I haven't had any luck besides t-mobile in the home and after doing research I didn't want anything they had to offer.

I will let you guys know how the device works out once I get it up and running.

 

[kas23]

Well something lost something gained!

After a few days I realized Sprint's coverage map is a big fat liar. We only get about 3 bars outside and {R} or 1 bar inside so that doesn't really improve that much over AT&T. (Granted AT&T had no bars so anything is an improvement)

The good news is my friends here and on the interwebs let me know about the Sprint Airave and to call up Sprints Customer Service and ask to speak to Retentions, the last line of defense agaisnt cancellations. I explained I wouldn't have bought a Pre and signed up had the actual signal strength been given to me up front. I also had the rep do a check and did notice my sub-division is indeed in a bad spot. Suffice to say my free Airave is coming this week without monthly fees! If you aren't familiar it connects to your broadband modem/router and lets you boost your signal through VOIP of sorts.

Other than that I think we just live in a global almost-dead zone because I haven't had any luck besides t-mobile in the home and after doing research I didn't want anything they had to offer.

I will let you guys know how the device works out once I get it up and running.

This is what I always liked about Sprint's CS; you threaten to cancel and they bend over backwards. Can't say the same about at&t though.

 

[RebootD]

This is what I always liked about Sprint's CS; you threaten to cancel and they bend over backwards. Can't say the same about at&t though.

I didn't feel bad about it either because my address is under the "BEST" voice and data coverage and clearly it isn't. At least AT&T lists our home as a dead-zone.

Funny part is Sprint didn't have to do anything and they were super nice about it (my rep sounded like someone's happy-go-lucky grandmother) and within minutes told me I'm good to go. AT&T admitted I moved into a dead zone and still wouldn't let me out of my contract! It took 3 months of phone calls and I still had to pay $108 dollars (of the $430 they said I'd owe).

So score another point for Sprint at least.

 

[kas23]

I didn't feel bad about it either because my address is under the "BEST" voice and data coverage and clearly it isn't. At least AT&T lists our home as a dead-zone.

Funny part is Sprint didn't have to do anything and they were super nice about it (my rep sounded like someone's happy-go-lucky grandmother) and within minutes told me I'm good to go. AT&T admitted I moved into a dead zone and still wouldn't let me out of my contract! It took 3 months of phone calls and I still had to pay $108 dollars (of the $430 they said I'd owe).

So score another point for Sprint at least.

Like I've said before, all those stories about how horrible Sprint's CS is are just that, stories. They may have been like that over 5 years ago, but I had Sprint before I switched to the Darkside and they never gave me any problems. They were always very helpful.

Oh, and one more thing, never feel bad when any cellphone carrier gives you something for free - they're all crooks.

 

[xraydoc]

I know the OP has made his purchases, and it sounds like he got a good deal on a nice phone.

Personally, I love my iPhone (currently on the 3GS) but get so frustrated with AT&T. Signal can be 5 bars one minute and 0 the next. Signal meter can show good strength but calls still get garbled or dropped. I think there seems to be bad handoff from Edge to 3G and back in my area (since 3G isn't everywhere here yet).

If it weren't for the iPhone, I'd be buying a BlackBerry Tour on Verizon. Ive used BB before, and while still not perfect, it's way better than any WinMo phone.

Sometimes I even daydream of dumping ATT, but every time I pick up my iPhone I realize I can't.

Thought about doing the dual-device thing (BB + iPod touch) but that would seem like such a step back in terms of integration and convinience. I just keep wishing ATT improves their coverage and reliability around here.

 

[amorican]

Good choice with Sprint, and the Airave is great. I have one, and had a Pre until I swapped it for an iPhone, and I got 5 bars in my entire house with it. The Airave works great!

 

[joshellis625]

VERIZON ALWAYS (but that's if I wasn't on AT&T)

 

[RebootD]

Sometimes I even daydream of dumping ATT, but every time I pick up my iPhone I realize I can't.

I completely understand where you are coming from, the iphone is a fantastic device no question. Unfortunately I need a phone at home for work and with AT&T I was paying for my cell phone + comcast digital voice so by switching to Sprint I not only get more for a smaller monthly bill I can now cancel my comcast phone and overall I'll be saving $40/month.

I love the iPhone but saving $480/year sounded like a better deal. =)

 

[Mademan12321]

Here's my take.

Sprint: I had them for 2 years here in Irving Tx starting back in June 2006 2006. I owned a Treo 650 at the time and was a decent phone before the iphone craze took off. Overall it was the absolute worst service I endured with ANY company. Dropped calls constantly, terrible service, and constant over billing and having to get a crappy credit for my account about every 3 - 4 months. The CS reps were rude and ill mannered no matter how kind and gentle I was on the initial approach to resolve any issues. They canceled my data plan for no good reason and overall like someone else said you get what you pay for. It does have the cheapest plan available for major carriers, yet if this phone is needed for emergency purposes like you said for your wife as a RN (I'm assuming she'll be in a heavy structure hospital) then I just couldn't recommend them (even though the pre is looking yummy).

Verizon has great calling coverage and works very well. The problem is how much it cost and there ugly and ancient phones. There prices made me scream for a family plan. I do however can highly recommend them for solid coverage. My friend who switched to Verizon travels to NY monthly where ATT coverage is spotty at best there. He had no dropped calls and spoke clear as a bell to me. If highend phone features and slightly higher bills are not an issue then I would recommend Verizon.

Your really dealing with the devil with ANY carrier ATT especially included. Typically you have 30 days to cancel if your unhappy or enduring issues in a particular city for most carriers. Ask both of them if they offer it and then try it out for about a week or two. If you have issues with coverage with one of them then switch to the other carrier and test there waters.

 

[RebootD]

Airwave is a GOOOOOO!

Update yet again:

My Airave came today (only took 2 days!) and after 30min of connecting it and letting it simmer I am up and running with 5 full bars of Sprint power all throughout my home. I had my doubts but so far so good!

The only odd thing is even though the box is near a window at the rear of the home once I step outside onto the deck the signal goes back to over-the-air 2-3 bars. It isn't any further away than my living room from the Airave but I thought I should mention it.

 

[RebootD]

Here's my take.

Sprint: I had them for 2 years here in Irving Tx starting back in June 2006 2006. I owned a Treo 650 at the time and was a decent phone before the iphone craze took off. Overall it was the absolute worst service I endured with ANY company.

I hear you that is why I left Sprint way back in the late 90's and went with Verizon. For me though everything you described was my experience with AT&T and why I gave up on my iPhone dreams and moved on.

Luckily I think Sprint has learned from being against the ropes to do everything they can to offer better CS. It took me an hour to go from low-level CSR to Airave support to Retentions to an apology and free Airave next day UPS and no monthly fees. It took me 3 months to get AT&T to admit I had zero bars in my subdivision and let me cancel my account.

 

[christyn]

This is what I always liked about Sprint's CS; you threaten to cancel and they bend over backwards. Can't say the same about at&t though.

Couldn't agree more.
We always had good experiences with Sprint's CS. Any problem we did have was quickly fixed with them going out of their way. Plus a 35% discount off the whole bill.

Had it not been for the iPhone we'd probably still be there.