My damned phone

[kellinator]

I used to detest cell phones with every fiber of my being. They were so fucking annoying and pretentious. Then I moved to Nashville for the summer and Mom was paranoid about me living outside the Vanderbubble, so she got me a cell phone, and got me one when I moved to Atlanta.

And I got used to it. For the first couple of months I didn't even know my own number, but then I got involved in a long-distance courtship (which led to me paying a couple of outrageous bills and having to switch plans), and even when it ended, I found myself using the phone more and more as the sitation with Alyson the Uber-Bitch continued to disintigrate.

Then I moved and my roommates didn't suck, but the house was in a cell-phone hole, so I didn't use it at home, but I was on the go a lot, so I'd use it everywhere else. I ran up some more bills using it in Washington DC.

Then AT&T told me if I signed up for another year, they'd give me a free month's service, and that sounded good, so I did.

Here's where it gets dicey. I moved, and though the cell phone more or less worked in that place, I dropped it in the sink during an argument with Joe and though the sink was empty, the porcelain was hard and the phone started acting up soon thereafter. Then I moved again into a basement apartment where my phone barely picks up at all. But I haven't been able to afford my own line so I've had to make calls standing out in the rain and cold or sitting in my car.

Okay. As many of you know, my cell phone sucks. No wait. Beyond sucks. Sucks donkey balls. Sucks big hairy smelly donkey balls. If I look at it funny it turns itself off. It shorts out in the middle of conversations all the time. People are constantly asking me to get a new one. Hell, people have told me not to call till I get a new one.

So when I get money, my first purchase pretty much has to be a new phone. This bums me out, because I would much rather get something frivolous and cool like a corset or sexy boots or a DVD player.

My needs for a phone:

** Nationwide long distance. Next to my mom in Tennessee and a few locals, the person I spend the most time on the phone with is probably atomicnumber51 out in San Francisco. I don't want to deal with long distance.

** Free roaming at least as far as Tennessee.

** Durability. In case you haven't noticed, I drop my phone *a lot*.

** Good coverage. AT&T has dead spots all over Atlanta.

So...

[Poll #55538]

Comments

[wolvy]

I'm curious about the results of this poll, too - I don't have a cellphone (yet) and I'm anticipating that I'll need to get one (as soon as funds become available).

I only have researched Sprint, because several friends of mine use it - and Cingular, which doesn't even offer coverage in CO.


Luck!

[mfree.livejournal.com]

I've been out of the loop as far as cellphones for a long time now... the most I can offer is, when I left RS Verizon was a pretty damned tempting offer, Sprint's plans were sky-high but offered a lot of goodies, and I had 0 experience with Cingular (AKA Bellsouth DCS renamed).

What I can tell you for CERTAIN, is that if you drop your phone a lot, get a Sanyo if you can. My phone is 3 1/2 years old, it's been dropped too many times to count, quite often from belt-height to concrete, in and out of the case, once from 10' bouncing off a counter on to cement, it gets charged inconsistently, and the only trouble I've ever had is breaking the analog antenna because in a fit of boredom learned you could stretch it out and waggle it like a whip... 2 months of that and it snapped. I'm still on the factory battery, which is still lasting 2 days at least between home charges.

The phone's simply beefy. Mine's a Sanyo 4000 model.

[kanga2roos.livejournal.com]

You don't have to buy a phone! ;) I got my new phone for free when I signed a two year contract with Cingular. I've been with them for over two years and the only places I've had coverage issues was way out in Monroe... I live in Gwinnett, have used it in Paulding County, Atlanta, and even Barrow County with no problems.

I'm not sure about their plans, but I know you can find them on their website. (Which is http://cingular.com)

-kanga

Another selling point for Cingular

[luckychance.livejournal.com]

They started rolling the minutes over, so whatever you don't use this month, can be used next.

I use Sprint and like it

[sirinek.livejournal.com]

But do not, under *any* circumstances go with Verizon.

Their plans suck compared to the competition, their coverage in ATL is spotty and their customer service sucks.

I switched to sprint 1 1/2 years ago and have been very happy. This phone works damn near everywhere, though I'd verify if it works in downhomemiddleofgoddamnnowhere Tennessee.

If you dont want Sprint, Voicestream should be pretty good. And I think Cingular might have some decent plans. Check them out.

siri

[mfree.livejournal.com]

I have also determined long ago that asking around for what cellular is best is like going around a religion convention asking all the fundamentalists and zealots what religion you should worship...

It will get heated if discussion starts, mark my words. People just feel strongly about it, for some strange reason (like people telling themselves they got the best deal subconsciously in order to reaffirm their choice... psychology of sales 101, and the root of the Ford vs. Chevy wars).

[technomom]

We've been with Voicestream for a while, and for us their family plan is great. I don't think it would suit your needs, though, and we seem to live in cell-hole central for some reason. I think it affects everyone, though, not just Voicestream users.

Re: Another selling point for Cingular

[kanga2roos.livejournal.com]

Only for plans with 250 minutes or more. ;)

-kanga (don't get rollover for my 100 min/month, but I rarely use more)

[tikimama.livejournal.com]

Verizon, hands down. Listen to me, I'm a professional. AT&T and Verizon have the largest analog networks, which means the most coverage. Cingular, Sprint PCS, etc. are all digital networks. Which sounds great, provided you are in a major metropolitan area where they have built the network.

All the companies are pretty similar in plans and various equipment discounts (which come from the manufacturer).

As for durabililty, Nokia is always sturdy. Verizon also has a line of Motorola products that are supposed to be for high-impact customers. You might also try being a little more careful. :)

Re: I use Sprint and like it

[dawneywawney.livejournal.com]

I live in downhomemiddleofgoddamnnowhere Tennessee, and no, Sprint does not work here. :-)

[leahpet.livejournal.com]

Ok, I use Voicestream, and there's a reason. Although my house is the black hole of cell phone coverage (full coverage outside, none inside and all portable phones start freaking out in six months) I've never had an issue with them. My parents live south of Nashville in (scary, I know) Milton, TN. Technically they don't live in Milton, they live outside of Milton. I do NOT get coverage out there, but Brian's Cingular one does.

The point is, when they lived in Murfreesboro and even outside of Murfreesboro (my parents like country, sickos)I had full coverage, I have no roaming, no long distance, 500 anytime minutes, unlimited weekend minutes and 500 ping pong (cell phone alpha paging) and I have never had to pay over $50 dollars (including the times I went WAY over on my weekday minutes). In fact I pay $50 sometimes so I know I've overpayed and my bill will be less the next month. I'm kind of OCD like that. The no roaming is great too, for when you're on the road, and lost, as we usually are.

[seaofsin.livejournal.com]

I doubt my opinion matters much b/c of where I live but, I've had both Cingular and Verizon and I thought they both sucked. I haven't tried Sprint, but around here it's really expensive and the coverage isn't that great. Right now I've got SunCom and it's the best service I've had. It's cheap and I have a pretty durable phone and I get nationwide long distance.

[marigold.livejournal.com]

I had sprint for a year and no end of problems with them. I couldn't make a phone call without it getting dropped. On two occasions they cut off my service because of mistakes -- $150 dollars that they had just randomly put on my bill for no reason. Impossible to get hold of a live person. AND they extended my contract without asking. And won't let me get out of it.

SO -- I've just switched to Verizon. The coverage is much better.

cell phones...

[wolfieboy.livejournal.com]

I've used VoiceStream for 2.5 years now and plan to continue to do so. I like their service...

But it really comes down to coverage. Borrow someone's phone on the service you want to try and look at the signal strength in different parts of the house. Make sure that it will work for you...