coverage

Want to know how Verizon's network coverage compares with AT&T's for a particular location? Wondering if Sprint or T-Mobile might be better than either one? Maybe you just need to find out which direction to drive to get a decent signal for your broadband modem. Whatever your need, there's an app for you: Coverage?

That question-mark isn't a mistake; Coverage? is the app's official name, and its choice of punctuation reflects its capability to provide an answer.

All you do is run the app, let it hone in on your location, then tap one or more carriers to see coverage data overlaid on the map. You can, of course, scroll and zoom the map to see coverage for any areas, not just the one you're in.

Because different carriers offer different levels of coverage for different types of service, Coverage? lets you choose which data to display: 3G, 2G, or Roaming. That can come in very handy if, say, you're headed out of a town and want to know what to expect, service-wise, at your destination.… Read more

If you think the search for the perfect cell phone is baffling and never ending, just try searching for the best cell phone carrier. Though your handset stays the same as you move from around the country, the quality of a carrier's network can change completely just by crossing the street.

That's why CNET doesn't rate carrier coverage. To do so fairly and accurately we'd have to make calls in almost every corner of America. But that doesn't mean we're not dedicated to helping our readers evaluate carriers and choosing the best network for … Read more

Editor's note: This app is available only in the United States.

Though CNET's always been here to rate the latest cell phones, your handset is only half the story in the search for a great wireless experience. Strong coverage from your carrier is equally important, but finding that reception, and keeping it, isn't easy.

That's why we've partnered with Root Metrics to create a unique tool that can help you check reception strength and make a carrier decision. You might have already discovered the tool when browsing any CNET cell phone review (look for the &… Read more

Verizon Wireless said today it has launched a mobile recovery application for its customers.

The application, which is included in the company's Total Equipment Coverage offering, allows users to secure (and find) their mobile phones when they're lost. According to a statement from Verizon, users will be able to access the program both online and on their phones. From within the app, users can start an alarm to help them find the device around the house. The carrier said that the alarm works "even if the phone is on silent or vibrate mode."

The app's … Read more

Editor's note: We used Cover It Live for this event, so if you missed the live blog, you can still replay it in the embedded component below. Replaying the event will give you all the live updates along with commentary from our readers and CNET editor Josh Lowensohn. For those of you who just want the updates, we've included them in regular text here. To get the key points from today's announcement, you can check out our summary of what got announced, in our story here.

SAN FRANCISCO--Google's taking over the Museum of Modern Art in … Read more

Several months ago I downloaded the AT&T iPhone app Mark the Spot, which has now been updated to version 2.0. Cell phone service isn't too bad in my New York apartment, but every time I had a dropped call, I'd fire up the app and register my complaint.

Now, the area where I live is in one of the denser residential areas in the city, so I don't think I was alone in registering my complaints. But just a couple of days ago, I received a text message from AT&T telling me … Read more

NYC Subway 24-Hour KickMap is an around-the-clock interactive guide to the New York City subway system. It combines the clean, easy-to-read design of the popular KickMap (an alternative print map beloved by cartography and design nerds) with excellent Google Maps integration.

The app's primary interface is the attractive, five-borough KickMap that lists every line and stop, along with a one-touch toggle between night and day maps (since the lines can change significantly after hours). While navigating NYC, you'll mostly touch and drag to find your location or destination on the KickMap--which is available offline, even when you're … Read more