My first cell phone experience was the worst in the world. I knew nearly nothing about tower systems or what to ask a provider. When I got to nextel (my fourth choice), I asked about their local, roaming and coverage. I was told they had no roaming as all of the continental USA was local. This was true if you want to believe a half truth. What I was not told was they only had towers along the major US Interstates and would not go through ANY other towers- Thereby avoiding possible roaming charges.
I live in Iowa. Our major interstates are 80 and 35. On I-80 there is a dead spot of just over 40 miles between Des Moines and Omaha, Neb.. From York, Neb. to the Colorado border there is no signal either. If you are more than 38 miles from the interstates there is no signal. Nearly 60% of Iowa has no signal using Nextel. Seven miles north of my house I lost my signal all the way to the border of Iowa (60 Miles).
I got no help or straight answers from Nextel when I asked for assistance. If you don't ask spefically you will not get the whole truth from them. BE SPECIFIC ITEM BY ITEM when you talk to them!!!!! Never again will I use them! Verizon is heaven compared to NEXTEL.

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