Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Verizon vs T-Mobile (I know about Cingular!)

Mar 4, 2005 6:40AM PST

Maybe this has more to do with GSM vs. CDMA. I am in San Francisco, CA but also travel to the east coast (NJ/NY). My main concern is with clarity/reception. I like a nice phone, but I will mostly use it for making calls, not taking photos. Does anyone have any preferences? Right now I have Verizon and I like them, but T-Mobile does have some cheaper plans. I may stay with Verizon since I have the "New every 2", but just wanted to see. I have NO intention of moving to Cingular or Sprint. I would actually give up a cell phone before going back to Sprint!

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Stay with Verizon
Mar 7, 2005 10:24PM PST

Trust me....I've had them all... Verizon is by far the best cell phone supplier with the best networks out there. I switched to Verizon 1 year ago and I have NEVER had a problem with my phone and I travel all over the country. Prior to that I was dropping calls with T-MOBILE, Cingular/ATT and Sprint? Dont even think about it.

Dont try and fix whats not broken.

- Collapse -
help me pleezzz
Mar 8, 2005 3:03AM PST

I need help with activating a sprint phone that was alreasy used by a friend of mine but i want it in my name and with all my info. can u please help me

- Collapse -
Stay with Verizon
Mar 8, 2005 10:36AM PST

I agree. Stay with Verizon Wireless. I also have Verizon Wireless and it works in rural areas where T-Mobile only has coverage in major cities and only hugs the interstates when providing coverage in rural areas. If you travel to rural areas, Verizon Wireless is the service to go because CDMA has been around a lot longer in the USA than GSM has. Also with more services using CDMA, your Verizon Wireless phone will pickup the other carrier's signal. I've heard from a couple of people I know who had T-Mobile in NW Indiana and a couple from Green Bay Wisconsin with Einstein telling me that their GSM phones don't always pickup the other carrier's signal. If that's a problem with GSM, then I'm glad I use a CDMA phone.

- Collapse -
Better All Around
Mar 8, 2005 11:00PM PST

As other 2 replies advise Verizon has far superior coverage. I would not use ATT (Cingular)or Sprint since not only coverage is not as good but both have terrible customer service and support. I have not had T-Mobile or Nextel but know the coverage is not as good.

Since you're looking just for basic phone service and not all the bells and whistles (additional service, features like Bluetooth, etc), Verizon would be the clear choice.

Some of the advanced services with Verizon are not what they should be and don't get a phone with Bluetooth.

- Collapse -
TRUE
Mar 24, 2005 6:05PM PST

This is very true, we had T-mobile and they had the worst coverage, we live in Southern Alabama and they have almost no coverage, with verizon we get it all over the state,
Bathsheba Vernanot

- Collapse -
Sprint also uses CDMA.
Jun 6, 2005 7:56PM PDT

In my opionion they are better than verizon, they are cheaper, and their customer service has greatly improved over what it was 3 years ago when I initally started a plan with them. I am now using Cingular and have had no dropped calls at all, I wish they had not switched to GSM but all of Europe is using that standard, so they might as well. To back up service I got a Sprint plan because they were there even in the most desolate areas of the desert in Arizona and New Mexico. It roams onto old analog cell service so that if you need service on one of those roads you can get a call through. I hardly use customer service so it's not that big an issue to me, but again I must tell you that I have noted a big improvement in sprint's customer service reps.

- Collapse -
KEEP YOUR VERIZON
Mar 24, 2005 6:03PM PST

T-mobile has been our worst experience ever, we could not get coverage half the places that the map said it would, they are also very rude, we hade to file a complaint with the FCC and BBB because of their horrible coustomer service, we now have verizon and they are much better than Crap mobile, T-mobile has cheaper plans becuase you cant use their service half the places you probaly go. My suggestion is KEEP verizon!,
Bathsheba Vernanot

- Collapse -
About T-Mobile
Mar 24, 2005 11:58PM PST

I dont think there is any question about verizon having premium coverage, but if you are talking about major residential and business areas like fNY and San Francisco, just about everyone has good coverage in the city.

What I would recommend doing is grab a few zip codes for the areas that you are going to use the phone and go to a T Mobile dealer. They have a tool called PCC (Personal coverage check) It is a surveyed map showing signal stregnth. Keep in mind fair isnt always fair if you know what I mean but good and great not a problem should be crystal clear.

- Collapse -
Tmobile
Apr 13, 2005 11:39AM PDT

Tmobile is great get it and when you do speak to me on their free mobile to mobile and T-mobile as a New Every 12 months for upgrading to a new phone. Also, they have great phones, plans, coverage nad reception.

- Collapse -
why not bluetooth with verizon?
Jun 6, 2005 5:41AM PDT

Why do you not recommend Bluetooth with Verizon?
I have a prius car that is wired for bluetooth and I want to be able to use the buttons on the steering wheel to answer the phone for a safer situation. What is your experience with bluetooth?
Thank you for our feedback.