Cingular coverage vs. Sprint, Verizon?

Can anyone comment on how Sprint and Verizon's coverage compares to
Cingular?

I currently carry a Treo 600 inherited from a former AT&T plan. I've
been extremely impressed with the coverage. For example, I used it in a
rural area of northern Michigan last summer. Now I want to upgrade to a
650 but Cingular wants me to sign up for a whole new rate plan and they
unfortunately are charging $40/month for unlimited data access, while
the others are much cheaper.

I'll stick with Cingular if I can't be sure I won't get as good or
better coverage with the other providers. If they're all about the
same, I'm inclined to go with Sprint for the lower rate.

Am I correct in assuming this is all GSM nowadays?

Sprint and Verizon use CDMA. Cingular used GSM. CDMA is a more advanced
technology that provides for higher data rates and a greater coverage
distance per cell site. All providers have their advantages and
disadvantages. You have to determine what provider functions best in the
area that you live, work, and travel. Be sure to try cell phones in all of
these places and especially at your home.

Talk to friends and coworkers regarding the service that they use and how
they like the service then get a phone from that service and try it for two
weeks. Be sure to try it everywhere that you may use it. By law, you have
two weeks to return the phone if you are unsatisfied.


<frank@franklarosa.com> wrote in message
news:1135230900.423018.229370@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Can anyone comment on how Sprint and Verizon's coverage compares to
> Cingular?
>
> I currently carry a Treo 600 inherited from a former AT&T plan. I've
> been extremely impressed with the coverage. For example, I used it in a
> rural area of northern Michigan last summer. Now I want to upgrade to a
> 650 but Cingular wants me to sign up for a whole new rate plan and they
> unfortunately are charging $40/month for unlimited data access, while
> the others are much cheaper.
>
> I'll stick with Cingular if I can't be sure I won't get as good or
> better coverage with the other providers. If they're all about the
> same, I'm inclined to go with Sprint for the lower rate.
>
> Am I correct in assuming this is all GSM nowadays?
>

frank@franklarosa.com wrote:
> Can anyone comment on how Sprint and Verizon's coverage compares to
> Cingular?

Verizon has the best coverage. But with a Treo you won't get the AMPS
coverage, only the CDMA coverage, so you'll lose out on a lot of rural
coverage.

The best option may be a Treo, and a tri-band regular Verizon phone,
together on a family plan.

Your statement that Verizon has the best coverage is *incorrect*. The cell
phone provider that has the best coverage will vary based upon your location
and therefore it is not possible to make the statement that "Verizon has the
best coverage". In the area where I live, Cingular and Sprint have the best
coverage, however, if you go several miles down the road away from the
hills, then Verizon has good coverage. The statement that "Verizon has the
best coverage" is simply Verizon marketing hype. Case and point, in some
areas Verizon does not have any coverage, but Cingular has coverage. Examine
the coverage maps and you will see this. The best way to choose a cell
service is to try it in the areas where you live, work, and travel.



"SMS" <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote in message
news:43aae1f4$0$95994$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
> frank@franklarosa.com wrote:
>> Can anyone comment on how Sprint and Verizon's coverage compares to
>> Cingular?
>
> Verizon has the best coverage. But with a Treo you won't get the AMPS
> coverage, only the CDMA coverage, so you'll lose out on a lot of rural
> coverage.
>
> The best option may be a Treo, and a tri-band regular Verizon phone,
> together on a family plan.

Mij Adyaw <mij@spam.com> wrote in message
news:_%Lqf.13952$LB5.3514@fed1read04...
> Your statement that Verizon has the best coverage is *incorrect*. The cell
> phone provider that has the best coverage will vary based upon your
location
> and therefore it is not possible to make the statement that "Verizon has
the
> best coverage". In the area where I live, Cingular and Sprint have the
best
> coverage, however, if you go several miles down the road away from the
> hills, then Verizon has good coverage. The statement that "Verizon has the
> best coverage" is simply Verizon marketing hype. Case and point, in some
> areas Verizon does not have any coverage, but Cingular has coverage.
Examine
> the coverage maps and you will see this. The best way to choose a cell
> service is to try it in the areas where you live, work, and travel.
>
And you might be better off with Tracfone.
Tracfone uses the strongest signal in the area no matter which company owns
the towers.

PJ

peanutjake wrote:

> And you might be better off with Tracfone.
> Tracfone uses the strongest signal in the area no matter which company owns
> the towers.

This isn't true either. They use different carriers in different markets. If
you're in a market where Tracfone uses Verizon's network, for example you're
SOL if you try to use the phone in a market where they use Cingular's
network because Cingular is a GSM carrier, Verizon CDMA phones simply will
not work on Cingular's network, and Cingular doesn't have much analog
coverage anymore. (AFAIK.)

And their Net10 service uses Cingular exclusively.

--
Steve Sobol, Professional Geek 888-480-4638 PGP: 0xE3AE35ED
Company website: http://JustThe.net/
Personal blog, resume, portfolio: http://SteveSobol.com/
E: sjsobol@JustThe.net Snail: 22674 Motnocab Road, Apple Valley, CA 92307

frank@franklarosa.com Wrote:
> Can anyone comment on how Sprint and Verizon's coverage compares to
> Cingular?
>
> I currently carry a Treo 600 inherited from a former AT&T plan. I've
> been extremely impressed with the coverage. For example, I used it in
> a
> rural area of northern Michigan last summer. Now I want to upgrade to
> a
> 650 but Cingular wants me to sign up for a whole new rate plan and
> they
> unfortunately are charging $40/month for unlimited data access, while
> the others are much cheaper.
>
> I'll stick with Cingular if I can't be sure I won't get as good or
> better coverage with the other providers. If they're all about the
> same, I'm inclined to go with Sprint for the lower rate.
>
> Am I correct in assuming this is all GSM nowadays?

I had to laugh.. it looks like someone got upset about verizon having
the best network.

they do. use J.D.Power as a reference they offer a unbiased view of all
carriers

Verizon supplies a coverage locator tool to check coverage with,
unlike the orange that paints the canvas orange.

if you can wait a month, get the treo 700.. on verizon.

Your service on ATT is being "forced" to migrate to orange and after
march of 2006 no one can get a "old blue" handset. and TDMA is history
on orange and old blue

the old saying.. keep the dropped calls away.. let verizon eat an
orange today.

I agree no one has total coverage.. dead spots happen.. on each and
every carrier.. Verizon just has less dead spots. With CDMA and Analog
your coverage goes a long way. And with BroadbandAccess.. they rule the
data world currently.

UMTS is only in 10 markets and cingular is way behind in the
intregration due to internal strife and katrina hitting their network
hard.

to me..the choice is who is the best network? at the best price with
the least amount of "issues" ..

today old blue and orange can't even decide what to call themselves..

and trying to integrate 3 differnet networks, billing systems.. a year
later and no end in sight.

i.e. SBC changing names back to att.. which owns 60% of the orange..
which is really upsetting the "Bell orange heads".. and the AE's have
been told not to order new business cards.. sounds like a branding
change is close...

cool huh..

if memory serves me... Verizon data bolt on is only 29.99.. with a pda.


on the orange its 39.99 unlimited with voice.. and the handset is
...oh.. $449.99.. depending on if you purchase retail/internet or
direct.. b2b.. or an agent may save you some money.

If you deal with an agent make sure they understand the business and
not trying to just make a sale.

fyi... I am an agent that carries orange.. and sprint.. and
tmobile..and verizon.. so if I wanted to sell orange.. to you..and
"hype it up.." .. don't you think I would? commission is commission
right?

the problem in wireless today.. most people "sales" will only tell you
what they sell is the best..

so take an unbiased view.. do yourself a favor and look up the jd power
link.

Your ATT service is gone.. sorry to say.. it is not orange.. they have
successfully riped it to shreds. it is not "purple" when you mix the
two together.. it is ATT on one side.. Orange on the other.. and Orange
won the fight.. who lost? you.


orange is terrible.. unless its the only carrier in your home
town..avoid it this time around. I've told my consultants to stop
quoting it until orange fixes their issues.. so maybe next year they
will join the business class again.


and if you brave the orange waters.. and place an order.. see what your
order compares to, to what you recieve.

then.. wait for that fun bill..


--
eatoranges

I must agree that Verizon has excellent coverage based upon maps. But
here in the midwest, Missouri to be specific, those maps are not very
accurate. Outside of the Kansas City and St. Louis metro areas, you are
roaming on someone elses system. If you are traveling on a major
highway, it's probably Sprint's. Also, there is no level of accuacy in
coverage maps provided by roaming partners. I notice that most of the
coverage of roaming partners matches perfectly to county boarders in
rural areas. I don't thinks so. Verizon is reporting licensed coverage
and probably not actual coverage. They cover themselves with their
disclaimer.

This is not only true for Missouri but for much of the center section
of this country.

Their data coverage may be the best in the industry, but just don't
travel outside of home here or you have none at all based upon
Verizon's maps. My GPRS may be slow, but it's slow EVERYWHERE. You do
better for data coverage in rural Missouri with Sprint.

Tom

This discussion on accurate coverage strikes a chord with me.

In my experience, one can not trust ANY coverage map that is published
by ANY provider.

I guess the question I have is why hasn't the providers been taken to
task on this subject...isn't there such a thing as being held
accountable for one's promise of service...aka truth in advertising?

With the number of cell users that are in place, I would think the FTC
would be forced to move on this.

TMT

Actually Verizon's secondary system is usually the old ATT system. None of
the Sprint system in the midwest - is compatable with Verizon's. If you are
roaming in Missou area you are probably on the Verizon analog system

----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

Why do you state that Sprint's system in the Midwest is not compatible with
Verizon's? A Sprint phone has the capability to roam on the Verizon 800 MHZ
system anywhere in the USA.

<sunny@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1136755803_123@spool6-east.superfeed.net...
> Actually Verizon's secondary system is usually the old ATT system. None of
> the Sprint system in the midwest - is compatable with Verizon's. If you
> are
> roaming in Missou area you are probably on the Verizon analog system
>
> ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet
> News==----
> http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+
> Newsgroups
> ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption
> =----

Let me claify a couple of points. According to Verizon's coverage maps,
advance feature are only avaiable in Missouri in a handfull of counties
in the St Louis area and a handful of counties in the KC area. There's
a couple of very small areas in the middle. Check Verizon's maps. Yes
you can make phone calls on a variety of roaming partners but advanced
digital features will not work based upon information from Verizon
itself.

I don not know what other system that Varizon may be operating here in
Missouri, but based upon their own maps, they do not claim them.

Is it worth paying for Verizon when you get no digital service when
traveling outstate and are not using Verizon highly touted network? I
guess that depends.

This situation exists in much of the midwest. Lots of white on the
Verizon native coverage map.

Tom

Let me claify a couple of points. According to Verizon's coverage maps,
advance feature are only avaiable in Missouri in a handfull of counties
in the St Louis area and a handful of counties in the KC area. There's
a couple of very small areas in the middle. Check Verizon's maps. Yes
you can make phone calls on a variety of roaming partners but advanced
digital features will not work based upon information from Verizon
itself.

I don not know what other system that Varizon may be operating here in
Missouri, but based upon their own maps, they do not claim them.

Is it worth paying for Verizon when you get no digital service when
traveling outstate and are not using Verizon highly touted network? I
guess that depends.

This situation exists in much of the midwest. Lots of white on the
Verizon native coverage map.

Tom

Mij Adyaw wrote:
> Why do you state that Sprint's system in the Midwest is not compatible with
> Verizon's? A Sprint phone has the capability to roam on the Verizon 800 MHZ
> system anywhere in the USA.

And a Verizon tri-mode can roam just fine on Sprint.

The real reason that Verizon doesn't use Sprint is probably economic.
Verizon most likely uses Alltel for roaming throughout most of the country
where Alltel is available, because Verizon entered into a big roaming
agreement with Alltel when VZW was created. Both carriers supposedly give
each other really good roaming rates.

--
Steve Sobol, Professional Geek 888-480-4638 PGP: 0xE3AE35ED
Company website: http://JustThe.net/
Personal blog, resume, portfolio: http://SteveSobol.com/
E: sjsobol@JustThe.net Snail: 22674 Motnocab Road, Apple Valley, CA 92307