Thinking of switching, have questions

I am thinking of switching to US Cellular. I love the plan hate the phones. I need a phone that rings loud, has a loud speaker, and will take some abuse. It also would be good if it could take high Heat, I spend a bit of time in Arizona in the summer and 135 degrees is hot for a phone. I do not care about text, pictures or internet. blue tooth is a must. Does US cellular have a phone for me??

Anyone??

How about if I use the insurance plan? I am only in that kind of Heat for a couple weeks in the summer.

Well, that is possible but most wireless insurance companies will charge you some fee to get it replaced (usually $50). They will also limit you to having only 2 replacements per year...isn't it easier just not to need to replace them?

You can try Verizon. They have a pretty rugged phone. Its suppose to be Shock proof and water resistent. Its the Boulder GZ One I think?

Yes, Verizon has an entire line of rugged devices.

USCC does not at the moment have a phone like you're looking for...yet. I know their is works for a Military Grade phone that may be available at some point. Further details I cannot provide. Insurance replacements are not limited at USCC unless you lie about what happened. The Signal Company (insurance provider) WILL deny claims for certain accidents. I will warn you, don't sweat in the thing. A last note is warranty. Warranty will probably not be voided by Heat alone. Physical damage voids, moisture damage voids, but how can you tell internally if the phone has just been very hot? In essence you can't and a 1 year warranty on all models sold just might help you avoid insurance claims. After the 1 year a $25 replacement fee is charged by insurance for failed phones that have not seen physical damage or moisture damage

FYI, just read from a DSL forum website that US Cellular is on the market. Possible buyers are Verizon or Sprint.

FYI that's how rumors are started. I know from inside source that such is not true. USCC is owned by TDS which owns TDS Communications and Suttle Strauss. USCC is not on the market and will not be on the market within the forseeable future. Thing about forum rumors is they are easily false

If anyone wants to read the article it is from InformationWeek. The author is Marin Perez. Investors and share holders are urging the action. Quote from the article "Telephone & Data Systems, which owns 81% of U.S. Cellular, could be facing a proxy battle to make a deal as subscribers flee to rivals AT&T (NYSE: T), Sprint (NYSE: S), T-Mobile, and Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless. Multiple sources told Reuters that TDS's investors are urging the company to sell the mobile operator because it would be more valuable to a larger entity." unquote

I wasn't doubting what you read, or that you had misquoted it. I am simply telling you from an inside source that such things are not going to happen. And what does that have to do with the origional posters want of switching and/or finding a rugged phone?

How rugged do you need the phone to be? I have seen I-den phones dropped in the mud and run over by a truck and still work. A lot of first responders and construction workers use them . Verizon has a military spec phone that a second choice for this group. Another idea is to have a good case or cover for the phone which will protect somewhat. As far as the market place for cell service providers, the industry is going to trim itself down to 3 or 4 major companies with a few regional operators. I would let my current contract expire and observe what going in the market place.

I was having some problems with my last few phones from USCC, but an now pretty happy with my LG UX260. It isn't flashy, but it can take some abuse and has a nice loud ringer (especially if you add your own mp3 ringtones). Hope that helps.