Need help deciding between nextel and cingular

Hey all, I'm deciding between nextel and cingular for service plans. This is my first cell phone, so I'm fairly new to this all. I have used my mom's cell quite alot, she has verizon, which works well. MY dad has nextel, and says it works well for him, but not in large stores for some reason (ie walmart).

Before I consider cingular I need to know for sure is if cingular family plans start with 2 phones, or if I have to pay 20 per month extra to have 2 on the plan. If I have to pay extra per phone, then they're out of the picture.

I'm going with a plan with my brother, hence why I want a companion plan. Both nextel and cingular have similar plans for $50 a month (nextel- 600 anytime minutes, 250 direct connect minutes... vs ...cingular- 600 anytime, rollover), I'm leaning towards cingular because rollover could be huge.

I'm a college student, I live in fort wayne IN for ~4 months a year, but I'm in muncie IN for the other 8 months. So, I need a carrier with good towers everywhere.


Any comments on my situation (info on the cingular family plan phone situation would be MUCH appreciated as they're vague on their site).

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The Cingular family share is a 'Family share' so it is for 2 phones. I believe that Cingular has good coverage in and around IN. I know that Verizon does also, but you get a little more bang for the buck with Cingular.

Well....i would choose cingular. Neither of them are the best providers out there...but then again, you need to choose a phone/plan most compatible with your lifestyle and needs. Do some more research. --I say cingular.

This forum clearly provides the indisputable proof that any discerming consumer would need to make an educated decision in choosing a reliable and competant cellphone provider.

Go look at Nextels thread with over 10,000 posts... and 99.9% of the post are complimentary in nature from satisfied customers.

Then go look at the Verizon thread with over 30,000 posts... 99.9% of which are complimentary and from satisfied customers.

NOW... go look at the Cingular threads with over 10,000 posts and see the MANY thousands of ANGRY posters that are "telling it all" about the incredible ordeals they have had with Cingulars crappy customer service, overbilling charges, refusal to correct said overbilling charges, poor coverage and terrible reception. Cingular gets an "F-" for stupidity and questionable conduct

Verizon gets an"A+" and Nextel gets "A" for overall performance.

Do yourself a BIG favor... STAY AWAY FROM CINGULAR AT ALL COSTS!!! Or... it will COST YOU BIGTIME!

Originally posted by jazzyjuice
Well....i would choose cingular. Neither of them are the best providers out there...but then again, you need to choose a phone/plan most compatible with your lifestyle and needs. Do some more research. --I say cingular.

I work in the the cellular industry and Cingular truely lost touch with their customers. Very bad pricing and even worse customer care. The plus - rollover mins. Nextel nickel and dimes you with extras and has spotty coverage. The plus - true 2-way feature. and Verizon is just expensive to start but the plus - the best coverage all around.

RE: Need help deciding between nextel and cingular

I know you will hear alot of opinions either way.

I didn't have an opinion either way until I had the misfortune to sign up with nextel. One year of complete frustration and torture.
Their customer service is the biggest pack of loser's I have ever had to deal with. Their coverage is only slightly better than a couple of tin cans joined by string. Do yourself and the others you will try and talk to a huge favor and do NOT go with nextel.
I can't comment on Cingular, but I can't imagine even in your worst nightmare that they could be worse than nextel.

no longer a nextel abuse victim.....