Cell phone advice needed

First, I realize that the quality of one's cellular reception varies
with the provider, where you live, and the specific cell phone, so
here's specifically what I'd like to do:

I live in Brooklyn and currently have T-Mobile as my provider and a
Motorola T720 flip phone. This combination is wretchedly bad. I
can barely get reception on a first floor apartment near downtown
Brooklyn, where I figured the reception would be halfway decent.

I'm looking to change my plan to Verizon or Cingular in 4 months time
when my commitment to T-Mobile has expired. What I'd like to do is
buy a new phone that gets better reception than my current, horrible
Motorola phone, but also a phone that I can use later if I switch
to Verizon or Cingular. I'm looking to spend about $150 or less on this
new phone.

Any advice?

Thanks,
JB

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Verizon is CDMA, TMo and Cingular ar GSM (with some Cingular TDMA areas)
and cross platform phones are very rare. That means that if you buy a
VZW phone it will never work with TMo or Cingular and vice versa. If
your GSM phone is unlocked you can move between Cingualr and TMo.
Suggestion: See if your Tmo phone is unlocked - if not TMo will unlock
it for you since you're well into your contract - and then take it to a
Cingular store and try a Cingular prepaid SIM. Use it at home and other
places you frequent and see if the signal strength in those areas is
better.

From:Joe Blow
[email protected]

> First, I realize that the quality of one's cellular reception varies
> with the provider, where you live, and the specific cell phone, so
> here's specifically what I'd like to do:
>
> I live in Brooklyn and currently have T-Mobile as my provider and a
> Motorola T720 flip phone. This combination is wretchedly bad. I
> can barely get reception on a first floor apartment near downtown
> Brooklyn, where I figured the reception would be halfway decent.
>
> I'm looking to change my plan to Verizon or Cingular in 4 months time
> when my commitment to T-Mobile has expired. What I'd like to do is
> buy a new phone that gets better reception than my current, horrible
> Motorola phone, but also a phone that I can use later if I switch
> to Verizon or Cingular. I'm looking to spend about $150 or less on
> this new phone.
>
> Any advice?
>
> Thanks,
> JB

I asked this question when I started with T-Mobile because I also get horrible reception. I was told that Nokia has way better reception compared to any other cell phone. Of course I'm a Motorola nutt so I had to get the v300. I get worse reception with my v300 than I did with my v60c. I was told the new v330 will have better reception.

Anyway, I was told that one of the reps took her Samsung and Nokia up onto a mountain and the Nokia had kept a great signal while the Samsung died a long time ago. I'm not a fan of Nokia but they do get good reception, I must admit.

Don't forget, you always have a trial date and if you don't get reception where you are, you can always return or back out of your agreement.

Originally Posted by Joe Blow

First, I realize that the quality of one's cellular reception varies
with the provider, where you live, and the specific cell phone, so
here's specifically what I'd like to do:

I live in Brooklyn and currently have T-Mobile as my provider and a
Motorola T720 flip phone. This combination is wretchedly bad. I
can barely get reception on a first floor apartment near downtown
Brooklyn, where I figured the reception would be halfway decent.

I'm looking to change my plan to Verizon or Cingular in 4 months time
when my commitment to T-Mobile has expired. What I'd like to do is
buy a new phone that gets better reception than my current, horrible
Motorola phone, but also a phone that I can use later if I switch
to Verizon or Cingular. I'm looking to spend about $150 or less on this
new phone.

Any advice?

Thanks,
JB

Nokia phones due get better reception but are larger and bulkier than the flip phones. TMobile's service has improved 100% in the last 10 months [I live in Queens] I could not use the phone in my apartment and now it works beautifully [same phone Samsung e715]. TMobile keeps adding antenna's. I agree with BruceR's suggestion to get a prepaid sim from Cingular and give that a try. Stay away from Nextel.