LazyWeb Poll time -- CELLULAR PHONES 'N STUFF

[feren]

My contract is up with my current provider in about two months and I want a new phone. While I have been mostly happy with the service I've received with my current carrier the phone has failed to impress me on a number of fronts -- namely it isn't slim enough and it doesn't support Bluetooth. Once my contract expires I'm looking at taking my money to one of two different carriers. Each of them offers a product that meets my requirements and has a service plan I'm comfortable with. However, each one trades off against the other for some features and the choice has left me scratching my head. Since it's mostly a toss-up between the two I figured I'd sample the public at large and see what my friends are using. If one carrier is more heavily favored over the other I'll probably let that be the deciding factor.

Notes:

• I realize that some of us have multiple devices/phones with multiple carriers due to work, PDAs and such. When I ask who your provider is, I'm asking as it applies to your personal phone that you utilize for voice communications.
  
• I realize that Sprint and Nextel have merged, but right now Sprint phones don't run off iDEN technology so I consider them to still be separate.
  
• For PTT: if you subscribe to the service I'm going to assume you're carrying a phone that supports it.

[Poll #664525]

Comments

[ottr.livejournal.com]

I'm in the same predicament in that my service is coming up for renewal in two months, and I'm loathe to keep what I have. I'm with Verizon, and while their service and quality has been top notch, their selection of phones and support suck. But then, support tends to regardless...

Ideally I'd go with T-Mobile, or a Sprint/Nextel but the problem with that is the coverage in my area is horrible bording on non-existant, so I can't help you much with that.

I think when it all boils down I'm going to simply just get one of those Go phones, or some pay-as-you-use-it kind of deals, since my usage is very slim and not quite as necessary for instant and on-demand communication.

[duncandahusky.livejournal.com]

I think I've mentioned this to you before, but right now I'm with Sprint and I'd be content to stay there. Sprint has a lot of drawbacks: customer support sucks and technologically they are far behind the curve. However, I'm extremely happy with the coverage (at least for all the places I need to be) and I like their "Fair and Flexible" plan where, if you exceed your minutes, they don't gouge the heck out of you. I suspect takaza would prefer that we go with a more technologically-advanced carrier when our contract expires in October, and I can still be talked around to it. In the meantime, though, Sprint works OK for me.

[yakko.livejournal.com]

Out of curiosity, what do you think Sprint lacks technologically?

(disclosure: I work for them, but I'm a lab rat)

[duncandahusky.livejournal.com]

I'm approaching it from the user's standpoint; the merits or faults of CDMA vs. TDMA or whichever are beyond me. I'm thinking more about the availability newest and shiniest smartphones (Sidekick/Blackberry/etc.). I know Sprint has Treo's available, but those are way above my price point.

Than again, I'm thinking that until such time as I can get a phone with broadband data speeds, the ability to handle web media in a competent and sane manner, and for all intents and purposes serve as a stripped-down portable laptop (and also be affordable, and have monthly plans that won't break the bank) I'll probably hold off on smartphones. The impression I get is that we're not too far from such a thing, but I can wait a few more years with my boring old cell phone.

(Summary: I want a Rolls Royce, and I want it for a buck-twenty-five. I don't ask for much :-)

[frysco.livejournal.com]

You didn't specify just US carriers, so 'nyah' - you get a response from someone using a Canadian carrier - in my case, Fido. They're okay, partnered with Rogers - but the dataplans up here just suck.

(btw, you were missing 'N/A' options for the last two questions :>)

[feren.livejournal.com]

I was waiting for one of my Canadian Contingent (you, rhiacat or squnq to bring up the issue of "You didn't say US carriers only!" ;)

As for the last two questions... if you're not leaving your carrier the question is moot and you don't have to choose one of the radio boxes. If your carrier doesn't have PTT, you're certainly not subscribing to it. :)

[angelwind.livejournal.com]

For your plan to remain with your carrier question, you should put in a "I don't know". Because you never know what deals will be around when your contract expires.

For me, I switched from Sprint to T-Mobile because they have a $20 plan for 60 minutes, which is about what I use. But they had a deal for new customers for 1500 anytime minutes for $40, and I jumped at that, in case one day I don't need a landline or have to get cable internet because where I live doesn't support DSL (which, for as much as Qwest sucks, I at least don't have to worry about my bandwidth being throttled. :P ), and wouldn't need a landline anyway, just get one of those cell phone bases that hook into your landline phones.

I got my Samsung e335 for free, and right now it's my only camera. :P

[shaddragon.livejournal.com]

Needs a 'maybe' option on 'planning to keep.' We're stuck with Cingular because we're on a contract, but it's gotten irritating enough that we may switch when the contract comes up-- but maybe not, because the devil you know....

Cingular's phone-to-phone sucks, especially the 'free' service between people on the same plan. (Unless it's just the shitty little LG I have, which is possible.) Their service has always been dubious at best.

[rustitobuck.livejournal.com]

I moved to T-Mobile when Sprint refused to cut me slack on the last six months or so of a two-year contract. I wasn't about to pay over $500 for a Treo 650 to replace the functionality of my busted $249 Treo 300. So I walked. To Sprint's credit, my phone has been on "vacation" for several months, reducing my bill to $5/month for it.

Sprint offers $150 off for a two-year service commitment, while T-Mo offers the same for a one-year commitment. I think that's how business should run. One year contract, one year phone warranty, matches up nice that way. None of this ha-ha the phone broke, buy a new phone full price or pay us $150 to cancel your contract crap.

That and the Sidekick fits my telecom needs very well. Phone/IM/Email. Hell, I got the telnet/SSH client for it for $10. And it's not a Blackberry, which means I'm not stressing about the email part right now.

[rustitobuck.livejournal.com]

I forgot to mention that T-Mo has new Windows Mobile 5 phones coming out next month. That might be interesting too.

[hightensile.livejournal.com]

My two years of Cingular (AT&T at the time) has been nothing but disappointment and shame. I've got nothing but complaints about my reception. My calling area has been the size of a postage stamp. (I roam more than the buffalo!) Their prices have driven me up a wall. I honestly don't see their higher-end, geek driven services going anywhere. Their customer service...well...damn.

Before that, I was originally talked into Sprint and to be honest, they did a great job. They ran into trouble for poor customer service while I was with them but it never affected me and by the time I left they'd corrected the issue. Their data services are okay at best. SprintPC-whatever. I can't say that GPRS lit up my world either, though, due to the aforementioned range issues. I've SEEN it work and it's a credible tech, but not where I live. So maybe there's one for Cingular there (or Tmobile--which doesn't provide contracts in my home area.)

Pick your toy based on a completely different set of needs, but do NOT do what I did and pick the carrier based on the phone/tech. My ass is high-tailing it back to Sprint.

--kit

[duncandahusky.livejournal.com]

...which would explain (along with the comemnt I just posted above) why I'm content to stick with Sprint even if they are behind the curve on phone tech.