Compare and contrast

[unixronin]

Sprint-Nextel, about 14-15 months ago:

"No signal even though our coverage map says there should be full strength?  Sorry mate, yer fucked, it's not the original service location, so it's not our problem.  No, we won't pro-rate the early termination fee.  Have a nice day.  HAHAHAHA!"

AT&T-Cingular, about 15 minutes ago:

"No signal?  Oh dear, sorry to hear that.  Well, if we can't get you signal, we can't sell you service, and we can't charge you an early termination fee.  Let us know if you want us to help you port your existing number to another carrier."

Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Comments

[blackcoat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, see..that's been pretty much the level of customer service that I've gotten over the past 10 years as an AT&T customer. And so when people started bitching about how you *HAD* to have AT&T with the iPhone, and how HORRIBLE they were, I was just confused. :)

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

I know, I think their customer service is great. Unfortunately, here in the Lakes region, their signal coverage is all but nonexistent. I'm given to understand the only carrier with decent coverage up here is Verizon ... and Verizon cripples all its phones with a one-size-fits-all lowest-common-denominator interface that disables half the features of the phone and forces you to use extra-cost Verizon services instead.

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

invite some friends with AT&T to come visit. hopefully one of the phones works.

i KNOW mine works just fine from the motorcycle dealership there, and i'm pretty sure i surfed something at your house and/or got a phone call.

goto a local AT&T store and ask the guy "which phone has the best antenna", and stuff your SIM into it? ask them to borrow it for testing (deposit). if it's cheap... well. if it's not, find a used one?

#

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

It's a possibility, I guess.

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

I have AT&T and I know my phone works at unixronin's house. In fact I made a call while we were unloading the moving truck apologizing for not being at a party I was expected at that evening. the phone is a Nokia 6126. (The 6131 is the international unlocked version of the same phone.)

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Huh. I can't get signal long enough to make a call anywhere around here, on a Motorola Razr V3i. Neither can cymrullewes, on her work-issued Razr V3.

[cymrullewes.livejournal.com]

Not quite true. I can make a call in certain places on the hill side. And I can make a call here if I'm outside. But right at the turn for NH-11A signal drops to nothing but I get signal back after turning the curve right after the turn off.

[tomatoe333.livejournal.com]

The Nokia 6000-series phones have very good RF receivers. My 6030 works very well in places where lesser phones have no signal. I'm on T-Mobile currently, though I can usually roam to Cingular if they're the only ones in the area with towers.

[cymrullewes.livejournal.com]

Yup. I called you because I couldn't get a response from his cell phone. I get some signal but there are places on NH 11 where the signal drops out totally but another 1/4 mile and it is full signal strength again. (specifically where NH 11 splits off to NH 11A which is my 10 minute marker to home.)

[arasirsul.livejournal.com]

Are you sure you don't have those backward?

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Uhhhhh .... [checks phone for jacksplat logo] Yeah, I'm pretty sure.

[outtamyskull.livejournal.com]

check the TMO coverage map and call me if you need to do something.

http://t-mobile.com/coverage/

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

T-Mobile's map says we're in 3-4 bars signal. You're with T-Mobile?

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Further to that: AT&T says no signal throughout the entire valley. Verizon claims solid digital signal throughout the entire area. Sprint-Nextel can bite me. I was pretty surprised to see that much signal shown from T-Mobile; I've always had the impression of them as a metropolitan-areas carrier.

[outtamyskull.livejournal.com]

Yes i'm with them. and Tmo has put up thousands of towers in the last few years.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Looks like what I may do is get AT&T to unlock my phone, then go with a T-Mobile prepaid plan. It'll probably take me a whole year to use 1000 minutes of airtime anyway. By the time that runs out or I need to go outside their local coverage much, maybe Verizon will be letting you use a phone on their network without dropping your pants and bending over.