Comments on: Which Phone/Carrier Combo (U.S.) Would I Choose?

By: Shaneaus

Shaneaus — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:04:29 +0000

I would love to use my G1 on ATT with 3G. Right now I have an unlocked G1 and am restricted to using edge.

I don’t find the GUI easy to use AT ALL on the iPhone as compared to Android – especially, with the new Sense UI/Rosie – which is AWESOME.

I love ATT in my area because of the excellent coverage – But,will stick with an Android device NO MATTER WHAT.

By: Shaneaus

Shaneaus — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:00:25 +0000

I believe location is very important regarding carrier reliability. I work as a Deputy Sheriff in the rural areas of my county in the Austin, Texas area. I have been on ATT for over 7 years. Consistently, all across Travis County I have been in places that I was the only Deputy able to make calls on a cell phone. I recently moved into an office on the east side of my county – ATT is the ONLY service available inside the building. All of the staff with other carriers have to leave the building to talk. The ATT coverage here is why I stay with ATT. As far as 3G goes… I like the G1 so much more than the iPhone that I live with edge instead of 3G – But, I can tell you I have edge service everywhere I have voice service – including inside the building.

By: Silverstreak

Silverstreak — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:59:23 +0000

As a current iPhone/AT&T customer, and former Alltel client, my ideal setup would be the iPhone on Verizon…hands down!

By: Char

Char — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:31:27 +0000

You guys are forgetting one company.. US Cellular? They have amazing coverage! I would rank the carriers I have had over the years..

1.) Verizon
2.) US. Cellular
3.) Sprint
4.) T-Mobile

By: rob

rob — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:22:07 +0000

I think the one thing you left out was cost. I agree with your assesement of carriers- however, Verizon comes at a huge premium over Sprint and if anything the throughput on Sprint’s network is slightly better. Factor in that roaming onto Verizon’s network is included in Sprint’s plans and you have a no brainer in my opinion.

By: Bordercreek

Bordercreek — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:23:34 +0000

I was a long-time Verizon customer back when it was Primeco, but then switch to Sprint due to the cheaper data plan. I can’t afford multiple phones, but the HTC phone I have works very well. I’m looking forward to all the Windows Mobile phones coming out this and next year. If I couldn’t have a WinMo phone, I’d go with the Pre or Android phone whenever it became available on Sprint. In my area, US Cellular is considered to have the best signal strength and coverage.

By: Dave52

Dave52 — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:44:08 +0000

I generally like my iPhone 3G but am not fond of AT&T. I’ve been with them for about 5 years because their voice coverage was better than Sprint’s in the Northern Virginia suburbs of DC, esp. inside office buildings.

AT&T’s 3G data coverage in the DC area is adequate but not spectacular. Oddly enough, it extends far out into the countryside and can work well there, but there are weak or dead spots closer to the city.

Now that I spend most of my time in Central VA (Charlottesville), I’ve come to rely on various WiFi networks (school, stores, etc.) for data – there’s no 3G and the Edge network is nearly unusable.

Voice coverage is not good in either Northern or Central VA, and mobile-to-mobile connections are horrible. I stick with the iPhone and AT&T for mainly for support – I don’t want to mess around with jailbreaking, and I’m not so impressed with other phones to want to switch. If I had VoIP for WiFi I’d be a lot happier.

However, if Verizon or T-Mobile supported the iPhone I would certainly consider switching carriers.

By: chris

chris — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:01:59 +0000

Not being American and not having experienced firsthand any American carriers, I’m gonna have to say the iPhone 3GS and I would use it on T-Mobile. But only because they have Catherine Zeta-Jones in their ads.

By: solomon

solomon — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:20:01 +0000

what if you could match any phone to any carrier, how would you match and rank them?

By: Jack Won

Jack Won — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:01:01 +0000

Blackberry Bold + AT&T = Best Corporate Combination , IMO

Good for roaming, both domestic and international and has WiFI and GPS, with a physical keyboard.

By: HSK

HSK — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:24:26 +0000

Very valid comment, IMO. I have had WM devices for years, but I do not need specific apps and the Pre’s interface is just so much smoother, easier to use (just had a Touch Pro). Can say the same for the iPhone. I will take a look at the TP2 when it arrives – once it has 6.5 – but the Pre with webOS seems to be more of what I am looking for in a mobile device. I don’t need a mini-computer which WM typically tries to do. I need email, browsing and media. Heck, if the iPhone was on Sprint or Verizon – or if ATT was better, I would have had an iPhone 6 months ago.

By: Dave Zatz

Dave Zatz — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:20:04 +0000

Verizon is the best network in the metro DC area. They don’t really have any phones I want though. I have heard confirmation a Storm replacement is in the works, but who knows when (or if it’ll still be Verizon).

I’m contemplating the Pre or Magic/myTouch, as I’m bored with the iPhone and AT&T’s data network can’t handle demand.

By: victor

victor — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:59:30 +0000

I know most people will laugh…but did you not consider a Windows Mobile phone like the HTC Touch Pro 2? Or, are you waiting for the true WM 6.5 devices to come out and be carried officially?

I think people seem to forget that the platform is alive and also has thousands of applications available and, for business use especially, the integration with Outlook over-the-air is pretty sweet.

By: Jalapeno

Jalapeno — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:46:07 +0000

You can use data while roaming, its just that you have to enable it. In the phone app go to preferences, and enable data roaming. All the Sprint Pre plans include data roaming but it is disabled by default on the phone. I imagine they do this to save a bit of $$ on roaming costs.

By: Jalapeno

Jalapeno — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:40:06 +0000

I think your article highlights a very important factor in the decision to buy a smartphone, the quality of the network. I think that so many are wowed by the iphone that they forget to ask how good ATT’s coverage is..and after a while when the iPhone wow factor has rubbed off the terrible quality of the ATT network really starts to chafe.

By: HSK

HSK — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:07:25 +0000

Yep, everyone likes to walk outside to use the phone… Certified or not, the majority of cell phone calls are made indoors.

I even tried that when I had ATT and it didn’t help.