Two carriers?

[jkmasi]

Not sure what I'm going to do yet, so I'm looking for feedback --

I'm a long-time VZW customer, 4 lines, family plan. I have a droidx and a droid 2, have had an Inc, Eris, Blackberry, TP2... I'm pretty addicted to Android and my smartphone. Always love to check out new devices, etc.

Everyone loves Verizon's coverage and I was fully on-board until I married a guy who lives in WV where there is NO VZW coverage. We spend weekends in WV, and I have tried to adjust to no cell phone while there, but it always bothers me. A year ago, Sprint came to town - in fact, I can see the Sprint tower from my deck. Still no love for Verizon.... I can use my X on wifi at home, but I can't get coverage while driving, and I can't text.

I am so tempted to pick up a new Epic or Evo Shift on Sprint, hopefully on a one year contract... but is it just crazy to have two phones?

I guess some folks have two phones - one for work, one personal, but usually in that case one bill is paid by someone else.

Any thoughts or ideas? I can't talk to my family or friends about this because they would not understand. They just have dumb phones for talking and texting and don't give them a second thought. Imagine that.

 

[techno-update]

I would change to Sprint if you have no service. I am a current verizon user with a droid incredible. But I live in Florida where they have great service. I would definently get the Evo Shift.

 

[skilaufen]

If you have wifi access and all you need is a phone for the weekends look into Sprint's minute or pay as you go phones.

 

[Taylored]

It seems to me like you should just switch to Sprint. I assume Sprint would probably work the other 5 days a week as well. VZW service is not likely to get better in the near term. Just be cautious of that nasty 4G surcharge @ Sprint.

And I'll buy that DroidX from you

 

[jkmasi]

Thanks for the feedback! I love this place

I can't completely switch to Sprint, unless I want to pay ETFs on all four of my lines. I could add a Sprint account and phone, and then gradually switch lines over as contracts expire, however, that will be just under a two year process from start to finish.

I could sell my Droid2 and X, (I'll keep you in mind Taylored) then just activate a dumb phone on my vzw contract while I test drive Sprint for a year. I wonder if there is any way for me to swap phone numbers -- ie., move my current number to Sprint and send my "new" # to my VZW line.... I know that I could port my VZW # to Sprint if I was outright switching, but not sure how to do it in this case. I'll have to check that out.

Yeah - that $10 4g charge is not great, but I don't think that they have a phone I want that doesn't have 4g.

 

[Taylored]

I think the ETFs are $175 for each line. And this is prorated over the two year contract. You could probably come pretty close to breaking even if you sold all of your phones.

Activating a dumb phone is a good idea too. VZW can only enforce the contract on basic services. If the active phone cannot use data, you do not have to pay for it.