Unbiased cell network info

[snuphacracka]

So my family plan ends this month. I am on at&t and Im considering all my options. Before CES, it seemed like a no brainer to drop att and move to either sprint or verizon. But, I must say, I am impressed with the plans at&t announced. Its so tough to find truly unbiased information when it comes to cell networks, it seems everyone wants to brag about whichever network they have.

What, in your unbiased opinion, is the best network to go with for at least the next two years (keeping in mind that Android is a necessity?

 

[davidnmegan6907]

So my family plan ends this month. I am on at&t and Im considering all my options. Before CES, it seemed like a no brainer to drop att and move to either sprint or verizon. But, I must say, I am impressed with the plans at&t announced. Its so tough to find truly unbiased information when it comes to cell networks, it seems everyone wants to brag about whichever network they have.

What, in your unbiased opinion, is the best network to go with for at least the next two years (keeping in mind that Android is a necessity?

It mostly depends on what carrier has the best coverage for price in your area

 

[Snow_Fox]

NO such thing as unbiased cell phone coverage information.

Providers differ too greatly area to area.

Ask people you know in person what their coverage is like everywhere you work and play.

 

[dan330]

it is not hard to find info plans for the carriers in your area.. online.

then you have ask your local friends... which have good signal. useless to have a great phone.. but cant use it because of bad signal.

we can tell you.. that sprint and tmobile have the lowest prices (of the big 4 national carriers).. and are unlimited data... but tmobile will slow down your data after 5gb per month.

att has issues with service in more places. they have also been awarded the bottom customer service scores.
they are losing iphone to verizon; they had been gimping the android phones to make the iphone look better. Now they have to do a 180 and create demand with huge awesome android phones.
att has lousy signal, lousy customer service, and higher prices.
if att is great in your area...

base your decision on your experience and info that you have in your area.

 

[Medion]

I'll try my best. These are all "informed assumptions," if you will. I based my choice of carrier on this line of thinking, which is why I eventually went with Verizon.

CDMA:

Verizon - true nationwide footprint, entire footprint is 3G, but their 3G speeds are not as fast as the 3G speeds of AT&T/T-Mobile. So, their data is more consistent, with fewer drop offs, but doesn't have the top-end speed. Their 4G plan is to have their entire footprint covered by 2014.

Sprint - a nationwide carrier thanks to roaming agreements with Verizon. When roaming, you're limited to 2G speeds, and 250MB/month roaming data (unlimited in-network roaming). 3G speeds are similar to Verizon, and available in most areas. First to roll out 4G service, which is WiMax through Clear. Up in the air how much they will expand 4G, or if they switch to LTE.

GSM/UMTS:

AT&T - true nationwide carrier, but their network is hodgepodge. Urban areas and more highways are served with 3G, but areas outside of the drop off to Edge, GPRS, or even no data (just voice). Their 4G plans haven't been fully announced yet, but they will likely just do the drop-offs again, leaving only urban areas with 4G coverage.

T-Mobile - nationwide carrier thanks to roaming agreements with AT&T, has 3G/"4G" coverage in fewer areas than AT&T, more areas with drop offs to Edge/GPRS/no data. Their 4G plan thus far has been to speed up 3G technology and refer to it as 4G, rather than invest in true 4G technology.

If I just wanted a phone for voice, I'd go with the cheapest carrier. But as for data coverage, Verizon has the broadest (area wise) coverage. It's also all 3G and planned to be converted to 4G. But, if you know for a fact that the areas you travel to have good coverage with AT&T (from your current/prior use of them), then you should be good on just about any carrier.

 

[Snow_Fox]

Not trying to dog any companies here.. but, I can give you some personal experience with different companies.

At&t has horrible data rates no matter where you are.

I have never noticed a problem with text or voice barring natural disasters. However, the data rates have been inconstant with anyone's phone I've used. Usually it is more then adequate for web browsing or a few small downloads. Any time its bench marked it has come out disturbingly low.

Sprint - has improved greatly.

My co worker had sprint and for a while he had horrible service.. He never complained about it but, anytime he called me, his voice would do weird things and his call would drop.

From what I can tell that has changed though. When we had the demo evo we do not have 4g in that area.. and the data and voice abilities were highly impressive.

It benched 3Mbps even in a freaken metal building where we were surprised it got reception at all. (most phone's worked well enough for voice but, data got finnicky inside the building).

So where they have good service it is excellent.. where it is shaky... it is horrible.

Tmobile-

Worst trained customer service I've ever dealt with in my life. When We had to call them up.. we basically had to tell them what we wanted and sometimes how to do it :/

They let customers get away with things they shouldn't have.

I can't knock them because, If I needed a line.. they are cheap and easy on the deposits. Their service seems more than adequate for anyone using it.

Verizon-no personal experience using/selling verizon. With that said.. I am not exactly happy to hear about the new restrictions they got recently.

 

[takeshi]

What, in your unbiased opinion, is the best network to go with for at least the next two years (keeping in mind that Android is a necessity?

You can look at coverage maps but they're not always accurate IMO as I've lived in areas with "good" coverage and no usable signal.

As always: check real coverage specifically where you need it. You'll find this recommendation constantly posted on cell phone specific sites like Howard Forums. It's the best you can do as every carrier has coverage holes and broad discussions regarding coverage are, as you have found, fairly meaningless except to marketing and fanboys.

As stated above, you can also check with people in your area or areas that you need coverage.