cell phone question

LetsHikeToday · July 2012

This might be stupid but I have no idea where I'm going and what I'm doing when it comes to cell phone plans.

Currently, I have AT&T (iphone- the oldest one ever) and where we live, I get almost zero service. I get 2 bars but it isn't 3G, it's the edge network. It makes my phone unreliable as people will try to call me and it won't even ring and it'll go straight to voice mail. We don't have a land line either so obviously this isn't safe, especially for the amount of time I'm alone.

I wouldn't mind switching to verizon but I do have unlimited data for AT&T and I'm grandfathered into that. But at the same time, it doesn't really work here and I use my wireless internet at home and just know AT&T won't work outside of the house unless I leave my town. So far, I've used 63 MBs of data this month (and my month is over in 3 days) so I was looking at the Verizon plans and I could choose anywhere from 2GB-10GB (2 being $60-10 being $100)

So my question is, if your service sucked and you couldn't use it, would you switch to a service you know works better here? How many GBs would you get? I should also mention that I can cancel my plan because my upgrade was 2 years ago and I never used it, so I'm in a month to month plan.

Edit: It seems stupid to be worried about giving up a grandfathered plan when it doesn't even work, I just get very nervous to start new 2 year plans.

freebread03 · July 2012

I have Sprint--I've had it for 10 years now and never have any issues. I think I roam free on Verizon's network. I also get unlimited data, unlimited text messaging (I think), free nights after 7pm, free weekends, and 500 anytime minutes for like $63 after my company discount, which is a whopping 23% off my total bill (check to see if your or your husband's employer gets a discount--govt, military, private sector companies).

Edit: I have an iPhone.

Smash Adams · July 2012

I would definitely cancel but I have no patience for my cell phone not working properly. Do you know for sure that VZ has better coverage where you are?

I would be more inclined to get the smaller data package and just stay conscious of how much I'm using-- I have an app on my phone (it's a Droid through Verizon) that shows me how much data I've used, which is sort of pointless because I have an unlimited plan.

LetsHikeToday · July 2012

thanks for responding!

But I live in the middle of no where so I'm almost 100% sure verizon is the only service that works.

LetsHikeToday · July 2012

Smash- What phone do you have? I'm not against getting a different one than the iphone.

Smash Adams · July 2012

Do it, man. It can't be much worse than what you have already, and you don't seem to use that much data, although I'd go back through your records over the last few months to see how much you use, on average.

Edit: missed your other post. I have a Droid Thunderbolt, which I effing hate and am getting rid of as soon as I can. I had a Droid Incredible before that which crapped out on me and they tried to force me into a refurbished one, which also sucked, so I ended up buying the Thunderbolt. It's big, slow, and frequently doesn't work properly.

Smash Adams · July 2012

And it sucks battery like no one's business even with an App Killer and minimal use. I hate this GD phone.

celticmyss · July 2012

When I first moved to MD I had to drop T-Mobile because it didn't work in my apartment. Pressing my head up to the window to get signal got old fast.

It looks like you don't use much data at all (although that may be due to availability) so I wouldn't get too attached to the unlimited data plan.

I have had Verizon since I switched and I am satisfied with it. Not thrilled, but it works well and their customer service is adequate. I just recently got a smart phone and went with their smallest data plan ($30 for 4GB I think?) and have gone no where near the limit.

StefffiC · July 2012

You can buy a phone off Ebay and not have a Verizon contract, either. I don't like having contracts for luxury items, so we buy our phones from Ebay or Amazon and do month to month.

However, I have an old Casio Gzone flip phone and DH has a newer Samsung flip phone, neither of us have data. I wouldn't mind upgrading to the smart phone version of the Casio in the future, but I can't justify the cost right now.

My phones like to go swimming, and it was cheaper to buy one on Amazon than pay the deductible. We got tired of replacing my phone, so we bought a waterproof phone. So far, it has survived many swims, getting run over with the little truck in the grass, and all of the usual phone abuse I dish out.

I love Verizon and I'm in the middle of nowhere mountains of NC. My phone always works up here, and that's more important to me than having a premium plan.

LetsHikeToday · July 2012

Thanks for the info Smash and Celtic.

I'm looking at the Samsung Gallexy 111

celticmyss · July 2012

I got the Droid 4 and I really like it. It has slide out Qwerty keyboard and a touch screen. I wasn't ready to switch to a straight touch screen, I needed training wheels.

LetsHikeToday · July 2012

I just looked up my data/web usage for the last year and the most I used was 771MB, which I don't even think is 1GB.

So I guess I don't give a shhit anymore about my unlimited amount.

celticmyss · July 2012

When I got my plan I had concerns about data limits and the guy assured me that unless I was uploading and downloading huge files on a regular basis I would be fine.

Smash Adams · July 2012

I think I actually might want to go back to a qwerty keypad. My touch screen pisses me off a lot.

I sound like an angry person in this post. Phones and Verizon piss me off, generally.

ErinG93 · July 2012

Are you sure you wouldn't get Sprint? Here's my long cell story:

I lived in a REALLY rural area. No cell service with any company, no internet besides dial-up, etc. We had Sprint. We switched to Verizon and after a year or so they put a tower up and we got service. Now, Sprint has gotten more towers (or so I've heard) and my H's family gets service with their Sprint phones out in the boonies. Of course, this is all here so it doesn't matter.

Verizon is doing away with their grandfathered data when people renew their contracts, so we're switching back to Sprint. I'm not terribly happy with Verizon. My story probably didn't help, but if you have a friend with Sprint, you should see if you get service at your house. If you're going to use Verizon, get another iPhone.

LetsHikeToday · July 2012

Erin- I asked around and verizon is the only service that works here... if there were no naval base here, this would be swamp land. It's like a black hole.

cheeseandrice · July 2012

I guess I'm the oddball in that I love Verizon. I've had them for 8 years with virtually no issues at all. (And I'm picky and have terrible luck with customer service.) Verizon often works (even in roaming) when no one else does. I have a Droid Incredible 2 and don't mind it at all. It's the first phoen I've had that I haven't been dying to upgrade as soon as possible.

Regarding the data- if you're worried, you could always switch on the wi-fi whenever you're at home? But I doubt you need to worry. My sister is on our plan too and between the two of us (Pandora, YouTube, GPS, etc) we've never gone over 4 gigs. (we have unlimited, but I've looked at the useage before.)

ErinG93 · July 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_cell-phone-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:0639d257-1b6f-413c-ae96-0b3de283bffePost:82d5df6e-303f-42b6-96e9-bb54c2711bae">Re: cell phone question</a>:
[QUOTE]Erin- I asked around and verizon is the only service that works here... if there were no naval base here, this would be swamp land. It's like a black hole.
Posted by LetsHikeToday[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>I feel your pain. Before moving to town, H and I had only had wireless internet for a year. We had dial-up before that. CRAZY, I tell you. I think Verizon would be fine.

</div>

allisong23 · July 2012

I have Verizon, and love it. I have never not had service (which happened ll the time when I had Sprint). I have unlimited data. I have looked at what I use because they are limiting data when I renew my contract, and I don't come anywhere close to using the lowest limit plan they offer, and I use the data A LOT. Go for it.

allisong23 · July 2012

Oh, and I have the Droid Razzr Maxx. Awesome battery life. It has never died on me.

LetsHikeToday · July 2012

Thanks guys!

I'm psyched now I made the decision to change. I wonder if I can get H on board with changing to verizon too since we broke it phone anyway.

kaceymarie · July 2012

yeah i would switch! my fi had verizon and it didn't work at home so he switched to t-mobile with me.

aoideeos · July 2012

I worked for verizon for awhile. Honestly if you arent getting service with ATT I'm not sure youll get much better with verizon. Everyone share celltowers. certain companies own them and are paying each other for it but it just equals out since they share everywhere. Most likely there just isnt a cell tower near you... (or you are stuck in a dark spot, like between 2 hills or something) What you can look into, if you really want to stay with your plan at ATT is something called a network extender. they are kind of expensive (around 200.00 at verizon but we did payment plans and stuff.) but they work just like wifi but for phone service. It uses your internet connect to connect to the network.

I dont use my cell enough tho. i would just get a home phone or magic jack or something. Wayyyyyy cheaper.... But i know people live on their cell so it might be something to look into for you.

ChatonDeSexe · July 2012

I just got the Galaxy s3 on Verizon. It's super lightweight and the screen clarity/color is incredible. It's bigger than my Droid Incredible, but so much better. I officially upgraded it last month (pre-order), so I still have the unlimited data plan, but even I don't use it more than 2GB per month (and I have an hour+ commute where I play with it). If Verizon is the only one that works, go with it, and turn on your Wifi when it's available.

dannie134 · July 2012

I have a Droid Razr through Verizon. I'm really happy with it, although I wish I could have gotten the Maxx (wasn't out yet when I got my phone) because the battery does occasionally run out before the end of the day. Other than that I'm really happy with it, and very happy with Verizon's coverage - I get service at work where others don't, I do think Verizon has the best coverage in a lot of places. Also most of my friends & family have Verizon so I get free minutes that way. I'm usually under 1G a month for data, although I have the unlimited plan as well. My main data use is navigation (which I use a lot).

I did actually buy a network extender for our old apartment, we haven't bothered to turn it on where we are now, but it wasn't all that expensive and our phones stopped dropping calls once we turned it on. If you switch to Verizon and the signal is still weak I'd look into it if I were you. We just bought the Verizon one.

cell phone question

Re: cell phone question

Choose Another Board

Search Boards