In California, T-Mobile actually uses the Cingular towers. They have a contract with Cingular to use their towers and Cingular uses T-Mobile in some areas on the east coast.

The thing is, they only use one Cingular band so that's why there's some places where you get Cingular but not T-mobile. But in places where you get T-mobile, you will always have Cingular. So Cingular > T-mobile.

 

T-Mobile gets my vote. Ive had it for over 2 years, and the coverage is not the best, but gets the job done around the eastbay (Martinez, PH, WC, Concord, etc)

I love it soley because of the value. 1000 anytime/anywhere minutes, no long distance, no roaming, free nights/weekends for like $40. Went to Hawaii, no extra charges...in fact I have NEVER been over my minutes due to the great plan. I would rather sacrifice reception than worry about a $100 bill.

Hope this helps

 

I've also had the exact same experience, though I've been with T-Mobile for about 3 years. It's not the best (which is Verizon), but it operates on a GSM network, is cheap as hell, I can use it anywhere in the country (for free), has cheap internet/GPRS, and most importantly, doesn't come with a 2yr plan. I get a new top-of-the line phone every year with all the money I save. But like Gino said, go with what works best for YOU.

 

The cingular towers now belong (almost all of them) to tmobile/voicestream wireless.
In the urban areas tmobile/cingular/verizon/sprint cell sites are 90% located in the same roof top or tower near the highway. I find it pretty comical since the sites are in the same locations or across the street from each other. The real difference must be in the switching equipment and the antennas.

I do know that no one else but cingular is installing new sites in all the hilly areas from san mateo to portola valley. I get full bars in woodside and most of skyline now.

 

cingular, sprint, and verizon are the *hands down* best services to go with.

 

thats what they all say... lol

 

I dont have vendor status otherwise i'd advertise my i-club specials!!!!

 

I wish I can tell you all what I know but I cant, see me in person one day and I fill you in on what the real deal is on who owns what and where it works period.

I say it is all about what is affordable and what works in the area you are in most of the time.



gino

 

who's got the hookup for cingular? i'm gonna need 2 phones in about 10 days. pm me please

 

go with Verizon. I've had plans with cingular, tmobile, nextel, verizon.....list goes on. and Verizon has the best cellular service hands down.

Every carriers except Verizon has BOO BOO reception.

 

yeah right, you are probably stuck on a contract and cant get out of Verizon.j/k.LMAO

again my 2 cents

Both good " new Cingular and Verizon", But what is best is what works in your area and where you go period and that is bottom line. Everyone sez this is good that is good etc. but everyone has various needs can be money or handsets etc.




gino

 

i've had em all... and right now i have three phones. cingular, sprint, and tmobile. cingular rocks all the other services. although verizon and sprint really do have good coverage, they are limited to elevated areas, especially hills. i got good reception at alot of mountains with cingular and tmobile. tmobile is alright, but more of a piggyback service here in cali. nextel plain sucks. metropcs is better, but still limited. ive sold all services and used em. cant beat cingular when it comes to reception. verizon and sprint cdma is the best for media, though.

 

If you are considering changing cell providers, check the new provider to see if they have a return policy. I was with Verizon Wireless for the last 4 years, but wanted to try T-Mobile ('cos the SK2 is a good toy). I was wary about the coverage though.

When I mentioned my concerns in the store, the salesman said you get 30 days during which you can return the equipment and cancel the service (assuming you didn't damage the phone etc.) If you return during that time, they only bill you for the service used. Once you go over 30 days, it is the usual contract deal.

I ran my old Verizon and the SK2 in parallel for a couple of weeks, around the Bay, up to Tahoe etc. so I could compare the two.

 

Forgot to update you guys...

I actually went with T-Mobile after looking at Verizon's prices. I went with the Sidekick 2 and went to LA/LV during Xmas/New Year's. The coverage down there was AWESOME. Voice quality was top notch.

then...

When I came back to the Bay, then to my house in D.C., the coverage was so crappy that I didn't get any reception at home, unless I restarted the device before making a phone call, then it would start dropping anyways.

Good thing is that T-Mobile has this 30 day return thing. I returned the phone and got my money back, and just had to pay for the calls and other charges I made with it.

I then went with Cingular again (bleh...), with a new contract for a new phone:

Sony Ericsson W600i

The phone was free with a new 2 year contract. The phone is great and has tons of features such as a 1.3mp camera, games, MP3 player, built in 256mb memory, etc. I didn't go with the RAZR because of the growing popularity with them. Plus I had a Moto before this and hated the software (SLOWWWW).

After a few months of getting used to the phone, it seems like an ordinary phone to me. I don't use a lot of the features besides calling and walkman MP3/FM radio and the camera. Don't get me wrong I still love this phone, it's just that it's kinda plain for me.

Now I really miss my Sidekick 2 and the 3 weeks I had with it. It had the cool swivel screen factor and the whole keyboard layout, the flash lights, and just the idea of owning one. Like I said, I still love the W600i, but I really want a Sidekick 2. It's a shame Cingular isn't compatible with it (maybe just the phone and TXT?).

It's probably just me and the fact that I'm 17 and still with the whole "cool" factor regarding cell phones.

Just my daily thought...

 

i have had all services... all of 'em. verizon was the best.

eventhough right now cingular is brainwashing everyone saying they have the best coverage. not. i always get drop calls. 680 between san ramon and fremont, there's like 2 spots.

on bollinger 2 spots on either 580 or 680 route.

in my hayward house it just plain didn't work.

cingular sux. that's what i have now.

i like their phone choices though

besides dropping calls is a good excuse to get off the phone.

sd