Mobile Phone help please

[ickaimp]

Okay... so the first big purchase for the job I need to make is a mobile phone. (shaddup, I know, I know)
This was a goal of mine about a month ago, but what I need in a phone has changed. Instead of just local, now I need long distance and txting, possibly e-mail.

So, what carriers and/or phones do you wise people of the interwebs suggest? AT&T? Alltel? Sprint? Any one know price ranges?

Thanks!

Comments

[dqbunny.livejournal.com]

I've been happy with AT&T, and my offer to add you onto my plan is still available if you'd like. But if you want to go with e-mail, the best thing you can do is either a Blackberry with Verizon or AT&T or an iPhone with AT&T.

[elinor-dear.livejournal.com]

T-Mobile = Teh Suck (online anyways) although I got great service at the actual storefront here in town.

Verizon has been fantastic. I have the Envy 2 and a pretty basic plan that included local and long distance, email ability and internet.

[visc-lore.livejournal.com]

Another endorsement for Verizon from me. They are the only carrier I've ever had, and have given me NO reason to think about changing. Being able to make changes to your calling plan on-line is great. I hear they've bought Alltel, but Alltel is still advertising as an independent - anyone know when/if the absorption is going to happen?

[dverning.livejournal.com]

Cingular/AT&T is the devil, especially for reception in Central Tucson.

I've been on Verizon for a couple years now and very happy with them. I actually got service on site at Southern.

[morgan-the-etc.livejournal.com]

We've had AT&T for a number of years, and are in general happy with it. I've got an original Razor (about 4 years old) that recieves phone calls, text messages and email just fine. I don't like to send email or text, so the keyboard is not an issue with me. I have been only one place in oh, the last ten years that did not have any reception - Laytonville, CA.

[kittyshinju.livejournal.com]

I recently got verizon and so far it's been pretty good. Unlimited texting is a blessing. My friend has a backberry and it seems to work well. Also if I heard correctly there's a way to hook it up to a laptop to use it as an internet connection. My dad says that his boss uses it for that a lot.

[swordmage.livejournal.com]

domnall, myself, and my dad all love our iPhones.

dverning is right, to an extent - there are some very random dead zones where I get no reception.

[lil-1337.livejournal.com]

Verizon has worked really well for me. The thing you'll want to check into is a plan vs prepaid. A lot of the carriers will make you pay a deposit if you don't have a decent credit rating. The amount varies depending on the plan and the carrier.

[ytak.livejournal.com]

I have AT&T and usually have reception where ever I go. If you're going to be using it for work to send and receive e-mail, you'll want one with a full keyboard.

[racheyrae.livejournal.com]

I absolutely love my Verizon BlackBerry. Compared to many of my friends who have different plans, mine seems to have the best service. Less dead zones, better reception.

[avilina.livejournal.com]

I had poor luck with AT&T customer service but I've felt that Sprint was really good to us. I have a Rumor LG I text like a fiend on, but I don't use the e-mailing you'll want.

[nightengale.livejournal.com]

I'll add you onto my spreadsheet on google docs that i made for this purpose. It may help? :)

[bard-linn.livejournal.com]

My suggestion? Try out a phone from which ever company you're thinking about and try it from a bunch of different places. We actually have two plans in the family because ATnT doesn't do much where I work, but Verizon doesn't work in the Poconos.