Cell phone companies

[satyrlovesong]

I've been a happy Verizon customer since 1999. Ok, technically I started with AirTouch and Verizon bought them, but either way I've been fairly happy with them. When I was doing all that travel for teaching they let me change my plan every month depending on where I would be, and they have been supportive and helpful at every stage

Comments

[loupyone]

For $40/mo from verizon I get 450 minutes, free nights and weekends, free long distance and roaming and unlimited IN calling (verizon to verizon). Added to this, when i signed up again recently, they basically gave me a $300 phone and 2000 bonus anytime rollover minutes. This translates into around 80 extra minutes a month, for a total of 530/mo. Texting and picture messages cost extra.

I didn't see a whole lot that was less expensive than this. Check out T-mobile and metro PCS. Also, how about pre-paid cells? And check on that 15% discount. i just signed up for it after years of being eligible. For some reason, they don't advertise it.....

[satyrlovesong]

Yeah, that's the plan I'm on now - and I've been with them long enough that I'm beyond my two years. They offered me a free month to sign up for another year, or a new phone (which I do need) for a two year contract. *shrugs* I just don't think I use $40 worth of service. I did, before I got my new work phone but now I used that. I just don't want to lose my number.

[tsgeisel]

Keep in mind A) you might be able to find a better sign-up incentive by going into a store and talking with someone and B) get better reception perhaps with a different/newer phone.

My local store is always willing to match the online price, and while they can't do anything on the basic plan, they have wiggle room for other things, including potentially accessories and fees.

I've got Cingular now, and they work for me.

[emilia_romagna]

metropcs has a $29 dollar no frills plan.

[loupyone]

I found that the more you hem and haw with the rep (I just called them as it was more convienent to do from work), the better the deal seems to get. If you're wed to 400 min/month, I'm not sure you can get far below $40/mo. I glanced over at Metro PCS and it looks like you can probably save $5 with them, assuming you want to keep caller ID. Good luck and let me know if you find anything else.

[serendipity17]

We went with Verizon 'cos the biofam is all Verizon. IN-calling ends up being 2-3 hrs/mo, so my 450 minutes doesn't exclusively go to them. I chose a phone based on ease of button pressing and lack of excessive features. Through stupidity, I now know my phone can survive a trip through the washing machine.

Satyr's area is the only place I've been actively aware of being roaming.

[satyrlovesong]

Wow! I need your phone. So far, three of my . . . no, make that four of my previous phones have ended up in some body of water.

[serendipity17]

It's the same VG that Ailurodragon has. I've got it in the Verizon-accessory leather cover, which has padding on the outside and plastic on the inside. I can't help but assume the cover helped a lot. The cover has helped on the couple occasions I've dropped the phone.

After transferring the laundry to the dryer, I found the phone on the bottom of the washer. I took off the cover, took out the battery, and called the local Verizon store. I was advised to blow-dry the phone for no longer than half a minute, and not try using the phone for at least two hours. I can still, a week later, see some shading in the LCD, but the visible drops are gone.

My only problem with the phone is that the keypad half gets very warm during charging and long use. There's relatively little thermal insulation on the phone itself.