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Carriers Basics – What each Carrier Offers

PhoneDog LLC
Updated on Mar 28
by PhoneDog LLC,
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ationwide Carriers

alltel logo
Alltel recently acquired Western Wireless making Alltel the 5th largest carrier in the U.S.  Alltel operates the largest carrier owned CDMA network of towers and is compatible with Verizon’s network for full nationwide coverage.
Pros: Good selection of handsets and better than average customer service operations.  Good variety of local and nationwide calling plans.

Cons: Somewhat more expensive calling plans, new service in only available in 33 states.
 

 
AT&T has become the largest wireless carrier in the nation.  AT&T uses a nationwide GSM network of cell towers and is roaming partners with T-Mobile, SunCom, and other GSM providers operating GSM systems.  AT&T has more than 54 million subscribers in the U.S.
 
Pros: AT&T is the only carrier offering “Roll Over” minutes which allows you to accumulate unused minutes to future months.  Very competitive rate plans including some of the best pricing for Family plans.  AT&T also recently launched a unique push-to-talk system using a very nice Instant Messenger type interface, although only a few phones are offered for this service.  AT&T's service has greatly improved over the past 18 months and has one of the largest coverage areas.  GSM is also compatible with most overseas countries.

Cons: The phones offered by AT&T and its GSM manufactures sometimes are not quite “unique” as those offered by Verizon and Sprint with the exception of the iPhone.  Their Push-to-Talk system will take some time to acquire enough users to make it worthwhile for many users.
 

 
Sprint PCS logo
Sprint acquired Nextel in 2005 creating the 3rd largest provider in the U.S..  Sprint (CDMA PCS) and Nextel (iDen) use two separate networks to service each individual network.  Sprint will need to upgrade the older Nextel/iDen network to fully integrate its customer base and rate plans.
 
Pros: Sprints Fair and Flexible plans allow you to go over your minutes without charging the high-roaming rate.  On the Sprint side, the high-speed EV-DO service network is being introduced in 2006 which allows for TV type streaming content.  The Nextel phones are very rugged and they still have the largest network of push-to-talk customers.Sprint offers many Sanyo manufactured phones which are the highest rated phones from consumers according to JD Power and PhoneDog.com.

Cons: Sprint's all-digital PCS network is not widely available in some parts of the country. Sprint does have analog network roaming agreements in place, but only certain models of Sprint phones support off-network analog roaming. Sprint's newer Power Vision handsets are not compatible with analog roaming. Sprint uses the CDMA protocol which is not as widely used overseas.
 

 
T-Mobile logo
T-Mobile is a very popular carrier offering service in 47 states using a GSM network.  When traveling outside of a T-Mobile area, customers are able to connect using the other GSM networks used by Cingular and others.
 
Pros: Very inexpensive calling plans with a reasonable amount of minutes and a highly rated customer service department.  The GSM network is also used by Cingular which makes coverage nationwide, although roaming charges may apply depending on the plan.

Cons: T-Mobile doesn’t offer unlimited nights and weekends with all plans and roaming charges are more likely to apply than with Cingular or Verizon plans.  While providing service in 47 states, T-Mobile doesn’t offer new service in all cities in many areas. T-Mobile doesn’t offer the advanced data features associated with some of the larger carriers.
 

 
Verizon Wireless logo
Verizon successfully transformed itself from a local phone company servicing the North East United States to the #2 wireless provider in America.  Verizon operates the largest CDMA cellular network in the country and has generally been the leader in updating its network to include additional data services.
 
Pros: The latest and most advanced phones are usually offered by Verizon before other carriers.  Large selection of calling plans and a recently introduced $9.99 add-a-lines for Family plans.  Extensive data network and services.

Cons: Typically, more expensive rate plans compared to other providers.  CDMA roaming is only available in 10 -15 overseas countries.

 

Regional Carriers

Verizon Wireless logo
A small regional carrier offering service in parts of Georgia, Florida, and California. Using CDMA as their underlying technology protocal.
 
Pros: No-contracts required and plans which offer minute packages similar to those carriers who require term agreements. Smaller company offering more personalized service.

Cons: Limited self-owned coverage network requiring shared use of other CDMA networks, limited number of phones.
 

 
SunCom logo
A regional carrier servicing North and South Carolina, SunCom is an independent and popular provider operating their own GSM network throughout the region.
 
Pros: A very popular unlimited calling plan (Un-Plan) for only $79/month, and $10 add-a-lines for many plans.  Excellent coverage in the Carolina’s and an excellent variety of service plans.  Roaming on Cingular or T-Mobiles GSM network enables nationwide coverage.

Cons:  Approval for service is more stringent than most carriers requiring good credit, phone selection is good but somewhat limited. A bit behind in offering advanced data services.
 

 
U.S. Cellular logo
Chicago-based U.S. Cellular is a super-regional wireless company, serving more than 5.2 million customers in 149 markets in 25 states utilizing a CDMA network.
 
Pros: Strong history of excellent service, Consumer Reports rated Cellular One #1 for the least customer complaints.  Great selection of phones.

Cons: New service is only available in 25 states.
 

 
amp'd mobile logo
Launched in late 2005, Amp'd is a VMNO operating on Verizon's CMDA network.  Amp'd is geared towards the youth market, transmitting audio and visual entertainment over high-speed cellular networks to their custom-branded multimedia phones.  Initial offerings included a wide variety of digital music on demand, focused largely on Alt Rock and Hip-Hop, and video on demand broadcasts including extreme sports and other action and adventure programming.  Amp'd is funded in part through a partnership with MTV Networks.
 
Pros: Cutting edge entertainment offerings, reasonably priced "all you can eat" data plans, uses Verizon's extensive and reliable network.

Cons: Entertainment offerings and branding will appeal strongly to some, and repel others away.  Limited selection of phones available; phone features are somewhat disappointing for "cutting edge" multimedia devices.
 

 
helio logo
Launched in Spring 2006, Helio is Amp'd Mobile's first direct competitor, offering multimedia entertainment and interactive features designed to appeal to the youth market.  A joint venture between Earthlink and SK Telecom (a major cellular service provider in Korea), Helio leases CMDA network capacity from Sprint and is offering a wide variety of media services including integration with the popular websites Yahoo! and MySpace, streaming video from major broadcast and cable TV networks, and a large selection of games available for purchase and download.
 
Pros: Cutting edge entertainment offerings surpass those of Amp'd with big name Web and TV offerings; state of the art phones; "gifting and begging" options allow users to buy games and other data services for friends; flat rate and a la carte data plans allow flexibility.

Cons: Like Amp'd, the youth-targeted entertainment offerings aren't for everyone; if you don't like them, you'll wind up paying a premium for nothing; Limited selection of high-end only phones.
 
Next Page - Best Deals - Online or Dealer?

eric s.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008Which firm would you go with for a two week GSM phone rental for use in Japan, with v/mail, calling to and from U.S.?
bev Chirhart
Thursday, July 17, 2008Is there any plan that does not require a two year contract to start service. I have t-mobile, my contract is running out, but I am upset with the service we have had and don't want to have to commit to another two years, tho I can't seem to find a plan that works better for us
Beth Bacon
Wednesday, July 16, 2008I lost my ATT (GSM) phone and would like to buy a replacement so that I do not have to extend my existing phone plan. Because my phone is lost (fell in the bay), I cannot exchange the SIM card. Can I still buy a replacement phone with this plan?
apondi christine
Friday, July 11, 2008this is informative1! can i have it please?
Michelle -
Thursday, June 26, 2008Thanks for the good information on Insurance.. I thought I was the only one who thought it was nuts, but I never realized it was that bad. I think a manufacturer's warranty is good enough for me, but the Ebay idea is really smart!
Benedicto Phiri
Tuesday, June 17, 2008This is a fantastic example of B2C ebusiness for sure i have liked it.
beth sanders
Monday, June 16, 2008major complaint with t-mobile: just thursday night i recieved 4 messages from monday 1 from my childs school telling me they are letting the kids out early-make sure someone is home 1 from a client waiting to see a house (i'm a realtor) 2 from banks concerning another deal all very important- all making me look incompetant and this is not the first time
Syira Saad
Friday, May 30, 2008how to delete exceed of web sessions in Motorola L6
Timothy Carpenter
Thursday, May 22, 2008I have a Southern Linc model i355 motorola phone. I was told my sim card would not fit in a nextel phone. Is this true?
bill townley
Monday, May 19, 2008i have Alltel service and would like a new phone. I don't believe the AudioVox phone CDM 8910 that I have has a sim card. What can I do?
betty williamson
Tuesday, May 13, 2008I have a account with suncom and am in need of an another phone.I like this one. How can I purchase one and how much?

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