Best 'Cell-Phone' carrier in the US?

Bass Cadet

I'll be getting set up with a phone when I go over and just wondering if anyone who has travelled extensively in the US would know of the best carriers for a mobile phone? I'll be in California and looking to get a bill phone type thing set up. Cheers for any advice

BuffyBot

Moved to Mobile/PDA's where you'll probably find people with more knowledge of networks etc

miceal

Bass Cadet wrote: »

I'll be getting set up with a phone when I go over and just wondering if anyone who has travelled extensively in the US would know of the best carriers for a mobile phone? I'll be in California and looking to get a bill phone type thing set up. Cheers for any advice

Hey

When i lived in the states they would not give you a contract phone if you did not have a social security number (like our PRSI number), over there you can do sweet FA without one.

No American network has 100% coverage like in Ireland as the country is so vast it would be unprofitable.

I just used T-mob when i was there and had no problem in the cities i was in which was West Coast and East Coast and a few airports in between.

There coverage map is here
http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/pcc.aspx

There prepaid service is nothing like what we have here. Too be honest it is a joke.

Here is the link to there plans

http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/Cell-Phone-Plans.aspx?catgroup=prepaid-cell-phone-plan

Yes you are charged to receive text message but 10cent to text home was sweet! Also when i was there you where charged minutes when you receive a call.

So what i would do would do is keep the Irish phone on to receive sms as this is free.


There are other carriers which i don't know much about sorry

AT&T / Cingular
Verizon

Hope this helps!

Eoin Macollamh

Verizon is reputed by most major reviews (Consumer Reports, David Pogue's columns to name two) to be the best: best coverage, best service. However, it's not GSM if that matters to you.

Bass Cadet

cheers for the info