East Coast (ICW) Cell Phone Recommendation

[Pete]

My two year contract with T-Mobile is complete in early September. I would not renew with them under any circumstance. There are very good reasons for this, but that is a whole different thread for sometime in the future. So I am looking at what is available along the AICW. Coverage is my primary criteria. Interested in a voice only plan. Suggestions would be appreciated.

Pete

 

[bobk]

Verizon is generally considered to have the best coverage on the ICW. But it does drop off in some isolated places, typically in SC and GA. ATT may be getting close to VZ in coverage.

Bob

 

[krush]

Verizon is usually going to be your best bet for maximum coverage outside cities. I've been around a lot of the east coast and almost always have solid coverage.

You could also consider pre-pay.

 

[labrador]

Pete, I had verizon when I moved to New Bern and dead spots were all over. Told them I couldn' get coverage and they wanted to hold me to my contract. Let them know in no way was I going to pay for something that was useless 50% of the time followed by " CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW". Went to US cellular and havent had a problem anywhere on the east coast. Don't know if verizon is any better or not yet. My wife just got ATT thru her job and it also can be a pain in the ass in Newbern at times. Just food for thought from a neighbor.
Skip
PS George should know the best

 

[GJH]

Thanks for the intro Skip. I think the best bang for the buck around these parts is US Cellular. Their voice coverage is much better that the big guys, though every one has that hole as you go through the Alligator-Pungo canal, theirs is reportedly smaller.

I have AT&T because I use their data network (which isn't so hot in New Bern, but excellent in most of the rest of the east coast and US.) US Cellular lags in their data technology, and I prefer ATT's over Verizon's and Sprint's. Also, full disclosure, I was president of an ATT reseller when I lived in Texas, so have a "deal" of sorts.

We were out in Ocracoke this past weekend and there was no ATT or T-Mobile service (which there is further up the OBX); US Cellular and Verizon were the apparent local choices.