phone question

paintlady · #1 05/14/11, 10:59 PM

I don't know if I am posting this in the right place but if you are an AT&T or Verizon customer I want to know what your service has been like- like dropped calls, comments on customer service, etc.
We were forced to transition to AT&T almost two weeks ago now from Alltel. I got my second replacement phone from AT&T today but it is doing the same thing as the first one did. I can make calls and text but incoming calls go to my Alltel phone's inbox EVEN when the battery is out of it! I have spent literally hours with their customer care but so far no luck getting the new phone to work right.
My contract is up and my options are to stay with and try out AT&T or go to Verizon. They gave us 30 days to try out their service but it will be two weeks come Tuesday and I still don't have a working phone from them. My kids are with Verizon. I live in a rural area in northern MN but have had great reception with Alltel and wish AT&T would have gone somewhere else.

Danaus29 · #2 05/14/11, 11:16 PM

Stupid question, cell or land line?

Alice In TX/MO · #3 05/15/11, 07:40 AM

AT&T for years. They are fine.

Alice In TX/MO · #4 05/15/11, 07:41 AM

By the way, the "inbox" of your phone isn't in your phone. It's in a big computer somewhere, sort of like a computer server.

paintlady · #5 05/15/11, 08:07 AM

It is a cell phone.

Callieslamb · #6 05/15/11, 08:15 AM

We have AT&T. When we moved to the boonies, we had all kinds of dropped calls, didn't get voice messages reliably, couldn't make calls from our basement. A couple of months ago, we suddenly have 3G (Yep, in our little town of 650 people) and have had no trouble whatsoever.

It may be a matter of where you are rather than the phone or the company.

donewithcity · #7 05/15/11, 08:24 AM

Here is a site with cell phone coverage maps, tower locations, and user comments. Just put in your zip code and see the coverage. Had to give up ATT Mobile and go with Verizon out here in the sticks.
http://www.cellreception.com/

Two Cents Worth · #8 05/15/11, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danaus29

Stupid question, cell or land line?

Really? Have you ever had a dropped call with a land line?

I've been using AT&T cell service for about a year now and not one single dropped call. Always plenty of service bars showing signal strength throughout the state.

EasyDay · #9 05/15/11, 08:40 AM

donewithcity, thanks for the link.
It confirmed what I already suspected.
At&T is the only service here and it's lousy. According to the site, AT&T has a 1.25 rating, and Verizon has a 0 rating. No other companies w/towers in the area.

**Kung** · #10 05/15/11, 08:48 AM

donewithcity has the best answer; it depends upon where you are. We've got AT&T here and every Verizon customer I know gloats that they have no dropped calls.

I tell them to visit where I live...and suddenly, they do.

I'd personally find someone WITH a Verizon phone that lives in and around the area that you do...and if they like their service, considering that your kids have it, I'd go with them. Verizon phones operate off the TDMA protocol, I believe, which is more robust at lower signal strengths, while AT&T operates on the GSM protocol; while it has better voice quality, it's not quite as robust at lower signal strengths.

Beeman · #11 05/15/11, 09:29 AM

I've got Verizon and drive a truck, works great almost everywhere and few dropped calls. That said don't try and call me at home as some times it doesn't work here, but I don't use it at home so it doesn't matter to me.

Gary in ohio · #12 05/15/11, 10:04 AM

dropped calls is going to be a location specific issue. Either tower overcrowding or under built out. Service for version has been fine for me and quite frankly wouldn't make that a major criteriea for selecting a carrier. How often do you need to talk with customer service. Once the phone setup, I would likley not need to communicate with anyone at the company.

plowjockey · #13 05/15/11, 10:08 AM

When we first got ATT cell 1 1/2 years ago, we dropped more calls in the first week, than we did the previous 5 years, with Centennial, who "merged" with ATT.

Still drop 4 or 5 call per week.

Their customer service is pretty good, IMO.

They had problems with roaming, espcially at our house, where we got a terrible ATT signal, whereas we ahd a great Centennial signal.

We get a strong ATT signal now nearly two years later.

They are getting better, since their competitors are forcing them to.

plowjockey · #14 05/15/11, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Callieslamb

We have AT&T. When we moved to the boonies, we had all kinds of dropped calls, didn't get voice messages reliably, couldn't make calls from our basement. A couple of months ago, we suddenly have 3G (Yep, in our little town of 650 people) and have had no trouble whatsoever.

It may be a matter of where you are rather than the phone or the company.

We don't have a regular 3G signal at our house yet, but our phone signal has gone from 1 fuzzy bar to a constant 5, so they are doing something right.

I drive a truck and notice 3G service now being available, in a lot of areas (mostly in the sticks), that did not have it before.

Maybe ATT is now facing their competition.

roachhill · #15 05/15/11, 10:29 AM

I've been driving truck for a long time and have both AT&T (since it was Cingular) and Verizon. Overall I'd say I prefer the AT&T phone. It works in more consistantly in more places nationwide and despite your problems I'd say they have better customer service. I'd guess the problem is AT&T having tech problems getting the Alltel system to work with their's and eventually they should get it worked out. That said it still depends where your at and who has towers nearby.

**Kung** · #16 05/15/11, 10:46 AM

I agree w/roachhill, actually. There are advantages and disadvantages to each side...but overall, while I think Verizon's is more consistent, AT&T's coverage is 'wider.'

Danaus29 · #17 05/15/11, 01:02 PM

two cents worth, yes, I've had many dropped calls on a land line. AT&T does not have the best reputation for land line service here. Open boxes, water in the connections, wind blows and connections separate. Yep, dropped calls and lost service are quite frequent.

rambler · #18 05/15/11, 02:00 PM

I'm in southern MN, it's going to be location specific folks.

'Here' Verison is barely acceptable, AT&T is terrible. They just don't offer any coverage out in the rural boonies of the rolling hills. At nite I can see 5 tower lights on the horizon, house is on a hill, but yet AT&T drops a lot, and Verison you have to walk off to the SE 300 feet or so.... They have the busier highways covered, but if you live off the big roads 15 miles or behind a hill, you got nothing.

I don't have a cell phone, hate the things, but others who stop by have proved the above. The 'little' companies had really good coverage out here from what I hear; but the big 2 are buying them up and re-using the spectrum in the congested areas, and dropping some of the rural towers that they aquire.

As I mentioned, I just hate cell phones, I do _not_ like that 'tethered' feeling of someone always being able to bother me anytime, and I just groan when I get a call from a cell phone - tin sounding, very choppy, breaks in the conversation, gaps. It's just a terrible way to communicate in this region, and people pay for the junky service!

There, I feel better.

--->Paul

Two Cents Worth · #19 05/15/11, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danaus29

two cents worth, yes, I've had many dropped calls on a land line.

Well your comment was certainly a legitimate response then. First time I've ever heard of a dropped land line call so you can understand my response, or at least I hope you can.

mekasmom · #20 05/15/11, 03:11 PM

It depends on your location. Verizon is the best carrier in this area. Love it. ATT wouldn't come in here, people complain about it all the time. But in some areas it's difference. The only 2carriers that work here are Verizon and US Cellular. And Verizon is best. No dropped calls, no mess ups, no static, good service.