Cell Phone Service Area Comparison
From LoveToKnow Cellphones
Apart from offering unique features and competitively priced plans, one of the major considerations before signing a cell phone service contract is your company's service area. While it would be nice if our cell phones magically worked no matter where we go, the reality is the signal must be broadcast from towers that have a limited range and strength. Population-dense areas are usually well-covered, but mountainous areas and small towns can be left bare when it comes to service.
The following maps represent the service areas covered by a few of the major cell phone providers in the United States. In addition to the info below, be sure to check out the company's official website for more detailed (and precise) service information for your area. And remember: roaming charges are often an issue, so even though a carrier may offer service in an area, you might have to pay large fees to use your phone.
Cingular Service Map
Cingular offers good nationwide coverage but lacks solid service in many western states, such as Nevada and Montana. The company's real strength is the lack of long distance and roaming charges on all of its family and individual plans. This fact alone makes it an invaluable resource for users who are frequent travelers.
Sprint-Nextel Coverage
Sprint and Nextel have merged services to produce the largest coverage area of any major provider. The west and mid-west are remarkably well-covered. A noticeably large service zone is also found in Alaska, and the usual spots on the eastern half of the United States are filled as well. But be warned: Sprint-Nextel is famous for roaming charges, so be sure to thoroughly check your plan's fine print before signing on the dotted line.
T-Mobile Coverage Map
T-Mobile offers good coverage of the mid-west but leaves large gaps in the southeast and east coast. Service on the west coast also has dead zones not present with other carriers. Although this map doesn't show it, T-Mobile does have a slightly more reliable network, meaning fewer calls will mysteriously vanish in the covered zones. Quality over quantity, perhaps?
Verizon Service
Verizon covers more of the mid-west than most carriers, though the same dead zones are found in Nevada, Montana and West Virginia areas. The California coast is particularly well-covered, though most other areas seem spotty at best.
The Verdict
Sprint-Nextel offers the largest coverage area of any service provider and some of their plans lack roaming fees, giving you the freedom to travel without worry.
Learn More
Comments
Tim: For that many minutes, it can be difficult to get a cheap cell phone plan. If you have been with Cingular/AT&T for that long, I suggest you call into their customer service center to see if they can offer you a discount as a long-time customer. While traveling in India, it would be a lot cheaper to use an unlocked phone with a prepaid SIM rather than roam with your AT&T phone.
-- Contributed by: MichaelKwanThere should be a date on the maps as coverage has increased. I live in the southeast (east NC) have been with Sprint for years, they offer great plans (I'm a heavy data user) and have a large 3G coverage(EVDO Rev0 and RevA). The only bad thing about SprintNextel is the customer service has a reputation of not being the greatest or brightest.
Hi have had AT&T/Cingular/now AT&T again for probably at least 15 years. But I am very tired of the $100+ monthly charges for 1300 minutes and unlimited texting. Am in the Chicago area, but travel occasionally to CA and rural N. IL and India. Too bad the system here is not like India where you can buy an unlocked phone and ultra-cheap minutes and move among various carriers freely. Any suggestions from anyone who sees this? Thanks, Tim
-- Contributed by: TimThis page has been accessed 22,895 times. This page was last modified 23:02, 27 May 2009.
© 2006-2009 LoveToKnow Corp.




