HELP choosing a cell phone provider

JPWRana · 10-29-03, 11:49 AM

My dad wants to get a family plan... ATLEAST 3 phones he wants to get: one for him, one for me, and one for my sis. (maybe 1 for my mom, but she keeps on saying no)

Now... the question... which is best?!??!

I personally call quite a bit, and call different areas too (a.k.a. long distance

)

my dad had originally thought Nextel... but after looking @ its website, i saw nothing about a family plan, AND per month is soo frigin xpensive (i think it was like $74 a month or somethin like that).

What do u guys recommend and y?!?!

ak · 10-29-03, 02:06 PM

In my family we have the following providers:

Nextel (Dad using i90)
-ok reception (doesn't always locate the user)
-Great plan for people that like a LOT (free incoming!)
-No family plan?

Sprint (Mom & Sister)
-ok reception (a lot of times they don't get my calls, but it rings on my cell phone)
-average plans

Verizon (Brother & Me)
-Best reception (if you have the right phone...)
-Plans are pricier than other providers, but at least I can talk anywhere. Family plan is like $10 per line.

Check out AT&T... they might have good family plans.

JPWRana · 10-29-03, 02:39 PM

i'll most likely check out verizon then... becuz $10 per line!!! and u said awesome reception... i have many problems w/ that

schoolsux · 10-29-03, 02:45 PM

Yes verizon happens to be the best reception but i use att... waiting till that contract runs out then ill swich to verzion

***Admin*** · 10-29-03, 04:51 PM

You should definitely wait until the holiday seasons. That is when the family plans and special offers roll out.

I am not familiar with family plans but I do know that family plans share minutes with each other.

I recommend Verizon over the other cellular providers. I have used AT&T and had to disconnect the service (within the 15 days tryout) due to horrible reception.
My parents used Nextel because of the free incoming minutes and that really helped them out. However, the two phone rates for Nextel combined came up to $150 each month, including federal tax and more tax. I don't recommend Nextel for your family plan.

You probably have seen Cingular family plans and rollover minutes on TV commercials. I never had a chance to use their service but I do hear good feedback from their service now then few years ago. Cingular and Verizon has been adding several new towers around urban cities in the past years.

Recommend
1. Verizon
2. Cingular

Not Recommended
1. Nextel

JPWRana · 10-29-03, 09:43 PM

I'll DEFINATELY look into verizon, then cingular/att

thanx 4 the feedback guys

MandyMindy · 10-30-03, 04:22 PM

If it is not urgent for your family, wait for the holiday offers the providers always have. Most service has a special rate and offers for a family plan.

The banner on this page reads "Cell Phone Family Plans." Should see what the company offers.

JPWRana · 10-30-03, 08:35 PM

looks like my dad's going cingular... 10 bux xtra per fone... i don't mind that. I would just use my "shared" minutes for emergencies and stuff, and when i wanted to REALLY call ppl i'd wait 2 use da house fone or nights/weekends

Tarak Chunsa · 10-30-03, 09:11 PM

Watch out on your first month.
Many times, people do not know how much over minutes they have used until they get their bill.

Not sure about all companies but even ten seconds count as your minute. When you dial, if it rings over a certain time (even if the person does not pick up the phone), it counts as a minute. Watch out for roaming charges.

JPWRana · 10-31-03, 10:00 AM

yeah... thats what im worried about. thats y i'll just use it 4 emergencies, and for long talks i'll wait for the nights and weekends, but i feel that even then "nights" would be considered from like 9pm to like what... 4am?!?!?

JPWRana · 11-04-03, 12:17 AM

looks like my dad's gonna go cingular... the $10 xtra per line REALLY caught his eye, according also 2 my friend, SHE SAID THAT its also free nite n weekends... I HOPE SO!!!

SkillzSter · 11-04-03, 03:36 PM

AT&T is the worst service you can get...they sold all their satelites to cingular so they suck...

10-29-03, 11:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
JPWRana Guru Joined: Oct 2003 Location: where the 605 and 10 fwy's cross Posts: 884	HELP choosing a cell phone provider My dad wants to get a family plan... ATLEAST 3 phones he wants to get: one for him, one for me, and one for my sis. (maybe 1 for my mom, but she keeps on saying no) Now... the question... which is best?!??! I personally call quite a bit, and call different areas too (a.k.a. long distance ) my dad had originally thought Nextel... but after looking @ its website, i saw nothing about a family plan, AND per month is soo frigin xpensive (i think it was like $74 a month or somethin like that). What do u guys recommend and y?!?!

10-29-03, 02:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
ak Cal Poly Guru Joined: Oct 2003 Location: LA Posts: 605	In my family we have the following providers: Nextel (Dad using i90) -ok reception (doesn't always locate the user) -Great plan for people that like a LOT (free incoming!) -No family plan? Sprint (Mom & Sister) -ok reception (a lot of times they don't get my calls, but it rings on my cell phone) -average plans Verizon (Brother & Me) -Best reception (if you have the right phone...) -Plans are pricier than other providers, but at least I can talk anywhere. Family plan is like $10 per line. Check out AT&T... they might have good family plans. __________________ If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. Education is the progressive discovery of our own ignorance.

10-29-03, 04:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
*Admin* Think About It Joined: Sep 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 4,959	You should definitely wait until the holiday seasons. That is when the family plans and special offers roll out. I am not familiar with family plans but I do know that family plans share minutes with each other. I recommend Verizon over the other cellular providers. I have used AT&T and had to disconnect the service (within the 15 days tryout) due to horrible reception. My parents used Nextel because of the free incoming minutes and that really helped them out. However, the two phone rates for Nextel combined came up to $150 each month, including federal tax and more tax. I don't recommend Nextel for your family plan. You probably have seen Cingular family plans and rollover minutes on TV commercials. I never had a chance to use their service but I do hear good feedback from their service now then few years ago. Cingular and Verizon has been adding several new towers around urban cities in the past years. Recommend 1. Verizon 2. Cingular Not Recommended 1. Nextel __________________ Cal Poly Forums

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10-29-03, 02:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
JPWRana Guru Joined: Oct 2003 Location: where the 605 and 10 fwy's cross Posts: 884	i'll most likely check out verizon then... becuz $10 per line!!! and u said awesome reception... i have many problems w/ that

10-29-03, 02:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
schoolsux Newcomer Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 16	Yes verizon happens to be the best reception but i use att... waiting till that contract runs out then ill swich to verzion

10-29-03, 09:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
JPWRana Guru Joined: Oct 2003 Location: where the 605 and 10 fwy's cross Posts: 884	I'll DEFINATELY look into verizon, then cingular/att thanx 4 the feedback guys

10-30-03, 04:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
MandyMindy Enthusiast Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Long Beach Posts: 174	If it is not urgent for your family, wait for the holiday offers the providers always have. Most service has a special rate and offers for a family plan. The banner on this page reads "Cell Phone Family Plans." Should see what the company offers.

10-30-03, 08:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
JPWRana Guru Joined: Oct 2003 Location: where the 605 and 10 fwy's cross Posts: 884	looks like my dad's going cingular... 10 bux xtra per fone... i don't mind that. I would just use my "shared" minutes for emergencies and stuff, and when i wanted to REALLY call ppl i'd wait 2 use da house fone or nights/weekends

10-30-03, 09:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
Tarak Chunsa Active Member Joined: Sep 2003 Location: Alhambra Posts: 133	Watch out on your first month. Many times, people do not know how much over minutes they have used until they get their bill. Not sure about all companies but even ten seconds count as your minute. When you dial, if it rings over a certain time (even if the person does not pick up the phone), it counts as a minute. Watch out for roaming charges.

10-31-03, 10:00 AM	#10 (permalink)
JPWRana Guru Joined: Oct 2003 Location: where the 605 and 10 fwy's cross Posts: 884	yeah... thats what im worried about. thats y i'll just use it 4 emergencies, and for long talks i'll wait for the nights and weekends, but i feel that even then "nights" would be considered from like 9pm to like what... 4am?!?!?

11-04-03, 12:17 AM	#11 (permalink)
JPWRana Guru Joined: Oct 2003 Location: where the 605 and 10 fwy's cross Posts: 884	looks like my dad's gonna go cingular... the $10 xtra per line REALLY caught his eye, according also 2 my friend, SHE SAID THAT its also free nite n weekends... I HOPE SO!!!

11-04-03, 03:36 PM	#12 (permalink)
SkillzSter Newcomer Joined: Oct 2003 Location: monterey park Posts: 25	AT&T is the worst service you can get...they sold all their satelites to cingular so they suck...