Cellphone question

[independent]

What's the best cellphone & provider/network for the Reno area?

I know that's really two questions, but i'd like to hear discussion on both topics.

I have a 5-yr old phone, simple/basic, and use a pre-paid plan (virgin). I'd like to modernize both the phone & plan, and ditch the land-line at the house
because the cost keeps going up.  I think it's time to convert to cell-phone only status.

Experiences & opinions?  Stuff to avoid?  Coverage/dropped calls?

[Justin]

The best people to ask are police officers and paramedics.
These two groups spend there days in every part of the city and communication is important to them.
Calling friends while on the job, or reaching the dispatcher for lots of things you either can't or don't want to broadcast.  I travel all over the city for my job, and I am required to reach out to physicians from patients homes for orders, and to report emergencies.   I use verizon wireless and endorse them as the best company out there.  I hate much about the company but consistency of coverage and being able to make and receive a call matters most.  My job gives me a SPRINT phone and the coverage and call quality is terrible.  I am partial to LG and Samsung phones as far as quality.  The Motorola DROID is the nicest Verizon phone, but it sounds like you don't all the bells and whistles (email and using the internet etc.)   I use a blackberry phone and get my email on it, and enjoy the keyboard for text messaging.
Ask 10 cops and 10 paramedics and you'll find the same answer- Verizon Wireless.

[Admin CATZ]

Or could it just be that the police and paramedics have the phones they have because Verizon was the lowest bidder for the gov contract, or that they donated to several peoples campaigns in hopes of getting the contract.

[Justin]

I mean our personal phones to call the wife or girlfriend on company time.  It's the phone you see them hanging up when the shift supervisor rolls up.  
It's also the one you trust the most.  There were LOTS of places and many buildings where the radio didn't work.

[n10sive]

In the Reno area there are only really two good options. AT&T and Verizon for coverage. I have AT&T and have found no holes in coverage in the area. Verizon has a couple but not bad. TMoble and Sprint? FUGGITABOUTIT. I know people who have to pull over on the side of the road to talk because their coverage is like swiss cheese around here.

If you travel outside the area a lot, check for coverage there too. Again, my AT&T has been great for the western US.

[independent]

I am actually interested in the bell & whistle phones, email/texting/internet seem like good things to be able to carry around in your pocket these days.

I just haven't been an early adopter, waiting for the technology to stabilize a bit.

Can an I-phone work on the Verizon network?  If not, what's the comparable alternative?

And how do you find the best deal on a provider plan?

[reno240sx]

Iphones are only on AT&T. A similar alternative on Verizon is the droid. As for differences in plans they are all pretty much the same price wise. I was on Verizon for a long time and switched to AT&T because I could get on a family plan with my brother. Also I have a lot of friends and family on AT&T and it is free calling them. In my experience the coverage between Verizon and AT&T is pretty much the same here in town.

[Justin]

I agree with them. At&T an VZ are both very good. AT&T works skiing at mt rose, and Verizon doesn't.  I really think that the iPhone is amazing and it works well, too.   At&T lost tons of iPhone users to the new Motorola Droid (not the HTC droid which is different)  
My business partner and I are both die-hard Apple computer users.  He loves his iPhone, as he should.  They sync perfectly with our computers.  He and I spend a lot of time around each and we both lose calls around Caughlin Ranch area on McCarran.  When we ski, (business meeting) he has coverage and I don't.  There may be an area where he's spotty, and I'm 5x5 in town.  But they are even for the most part.
I have Verizon because I spend a lot of time in truckee, and sierra and plumas counties where an ATT iPhone will only serve as an expensive ice-scraper.

Rumors about iPhone being picked up by Verizon still exist, but if you want Verizon, don't wait for the iPhone unless you have a mac, just get the Motorola Droid.

[Justin]

It's always free to call people who use the same provider ATT and Verizon, alike.
My wife uses verizon, putz uses verizon.  I can chat with them all day long for free.
Free nights starts an hour earlier with ATT i think.  9pm for Verizon.

pricing is comparable.

[D1NO]

I've had AT&T for awhile now, Cingular before and Nevada Bell before that. I believe all major cellular providers are very comparable in coverage and pricing, all having the same pros and cons... That being said, it just matters what toy you want and from which provider...

[99 900ss duc]

i work all over the area and find my at and t rarely has a dead spot (except 100 yds on mt rose and 100yrds by home depot in carson)

[independent]

OK, so verizon & att are both good around town.

What about Gerlach or Ely, or trips through the Sierra passes?

You know-the rest of nevada? Does coverage disappear?

[edmunsan]

My favorite is empty Van DeCamps pork n beans cans and string but service is limited to my property  line. I carry AT&T as my work phone. In frequency AT&T Failes especially Remote Rural Nv. like Eureka Lovelock Elko etc. Thats when my boss will call me on my personal phone wich is a motorolla razor dinosaur by Verizon. My boss is one of the friends and family numbers thats free and of the 10 numbers on the friends&fam. program. AT&T has rollover minutes, Verizon dont. I can trully say when AT&T Flops I pick up the Verizon and make  the call period. Cost 170. a mo. 3 lines w/unlimited txtg. The primary line (account holder) has unlimited internet. Verizon however bills wierd for the first mo.1rt & last. AT&T I dont know boss pays bill

[Justin]

Here is the answer.
My very excellent friend went from Vz to Att specifically because of the iPhone.  He just jumped ship from Att (even though he LOVED his iPhone) due to terrible service in New York City.


He paid the 'get out of jail' fee and moved to Verizon because the Motorola Droid was dubbed "the iphone killer" and had a great reputation.

I spoke to him tonight.  He is glad he has a verizon service but he said that the iPhone is clearly a better phone, with more applications and intuitive operation.
My two cents. . . in reno, the best choice is the iPhone IF AT&T provides coverage at your home, your place of work, and/or where you spend the majority of your time.

Hope this helped you.

[independent]

Thanks for all the input, it's very helpful.

Sounds like Verizon has the best coverage for anywhere out of town, or on the road,  and ATT has the best phone.

Is it possible to make the iphone work on the Verizon network?  Or are the Droid phones good enough that it wouldn't be worth the trouble?

I need to start comparing phones themselves now.  Is the iphone really best?  How do the others stack up?