First off, Mod's feel free to relocate this thread if I posted it in the wrong area. I do have the occasional blonde moments that take over and discomboobulate everything lol.

I've been needing one again for some time now, and now that I have a new job, its time I get one. But I could use a little help. Now, theres at least 3 providers that I know about. Them being Cingular, Verizon, and Sprint. I worked for AT&T before the merger into Cingular was completed. And I've heard from a few people that Cingular sucks. These being former employees lol. I've heard that Verizon is pretty good as well. And I've also heard that Sprint blows, so I'm not going with that one. Which leaves it with Cingular or Verizon and they pretty much have the same type of plans. Though there is the pay as you go plans, I think I'd rather go for the monthly. I'd like to have the unlimited nights and weekends, and the rollover would be nice too. I would text a lot, so a good package involving that would be good along with a decent data or internet package. Too bad Cingular got rid of their local plans and just went with nationwide. Oh well. I'm thinkin around the 59.99 a month plan. Thats the lowest with the unlimited. Thats basically what I want for a plan. Any other suggestions?

Now, heres the next part. A phone. I'd at least like to have a camera phone. Not looking for anything real big like a blackberry, though a PDA type of thing would be nice. But thats further down the road. Doesn't have to be a flipphone, but a camera would definitly be nice. Any suggestions, padders? This thread can also be something to just talk about what we have, don't have, or would like to have. Include pics if ya'd like. :p

I'm very happy with Verizon. I've travelled accross the US with my phone and very rarely couldn't get a signal. Coverage in the deep mountains of Colorado is spotty. Otherwise, the signal is first rate.

I've heard multiple horror stories about billing problems with Sprint. I personally have endured a billing problem with Sprint, but not for mobile service.

As for camera phones, I can't have one because I work at DoD facilities. Sorry, can't help you there. I do know from viewing pictures on other people's phones that they are nowhere near the quality suggested in TV commercials.

My Verizon plan includes 400 minutes per month for just under $50 per month. I took advantage of a corporate discount which shaves off a few bucks. I recommend you ask whatever carriers you are considering about corporate discounts. It's quite likely you qualify for something.

Yeah my ex has a camera phone, so I know what the quality is like. They're not that big. But it still be good to have one. :p

But I'd do without it if it came down to it though.

I have qwest, 500 any time minutes for 49.00 a month. I can call any where or call from out of state home with oput roaming. I love it as if there is an imergency I got a phone when I am away from home. I also like the fact I can order a pizza in traffic and pick it up :)
oh and mine is a flip phone . no camera ( I hate the pictures on them so low a quality. my phone has a speaker pohne on it and dials my numbers for me, ( like thats any big deal LOL! but I did not know about ring tones til after I bought it:rolleyes:

Ok I have sprint as my cell phone provider and have not had one problem with them. Once I thought I did and they fixed the problem immediately. I know some people have had problems but I haven't. My reception has been great even when we went on vacation. I do know people with Verizon that like it to and have not had major problems. Cingular on the other hand I have heard quite a bit of negative things. My husband's company uses them and his reception sucks. Our Sprint phones aren't the best out there but they have better reception than his work phone.

Hi Phoenix and congratulations on the new job!!! Woo hoo!! Way to go!! I have Verizon...I really like it as I get coverage in places people who have Cingular and Sprint do not (in my market area). I have a family share plan so we share min. but I love the free nights and weekends!
Two things...I wish that they had rollover, which they dont yet....and I wish they had early evening option...which they dont yet...but I have a feeling they may be coming!!!
I just got a new phone and it is a camera phone. Actually takes very good pics, but you can't really enlarge them...they are small!!
The camera varies from model to model so check them out first. I will tell you that I got a Samsung phone at Radio shack and it was the same price as the LG they had at Verizon...but takes much better pictures!! Make sure to check what your battery life is also, as they can vary a lot!!! Make sure that if you do decide on a carrier that you check the carriers primary store and Radio shack or someplace like it to see what they offer. The plan is the same no matter where you purchase it (direct dealer or off site) but they often have better phones for the same price!!
Good luck and again Congratulations!!! :D

About a month ago, I saw some cool deals at Best Buy that showed some of the local carriers. DOH!! Which reminds me. THERES ALSO T MOBILE!!!! LMAO!!! DOH!!! Wheres my dunce cap?!?!

Yeah, my ex always keeps her cellphone turned on. Mine will at least be off once in a while so I won't worry about the battery much. :p

Thinking about the quality of reception...Sanyo and Samsung (I've heard) are some of the best phones when it comes to reception and battery life.

Thinking about the quality of reception...Sanyo and Samsung (I've heard) are some of the best phones when it comes to reception and battery life.


Wow!! Cool!! Thanks!! Makes me feel even better about my phone!! I love it actually...its really small and cute...lol oh man I sound so girlie all of a sudden!

I have U.S. Cellular. We pay $59.99 per month for 1500, plus unlimited incoming and mobile to mobile (with other U.S. Cellular customers). This is BY FAR the best deal we have seen in our area. You can get unlimited nights and weekends for an additional $5 per month.

As for the phone, it is an LG flip phone and I love it. I have downloaded custom rings that are the actual band playing and singing.

And T Mobile's plans aint that bad either. Both Cingular and Verizon have a plan with 900 mins for 59.99, you can get one at T Mobile with a 1000 mins, but for 14 bucks less at 45.99. The only question is, how good is their service? Hmmm :p

U.S. Cellular's service has been excellent. We have been with them for 7 years. We have looked into other plans thinking we may be able to get a better deal but there are none out there. Another thing to note...We don't have a home phone and just our cell phones. They have worked everywhere we have been from Disneyland to Seattle.

I have three LG6100 phones with Verizon. The camera's just ok, but the phone is a tri-mode, which means it will still work in the few places where there is only analog service (like Bear Valley, for instance). The phone also takes voice commands and has a usable speakerphone function. The plan is a 500 minute shared plan with free nights and weekends and "IN" calling. $69.98 is the monthly fee for the three. The actual bill runs under $80 including fees and taxes.

I have three LG6100 phones with Verizon. The camera's just ok, but the phone is a tri-mode, which means it will still work in the few places where there is only analog service (like Bear Valley, for instance). The phone also takes voice commands and has a usable speakerphone function. The plan is a 500 minute shared plan with free nights and weekends and "IN" calling. $69.98 is the monthly fee for the three. The actual bill runs under $80 including fees and taxes.


Wow, thats a pretty good deal.

Wow, thats a pretty good deal.
When my contract was up, I checked out the competition and couldn't find a better deal for me. I renewed, got the three new phones for "free" (had to pay sales tax), and updated my plan to this one, which was actually cheaper than I was paying before.

I also have an LG phone from Verizon. I love it :D there is a newer model coming out or is out... My sister in law works for them so every time a new one comes out she's transferring my line over to the new phone for me :D Nice SIL :D As for the service, we've never had a problem and only once did our digital service go to analog while we were in South Carolina. I stand by Verizon ;)

U.S. Cellular's service has been excellent. We have been with them for 7 years. We have looked into other plans thinking we may be able to get a better deal but there are none out there. Another thing to note...We don't have a home phone and just our cell phones. They have worked everywhere we have been from Disneyland to Seattle.

What do you do for your internet connection?

I've only used cingualr and have never had any problems. their customer service at the call centers ave always been really good. i would NEVER shop or go into their stores. I did once and it was a very bad experience, but the call center customer service rep more than made up for it. The service ...ummm...reception just keeps getting better and better..:)


it has a camera on it and the pictures it takes can be found on my yahoo blog..:)...most of them are under moble uploads and some are tiny, but some are a decent size.

What do you do for your internet connection?
Cable. We thought long and hard about getting rid of our home phones and then we just jumped in! We love it! We have three cell phones--one for me, one for our 16 year old and one for DH/12 year old/home. I can't imagine going back to having a home phone.

We've come full circle back to Verizon, by far the best coverage and customer service in San Diego, at least. We have nationwide coverage (no roaming charges in any Verizon area in the country). I forgot how many minutes, but it's more than I could possibly use. I have an LG VX4500 non-camera phone. It's OK, good battery life, but I don't think its radio design is the best (aka it's reception could be better).

And...(not to sound preachy) consider using a headset/handsfree/speakerphone system as much as possible. Cell phones are microwave transmitters that are, more often than not, plastered right next to your brain. I see so many young kids with cell phones bolted to their skulls all day long. Though no one will officially tell you that this does any long term harm, common sense says that this can't be a good thing!

I don't know that there is any huge difference in providers these days. I went into a store that sells many different providers and asked them what the best service was for the area that I planned to use the phone in most. They recommended T-Mobile - I get great service in my town - but I get no service at all (none!) in my mom's neighborhood (different town).

I've had three phones in the past 5 years. Nokia, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson. I think Nokia is probably the best... but I really do love my Sony Ericsson. I hated my Samsung... really hated it.

I've only used cingualr and have never had any problems. their customer service at the call centers ave always been really good. i would NEVER shop or go into their stores. I did once and it was a very bad experience, but the call center customer service rep more than made up for it. The service ...ummm...reception just keeps getting better and better..:)


it has a camera on it and the pictures it takes can be found on my yahoo blog..:)...most of them are under moble uploads and some are tiny, but some are a decent size.


Yeah, I seem to remember something when I worked at AT&T them saying something about Verizon being number 1 in service, but att was number one in customer service.

I just checked out a flyer while I was having my coffee. The Source "Circuit City" has a free 7" portable DVD and 2 phones (Motorolla or Nokia v220/v551 or v635(this one costs money) for $35.00 Unlimited weekend calling. Free local calling between members and free long distance between members. If I am not incorrect does this mean that if I left 1 phone with my son's father that they could chat back and forth while we are at Disneyland for next to nothing?

Read your fine print but it sounds like you have unlimited "family" or 'in network' or mobile to mobile depending on your carrier and that perk is almost a gimme with all providers now, I am not sure which carrier started it but once it got started eventually every one got onboard. We have AT&T/Cingular, all our extended family have either the same ....meaning we were AT&T before the merger or Cingular before the merger and we all have unlimited "mobile to mobile" I have a plan that gives me 1000 anytime minutes, unlimited nights/weekends and unlimited mobile to mobile, I've never even gotten close to using all the minutes I have available on the 'regular' mode since such a big percentage of mine goes 'free mobile to mobile'. I think that if you're asking for specifics on customer service, this is a good place to get a lot of good opinions but for your choice of carriers it really is better to ask the people who live/work in your area. I've traveled all over California with my service and never had a problem with reception and if anything it's actually gotten better since the merger which was a big concern to be honest since way way WAY back in the day we originally had cingular and acutally paid to get OUT of the contract since the coverage was so craptastic. I know someone who had Verizon that had terrible coverage in parts of Southern Cal but other people with AT&T had great reception/coverage.. so it really depends on where you live and where you will be making most of your calls from.

I love my Razr!! its thin and easy to carry..i hate the big fat bulky phones. i use Cingular, have forever...they are..eh....ok..but now that they have merged with AT&T im sure they will get better, and would probably be the best, most coverage carrier around...especially since i havent heard great things about any carrier actually....no one ever seems totally happy with who they have :confused: