| In recent years, cell phone usage has sky | | | | breakers are more numerous, coming in at 9 |
| rocketed. Consumer reviews and tech columnists | | | | percent, while Sprint/Nextel have an even higher |
| have devoted volumes to the subject of which | | | | dissatisfaction rating at 11 percent. At the bottom |
| phone to choose. The loyal followers of the | | | | of the heap is T-Mobile, with 15% of customers |
| iPhone, the Blackberry, the Palm, the Sidekick, ect, | | | | wanting to break out of contract obligations. |
| have engaged in fiery online debates over which | | | | But there might be more to this than meets the |
| one is better. | | | | eye. The above comScore survey is not location |
| Relatively little has been written, however, on | | | | specific and uses the percentage of customers |
| comparing cell phone carriers. To a considerable | | | | breaking the service contract as the litmus test |
| extent, a cell phone is only as good as the carrier | | | | for popularity. A J.D. Power and Associates |
| that provides the signal. We'll see here that | | | | survey does indeed confirm Verizon as the |
| evaluating carriers and their monthly plans is | | | | leader, but mentions that this is particularly true in |
| every bit as involved as reviewing the cell phones | | | | the Northeast, where Verizon's coverage is the |
| they run on. | | | | strongest. T-Mobile, with the lowest rating in the |
| J.D.Power and Associates have reported that the | | | | comScore survey, actually ranked first in the |
| quality of *all* cell phone services has become so | | | | Southwest, according to J.D. Power. Moreover, |
| consistently high across the board that there was | | | | Verizon also ranks lower in terms of the phones |
| no longer a reason to even own a "land line" | | | | that run its service, which tend to use CDMA |
| anymore. Paradoxically, ask any of your friends | | | | technology rather than GSM. As a result, Verizon |
| about cell phone reception horror stories and | | | | phones tend to not accept SIM cards (Subscriber |
| they'll have plenty of fireside tales to tell you. J.D. | | | | Identity Modules) which prevents their use when |
| Power and Associates also asserts that call carrier | | | | travelling overseas. Verizon's rates also ranked |
| customers who did not have their complaints | | | | considerably higher than its rivals, and though its |
| resolved by customer service were six times | | | | customer service gets high marks, its bills tend to |
| more likely to switch carriers. And in fact, this | | | | be confusing to read. |
| happens all the time. If one isn't satisfied with | | | | J.D. Powers also claims that Sprint has a strong |
| one's cell phone, it's easy enough to get another | | | | popularity in the Southwest, yet at the same time |
| one. But dropping a cell phone carrier is another | | | | it concedes that Sprint also ranks lowest in call |
| matter. The advent of phone carrier contracts | | | | quality. The latter statistic was also confirmed by |
| with cancellation penalty fees has largely come | | | | a PC Magazine survey. By contrast, PC Magazine |
| about to combat cell phone carrier dissatisfaction. | | | | ranks T-Mobile as the best carrier in terms of |
| Even the advent of 3G Networks, which was | | | | pricing, and second only to Alltel in service plan |
| announced with great fanfare, still has not quelled | | | | options. T-Mobile also offers its service on a wide |
| a considerable percentage of cell phone | | | | variety of phones and smartphones with GSM |
| customers that are not happy with their carriers. | | | | SIM card compatibility enabling international use. |
| According to comScore Networks, one in four cell | | | | Prepaid cell phones deserve their own category all |
| phone customers are not satisfied with their | | | | together. Virgin Mobile won the highest marks, |
| wireless carrier. With such an astonishingly large | | | | just ahead of TracFone and T-Mobile respectively. |
| statistic, it's clear that cell phone signal technology | | | | Verizon, ATT&T, follow in order of |
| is still in its adolescence. Keeping this in mind, let's | | | | decreasing popularity, with poor Sprint/ Nextel |
| now compare carriers. | | | | once again at the bottom of the heap. |
| According to comScore, Verizon Wireless has | | | | Oftentimes people let their choice of service |
| consistently been rated the best carrier in terms | | | | providers be determined by what phone they |
| of coverage and customer service. Overall, only | | | | choose. Let me suggest that you might just as |
| six percent of customers break their service | | | | easily consider the reverse route; find the best |
| contract. | | | | carrier for your needs and chose your phone |
| AT&T/Cingular come in second, just behind | | | | from there. |
| Verizon. Alltel's customer service contract | | | | |