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* The setup…
AT&T said it plans on installing 35 new cell sites in the Chicago area to increase network coverage as part of the company’s $19 billion nationwide investment plan.
The company will dedicate $160 million in improvements in metropolitan Chicago.
AT&T said about 500 Chicago area cell sites will have 4G network speed by the end of the year. It also will add mobile capacity, allowing more cellphones to connect through a single cell site.
* The Question: Which mobile phone company do you use and are you satisfied? Explain.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 4:25 am
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Previous Post: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition and a big Statehouse roundup
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Verizon yes very, good coverage where I live and work, where I am from, and where I vacation. Local store is a pain in the butt but plenty of other options so I will stick with them.
Comment by Anon3 Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 6:31 am
My wife and I have been with Verizon for many years. We have been very satisfied with it. The reason we originally went with Verizon was that it allowed us unlimited calling with our daughter in Chicago who also was with Verizon. Also,Consumer Reports Magazine had listed Verizon as having the most satisfied customers among the wireless phone users. Like many people, we place a great amount of stock in products and companies that Consumer Reports speaks highly of.
Comment by Beowulf Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 6:55 am
T-Mobile. Coverage can be spotty where I live.
But what I really like is their month-to-month plan. And because they’re GPS, I can swap my SIM cards among phones. Which I buy used. On E-Bay.
So I’m indentured to neither plan nor phone. Sweet.
Now if you’ll excuse me — I need to make a few long distance calls. On Google Voice. For free.
Comment by Dooley Dudright Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 6:58 am
Virgin Mobile pay as you go. It’s cheap and I’ve never had any problems with phones or service.
Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 7:02 am
I use ATT and am very happy with nationwide coverage. I never lose a call. The only coverage problems I have are in So.Il., which I try to avoid anyway. Great rates. I don’t use internet on my phone so I don’t really care about speed, etc..
Comment by Bill Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 7:05 am
AT&T with iPhone. Coverage is ok, but especially bad at work. I’m seriously considering going to Verizon in September when my contract is up.
Comment by tubbfan Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 7:09 am
att/iPhone4. very happy with it.
Comment by bored now Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 7:18 am
Verizon. Stayed with them when they got the Droid and it melted down about the time they got the Iphone. Now I now why people are apple people for their devices.
Verizon service seems better in parts of the state when I can get a call and my buddy can’t or I can caqll but my ipad won’t pick up a signal
Comment by Todd Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 7:22 am
AT&T on an iPhone, wife and four kids on iPhones as well. Two iPads, first on AT&T, second on Verizon for comparison purposes. It’s too early to report any difference.
ATT is OK but frequent dropped calls. Poor service downstate. I used to use the OnStar phone feature and got decent coverage through Verizon.
Comment by What's in a name? Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 7:23 am
Verizon. Used them since the days of the “brick” and the original “flip fone”. Always get service anywhere in Illinois, including Fulton Co. (where a lot of other company signals are MIA) and the cell phone “hell hole” near Chatsworth, CA. Traveled a good part of the US the last two years and always had a signal … part of that may have been simply being near major highways a lot of the time.
Comment by Retired Non-Union Guy Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 7:30 am
Verzion is very good in my area. Verzion is also a great investment, the stock is paying 5.18% dividend try getting that at the bank!!! “Can ya hear me now??”
Comment by Greg in Monticello Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 7:31 am
AT&T. Pretty happy. The only time I have problem is in central IL when I go to visit my family. Even that seems to be improving. I usually have 3G in Chicagoland, where I spend most of my time. I get E in western IL and southeast IA where I go to spend vacations, and I was lucky to get a signal in Toledo, IL. Eh, small town, no real economic incentive for anyone to install towers etc.
Comment by cermak_rd Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 7:43 am
I use CREDO mobile — http://www.credomobile.com/ — and I am very satisfied with their service and with their customer service.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 7:51 am
Contrary to Radio Man, I love hearing what you all are using. Valuable info. I know you have to depend on your phones!
Have AT&T, but think I’ll ask for the Central Illinois or Southern Illinois discount now. Also, have TMobile, like Dooley. I use it for all the same reasons. Don’t like to be tied down!
Comment by Fan of Cap Fax Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 8:04 am
AT&T with iPhone 3G. Work in downtown Chicago and I leave it on E, otherwise call quality is sorely lacking. Going to Vegas soon and will put it on 3G and it will work beautifully.
Comment by Blue in DuPage Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 8:04 am
iPhone/ATT for many years. I have never really had much problem with ATT, and at one time I traveled across the US a bit, and had no problems anywhere I went.
ATT is upgrading without a subsidy from the government? Is that possible?
Comment by Cincinnatus Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 8:08 am
Verizon? I sued them three times and they will not remove a cancellation fee. They hammer their customers with overage fees. T-mobile and U.S. Cellular are great. Get the unlimited packages. Happy with T-Mobile.
Comment by Patrick McDonough Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 8:08 am
I went from a Blackberry with US Cellular to an I-Phone with AT&T. US Cellular I never had a problem with dropped calls.
The I-Phone is great to use with wonderful features and easy access to the internet. Except it drops calls constantly. Or people call me and my phone never rings, but suddenly I have a voice mail message that I notice later on.
I’ve talked to a few Verizon Iphone people who do not have this problem.
AT&T, when your contract runs out with me, if I still have this problem, I’m gone. Period. You’ve had plenty of time to fix these well known problems. Do It.
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 8:13 am
AT&T/Blackberry. I’m satisfied since my company pays the bill. Still have bad voice service at home. Fine everywhere else.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 8:14 am
Sprint, and I’m happy with them so far
Comment by Android Fan Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 8:15 am
AT&T-very satisfied. Only drop calls in certain parts of Southern Illinois. Never in the suburban ring.
Comment by Jake From Elwood Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 8:24 am
AT&T/iPhone. Worked great while I lived in central IL and works great in Chicago.
Comment by Small Town Liberal Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 8:35 am
verizon because I live in an AT&T free zone
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 8:47 am
att, iphone 3gs
its a complete fail, att may show 3 or 4 bars, but data cant connect. and i dont get signal in my office in the middle of the loop.
ATT is the worst in Chicago these improvements r much needed
Comment by att hater Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 8:51 am
ATT it is very good. I don’t get reception at my place in northern Wisconsin. That is excellent.
Comment by Irish Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 8:54 am
ATT/IPhone, not perfect but good enough.
Would like better coverage in fringe areas, but since I am in fringe areas when I am trying to get away its not such a big deal.
Comment by Plutocrat03 Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 9:02 am
AT&T with iPhone. Coverage can be spotty, but I am so enamored of my gadget that it doesn’t bother me that much.
Comment by Ray del Camino Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 9:03 am
Sprint. I’ve been with them for over 10 years, and have never considered switching.
My wife and I have Epic 4G phones, and my 3 kids all have non-smart phones.
We have unlimited texting/data/and 1750 minutes a month that rarely if ever the entire family nears. Average ‘minute’ usage for the entire family is around 500 minutes.
Sprint also allows free calling to any cell phone/any provider/any time so I don’t worry about my kids calling their friends and chatting.
All of this for 5 phones for $198.00/month taxes and all. That includes all fees etc.
AT&T and Verizon can’t come close.
Comment by How Ironic Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 9:05 am
I hate them all. My contract ended with Verizon and then I switched to ATT. Somehow Verizon said I didn’t pay the last bill which I did and they sent it to collections. I won’t go to them. I am on the phone about 3 hours each day driving from Joliet to North Shore and drop about 5 calls each day. They all suck.
Comment by Developer Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 9:05 am
Verizon. No dropped calls, ever. I wouldn’t even know what that means, actually.
Comment by PPHS Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 9:13 am
AT&T / iPhone. The phone service is fine, but the data service can be spotty, especially at certain points along the Orange Line (my daily commute). Thank goodness Rhapsody lets me download music to my phone as opposed to just streaming it.
Although the service is decent, the plan is way too expensive. I’m seriously considering switching to Virgin Mobile when my contract is up.
Comment by Edge of the 14th Ward Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 9:18 am
I use US Cellular, despite their questionable choices on stadium naming rights. Switched to them from Sprint about six years ago after numerous bad experiences, and I’ve never regretted it. Has excellent coverage where I live now, and had good service in the STL Metro area. Switched to Android phone after my second Blackberry crapped out in 18 months, and LOVE IT! I’m not status-conscious enough to use an iphone, and I save money every month!
Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 9:21 am
We have an iPhone 3G and an iPhone 4 on AT&T. They both work well 95% of the time. I think it’s important to plug them into iTunes periodically to keep them updated and to reset them every couple of weeks. I’ve noticed that they don’t like going from the Chicago area to central/northern WI without a reset.
With that said, I somewhat agree with Developer that they all suck. The billing is too complicated, the sales calls are annoying, the dropped calls are unforgivable. They should just work, and sometimes they don’t.
Comment by Lefty Lefty Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 9:26 am
Verizon for over ten years now, and very happy. Droid works great with it, too. Generally enjoy playing around on my Droid in various parts of Illinois while friends with iPhones are swearing at their phones for losing signal during calls or surfing.
Comment by Amuzing Myself Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 9:29 am
Sprint / Blackberry. Generally happy with both, though I won’t be getting another phone with a jam-o-rific track ball. My only issue is this (TINFOIL HAT ALERT): anyone else notice that when they are in a house with a land line, their cell service drops to crappy? I notice it most in my own house, but it also happens in others. If I step out away from the house the number of bars increases dramatically. Anecdotally, I’ve heard others complain of this problem. Is it possible that land line providers (AT&T, I’m glaring at you) send some sort of signal over the line that jams cell phones, thereby discouraging people from getting rid of the land line and opting to just use their cell, because they think their cell doesn’t get good enough reception to exclusively rely on it at home? Just wondering.
Comment by TwoFeetThick Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 9:33 am
Verizon. Great service, except the store at Parkway Pointe, and great coverage.
Also use AT&T for a special phone used strictly for work in an area of the country where they have better coverage due to the rare placement of a cell tower close to the boondocks location at which we do planetary studies (looking for sign of intelligent life….so you know…it isn’t the Illinois State House).
Comment by Justice Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 9:39 am
I use AT&T. Coverage and service is good, EXCEPT for far northern Illinois, where I live. You’ll find me standing on a ladder in my garage to complete a call w/out dropping. Uncomfortable and annoying. But not complaining. C’mon, I get internet on my phone! The signals go to Space, for Christ’s sake. Give’m a minute!
Comment by Springfieldish Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 9:43 am
Sprint. Service is great and the prices are unbeatable.
Comment by Ahoy Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 9:47 am
Verizon. I have used at&t and t-mobile, and verizon has the best reliability and coverage. I am able to make calls while traveling with my verizon phone that I can not get through on my company ATT&t line.
I had t-mobile for two years, they had spotty coverage around srpingfield and it was worse when I traveled.
I have never had a call drop on my verizon phone, I still get those on my at&t work phone.
As an aside, I can surf the web and talk on my verizon iphone, I just have to have wireless access to do so. Since you shouldnt be surfing the web, talking and driving at the same time anyway, I have not found this to be very limiting. Usually when I want to talk and surf I am in an area with wifi.
Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 9:53 am
AT&T on I Phone. haven’t had any issues with it, though i think it is a bit overpriced compared to some of the other carriers.
Comment by Pickles!! Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 9:58 am
T-mobile, love it. get a house phone (VOIP BOX) and 3 cells for around a 100.00. Get calls in the basement of buildings in Central ILL where ATT has poor coverage.
Comment by frayedcat Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 10:05 am
Verizon and very satisfied. I am not currently using a smart phone, but plan to get one over the summer and am willing to go to AT&T. I am especially interested in the comments here today that compare/contrast Droid and Apple I-phone satisfaction.
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 10:10 am
Tracfone. It’s a South American company, my brother refers to it as “that drug dealer phone you use.” It’s pay as you go. I keep saying I’m switching to CredoMobile as soon as this phone dies, but it refuses to do so. It’s so old I don’t even have a cell phone camera.
Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 10:22 am
had att and dumped it 18 mo ago due to dropped calls in rochester and downtown spfld. also lousy support and runarounds w billing.
have had a blackberry w verizon since and never lose a call.
will soon go to verizons samsung fascinate droid which has skype, nice resolution, voice/text, and is its own hotspot. also the verizon mobile hotspot to replace springnet for service at home and traveling.
and no, i am not affiliated w any cell company.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 10:32 am
Credo is a Sprint reseller so make sure you’ll be satisfied with Sprint as the underlying carrier. Just sayin’
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 10:38 am
AT&T. Satisfied. Moving from 2 Blackberrys to Torch & 3G iPhone this week. Could have moved when contract expired next month, but didn’t want the hassle of changing phone and carriers. My bigger issue is with the idiot that put that stupid trackball on the Bold; things been jammed up for a week.
Comment by Scott217 Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 10:38 am
AT&T -I live in Chicago, on the Northside in Lakeview close to Wrigley. EVERY Cubs home game I cannot make or receive calls or texts. I cannot describe how incredibly frustrating this is. Essentially 80+ days out the year my phone is nothing but a fancy paperweight. Thank God the Cubbies don’t make the playoffs!
Considering Verizon when contract is up this summer.
Even when there is not a home game, my calls drop often, especially around LSD. I have noticed in past few months that this happens much less, but the game day issue is huge as I work from home. Too bad b/c I love my iPhone.
Comment by jayhawk97 Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 10:41 am
This should certainly help my iPhone here in Chicago. Man can AT&T be a pain in the butt.
Comment by Aaron Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 10:45 am
ATT iPhone. It works well almost all the time. Except at US Cellular Field. I can’t get make a call or text. I was assured by a friend who works for a different cell company that there is no way US Cell blocks other companies calls but it doesn’t seem to happen anywhere except at a Sox game
Comment by Been There Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 10:51 am
Verizon…Good coverage downstate…lousy HTC Imagio phone…Plan to change when contract runs out.
Comment by Louis Howe Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 11:02 am
I have an iPhone with AT&T. I haven’t experienced the dropped calls, but while traveling across the southwest I did get a lot of, “No Coverage,” displayed. I want to know when they are going to expand broadband in rural areas.
Comment by Dead Head Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 11:02 am
I have been with US Cellular for seven years. I have been satisfied. The customer service at the stores is much better than I would ever expect.
We have over the years looked at other companies and have stayed with US Cellular based on comparison. We both have smart phones.
I also like that the company is so famous, they named a ball park after it:)
Comment by Richard Afflis Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 11:11 am
US Cellular. Works ok, all of the companies have issues - just the way it is. Main reason for us with 3G is internet access, which we really use (running multiple browser based software apps out in the field).
Verizon was better, but their customer service and customer relations just are way beyond horrible, IMO.
For us, the biggest deciding factor is the Android OS. It’s not quite on par with Apple iOS, but it’s going to get there, and for us, Droid tablets running Mobile Firefox looks to be the future.
My .02: If it’s not Apple or Android based, it’s probably going to be an also-ran.
Comment by Judgment Day Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 11:13 am
AT&T I went with them because Cingular had great coverage and the least amount of dropped calls, I kept them when AT&T bought them out because they offered a triple play package with phone/internet/cell that was a good price.
Since AT&T took over Cingular I have had numerous dropped calls, especially by Clearing Industrial Park, areas by Midway Airport, and along Western Ave. Industrial areas on the South Side of Chicago.
Not very happy with AT&T cell, but alternatives are more money for internet and land line taking the cell off the package.
I had a lot of dropped calls when I went up to Wisconsin a year ago as well.
To split my AT&T package apart would cost more for local long distance, local calls, internet etc. and I would loose phone features, call waiting, call waiting caller ID etc.
Comment by 3rd Generation Chicago Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 11:18 am
Verizon/Blackberry Pretty good. Have a little trouble indoors and in those places Bill tries to avoid.
Comment by Way Way Down Here Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 11:19 am
Dead Head,
They might expand broadband into rural areas after they’re done with all the metropolitan areas. It’s just too expensive to do to only reach a handful of people when you can reach thousands with a similar outlay in the met areas.
Comment by cermak_rd Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 11:30 am
Verizon on a Samsung Alias 2. Very happy except when traveling through western Illinois.
Comment by Dirty Red Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 11:36 am
T-Mobile. For $88 I get 300 minutes and unlimited 4G (well, the TM equivalent)… and since I have the new Google phone with the latest Android build, I can use it as a portable modem. Since I do more data than voice, it’s a good deal for me.
And even with my wife’s work-subsidized AT&T plan, it ended up being about the same price just to stick with them.
Coverage is a bit spottier than I’d like, but I like their generous data policy (and their respect for jailbreakers). It’s a good company for nerds, but I’m afraid AT&T is going to implement data caps and crack down on rooted phones.
Comment by whet moser Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 11:45 am
IV Cellular based in Marseilles. Small regional system with great customer service.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 11:48 am
I have an Android on Verizon. It’s a phone and actually makes calls in most places. Wife just got the iPhone4 and loves it. But she’s been an Apple junkie for years.
Comment by Springfield Skeptic Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 11:51 am
Verizon - have been happy with their service but expensive. I’m finally getting a smartphone, likely staying with Verizon. But Verizon has a minimum $29/mo data requirement for smartphones through Verizon (above and beyond what they charge for voice and text), which I believe is more expensive than competitors?
Comment by Robert Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 11:57 am
Sprint. Good service, super cheap. Little or no BS.
Comment by anon Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 12:20 pm
T-Mobile/Blackberry
Awful. My calls drop all the time, service cuts out for no reason, it takes forever for the network to come back, and I pay over $100/month.
Comment by Obamarama Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 12:35 pm
I’m Verizon for now, but that’s likely gonna change when I get a new phone (that’s a year from now, but still).
Verizon’s smallest ‘family plan’ minutes package (voice) is 700 minutes. You know how many we used last month? 69.
We DO use data, all the time. But Verizon’s getting rid of the unlimited data plans as of next month. And I don’t know what their new offerings will be…I fear they won’t make any sense for us (droid 3G) and so I’ll have to head over to US Cellular or something.
Comment by Concerned Observer Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 12:47 pm
Love my T-mobile. Wish they did not make a deal with the evil AT&T. Don’t want the problem of dropped calls everywhere that AT&T customers have. Don’t want the crap customer service that AT&T gives. Thinking of switching to Verizon because of the new deal with bureaucratic hell that will come with at&t.
Comment by dupage progressive Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 1:10 pm
Capt Fax
Did you see this item on your blog?
Verizon Leads Harris Poll
——————————————————————————–
Wed Apr 13, 2011 - 7:31 PM EDT - By Annie Latham
——————————————————————————–
According to the 2011 Harris Poll EquiTrend study, in the Mobile Networks category, Verizon is highest ranked for the second-year running over archrival AT&T. Harris Interactive.
Harris Interactive announced their Technology Brands of the Year in four other major categories: Mobile Phones (Motorola), Consumer Electronics (Sony), Computer Hardware (HP), and Gaming (Nintendo). Overall, awards are given in each of 46 different categories.
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 2:19 pm
10-year Sprint customer, no complaints. I get service wherever I need it.
Comment by Tim Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 2:48 pm
Ive NEVER had a problem with my US Cellular
Comment by matty Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 2:54 pm
Verizon/Blackberry — Chicago Area. Great coverage and service since the days of the Flip Phone. Wife had AT&T/Blackberry and nothing but dropped calls. She cancelled her contract and AT&T waived the cancellation fee acknowledging all the problems she’s had. She now has Verizon and is very pleased.
Comment by A Good Bill That Could Be Better Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 5:10 pm
One thing I probably should have added. I implied it with my reference to the brick and flip but I never take the “free” phones; instead I opt for models like the mil spec Motorola’s …it makes a difference. The daughter-in-law has a freebie phone and it doesn’t hardly work at her folk’s place in the boonies but my son’s used Motorola V750 bought on eBay works great in the same location. I don’t buy phones new anymore; just get them used from eBay and transfer data / activate myself using the Verizon web site.
Comment by Retired Non-Union Guy Wednesday, Apr 13, 11 @ 7:20 pm