What carrier is ideal (in US)?

[rDub]

I have used Sprint for the last decade or so and I am glad that the Pre is coming to them. I am ready for a new phone but passed on the Instinct and the HTC offerings but I am pretty sure that my next phone will be a Pre.

[bmoore]

I dont think its possible to say one carrier is ideal in the US. In my experience most of the data is subjective based on your home area. Each carrier has areas of strength and weakness for coverage across the US, if you're in an AT&T blackhole, their coverage around the nation outside your home area is irrelevant and so on down the line of carriers.

That said, I've been with MCI (waaaaay back before everyone and their dog had a cell), AT&T, and Sprint (currently). I've been with Sprint for 7 years or so and am overall very pleased. Not to say they are without problems, but CS is improving and if you can work the system you can usually get to someone who can help if you are patient, polite, and persistent.

When it comes to plan pricing, Sprint is hands down the best in my opinion, especially if you've been with them for some time and are on an older grandfathered plan. It would cost me double or more each month to move to T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T to keep the phones, minutes, text, unlimited data etc on my 5 lines. That is a huge price discrepancy in my opinion and why I'm stuck with sprint for the long haul.

[Lampoon]

I have been with sprint for about 10 years now. For years and years I hated them. Over the past 3 years they have made tons of improvements. I now have service in tons of places that used to be dead zones. Now they are the leaders in 3g. Things are going better for sprint. AND NOW THEY HAVE THE PALM PRE! WOOOOH

[Rimorso]

Hey Clayjm,

I agree with what you say when it comes to Verizons phones. I feel they don't have any phones that Wow me which is why I've got my eye on the Pre.

[jabosi]

I choose sprint because they've always had the cheapest (and fastest) data plans.

[Treice_1978]

I choose Sprint because of their variety of phones and their calling plans. I'm glad they have the Pre.

[nsuking2005]

Well, being on Sprint, I have NO problems with the Pre being released on this carrier. I think the coverage differs in different areas. I've been on Cingular and now Sprint, and where I'm at now, Sprint gets much better coverage; but back home, Cingular got better coverage.

I think Sprint could be better, but it has a great balance of price and service. AT&T costs WAY too much compared to Sprint, even if the service might be a bit better.

[ericabiz]

I have been with Sprint since 1999 and their coverage has gone from crap to amazing. (I live in San Jose, CA) Their customer service remains spotty -- I have had two of the best reps I've EVER had using any phone support, and several more who are terrible. The trick is to just ask to be escalated right away, particularly if you have a billing concern.

What I'm most happy with is the price, though I hear this may change if I buy a Palm Pre. I have a pretty sweet deal right now -- 2 Centros w/unlimited data + 1000 minutes shared for $60/mo total.

-Erica

[punkerx]

Personally, I used to use Cingular/AT&T but I had a ton of trouble with their customer service. At Sprint, I pay about $70/mo and that covers all of my needs quite solidly for my Centro. 400minutes, + unlimited text & data. I'm quite happy here, and furthermore, I'm very pleased that they are who Palm chose the Pre to go to.