Considering Switch from Big Red

[jahutch]

Hey all!

I've got a bit of a conundrum. I am a long time Verizon Wireless customer - lured principally by their generally superior coverage. But I'm beginning to grow a bit tired of their antics. I have had my 8830 for about 16 months now. In that time, I've had to live with a disabled GPS so they can force people to buy VZ Navigator. I've had to live without WiFi. I've had to do a hack to install US Cellular's 4.5 OS update because Verizon flat REFUSES to release an OS update for this phone DESPITE the fact they don't have any newer BlackBerry's with physical keyboard.

Oh, and I pay way too much. I have my mom on my plan. We have a combined 700 minutes, and my line has 250 texts and the data plan. The total is $105.00 plus tax a month. 2 lines, 700 minutes, and 400 texts from TMo would cost me $85.00 a month. $20 a month is a pretty big difference. And if I want to tether, Verizon will charge me an extra $30 a month (since I have the cheaper $29.99 data plan). TMo gives me tethering free.

So yeah, the temptation to quit waiting for the Niagara and switch to TMo and grab a Curve 8900 is very high. As far as I can tell, by switching, I save 20 bucks a month, gain a much better phone, gain WiFi, gain UMA ("hotspot calling"), gain 150 texts, gain a GPS that works with Google Maps, and gain free tethering. I lose 3G data (EDGE instead of EVDO) and Verizon's network.

The latter is what worries me... and what brings me to some specific questions I hope you guys can answer for me!

1. I live in Northern Virginia, DC metro area. I assume service in the metro area is excellent. Is this correct?

2. Even if service in DC area is excellent, I can tell by the coverage map I'm going to occasionally be left in the cold by TMo's network with places I go now and then. Namely, the southern Outer Banks of NC (Hatteras, NC and Frisco, NC) looks iffy, and the central coast of CA looks like a big blank spot, with the exception of Monterey and its immediate surroundings. I know the chances of forum members having used TMo in these locations is low, but if anyone has, can you confirm or deny what I just said?

3. My thought is that I could buy a cheap VZW pre-paid phone, and load it up if I'm going to be traveling somewhere iffy. Part of me thinks its kind of silly to pay extra every month so I can have cell service on my main phone somewhere I go a week or two each year. I figure between the pre-pay backup, and UMA, I can probably get by with TMo's inferior network. What are people's thoughts on this? Those who have switched - how do you feel about your decision? Part of me worries because I've always said "a cell phone is only as good as the network its attached to." Will I be making a disappointing deal with the devil by leaving big red for big pink?

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!

[SandAngel]

All I can answer is that where I live it shows crappy coverage on the TMO coverage map but in actuality I get full bars here.

Just food for thought

Originally Posted by SandAngel

All I can answer is that where I live it shows crappy coverage on the TMO coverage map but in actuality I get full bars here.

Just food for thought

Wrong! My father has T-Mobile service (Maryland) and the service is truly crappy!!

[trees247]

1. if you catch the train you will not have service when you go underground (from what I heard)

2. that's on you

3. I really like tmo wifi is great and the UMA I work in a hospital and get no service but with the wifi and uma I'm good. now when it come to phones big red got tmo why and I mean why tmo can't get a 3g blackberry? I say make the jump over cause it's cheaper but you may feel left out looking at the storm and the tour. If tmo come out with a 3g blackberry with wifi and uma everyone will be on tmo! hoped I help

[brandon.r]

Btw..verizon released 4.5 for the 8830 a couple weeks ago.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[jahutch]

Originally Posted by brandon.r

Btw..verizon released 4.5 for the 8830 a couple weeks ago.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

I hadn't realized that, thanks for the info. Its about time - other CDMA carriers have had it for how long?

To the others:

Thanks for the thoughts. I may try TetherBerry... if it works I may hold off for the "Tour" after all. I'd like to have WiFi, but if the Tour is Rev. A EVDO I may be able to live without it.

I'd love to switch to TMo... and I'm sure the coverage where I live is great... but I travel a goodly bit. I used to have Sprint and hated it because I'd go somewhere and not have service. I switched to Verizon and most of the time, it just works, no matter where I am. I'm afraid I'd be back to the Sprint situation with TMo.

Oh well.... things to consider!

[Gh0stHunta]

Originally Posted by jahutch

Hey all!

I've got a bit of a conundrum. I am a long time Verizon Wireless customer - lured principally by their generally superior coverage. But I'm beginning to grow a bit tired of their antics. I have had my 8830 for about 16 months now. In that time, I've had to live with a disabled GPS so they can force people to buy VZ Navigator. I've had to live without WiFi. I've had to do a hack to install US Cellular's 4.5 OS update because Verizon flat REFUSES to release an OS update for this phone DESPITE the fact they don't have any newer BlackBerry's with physical keyboard.

Oh, and I pay way too much. I have my mom on my plan. We have a combined 700 minutes, and my line has 250 texts and the data plan. The total is $105.00 plus tax a month. 2 lines, 700 minutes, and 400 texts from TMo would cost me $85.00 a month. $20 a month is a pretty big difference. And if I want to tether, Verizon will charge me an extra $30 a month (since I have the cheaper $29.99 data plan). TMo gives me tethering free.

So yeah, the temptation to quit waiting for the Niagara and switch to TMo and grab a Curve 8900 is very high. As far as I can tell, by switching, I save 20 bucks a month, gain a much better phone, gain WiFi, gain UMA ("hotspot calling"), gain 150 texts, gain a GPS that works with Google Maps, and gain free tethering. I lose 3G data (EDGE instead of EVDO) and Verizon's network.

The latter is what worries me... and what brings me to some specific questions I hope you guys can answer for me!

1. I live in Northern Virginia, DC metro area. I assume service in the metro area is excellent. Is this correct?

2. Even if service in DC area is excellent, I can tell by the coverage map I'm going to occasionally be left in the cold by TMo's network with places I go now and then. Namely, the southern Outer Banks of NC (Hatteras, NC and Frisco, NC) looks iffy, and the central coast of CA looks like a big blank spot, with the exception of Monterey and its immediate surroundings. I know the chances of forum members having used TMo in these locations is low, but if anyone has, can you confirm or deny what I just said?

3. My thought is that I could buy a cheap VZW pre-paid phone, and load it up if I'm going to be traveling somewhere iffy. Part of me thinks its kind of silly to pay extra every month so I can have cell service on my main phone somewhere I go a week or two each year. I figure between the pre-pay backup, and UMA, I can probably get by with TMo's inferior network. What are people's thoughts on this? Those who have switched - how do you feel about your decision? Part of me worries because I've always said "a cell phone is only as good as the network its attached to." Will I be making a disappointing deal with the devil by leaving big red for big pink?

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!

Wow,quite a long post..... My advice? Switch now and don't look back.... When u check tmo's coverage maps, it doesn't show the towers which u can roam on FREE..... Tmo has roaming agreements with ATT and many other GSM carriers. I live in Maine and I have 5 bars on Edge..... And while u would be losing 3G, who really cares since ur getting wi-fi which is 3 times faster than pitiful 3G...... I would at least switch to tmo, try it out,make sure u get coverage where u need it. U get 2 weeks to decide anyway. So what really would u be losing? If anything it sounds like you'd be saving some big bucks.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[jahutch]

Originally Posted by Gh0stHunta

Wow,quite a long post..... My advice? Switch now and don't look back.... When u check tmo's coverage maps, it doesn't show the towers which u can roam on FREE..... Tmo has roaming agreements with ATT and many other GSM carriers. I live in Maine and I have 5 bars on Edge..... And while u would be losing 3G, who really cares since ur getting wi-fi which is 3 times faster than pitiful 3G...... I would at least switch to tmo, try it out,make sure u get coverage where u need it. U get 2 weeks to decide anyway. So what really would u be losing? If anything it sounds like you'd be saving some big bucks.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

Is this correct? I was under the impression the new coverage locator showed ALL available coverage, including roaming. Maybe it doesn't show 850 roaming? If not, is there a place I can find a map that does? If I can check up on the places I go often and they all have coverage, I'll probably switch.

[Gh0stHunta]

Unless they changed the coverage maps, I'm pretty sure the info is accurate. I guess really the only way to know for sure is to try it out for the buyers remorse period. I would still keep other phone active just in case the tmo service really is crappy there. If the service works great THEN port ur old # over. Good luck
O btw tmobile is known to suddenly cancel customers accounts who are roaming 80% or more of the time.... So if u get absolutely no tmobile signal then u prob shouldn't bother switching. Free roaming is great but not permanently
Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[312]

Man...I would NEVER switch from CDMA to crappy GSM, in the US. Hands down worst call quality and coverages, period.

[Gh0stHunta]

Originally Posted by 312

Man...I would NEVER switch from CDMA to crappy GSM, in the US. Hands down worst call quality and coverages, period.

Negative. GSM destroys CDMA in every way.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[jahutch]

Originally Posted by Gh0stHunta

Unless they changed the coverage maps, I'm pretty sure the info is accurate. I guess really the only way to know for sure is to try it out for the buyers remorse period. I would still keep other phone active just in case the tmo service really is crappy there. If the service works great THEN port ur old # over. Good luck
O btw tmobile is known to suddenly cancel customers accounts who are roaming 80% or more of the time.... So if u get absolutely no tmobile signal then u prob shouldn't bother switching. Free roaming is great but not permanently
Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

Well, again, my issue isn't with my home area. I'm in the Washington, DC metro, everything will work fine with any carrier. My issue is when I travel. And unfortunately, if I switch, I won't be able to schedule a vacation right then to make sure my phone works in the 4 corners of the US.

I'm afraid I'm likely stuck with Verizon. I'd love to switch, but I'm not sure a phone that works 85% of the time is good enough. I mean, yeah, I'm home most of the time, but part of the advantage of a cell phone is being reachable when one travels. I guess I'm just not really in TMo's "target market."

Its an annoying position to be in. You are sick of a company's policies and the various things they do to cripple their phones then charge you to get the feature back. But, that company is the only one that offers a truly acceptable level of coverage. Its almost enough to make you want to toss your Blackberry out the window, get a free phone and cut your plan down to the cheapest one out there, and move on!

[Alexandrak]

Well. from my own personal experience Ive used Tmobile in major areas like nyc, NJ and now in Texas. I have had great coverage in those areas. I have driven across country as well and still great coverage. My plan's price was 103$ per month which is a family plan of two lines, 700 minutes w/ free nights and weekends, both unlimited texting, plus insurance on both phones, and taxes, etc. But do what works best for you. Good Luck!

[jahutch]

Decided to stay with VZW for now. Switching really makes no sense just yet.

1. I'd have to pay ETF. Highly pro-rated, but ETF nonetheless.

2. I may be starting a new job in the next month or two - that job may or may not subsidize a cell with a certain provider, or there may or may not be corporate discounts with certain providers. Or they may even provide a BB of some kind.

3. I'll try the Mac Beta of TetherBerry to see how it works.

4. I figure I should wait for the Tour to release and check it out, before jumping ship.

I appreciate all the advice though! If TMo's coverage map looked anything like Verizon's I'd jump ship, but as it is... $20 per month is a big difference, but I'm not sure its enough of one, especially since this is my only phone!

[vanity]

please be extremely carefull using tetherberry, there have been multiple posts of people on here who have been charged high data charges and had their phones shut off and accounts investigated by verizon due to using tetherberry, it does violate your tos and it does say on the tetherberry site you can be charged for using it. not trying to rain on your parade but please research a bit more before making that decision