Verizon vs Sprint, Help!

[droidtime]

Hey guys, I'm going to be switching from ATT to either Verizon or Sprint, and I need some help. Originally, I planned on going to Sprint because of the cheap plans and the Evo 4--when I had browsed Verizon's plans about a month ago using my corporate discount, I only received 15% off of voice plans. However, it seems that I now receive 20% off of data plans as well. I'm not sure if that's a glitch, but data plans are listed at $23.99 for me. So, it seems to me that Verizon is about the same cost as Sprint. I'm able to get Sprint's Everything Data along with a 450 minute talk line for about $88.00 after 20% discount. My mom doesn't need internet or texting, but she needs minutes, whereas I'll use internet and data. I'm also able to get a 700 minute Verizon family plan along with unlimited texts and a data plan for around $95.00 after discounts. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Sprint supposed to be significantly cheaper than big red? Is there a real reason to go Sprint over Verizon, other than the $7 difference, when Verizon has better coverage--according to their coverage maps? Thanks guys!

(decided to post this thread in this forum as well, so I could get input from people on the Sprint forums. )

 

[mobil3gen]

I honestly think that after discounts / add taxes - your really only looking at a less than $10 difference, and $10 for better coverage is well worth it in my opinion...but I love Verizon, so - guess I'm bias

 

[droidtime]

Both Sprint and Verizon definitely have good coverage where I live. However, my mom does do some traveling--I've checked the coverage maps and Sprint's does provide roaming for her, whereas Verizon dominates their map. Yeah, the $10 for better coverage does make sense to me, but I keep thinking about the Evo 4g. Also, the possibility of loyalty discounts with Sprint... :/

 

[SprintTerp]

How many minutes does your mother need? Sprint has a bare-bones Talk 200 plan for $29.99...

 

[droidtime]

How many minutes does your mother need? Sprint has a bare-bones Talk 200 plan for $29.99...

I think she needs at least 450 since she shot me down when I mentioned the 200 minute plan.

 

[330D]

I live in the middle of nowhere, and have had sprint for about six years. I have never had a problem with coverage. Their prices are very fair and if you like to upgrade your device often, the primary line is upgrade eligible once a year. Verizon's coverage map may look bigger, but if you get good sprint coverage where you need it, who cares? They will be getting some really cool new phones in the near future also. Oh yeah, if your plan isn't working for you, sprint will let you change it without extending your contract so as to fit your needs.

I am happy with sprint, and hope my two cents helps.

 

[IOWA]

Dont forget, Sprint has free Mobile to Mobile, Any Network. So Sprint can call VZW ATT TMO CRICKET BOOST etc, any carrier for FREE. Also, Sprint has nights and weekends at 7 instead of 9.

Also: VZW charges extra for EVERYTHING.

Where are you getting $95 from with family plan on VZW?

Directly from their website:

700 Minutes Talk and Text - 99.99 (You need texting, it would cost the more for the individual add-on no?)

29.99 Data Plan add-on for your smartphone

-20% Discount

$103.98/mo + Tax.

Now dont forget, that leaves you bare bones, no gps, secondary line is on pay per mb, and no texting, etc. Also, mobile to mobile doesnt start til 9. Thats ALSO assuming your picking the bottom-of-the-line phone for your mom.

---------------------------------------------------


With the Sprint plan, heres what you would get.

129.99 Everything Data Family Share

Any Mobile, Anytime: Unlimited domestic calls from the Sprint network to and from ANY U.S. mobile phone regardless of carrier. Any network, any time.

Unlimited data: Web surfing, email, BlackBerry Internet Services (BIS), GPS Navigation, Sprint TV and Radio, NASCAR Sprint Cup MobileSM

Unlimited messaging: Text, pictures and video

Talk: Night calling and weekends starting at 7 p.m., nationwide long distance and no roaming charges. Lines 1-2 included. Lines 3-5 are $19.99/mo./line.

Unlimited Direct Connect: Direct Connect and Group Connect (for capable phones)

With that same 20% discount, same cost as VZW.


-BUT- Here's why Sprint makes more sense.

You DONT have to worry about going over your minutes. (Unless your going to spend over 1500 minutes talking to landlines, during peak call hours, which is hard to do, lol)

You can get any phone you want on either line.

BOTH PHONES have unlimited data.

NO hidden charges, if you or mom needs to find that restaurant, a local google search on either phone, so no need to call 411 etc.

If mom accidentally turns on the internet, or wants to explore its features, she can. At no additional cost.

Both phones have unlimited texting.

Sprint allows you to ungrade primary line EVERY YEAR instead of every two.

Loyalty Perks.

So basically, with sprint, for the same price as verizon, you get unlimited everything, and on VZW you get VERY LIMITED MINUTE bucket, no text/data on second line, and only crappy phones that don't do well for reception for mom.

So, what do you think?

 

[Nabraham]

Dont forget, Sprint has free Mobile to Mobile, Any Network. So Sprint can call VZW ATT TMO CRICKET BOOST etc, any carrier for FREE. Also, Sprint has nights and weekends at 7 instead of 9.

Also: VZW charges extra for EVERYTHING.

Where are you getting $95 from with family plan on VZW?

Directly from their website:

700 Minutes Talk and Text - 99.99 (You need texting, it would cost the more for the individual add-on no?)

29.99 Data Plan add-on for your smartphone

-20% Discount

$103.98/mo + Tax.

Now dont forget, that leaves you bare bones, no gps, secondary line is on pay per mb, and no texting, etc. Also, mobile to mobile doesnt start til 9. Thats ALSO assuming your picking the bottom-of-the-line phone for your mom.

---------------------------------------------------


With the Sprint plan, heres what you would get.

129.99 Everything Data Family Share

Any Mobile, Anytime: Unlimited domestic calls from the Sprint network to and from ANY U.S. mobile phone regardless of carrier. Any network, any time.

Unlimited data: Web surfing, email, BlackBerry Internet Services (BIS), GPS Navigation, Sprint TV and Radio, NASCAR Sprint Cup MobileSM

Unlimited messaging: Text, pictures and video

Talk: Night calling and weekends starting at 7 p.m., nationwide long distance and no roaming charges. Lines 1-2 included. Lines 3-5 are $19.99/mo./line.

Unlimited Direct Connect: Direct Connect and Group Connect (for capable phones)

With that same 20% discount, same cost as VZW.


-BUT- Here's why Sprint makes more sense.

You DONT have to worry about going over your minutes. (Unless your going to spend over 1500 minutes talking to landlines, during peak call hours, which is hard to do, lol)

You can get any phone you want on either line.

BOTH PHONES have unlimited data.

NO hidden charges, if you or mom needs to find that restaurant, a local google search on either phone, so no need to call 411 etc.

If mom accidentally turns on the internet, or wants to explore its features, she can. At no additional cost.

Both phones have unlimited texting.

Sprint allows you to ungrade primary line EVERY YEAR instead of every two.

Loyalty Perks.

So basically, with sprint, for the same price as verizon, you get unlimited everything, and on VZW you get VERY LIMITED MINUTE bucket, no text/data on second line, and only crappy phones that don't do well for reception for mom.

So, what do you think?

What do you mean no GPS with Verizon? My Droid Eris has GPS on it and i don't pay anything outside of the data plan. The DROID also has free Google turn by turn navigation that is covered by the data plan.

 

[zcarman]

Ok, well this is a very interesting situation since we just made the move from VZW to Sprint ourselves...

Option 1

- Verizon Wireless - 700 min with unlimited SMS/MMS/PIX is $90 on the primary line and $9.99 on the secondary - this is important because your discount only applies to the primary line and data packages. So you'll actually be looking at the following charges...

Primary Line: $90.00 minus 13.50 (15%) is $76.50
Primary Data: $29.99 minus 6.00 (20%) is $23.99
Secondary Line: $9.99 no discount is $9.99
Subtotal: $110.48 + 14% tax (average) $125.94

Option #2

- Sprint Everything Data Family - with Any Mobile, Anytime

- 1500 Minutes: $129.99 +14% (average) = 148.19 ($24 a month more - with no discounts applied - check to see if your employer offers Sprint discounts)

Option #3

- Sprint Basic (for Mom) Everything Data 0 with Any Mobile, Anytime (you)

- Basic Plan - 200 Minutes only - $29.99
- Everything Data - 450 Minutes - $69.99
-Total - $99.98 + 14% (average tax) $113.97 ($11 a month less than Verizon before discounts on Sprint if available)

Coverage - Practically identical with the Verzion roaming areas. The only catch is, roaming is only 'sort of free' on Sprint as they don't charge extra for roaming, but they do subtract anytime minutes when you are in Roaming areas. Free Mobile to Mobile calls are only free when you are on the Sprint network - not in roaming areas.

Data Coverage - I've yet to find anywhere that I can't get a 3G signal (although my area already has 4G WiMax coverage) so I can't say that Verizon had better data coverage than Sprint. One thing I can say is that my typical download speeds on the Moment (using Speedtest.net) is about 1/2 of what is it was on Verizon with my Touch Pro 2. Sprint averages around 600-700kbps while VZW was running about 1.2Mbps-1.7Mbps. Overall, not a big deal as 600kbps is more than quick enough for Youtube, SprintTV, the GPS and the other apps that require the internet connection.

Service - Sprint has bent over backwards to get me as a customer, and I am very demanding of my services. I expect them to serve me, not just treat me as a number that only calls when there's a billing problem. I want to know when and for how much things will cost me, like new devices, services and what I get if they don't work right. My experience with Verizon was simply awesome. If something was wrong, they fixed it very quickly. So far, to my surprise, Sprint is delivering the same level of service. I called in to complain about the loss of the NFL Live package and they apologized and offered me a $100 credit to use on my next device purchase - which considering I am happy with, but not thrilled with my Moment, it a good thing. I also would love to check out the Evo when it is released, but I wasn't going to wait 4-6 months to find out that it was delayed, riddled with problems or worse, shut-down by the Apple/HTC pissing match.

My buying advice for you is to go to a Sprint repair store and check out the devices and ask them which ones are coming in most frequently. Also, use that 30 day trial to check the coverage areas where you will use your device. My business account rep let me have the same deal in February so we drove everywhere trying out the services - and found them to be every bit as good as VZW's.

The final straw was when we added up what we would spend getting the same service package through Verizon on our 2 primary lines, $148.19 before discounts on Sprint vs. $304.20 before the 8% we were offered on Verizon...

VZW also offers yearly upgrades on the primary line at the standard 2 year pricing (with contract extension of course)...

Also, just as a note to Nabraham about Google Maps and specifically the Turn-By-Turn directions. VZW in the past, not saying they will again, has blocked certain programs and sites from accessing location information. The only Turn-By-Turn navi program that Verizon 'almost guarantees' to work on their network is VZ Navigator.

 

[motoxcreature]

I have experienced both Sprint and Verizon. I always lost a signal with Sprint and multiple times had them look into my phone and give me replacements to no avail. Then, I switched to Verizon since I'm going off to college and I need a reliable network. I was blown away when I could make a call in my house instead of having to go outside (like Sprint). IMHO get verizon, never get sprint.

 

[zcarman]

@motoxcreature - I can so understand your issue with coverage. That was our biggest 'issue' with changing carriers, but we were offered that 30 days by our business rep so we just took the jump. I couldn't believe that our coverage didn't suffer, but it's really just as good. I think it's completely a market to market thing...

 

[i VTAK]

I have experienced both Sprint and Verizon. I always lost a signal with Sprint and multiple times had them look into my phone and give me replacements to no avail. Then, I switched to Verizon since I'm going off to college and I need a reliable network. I was blown away when I could make a call in my house instead of having to go outside (like Sprint). IMHO get verizon, never get sprint.

Just so you know, when I had Verizon I couldn't use it in my house. Now that I have Sprint, I have no problems even when I'm in the basement. It all depends on where you're at. Each has stronger coverage in different places.

 

[modern]

No carrier is perfect. People are so brainwashed by Verizon's marketing. They think any other carriers sucks. My coworker thinks that since I have Sprint that my coverage blows, my data is a lot faster than his and he can't even get signal inside our work elevator.

I live in SoCal and I get coverage 99% of the time, the few times I lose signal is out in the middle of nowhere, where no one have coverage. If you live in a big city I think you'll be fine with any of the big 4.

Also, you can get cheaper rates by signing up for everything plus.

McGuire’s Law Blog Archive Psst - Have you Heard about Everything Plus?

 

[IOWA]

No carrier is perfect. People are so brainwashed by Verizon's marketing. They think any other carriers sucks. My coworker thinks that since I have Sprint that my coverage blows, my data is a lot faster than his and he can't even get signal inside our work elevator.

I live in SoCal and I get coverage 99% of the time, the few times I lose signal is out in the middle of nowhere, where no one have coverage. If you live in a big city I think you'll be fine with any of the big 4.

Also, you can get cheaper rates by signing up for everything plus.

McGuire

 

[Eric-VTX]

I love sprint and never had any issues...If you compare you gel alot more for your buck...So I think that the difference! But What I can say is that my friend just picked up a moment and a curve this past wednesday comint from verizon...They live in a apartment condo place in the first floor and got no signal and messages up to 2hrs later...they also have the wireless network still with verizon cause their contract is not up yet and they have to cloce to sliding door to get signal while the moment and the curve get signal all in the house...

One other thing that sprint does vs. any provider doesn't do? Isyou can take the phone up too amonth and if you are not sastified with service or phone they will gladly take back with charges...so what you got to loose...nothing!

 

[IOWA]

Oh and I forgot to mention, vzw charges extra for gps with their branded version. Google maps is an android/smartphone feature.

 

[RockoDog]

I've got VZW right now, and haven't had any network problems. However, I'm thinking about switching over to Sprint for the EVO. From coverage maps, it looks like both have the same coverage in the areas that I typically travel.

I had Sprint about 10 years ago, and was not impressed - not with coverage nor customer service.

Has this changed since I've been away?

 

[godsdragon]

Verizon is a rip off! Customer service is bad and staff is not willing to work with you even when the fault is theirs...

Definitelly go with Sprint.

 

[Caloy]

One advantage of Sprint over VZW is price. The 2nd is 4G.

I'm quite surprised that my city is already 4G covered. I can't wait for the EVO to come.

 

[Fonseca]

Don't forget, if you do not get service in your house with Sprint, they can give you a Airave which will boost your signal. Sometimes you can get them for free.

[thread hijack]
My one question is can you bring it with you to give you signal no matter what part of the country you go to?

[/thread hijack]

 

[IOWA]

I've got VZW right now, and haven't had any network problems. However, I'm thinking about switching over to Sprint for the EVO. From coverage maps, it looks like both have the same coverage in the areas that I typically travel.

I had Sprint about 10 years ago, and was not impressed - not with coverage nor customer service.

Has this changed since I've been away?

10 years is like 5 lifetimes in wireless tech. It has gotten considerably better, cs and service. Cs is pretty good now. Whenever I have to call I'm on the phone with a real live person in under 2 min.

 

[egkor]

Don't forget, if you do not get service in your house with Sprint, they can give you a Airave which will boost your signal. Sometimes you can get them for free.

[thread hijack]
My one question is can you bring it with you to give you signal no matter what part of the country you go to?

[/thread hijack]

Yes. You just have to have broadband Internet w/router to connect the Airave.

Airave has internal GPS receiver so it knows where it is. It literally does not work until it gets a its position via GPS.

Also you are charged $5.00/mo for the service, even if they give you the Airave.

-Gary K

 

[IOWA]

Yes. You just have to have broadband Internet w/router to connect the Airave.

Airave has internal GPS receiver so it knows where it is. It literally does not work until it gets a its position via GPS.

Also you are charged $5.00/mo for the service, even if they give you the Airave.

-Gary K

They also have options for airave $20/mo unlimited minutes on one line, $30/mo all lines.

 

[Shadow_Rider]

I've got VZW right now, and haven't had any network problems. However, I'm thinking about switching over to Sprint for the EVO. From coverage maps, it looks like both have the same coverage in the areas that I typically travel.

Same here (with Verizon currently, no network problems, but thinking of switching to Sprint). Verizon is just SO pricey....I can't imagine that the coverage area is so much better that it would be worth the difference (extra expense) in price.

And now that Sprint should be getting the Nexus One along with the EVO....if priced right, I think the phone selection should be comparable to anything that Verizon is/will be offering.

My friend has had Sprint for 10+ years, owns his own business, and travels extensively for work. He told me he's never had any problems with coverage and signal reception in the 10+ years that he's been with Sprint (and he travels quite a bit).

I had Sprint about 10 years ago, and was not impressed - not with coverage nor customer service.

Has this changed since I've been away?

Seems like I've read the occasional post from some people saying that things have improved substantially with Sprint recently.....but I'd be interested in hearing some thoughts on this as well.

 

[InTheCreek]

I'm in the same boat...trying to decide between Sprint & Verizon.

Haven't had a cellphone in years.

We average about 700 minutes of total phone time per month, have never texted & probably never will. About half that talk time is to Verizon lines.

I want an android (Incredible or Evo) and the wife wants a basic flip phone (talk only).

With Verizon, I can get 700 minutes (which will be enough) for $70 - then add $30 for net on my line, & the total is $100

That's the cheapest route for us.

HOWEVER, for only $30 more, I could go with Sprint and get 1500 minutes, texting, and net for both phones.

I'm at a point now that I really need a phone.
Both carriers are good in my area (Verizon only slightly better)

The Incredible will be out before the Evo - so that is leading me toward VZW (that plus the cheaper plan)

I do get 20% off VZW and 22% off Sprint

What if I DO go with VZW and don't get the texting option?
If someone sends a text will I be charged for it, or do I have to accept it to be charged?

Any and all suggestions welcomed!