Sprint vs. T-Mobile

[mikeydangerous]

I want a Nexus One, and I've heard through the pipeline that there's a good chance it'll be on Sprint next month. Verizon is too expensive, so I need help deciding between Sprint and T-Mobile, but I've never used either.

I live in Boston, so info specifically around here would be extra good.

Can anyone help with comparisons in service and speed? Thanks!

 

[InstantKarma]

Well, I've been a T-Mobile customer for 10 or 11 years, but I'm planning on moving to Sprint when my contract expires at the end of the year.

T-Mobile has been pretty good, and I think it has the lowest rates overall, but I've had a few minor issues with them, and now that I'm a smartphone user, I'm highly disappointed with their 3G coverage.

 

[Caloy]

I too am a T-Mobile subscriber who is contemplating a move to Sprint by April. I actually am qualified to get the Nexus One as an upgrade but with only one plan to pick from, I think I'll pass and wait for my contract to expire and see what will be available by then. As of the mean time Sprint has very attractive rates on their plans which offer more for the price. One example: One plan that I am really interested in is the "Everything Data, with any mobile anytime plan (450)". In this plan you get Unlimited any carrier mobile calls, unlimited texting, unlimited data, and this comes with a discounted phone... All for just $70.00 a month.

Another plus is that form what I've heard, Sprint has a better coverage area compared to Sprint.

Maybe by April, T-Mobile can come out with a competitive plan that can match Sprint's plans feature-for-feature. Good luck but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[InstantKarma]

Another plus is that form what I've heard, Sprint has a better coverage area compared to T-Mobile*.

It's not as good as Verizon's, but it's MUCH better than T-Mobile's. The specific issue with me is that if were to go to my hometown to visit my parents, I can't even get EDGE except for a very narrow area near downtown. This shocked me, until I remembered that the last time I was there, about a year and a half ago, I was roaming for voice coverage.

Now, Duluth, MN isn't exactly the largest city in North America, but it isn't the backwoods, either. I find it incredible that an area of 120,000 people (or so) has no T-Mobile presence. Verizon and Sprint both do. (AT&T probably does, as well, but I hate them so I haven't checked. lol)


*Fixed that for you.

 

[Caloy]

Thanks for the correction. Exactly what I meant... Cheers!

 

[NDES]

I think you need to really study the area you're in for coverage with the different carriers. I was with Sprint before switching over to Verizon and I had spotty coverage around my area. 3G would frequently switch over to Edge, and the phone would go into Roaming in certain spots.

Now that I am on Verizon's network, I constantly have voice service and 3G pretty much everywhere I go. Not to mention that my 3G speeds are faster than Sprint's now as well. I have not tried T-Mobile in my area, but people "say" that their coverage is fine around here albeit still not as good as VW or AT&T.

 

[clitrenta]

I see no reason to rag on a carrier's coverage unless you specifically apply it to where you are. When thnking of a switch, your best bet is to simply ask friends in your area what works for them. Some people swear by AT&T which happens to stink where I am. Some hate T-Mo which is pretty decent where I am. I would say that I think Sprint and VW have the best covereage in my area but that is not my only consideration. Everything goes into my decision; phones, customer services, plans, accessability, etc. etc. About the only carrier I would probably stay away from is US Cellular and ONLY because their smartphone selection is woefully lacking. Prices, coverage and customer service are pretty good.

 

[wmscott2k]

i just switch from sprint to t-mobile . sprint has good plans but there customer service is horrible . I was with them for 10 years the samsung moment was not all it was crack up to be

 

[InstantKarma]

the samsung moment was not all it was crack up to be

Yeah, that's gonna be what it comes down to, when my contract is about to expire: what Android phones is Sprint carrying then. I wouldn't switch to them for either the Moment or the Hero.

 

[Caloy]

My switch to Sprint will be sealed when the Nexus 1 (Sprint) or the Supersonic comes out in a few months.

 

[Daedalus]

Being a TMO User and a Sprint user in California I will say i will stick with TMO. Prices are better Customer Service is better and where I go I get great 3G service. I have a BB Tour from Sprint for Work and my MT3G for personal use and the #g on TMO is quicker her in the Bay Area.

Now in other areas I am not sure about TMO but I can say that just about universally everyone I work with around the country hates Sprint.

 

[Caloy]

How can you say the price of T-Mo are better then Sprint when Sprints offers Unlimited calls to any mobile, unlimited data, unlimited navigation, Sprint TV premier, Music Premier, unlimited text, unlimited nights and weekend, and 450 minutes for landlines (honestly who calls landlines now a days? All this for 69.99.

I don't see any T-Mobile plan that has all this for the same price.

I have a Fav 5 account with 300 minutes, no text, and not even free t-mobile to t-mobile for 39.99. With less than 10 text a month my bill goes up as high as $54+.

As for coverage, some of my friends can't even get a reliable 3G connection on their own house, while another friend would go around town and will always get a 3G connection. Mind you, the their house said that it should have full 3G connection from T-Mobile Data coverage map.

As for customer service, I have to say, T-mobile customer reps are good. Haven't had any experience with Sprint since I will be transferring once the latest phones get released. My main reason for transffering will be because of Price and better coverage. Not sure where you are in the Bay Area, but I don't have full bars in some areas. Like Hayward, Alameda. But pretty much had full bars in Oakland and San-Francisco. AT&T had better coverage in the East Bay in my opinion.

In Texas, most of my friends, co-workers and family have T-Mobile, but I have to admit, I'm dissappointed with T-Mo's data coverage. Even comparing with their data coverage maps. we struggle to continually get a 3G connection. This is with a clique that my cousin has. And he's contemplating a switch to Sprint, too bad he has to fullfill a 2 year contract... Too bad for him.

As for me my contract will expire early this April. I hope the Nexus One or the SS will be out by then.

 

[So-Low Da Don]

I have Sprint and I've had the Hero since Xmas, I love it, never have a problem but as soon as the EVO 4G comes out I'm droppin this phone and gettin it because that's gonna be THE BEST phone to come out. And i'd advice anyone who thinks about switching to Sprint or already has Sprint to get that phone

 

[IOWA]

You guys hear all the coverage issue with att? Well tmobile is worse than att. Sprint and verizon have basically the same coverage.

 

[shawn1224]

Beware TMO's coverage maps ... THEY LIE