Sprint or Verizon

[humblewarfare]

Im not trying to start any debates, just looking for your thoughts.

My wife and I live in Knoxville, TN. Im looking to join those leaving AT&T for the world of Droid. Im just not sure whether I should go for Verizon or Sprint.

I would like a phone that will get 2.2 and will last at least a year w/o being updated(EVO sounds good) She was impressed by the Incredible, but is not a techy geek. She just wants touchscreen phone for texting mainly.

Her work provides a 15% discount from Sprint for service while she gets 20% off service and 20% off one of the data plans on a shared family plan with Verizon

It looks like Sprint is the more cost effective way to go, but Im afraid that the EVO is overkill for her. Are there any droid phones on Sprint that will get 2.2 so her phone doesnt get too far outdated?

 

[i VTAK]

Sprint only has 2 Android phone right now, 3 when the EVO drops in a few days!! The Hero and Moment are on 2.1 right now and I doubt they'll get 2.2. That said, both of them are nice phones. The EVO doesn't offer much more than the other 2 to consider it overkill. I say try out the EVO to see if she likes it and to see how coverage is in your area. If you don't like it or the coverage sucks, you have 30 days to return it risk free.

 

[IOWA]

Yeah i'd say give sprint a shot. 30 days hassle free is a killer way to test out a device. Evo drops on Friday.

And from someone who lived in morristown for a year, I know cell signals can get finicky out there.

Tapatalk. Samsung Moment. Yep.

 

[dmodert66]

I'd ask around to friends in your area. In my case, Sprint coverage doesn't compare to Verizon (but is still decent), so I go with Verizon. I NEVER get dropped calls with VZW, while my brother got some (not like AT&T though) with Sprint.

While it's true the EVO is out soon (and damn do I love that phone), remember, the Droid 2 and Motorola Shadow should be out this summer on VZW...

 

[humblewarfare]

Thanks. Im probably looking closer to July before I switch so I will have the Shadow as an option(want touchscreen). Its just the cost for a family on Verizon that is causing me to second guess VZW.

BTW Iowa, how was the reception in Dandridge? I travel there sometimes.

 

[Frisco]

I hate to sound like I'm trying to be mystic or something, but I sense something wrong at Verizon; I get the feeling it's outgrown itself, or perhaps is being poorly managed of late.

I was with Sprint for about 18 months and found it lacking in device choices, not a lot, just a bit for my tastes. It seems to be getting better, gradually. Sprint seems to have great service; at least I never had a signal issue around my home or work or up and down the interstate in this region.

If I had it to do over again I would stay with Sprint, I'm afraid.

 

[humblewarfare]

So do you feel that VZW is going to expand too much and alienate some of the users due to service and cust. serv. issues?

 

[ikt]

sprint

 

[Frisco]

So do you feel that VZW is going to expand too much and alienate some of the users due to service and cust. serv. issues?

Unfortunately, when some companies do expand, they don't necessarily expand their customer service organizations in sync with their (new) user base.

The result of that is what you just said.

 

[cds0699]

Yeah i'd say give sprint a shot. 30 days hassle free is a killer way to test out a device. Evo drops on Friday.

And from someone who lived in morristown for a year, I know cell signals can get finicky out there.

Tapatalk. Samsung Moment. Yep.

Agreed.

Take advantage of the 30 day money back thing from Sprint and try it out, if you and your wife aren't satisfied then return it and get your money back and go to Verizon.

I've been with Sprint a long time, and all in all I'm happy. I would check the coverage maps in your area to make sure you get good coverage, as long as that checks out then there's 0 risk in trying Sprint.

 

[IOWA]

I hate to sound like I'm trying to be mystic or something, but I sense something wrong at Verizon; I get the feeling it's outgrown itself, or perhaps is being poorly managed of late.

I was with Sprint for about 18 months and found it lacking in device choices, not a lot, just a bit for my tastes. It seems to be getting better, gradually. Sprint seems to have great service; at least I never had a signal issue around my home or work or up and down the interstate in this region.

If I had it to do over again I would stay with Sprint, I'm afraid.

I've never had a problem with sprint devices. Every device vzw has had, sprint had the same or comparable.

Tapatalk. Samsung Moment. Yep.

 

[Vihzel]

For the past 8 years I've been with Verizon, 0 issues.

 

[dmodert66]

For the past 8 years I've been with Verizon, 0 issues.

6 for me and the same results. There have been like 2 billing errors I think, but VZW has fixed/corrected/credited immediately...

 

[hood420]

I'd say Sprint. Sprint has free roaming on Verizon's towers so coverage should be a non-issue between the two. Also, Sprint has stepped up their customer service recently and they are way cheaper. As others have said you can try them out risk-free for 30 days, so what do you have to lose?

 

[Android App Developer]

ClearCut decision is to go for sprint. Both for economy and also for customer service.

Agree with what Frisco said "companies don't expand their customer services in tune with user base"

 

[comk4ver]

i am currently on sprint F&F500 SERO, and will be leaving for verizon. I always have trouble with my phone (IDEN) dropped calls, little to no reception, etc. I am supposedly in 4G area and 3G plus I was supposed to get full bars and waited a whole year and six months before complaining because they kept dicking my around with more towers are coming and we are working on improving your area! I had even gotten rententions to comp me two years of that air raid box to improve reception in my area plus help me move up my contract date in order to buy the new android but, they wanted me to update my contract to that 69.99 plus ten dollars more because they supposedly the droid phone couldn't be processed on the old network! so after that I decided it was easier and cheaper to go on my boyfriend's plan with verizon since he got a new droid I get the same one for free. and I get more minutes and unlimited everything. plus improved coverage without that stupid box! so yeah hopefully i will be happy on verizon!

 

[IOWA]

i am currently on sprint F&F500 SERO, and will be leaving for verizon. I always have trouble with my phone (IDEN) dropped calls, little to no reception, etc. I am supposedly in 4G area and 3G plus I was supposed to get full bars and waited a whole year and six months before complaining because they kept dicking my around with more towers are coming and we are working on improving your area! I had even gotten rententions to comp me two years of that air raid box to improve reception in my area plus help me move up my contract date in order to buy the new android but, they wanted me to update my contract to that 69.99 plus ten dollars more because they supposedly the droid phone couldn't be processed on the old network! so after that I decided it was easier and cheaper to go on my boyfriend's plan with verizon since he got a new droid I get the same one for free. and I get more minutes and unlimited everything. plus improved coverage without that stupid box! so yeah hopefully i will be happy on verizon!

iDen is the nextel network, not the Sprint network. Two different networks.

 

[G.Armour]

Verizon! I have never had any problems out of em...

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

 

[Prime]

I have been with verizon for almost 5 years and its perfect. never had a dropped call. one or two billing issues that were taken care of instantly

I was on sprint before that. had tons of problems. terrible customer service, crappy phones.

I would go with Verizon right now.

 

[booklady]

I was on Verizon for years before my recent switch to Sprint. Now on a family plan, we're saving about $60+ each month with better coverage than Verizon. The discounts are great, but Verizon only offers a discount on the voice/text plan; the $30 data charge for smartphones is separate, whereas Sprint offers the data as part of the plan, so the discount applies to voice/text/data. With the lower prices and better coverage in my area than Sprint had a few years ago, the change was worth it and I haven't had a dropped call yet.

 

[takeshi]

Always pick the carrier first based on coverage where you need it.

 

[legacy]

Always pick the carrier first based on coverage where you need it.

This. Sprint has as good of coverage in my area as Verizon (and roams on Verizon towers when I'm in the mountains) and they're much cheaper.

I chose Sprint and the Evo 4G. Texting is super easy on a keyboard this large.

 

[humblewarfare]

Thanks for your help. I think Im going to go with Sprint. I dont really see the Droid Shadow/Xtreme being that much better than the EVO. By the time my contract would be up to renew Im sure there will be dual core android phones out there as well. I think the EVO should last a couple years...agree? disagree?

 

[Haelous]

If the areas you're going to need data in are on Sprint's map and you need a family plan, then Sprint is the best choice. Sprint phones will roam on Verizon as noted above, but only for voice and text.

I was on Verizon for years before my recent switch to Sprint. Now on a family plan, we're saving about $60+ each month with better coverage than Verizon. The discounts are great, but Verizon only offers a discount on the voice/text plan; the $30 data charge for smartphones is separate, whereas Sprint offers the data as part of the plan, so the discount applies to voice/text/data. With the lower prices and better coverage in my area than Sprint had a few years ago, the change was worth it and I haven't had a dropped call yet.

Whether you have a discount on data or not varies according to your employer. I have a 25% discount on voice plans as well as added features (data, text) with the exception of insurance.

 

[humblewarfare]

If the areas you're going to need data in are on Sprint's map and you need a family plan, then Sprint is the best choice. Sprint phones will roam on Verizon as noted above, but only for voice and text.

So do I need to call Sprint before making vacation plans to verify coverage so I wont have outrageous charges for using the phone and apps while on vacation?