Access Atlanta > The Newcomer > Archives > 2008 > October > 09 > Entry
Phones for geography or gadgetry?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I didn’t buy a phone because it would browse the Web, tell me where to go, play music while I get there, tell all my friends about it, shoot a photo, post a video and make my dinner. I use it because it works, you know, like a phone.
Oh, with news like this, it’s so tempting to think that way. But whenever you move, the first real techno-question is this: will my phone even work there? Having lived a few places where the balcony was the best place to get a call and AAA was useless if you traveled too far out of town on a weak tire, I know the realities of bad service. I remember driving for hours to get to my brother’s old house, then standing outside, holding the phone as I high as I could, hoping it would send a text message that said, “I arrived OK!”
My service is fine here so far, and that has to be good enough — now that I’m a 13 hour drive from my family, I’m wedded to Verizon as long as they are. The alternatives: a gluttonous plan, a bill full of overages or a blackout on phone calls home.
So what cell phone services work well in Atlanta, in metro Atlanta and once you get into other regions of the state? Have you ever had to changed services because you needed a better signal or service to match your out-of-town friends and family?
Or do you just ignore all that and go for the cool gadget?
Permalink | Comments (23) | Post your comment | Categories: Moving
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Comments
By Motorcyclist
October 9, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this
I know you are asking about metro Atlanta. But I am in the northern suburbs and often travel into north Georgia on the weekends. Verizon wins, hands down. A typical conversation with someone when traveling goes like this: Them: ATT is great. Me: Can I see your phone. Them: I didn’t bring it, there is no service here. Me: Why not get Verizon. Them: because it isn’t as good. ??????????? I can only guess from that, that ATT is good in town.
By Stewie
October 9, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this
I have Sprint, my wife has Verizon, and I can tell you that she frequently has service when I do not.
I’ve lost Sprint service at large public events (festivals, etc?), in Philips Arena, in public buildings, on Marta trains, and in a few spots around town.
Over the past several years, I’ve seen her lose service maybe four times total, if that.
Other friends of ours who have Verizon and/or have had Sprint report similar results.
By LisaE
October 9, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this
I have had a cell phone (while living in Atlanta) since 1992. I have had all the major carriers. I made the switch to Sprint about 2+ years ago. Sprint has been the best as far as service, pricing and customer service. With Sprint, I rarely experience a dropped call. Overall, Sprint wins hands down.
By justmyopinion
October 9, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this
My husband and I have AT & T. We have great service in town and up in North GA (Rabun County) We also had Sprint/Nextel for our business. Once the contract was up we changed those phones to AT & T. We would not only not get service in N. GA w/Sprint/Nextel the calls would drop here in town. I used to have Verizon (many years ago) and do have some relatives that have Verizon. They get okay service but sometimes no service on their phone and we have it. So who knows what the best is.
By kaw
October 9, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this
I have Sprint and have never had any issues with drop calls in metro Atlanta. I live in West Cobb and many of my neighbors with Verizon or ATT report that they cannot get a signal in their house. I do not have that problem with Sprint.
By Sugar
October 9, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this
METRO PCS. I haven’t dropped a call since I began service with them.
Verizon SUCKS. I dropped calls constantly on Peachtree Industrial in Duluth and Sugar Hill. I can’t get service at Lake Lanier, Friendship Road, Hamilton Mill Road, or the basement of my house. I was with Verizon for 10 years. The most dropped calls!!!!
I love Metro PCS. My bill is the same every month. No surprises. Unlimited calling, texting, etc. No more than $45/mo. Great for teens too!!!
By Jonathan G.
October 9, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this
I have had Sprint in all areas I’ve lived - Lexington, KY; Cincinnati, OH; and now, Atlanta. In all places I received a signal pretty much everywhere I went. The only issue with Sprint is wretched customer service - which I hear they are beginning to address. Just avoid the Motorola Razr, trust me - you’ll be much happier with another piece of hardware!
By southside girl
October 9, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this
Verizon, hands down! I get service every where I go, except Peachtree Center downtown. Wonder why is that?
By Kim
October 9, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this
We moved to North Georgia. We had Verizon. We had to switch to AT&T because Verizon wouldn’t get a signal. Verizon won’t even get a signal on the north end of Lake Allatoona. However, deep in the mountains of North Georgia, AT&T gets NO signal.
It’s strange, but Verizon has odd little pockets of no service all around the metro Atlanta area. Another reason we switched to AT&T.
By Carri
October 9, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this
SPRINT SUCKS!!! My husband travels all across the US and Canada for his work. He used to have AT&T, but about 6 months ago his company purchased all employess Blackberry’s and signed up with Sprint. I can tell you their reception and customer service is the WORST! We talk 2-3 times per day when he is traveling and the call gets dropped almost every time. I still have AT&T and I have no problems whatsoever.
By Me 2
October 9, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this
I had T-Mobile for years and finally got tired of not being able to use my phone at home! Switched to Verizon - love the customer service as much as I love the fact that I can use my phone anywhere. I live in South Fulton County, but work in Midtown - great signal wherever I am!
By Sassy
October 9, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this
T-Mobile is my carrier and I have no problems with dropped calls or unablilty to get a signal no matter where I am. Rare exception would be in the mountains of North Georgia, specially while traveling in the ‘valley’s. Other than that … A#1 Service
By My3Kids
October 9, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this
I currently have T-Mobile. There a few areas where the service sucks but overall it is just as good as Verzion or AT&T. There is an area on Bells Ferry Road between 575 and 92 that I constantly loose service, however that has been an issue with every carrier I have ever had. Same as an area around 575 and Chastain, however I am not the only person who has issues in those areas.
I truthfully don’t think that the carriers are as responsible as they were a few years ago with phones loosing service in certain areas (with an exception to a few areas) as it is the phones having the issues.
By matt
October 9, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this
When I had cingular, I LOVED IT…I was always the one with a signal…
NO MORE…I bought the i-phone…thought it was cool and it is…signal sucks though…i live in west cobb…signal is hit or miss…work in kennesaw and i have ZERO signal at work…
AT&T needs to get it together….man i miss bellsouth, they seemed to care…at&t is just another corporate monster that knows i’m in a contract…
By DT
October 9, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this
Verizon hands down! I travel alot and never have any problems with service.
By StatingThe Obvious
October 9, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this
My cell phone works very well and very hard South of I-20 here in Metro Atlanta, contrary to many of the residents who live there.
By Lissa
October 9, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this
I’ve had Bellsouth-Cingular-AT&T for years and have rarely ever had a dropped call. For traveling, it’s the best, especially around Atlanta, Middle Georgia, and South Georgia.
My husband has had a BlackBerry for years and it was great with Cingular/AT&T. Now his phone is with Sprint (due to a change at work) and it is just awful. There are so many times that I can’t even understand him and he has dropped calls often - all this while just driving around Atlanta. Sprint is just not good here.
By CBL
October 9, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
AT&T for me. Works here, works anywhere in the US I travel, and it works anywhere in the world. No need to buy a GSM prepay phone with a local number for travel in Europe, I just take my own.
By RK
October 9, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this
Is this article from 1998?
By Phil
October 9, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this
Anything but Nextel. They used to be great - what happened? Ick.
By Denise
October 9, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this
I had Sprint for years even though it does not work in my house. I switched to AT&T/Cingular because I was annoyed with Sprint and because most of my folks were on Cingular (mobile-to-mobile). Cingular doesn’t work that well in my house either; neither do Nextel and T-Mobile. When I get to the stop sign which is about 6 houses before mine, I tell my friends I’ll call them from the house because I know my phone will drop. It ticks me off for real. I will always have a home phone so that’s not the issue. The issue is that I want what I pay for to actually WORK, especially at my Atlanta address. Verizon works but I don’t want to switch because no one else has it. I wonder if I just need a new phone to see if I can get a stronger signal. Any ideas on that?
By Quint
October 10, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this
Although I don’t stay in Atlanta anymore, I have to say that Verizon is near flawless in the areas I visit. I only had 2 low signal areas, Columbia Dr at Glenwood Rd and Roosevelt Hwy near Welcome All Rd. If they get service in those MARTA tunnels, all will be heavy. My mom and aunt have Verizon and they seem happy with it. When I had Sprint, I would drop calls in the oddest places, like Mosley Park, Cascade Rd, and Camp Creek Pkwy. The service was good downtown, where you can pick a company and get decent service. Most of my folks use Metro and they are pleased for the most part, despite the phone issues. In southwest Georgia, it is hard to beat Verizon and Alltel.
By Lissa
October 10, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this
My3Kids - That’s strange that you’ve had problems on 575 with AT&T. That’s our main corridor (from Barrett to Towne Lake) and we’ve never had a problem with AT&T. Then again, it could just be the phone too.
For everyone, I recently came across this article that gives a lot of information of how cell phones work and how calls get dropped, etc. When you understand the complexities of it all, you may become more tolerant of an occasional dropped call. [Peering Inside a Mobile Phone Network] (http://db.tidbits.com/article/9796)