verizon or US Cell

Verizon is now rolling out XLTE dramatically improving the networks speeds in many US cities. I happen to be in Flagstaff, AZ and today updated my air card to one capable of utilizing this new technology (1700 Mhz) and the difference is amazing. I did not try new speed test as they can be flaky and/or misleading but what I do know is that pages open MUCH faster with this service than my previous air card allowed.
I have just become and even bigger fan of the Verizon service.
I will be updating my phone and my wife's phone in the next couple of weeks to phones that will have the same access.

Pay closer attention to the US Cellular maps. When you don't make a distinction between owned network and roaming, Verizon and US Cellular show the same maps, because for voice both use CDMA 2000, and where US Cellular has no network, You roam onto Verizon, and vice versa.

Data roaming doesn't always work the same, so there are different maps for data.

I can't buy Verizon where I live because there network is not where I am. At that tier, the CDMA 2000 carrier is US Cellular, which I can buy. Verizon phones work here, they use US Cellular's towers and connections. They used to use Dobson, a lower tier carrier, and tried to buy Dobson, but AT&T outbid Verizon on that sale, and expanded into Dobson territory instead, so they no longer need to roam onto T-Mobile in this location.

If you are in US Cellular territory, use only voice, or do not want data when you travel, go with US Cellular. If you travel, want data, and can buy Verizon, buy Verizon. If they don't have towers where you are, they won't sell service (that's how the FCC manages licenses, matching service areas to subscriber addresses).

That's if you are hooked on CDMA as a technology. If you will be happy with GSM (used globally) then AT&T is the big guy and T-Mobile is the little guy filling in most of the spots where AT&T is not licensed to have subscribers, though there are still also a few lower tier GSM providers, in very small areas, both may use to fill in by roaming.

For data, as we move to LTE and beyond, much of the network is yet somebody else, and the major providers buy the service from the technology owner, whether using CDMA 2000 or GSM derivative tech for voice and slower data services.

AT&T has recently made major improvements to their network, so I am not going to say they are not as good as Verizon, I also won't say they ARE as good or better, I simply will not say since I have not put 'em up side by side.

I do know this: There are really only a few PROVIDERS, there are many cellular companies but most of them re-sell one of a very few PROVIDERS T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon and Sprint are the 4 providers I know of.

US-Cellular uses CDMA 2000 technology, Same as Verizon, Which makes me thing that the coverage is likely right close to the same either directly or with roam agreements.. That said Wikipedia says that US-Cellular does operate their own network, not a reseller like so many are.

We have had Verizon for a long time for a simple reason, AT&T does not have service in the NC mountains where we have a 2nd home but Verizon always has. Our friends that visit with AT&T phones do not have service and have to borrow our phones.

I think Verizon is getting better in the PR area. I have a built in Verizon air card in my laptop. I only use it on a "day pass" basis, there is no contract for service. I only use it occasionally but on a recent trip I signed up for one month of service. But on the second day my laptop went bottom up and I could not use the service any more. I just waited until we got back home in several weeks and called Verizon to see if I could get any credit for the unused service and explained the situation. The person taking the call was not cognizant of their policy so put me on hold to check with someone else. She came back and said they would give me a full refund. I almost fell out of my chair. :)

Also when I got back, I started trying to find out what was wrong with my laptop. I found a solution online that seemed to fit my problem and it fixed it. The solution, remove the clock battery and put it back in after a minute. You learn something new every day.

I'm with AT&T right now and I'm pretty happy. Good coverage with a great price. Customer service is great, too.

kknowlton wrote:
Can't speak to US Cellular, but when you see the ads for Verizon and for AT&T, note the details in what they say - AT&T claims to reach more people and Verizon more of the country (or messages similar to this). Seems to us, from our coverage and those some friends have had, that AT&T seems to concentrate on more big population centers and Verizon is much better in the less-populated "open spaces." There are still hiccups with any of the services, but in general, if you plan to spend much time visiting less-populated areas of the U.S., Verizon would be a good bet.

Thats exactly what ATT claims: They reach more than 95% (or whatever it it) of AMERICANS. Not hard to do covering most of the metro areas, but a clever choice of words if you don't pay attention.

Us cell is pretty good in WI. Probably about as good as Verizon.
But like mentioned US Cell roaming isn't that great. My bud used to have US Cell and he could make calls everywhere I could out west, but he couldn't get data when roaming.

So I guess if you don't leave the WI IA MN area go with either you want. Otherwise VZW is better.

Can't speak to US Cellular, but when you see the ads for Verizon and for AT&T, note the details in what they say - AT&T claims to reach more people and Verizon more of the country (or messages similar to this). Seems to us, from our coverage and those some friends have had, that AT&T seems to concentrate on more big population centers and Verizon is much better in the less-populated "open spaces." There are still hiccups with any of the services, but in general, if you plan to spend much time visiting less-populated areas of the U.S., Verizon would be a good bet.

taddyport wrote:
I've read quite a lot of the posts on here and have asked the question about which service you would recommend, Verizon or US Cell, most were leaning towards Verizon but I never really saw any reasons why. The coverage maps seem pretty similar with some minor differences on the data

I don't remember ever reading a post comparing Verizon and US cellular
They are just Not in the same league

If you want service when traveling, get Verizon or AT&T

I have both Verizon and AT&T service. I like AT&T service. They treat me much better than Verizon. BUT, Verizon has a wider coverage area. Hard choice. Verizon promised me a $50 debit card when I signed up. Took numerous phone calls from me and local Verizon office. Did finally get what they promised but took well over 3 months and lots of phone calls. Their PR isn't the best compared to AT&T.