<p>Hey guys</p>
<p>im heading to college soon (i'll be a senior next year) and I need a new phone plan. Im considering Cingular, T-mobile and Sprint. We already have sprint so it would be easier to stay but it'll cost about the same for any plan (I checked). What i want to know is what kind of reception do you get at the UCs? Particularly Berkeley, Davis and SAn Diego. Also, please mention where you usually are in the buildings (top floors or bottom)?</p>
<p>I like Cingular (and then T-Mobile) because they use the GSM network which I find superior to the awkward network used by sprint and verizon. I can't speak for the UC's because I'm not there (and all the providers try to claim that they have the most coverage) but generally, popular schools have reception for everyone because the companies want your business.</p>
<p>Beware of bad reviews of Cingular from former AT&T customers. My dad fits in this category as do many others. Unless they started with AT&T not that long before hte cingular merge and were sure to sign up with the "GSM America" account, they are NOT on the GSM network. They are on the old AT&T TDMA network which is slowly being replaced by cingular with more GSM towers. So if you have GSM, your service is getting better but if you have Cingular with TDMA (you cant sign up for it that way anymore), your reception will get worse and worse until you upgrade.</p>
<p>Verizon is very good, besides the fact that my sister works there lol. I've had a pre-paid plan from Virgin Mobile since 10th grade because my AT&T bill was high forr absolutly no reason. One of the reasons why Cingular and AT&T merged together was because of lack of signal and bill discrepancies. I'd go with Verizon. T-mobile - My Dad has t-mobile and he never has any signal ANYWHERE.. </p>
<p>I am thinking of getting a Verizon or Sprint plan i can't decide yet.. </p>
<p>p.s. yay c/o 06 assuming you are since you said you will be a senior next year..</p>
<p>Cingular...their plans are great....you can get the 600 anytime minutes plan, with nationwide long-distance and no roaming....all leftover minutes rollover and you have unlimited nights and weekends...you can also call all other cingular customers for free</p>
<p>I like Nextel.</p>
<p>zman4,
The most important point you made is "What kind of reception do you get at the UC's." We learned the hard way that the quality of the reception itself on the particular campus is by far the most important
factor, trumping virtually everything else. </p>
<p>My D went to college last fall. We were sure that her current Verizon coverage would be more than adequate. Turned out that coverage
happened to be very spotty in that particular part of the city. She had to go on her dorm's front porch to use her phone. She switched to Cingular....end of problem.</p>
<p>Be sure to get specific recommendations FROM PEOPLE ON THE CAMPUS you are interested in and go from there. Good luck!</p>
<p>I agree... thanks for your input but it would be more useful to me if people who attend a UC could please respond about their carrier and quality of reception.</p>
<p>I have cingular at davis it's not too bad. Of course davis is really realy flat so they're all probable fine here.</p>
<p>I heard t-mobile and verizon aren't that great at davis</p>
<p>That's the cell phone I just got today. It's really cool - small, light, cool camera. Nothing super fancy like the Motorola RAZR (hot phone there) but it's cool for college.</p>
<p>Also, I have Verizon service.</p>
<p>that samsung phone is TIGHT. have fun w/it.</p>
<p>pretty soon, cell phones will be doing your groceries for you.</p>
<p>whoever made them, take them back to their originial state, to receive and send calls.</p>
<p>why does everyone always wanna overdo everything? </p>
<p>oh yea, pretty soon cell phones will be screaming at you saying "pick me up and do something with me, call, take pics, send e-mail, i can't STAND being on this desk alone!"</p>
<p>they are obtaining souls! scary...</p>
<p>zman,
I'd suggest you go to the specific chat boards for the schools you are interested in and also post your question on those. While the traffic on these school-specific boards is a bit slow right now, it will be at least targeted to the people who can best answer your question.</p>