<p>Do we need cell phones on campus? I'm really not sure whether I should buy a cell phone for using at ND.
If I buy one, which tele company should I choose? At&T, Verizon or T-mobile?
Thanks.</p>
<p>Most people have cell phones at Notre Dame. You can, however, get phone service for your dorm room at $161 a semester, though I personally don’t know anyone who uses this service. Should you choose the dorm phone service, it’s important to note that it does not include long distance service - you’ll be billed in addition for that. You’ll probably use long distance quite a bit - not just for calling home, but also because many people’s cell phone numbers are not local numbers. More about dorm phone service: [Residence</a> Hall Opt-in Phone Service FAQ - Office of Information Technologies - University of Notre Dame](<a href=“http://oit.nd.edu/telecommunications/optin.shtml]Residence”>http://oit.nd.edu/telecommunications/optin.shtml)</p>
<p>Back on cell phones: Most people use Verizon or AT&T. Both networks allow for free calling within their respective network (so if you have Verizon, anyone you call on the Verizon network will be a free call).</p>
<p>I had heard that you can no longer get phone service in the dorm - it has been discontinued because less than 50 people on the whole campus requested it. I think that page is outdated. </p>
<p>In any case, yes, I would say for all intents and purposes, you do need a cell phone. I would recommend Verizon - it has very reliable and consistent service throughout campus. It also seems to have a majority share of cell phone service for students, which is great, because you get free In-Calling and In-Texting (as mentioned). I have never once gone over the allotted number of minutes or texts, because nearly all my friends use Verizon.</p>
<p>Judging by the fact that you called it a “tele company,” I’m going to assume you might be an international student - correct me if I’m wrong. But, regardless, if you lack experience with cell phone service in the area, I can tell you it’s really not that expensive, all things considered. There’s no need to get a Blackberry or iPhone. Verizon has a number of phones you can get for free with a 2 year contract, and a free upgrade at the end of those 2 years.</p>
<p>Just get one, you won’t regret it.</p>
<p>Verizon and AT&T boosted their cellphone towers on campus a couple of years ago. I don’t know if the other carriers have caught up or not. Verizon has been great for our family, and esp student at ND.</p>
<p>I know one person who doesn’t have a cell phone on campus and she has a terrible time with it. The only reason she doesn’t have one is because her parents won’t allow it (her parents are kind of bat***** insane..). She’s always mooching off of other people whenever she needs to make a call. </p>
<p>I never talked much on my cell phone in high school, but on campus, I can’t live without it. I would recommend either AT&T or Verizon for the best coverage. It seems like more people have Verizon, so that’s probably better for in-calling. Though I have AT&T and have had no problems with it.</p>
<p>If you have a cell, check out this link I just found. $50 bucks free phone time for beta testing.
[Gear</a> Live | Home](<a href=“Gear Live | High tech gadget and consumer electronics news, opinions, and trends.”>Gear Live | High tech gadget and consumer electronics news, opinions, and trends.)</p>
<p>It seems that Verizon is the best choice, although I’m interested in iPhone.
Someone told me that I couldn’t have a 2 year contract unless I got the SSN. And actually I won’t have one as soon as arriving at the campus.
Anyway, what do you call the Verizon stuff instead of “tele company”? To be honest, I just made up this phrase myself, haha. Yeah, I’m an international student.</p>
<p>You can only get the iPhone with AT&T.*
The part about the SSN is true, and prior to signing a contract, most cell phone companies will do a credit check. An alternative is using a pay-as-you-go plan. The advantage is that there is no contract - you’re not locked in for one or two years and no credit check or SSN is required. The disadvantage is that they’re a hassle as you have to keep track of when minutes expire, etc. and that, on a per-minute basis, they are more expensive.</p>
<p>*Well, it is possible to unlock the iPhone for use with other cell phone companies (but not Verizon) - but that falls outside the scope of this discussion and is not necessarily for the faint of heart.</p>
<p>Does anyone know anything about sprint’s coverage on campus? I’ve seen posts recommending Verizon, but my parents just renewed our contract with Sprint (I can’t figure why, considering they are awful to deal with)</p>
<p>dongfang–for your question about “tele companies”, I don’t know if it is an official term or anything but I think they’re often referred to as “service providers”. Just an fyi.</p>