Just trying to get a bit of survey info. on cell phone service in SD. Contract is up and it's time to upgrade.
Mainly thinking about the phone. I try to stick with Motorola. Have always kept a dual/tri mode (analog & digital) phone to avoid dropped calls, and have had great service.
An upgrade would be something like a Razor.
But I know people that have had to keep taking them back for a new one. As well as, it's straight digital and I don't know how the service will be.
Anyone had a bad experience? Or no problem at all with the staright digital phones?
Thanks for the help....
Kisses,
J.L.

I have had sprint since they first came out with digital.  I have never had to use my analog option.  I get service in glamis (desert)  and julian and all the way to the beach.  Sprint service is really good.  Their customer service however sucks.

Just upgraded a couple of months ago and was down to the Razr and the LG VX8600.  Went with the latter and have had zero complaints.  It has the same profile as the Razr and is about the same price. Don't know if you can even get an analog phone anymore.  All of this is with Verizon, but the way, which I believe is head and shoulders above the rest as far as coverage.

Hope to see you soon.

Actually, I would be somewhat shocked if you used the analog part of your dual mode phone.  For the most part, Cingular and Verizon are trying to shut off those parts of the systems across the US.  If you are concerned about coverage, I would suggest Verizon, Cingular, Sprint, and T-Mobile in that order.

As for phones, I am not sure which carrier you have now, but the technologies are different for Cingular and T-Mobile vs. Verizon and Sprint.  It makes a difference in how the phones work.  The Verizon and Sprint RAZR are not as good as the Cingular and T-Mobile RAZR.  In general, the RAZR isn't the best phone as far as being functional.

If you are looking for phones with a more intuitive (and typically better looking) user interface (menus and navigation buttons), check out LG, Samsung, and Sanyo phones.

I would stay away from Razor. I have had prb with it and a lot of my friends too..

Jai, from the tech aspect, check this link.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/CDMA.html
verizon uses cdma, I'm not a EE but read that cdma is better than gsm.

I wouldn't worry about an Analog capable phone anymore. If you can even find one, most carriers are trying to shed these type of accounts because they no longer want to spend the money to install infrastructure to support them.  Most carriers have digital coverage everywhere.  

The biggest thing to consider in a new plan is how good your coverage is where you are the most and who you are calling.  If somebody you talk with a lot has Verizon service than it would be cheaper to switch to Verizon. Other carriers have similar family/friend plans.  

Verizon uses CDMA technology, a technology created by local company Qualcomm, exclusively.  Cingular uses a combination of GSM and CDMA.  If you are planning a trip out of the country GSM is currently more of a global standard so you will find your phone might work more world-wide.

I have Verizon and travel across the US without many coverage issues.  Even had coverage across the Mojave Desert on a trip out to Phoenix recently.

I've had Sprint for the last 5 yrs.  I'm pretty happy with their coverage throughout the USA, plus Hawaii.  I've recently upgraded my phone from a Sanyo 810 to the Motorola Razor V3M.  Great phone, but battery does not last too long and seems alittle slow (Maybe due to too much graphics on the screen).  Needs to be recharged every 2 days with normal usage.  May have to buy a extended life battery for it.

.....that the cell companies don't tell you until you specifically ask. The quad band phones will work on every cell tower everywhere in the world (except Japan), as at that level the companies all share their towers - thereby giving you the best possible coverage.
Next - get a phone that is UNLOCKED - I even recommend ebay for aquiring your phone after you have picked out the model you want. With the phone unlocked - all you need to do is change the SIMM card and the phone will work with ANY cell service provider (easy to change contracts between providers and keep the same phone)
THEN - pick your contract - run a history from your current provider on what you actually use. Do some comparative shopping for plans - then negotiate, negotiate, negotiate - with you bringing your own phone to them, they no longer have you drooling over a discount on a phone that requires a 2+ year contract and takes  away all your leverage. (the "discount" on their phone is profit they easily make up in the limited/expensive plan options you have to get in your contract with that phone - from them)
You CAN get the plan (minutes/messaging/data) you want with NO contract (month to month with your rate locked) just by: 1) having your own phone 2) doing your homework so you know what other carriers plans offer, and 3) negotiating!!!
I have voice and messages (no data/internet) - 1000 anytime minutes, 5000 night and weekend minutes, unlimited mobile to mobile (this one is a HUGE benefit - (Cingular/AT&T), and my unused minutes roll over and accumulate so I always carry a few thousand extra anytime minutes, and 200 text/sms messages for just under $45 a month all taxes, etc included. Anyone can put their SIMM card in my phone and use it as their service. Never any "roaming charges" but call to outside the USA and from outside the USA have extra per minute charges that vary greatly depending on the country, the service, and the time of day. It is easy to put an extra $100 on the bill during a couple of weeks in Hong Kong or Australia - but I am just as reachable as if I were on the beach in Hawaii, or in LA traffic.
By the way - if you go this route - seek out the Cingular/AT&T Corporate retail sites - no hard sell there and much better plan knowledge than you can get at the many kiosk/franchise locations

Then call me......

Verizon has the best coverage in the US.

Get a phone that is BT capable so that you can have a wireless headset. Newer phones also support the BT stereo profile so that you can listen to music wirelessly.

I prefer phones running Windows mobile. Easy to sync my Outlook email, schedule etc.

- KC