T-mobile vs Verizon vs ?

[Woody]

I'm considering switching cell phone companies, these are the 2 I'm contemplating.  I need state wide coverage, reasonable rates/plans, and reliable customer service.  (I know I'm asking for the world)

I'm open to positive suggestion, not interested in bashing. 

*If voting for "Other", please list who you'd choose. Thanks.

[tmjhamann]

i have tried all but t-mobile but my brother and sister have them and dont have statewide use i now have sprint and can go anywhere

[Benny]

Although I have not tried T mobile but I have been hunting with others through out the Dakota's and Minnesota who had T mobile, Sprint, Trac phone, and others.
Verison(what I use) has always been ale to call out and recieve calls with the exception of being in BrownsValley right at the base of the hill.

I get coverage on Mille Lacs, going up hwy 65, and up on the Iron Range as well.They have been good on the customer service as well.
My daughter is on her third Voyeger cell and they said the next problem is an upgrade for her.

I also have heard that Verison maybe or is buying out T mobile.

Benny

[JoeFisherman]

I've had verizon for more than a decade.  I have no reason to switch to anything else.  The only two places I've found coverage to be weak is in the New London, MN area and down in the Missouri Ozarks if you're out in the boonies.  I've even called from pretty deep in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area but had to get up on high ground to make the call.

[dakids]

I can't get reception with verizon in my home.  So I had to use t-mobile or sprint.  I get a discount from t-mobile because I work for UPS. All my friends have t-mobile so we can call each other for free.  I live in the west metro.

[UncleDave]

I have had had Verizon, Sprint and now AT & T.  Verizon had good coverage but I got dropped fairly often.  Sprint had better coverage with less static in the areas I went to, but still had many dropped called and their customer service was hard to work with in the end.  I have had great luck in the past year or so with AT & T.  I got it from Radio Shack.  One of the main reasons I switched to them was the rollover minutes.  Sprint would nickle and dime you with over minute charges.  One month I may be 300 minutes under my "allowed" usage and the next month over by 100 minutes.  I got no credit for being under the minues but got nailed on the overage.  It just irked me.  Sprint rolls the minutes over for the same price as the rest and the coverage and service are tops in my book.  I will stick with them unless their rates go way up.

[Outdoors Junkie]

Verizon is better thoughout the state than T-mobile.

[Cody Gruchow]

ya t-mobiles coverage blows, i would go with verizion. still wishing i would of gone with them.

[Woody]

I've compared both T-mobile & Verizon's coverage maps online-the clear winner is Verizon.  I've had T-mobile now for about 4 years.  I will say that we've only had 3 places we've been than didn't have coverage.  1-southwestern MN there's a small spot that doesn't work (and it just so happens that's where we need it), 2-Longville area (one of the rich residents fought to allow a cell tower built because it would ruin his view- I say 'em!) 3-Upper Red Lake.  I'm sure there's more areas that it won't work, but I just haven't been there.  I will say that for me T-mobiles customer service has been pretty good.  And I've never had a dropped call with T-mobile.  I had nothing but dropped calls with Cell One-who I don't even know if they exist any longer.  I think they were bought out.  A friend of mine had nothing but troubles with Sprint up here, (West Central Mn), so I probably won't go that route.  That is why I've narrowed it down to 2.  Thanks for all the comments so far-keep them coming.  I've got a few months to decide.   

[Woody]

I also wanted to add that I have a pretty good package with t-mobile.  I have the my faves.  And so does the other 2 phones on my account (wife & son).  So between us that's 15 different people we can call anytime for nothing, for as long as we want.  And yes they can be with any carrier.  Anyone I call with t-mobile service is free no matter how long we talk.  We've got the family 700 minute plan.  Which we've never used up.  Mainly because we have free nights and weekends.  And the people we call most are on our my fav's.  I was concerned however because the wife can really chat it up on the phone-anytime-anyday!   We also have unlimited texting and I have the internet on mine as well.  All for $126/month.  Which is a heckuva lot less than what it used to be!

[Cody Gruchow]

ya i have t-mobile and it dont work to well up there. but thats because im so far away from the home tower or what ever. t-mobile is cheaper but they hit you with a bunch of different fees. like a users fee which is like a extra 5 bucks and some other ones also.

[outdoorsman388]

My older brother lives in International Falls. He is on my plan with Verizon. He has very good reception there. My younger brother lives 50 miles north of Theif River Falls. 3 years ago i was up there for a town cellibration. My phone was on roam so much it had to be charged twice daly. There was only one spot in his yard, out by the shop, that i could get reception. This last fall I was up there for deer hunting and this had all changed. I had very good reception and no more roaming. About 5 years ago I was at a resort on the south end of Leech Lake for a week. Of the 7 people that were there I was the only one with Verizon. Everyone was using my phone, the only with reception. Verizon's reception is great and it keeps getting better.