Sprint vs. Verizon: Thoughts?

My Blackberry contract is due up for renewal here soon, and I'm considering transferring my number elsewhere. I've found myself using my phone for data use quite a bit more often than I originally thought, and wanted to get a phone that I could tether to my laptop for use on the road in a pinch (for when my employer decides they need something while I'm vacation). I also would like a Windows Mobile-based phone as software availability for the Blackberry isn't nearly as plentiful, and usually costs more money for stuff I can get for free elsewhere.

I've narrowed it down to a couple of phones from Verizon and Sprint (the HTC Titan tops that list), but wanted to hear everybody's experience with Verizon and Sprint locally. While I've heard great things about Verizon's support and their network, I do like Sprint's openness with their phones. Like with Sprint, the same phone has newer software and unlocked hardware (hardware GPS works with Sprint via an official update, while it requires an unsupported hack to get it to work on Verizon's or US Cellular's Titan. I'd rather not hack my phone if don't have to. But I've heard really lousy things about Sprint's support (but I don't think I've dealt with support often in all my years of having a phone, really -- I'd rather figure it out myself.) but their network is decent.

Any thoughts from the gallery?

(And you might notice that after yesterday's discussion, all the links now open in new windows.)

Posted by Jake on 07/31/08 @ 05:35 PM
Posted in Geekdom, Jake | 13 Comments | Permalink

13 Comments

The Dren said on 07/31/08 @ 06:35 PM:
You might want to investigate the tethered modem option further, we've had nothing but poor performance using it with our Verizion BBs. Very slow, drops the connection a lot. We're using it to connect to our SSL VPN. For all our techs we ended up switching to USB or PCMCIA aircards.

kate said on 07/31/08 @ 07:22 PM:
I've been a sprint subscriber for quite awhile and while I was unhappy with bad customer service at first, they have won me over with really good phone customer service (still haven't had great experiences in the stores, especially locally. I bought my new phone in pdx.) I use data all day every day (though I got a palm centro because the data plan was cheaper) and have found it very reliable and plenty fast. I have to admit part of the reason I like my service is that I have an old plan (fair and flexible) that I don't think they offer any more, but still, I was happy to renew my contract with them.

Jake said on 07/31/08 @ 09:17 PM:
@Dren: I don't plan on getting a Blackberry again. Tethering works like crap on the one I have, and hope the Windows mobile-based ones would be better.

@kate: Thanks for the info!

Amanda said on 08/01/08 @ 05:22 AM:
I live in Milwaukee and Sprint was the worst two-years service in my life. There were many times when my bill was incorrect, and of course it took forever to get someone on the phone to discuss it. I know my cousin had similar problems, but it seems Sprint is a love it or hate it company, judging by what others have said about it.

Noni said on 08/01/08 @ 07:18 AM:
Sprint has had our business for 6 yrs now and every two years i price around, check out the competition and end up staying with Sprint. I have to agree with kate that the local stores are not to be used/trusted. I hit up Best Buy this time and don't have to mess with 'rebate' nonsense. i did the palm centro, hubby did the treo -- the data transfer is fab and except for deep in the ochocos or an odd ball depression in the land between Madras and Maupin i get service everywhere. oh. and the stretch between mitchell and john day and prineville resevoir. lol, okay service is spotty in the hinterlands.

Burton Simmons said on 08/02/08 @ 06:52 PM:
I've been a Verizon customer for many years now. Like their commercials say, their network is their strength. Their weakness, however, is their arrogance, their terrible phones, and their insistence on running every service in the worst, most expensive possible way.

I'd check out T-mobile's coverage in your area, if I could.

Burton Simmons said on 08/02/08 @ 06:53 PM:
... and by T-mobile, I meant Sprint. Oops.

Melissa said on 08/07/08 @ 11:46 PM:
You might also want to consider the networks: Verizon is GSM (for now) and Sprint is CDMA. What this means is there's a SIM card in the Verizon phones that has your phone number and all your info, so you can take it out and put it in another phone (should you wish). Sorry if this is elementary.

I have Sprint because I can't find cheaper data service - all you can eat for $15 a month. I use the Treo and love it, though it is a brick compared to other options. I would like a SIM card, though, as I have a bunch of phones I could use it in. Might get a prepaid SIM just to play with phones.

Melissa said on 08/07/08 @ 11:49 PM:
Whoa - back it up there. I was thinking you were contrasting Unicel and Sprint. Verizon is NOT GSM, though Unicel and T-Mo are.

However, Verizon is buying Unicel and may make everyone migrate to non-SIM phones.

Then there's AT&T: coming on line in this market in about a year and a half...

I'll stop commenting now.

tim said on 08/12/08 @ 06:52 PM:
i'm here in colorado, so i'm not sure about service cover (verizon works virtually in every inhabited area here, sprint, not so much, at all). i like verizon service, but they are not so open to other software and such, they work on a different radio freq band than mostly others, costumer service is good, phones ok. price is meh. but if it weren't for the contract (and the great network) i dont think i'd get verizon again, because i like hacking my phone, and doing all sorts of stuff. frankly i prefer neither, they both have their downfalls, and do things i dont care for. as for win mobile, well any mobile OS they need work. the palm mobile's are good, they can get a little quirky with some windows things, like syncing outlook. but i like it best, that it until Google's ai, or whatever its called comes out.

Aaron said on 08/18/08 @ 09:21 PM:
I have an HTC Titan through Sprint and have no real complaints about it. I prefer my old BB 7100i for typing, but the Titan does it's job well.

Sprint's EV-DO is quite fast and I often have coverage when others do not, even up in the mountains. Using Sprint's SimplyEverything plan, I am emailing with attachments, surfing the web using Opera Mini and generally abusing the data plan. I will say that the Titan's biggest shortcoming is the limited 64Mb of program memory. You will find yourself running low pretty often unless you stay on top of the task manager. The newer Touch has double the ram, but only has an on-screen keyboard. I find the screen keys to be just as easy to use as the hard-keys.

I have the phone running with TeleNav and GoogleMaps for GPS and both work very well. I've tried using tethering just for kicks on my desktop and it works ok as well.

Sprint's customer service has been pretty good. Not great, but not horrible.
It took me 6 calls to get them to agree to a lower price to purchase the Titan (Sprint Mogul), but they've always been prompt on my calls with service questions and very helpful.

pril said on 08/22/08 @ 03:31 PM:
Screw sprint. their coverage has sucked every where I've been in Southern Oregon and they were jackasses on the phone every time i had to talk to them. I almost threw my phone through the local store window when my contract was up I was so elated to be out from under roaming charges in the south suburbs of Kfalls.

ULENOME said on 02/01/09 @ 02:03 PM:
I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AT THE MOMENT. I LIKE SPRINTS PHONE SERVICE AND YOU GET A LOT FOR THE MONEY. BUT THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE JUST SUCKS! I AHVE BEEN THINKING AND THINKING ABOUT GOING OVER TO VERIZON BUT THEIR DATA PACKAGE... ?, YOU SEE I HAVE UNLIMITED DATA ON THREE OF MY FOUR PHONES AND ALL OF THEM HAVE PICTURE MAIL, OH YEA LETS NOT FORGET UNLIMITED TEXTING, IT'S PRETTY CHEAP (3500 MIN, NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS @6PM, UNLIMTED SPRINT TO SPRINT, COMPANY DISCOUNT= $196.00 MONTH WITH TAX FOR ALL FOUR PHONES TOGETHER. YES SHARED MIN. BUT THE BIG PROBLEM FOR ME IS THE LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE. i HAVE TO REALLY THINK THIS OVER, CUSTOMER TO ME IS ABOUT RESPECT

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