U.S. Cellular Service in Northern New England
Written: Dec 03 '03 (Updated May 27 '04)
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Pros: Excellent coverage, clear signals, calls indistinguishable from landline calls, low prices
Cons: Can't really think of any now [updated 5/27/04).
The Bottom Line: I would recommend US Cellular to anyone in any of the markets they serve (Northern New England, Wisconsin, Iowa, etc.). Great coverage, clear calls, reasonable prices.
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| waywithout's Full Review: General Reviews of US Cellular Customer Service |
I have had US Cellular service since December 1997. Originally, I signed up for analog, and then converted to digital in 1999. Their calling plans are excellent in that they offer local, regional and national plans (most carriers now offer only local and national). The prices for the minutes you get are low, especially compared to some of the "national" players.
Coverage-wise, here in New Hampshire, U.S. Cellular has much better coverage that any other carrier. All of the carriers have decent coverage in the areas near the major cities in the southern part of NH, but once you get north of Concord, most of them have poor or non-existent networks. US Cellular has towers in rural areas where no one else has them, and so you are very likely to be able to get a digital signal if there are any people in the area where you are.
There was an occasional problem with distortion and also with "system busies", on their TDMA network, but in early October 2003 I switched to the new CDMA-2000 network they installed and it is AWESOME. Very clear coverage, and calls are great even when there is only ONE BAR of signal strength (with TDMA unless you had three bars or more you lived dangerously).
I have a regional plan, which means my "local area" is all of New England, plus NY, NJ, PA. Nationwide long distance is included. I get 650 daytime minutes for $40 and Unlimited nights and weekends, caller ID, call forwarding, voice mail, etc. etc.
Using the new CDMA network, outside of US Cellular's owned markets they use Verizon's CDMA network, so coverage is excellent most places around the country. Verizon also operates in NH, but they offer no comparable regional plans and their prices are significantly higher than US Cellular. By signing up with US Cellular, I have the benefits of their excellent cutting edge network in NH, VT and ME, and Verizon's outside of northern New England and across the country.
Their customer service is decent. It was better, from my perspective, when they had a local Customer Service Operation in Bedford NH, but it closed a few years ago and the CSRs are now in Tennessee, I believe.
***Update 5/27/04 ***
US Cellular service in New England continues to be excellent. Portland Maine area going up this summer, northern Vermont partially up now, to be completed later in 2004. US Cellular has the most extensive network in Northern New England (NH-ME-VT).
Potential customers should note that just about ALL the complaints among the opinions here come from users from the midwest. For some reason, they seem to have problems there that we don't experience in the Northeast.
The one bad review from a user in NH seems to be a case where the original sales rep did not explain to him US Cellular's licensed territory limits and point out the restrictions in their coverage if you use your phone a lot outside their licensed territory. Their Regional Plans (not offered by most other carriers anymore) usually take care of such situations very inexpensively.
HOWEVER, if most of your minutes are going to be used while you are physically OUTSIDE their licensed territory (their licensed territory in this region includes all of VT, all of ME, all of NH except Rockingham and Strafford counties), then you should NOT go with US Cellular (my choice in such a situation would be Verizon - none of the other national carriers come close to providing decent service in the more rural areas of this region).
If you want excellent, clear voice coverage in Northern New England, for very reasonable prices, go with US Cellular. And no, I don't work for them -- but I am a fan and user for 7 years.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 40
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Epinions.com ID:
waywithout
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Reviews written: 1
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