It works almost everywhere I go, the plans are reasonable, and with my state employee discount, Verizon Wireless is the cheapest choice for me for wireless service in the Boston area.

I’ve had some sort of Verizon service for my cell phone almost since I got my first cell phone (back then it was precursor of Verizon I think). The only time I haven’t had Verizon service was for about 1 ½ years of US Cellular in Maine. However, before I even left Maine, I had gone and got myself a new phone with Verizon Wireless service once again because I couldn’t take the limits of US Cellular.

Basics

Verizon Wireless offers a multitude of service plans for residents in the Boston area. For those who stay in the immediate area and only make calls in that area, there are reduced plans (“local”) where any calls outside of the area would cost extra. There’s the America’s Choice plans which allow for calling pretty much clear across the country. There are also several other plans – and in general, you can find a plan that will suit your needs.

I’ve got the basic America’s Choice plan that starts with 400 peak minutes, plus unlimited calls to other Verizon users and unlimited nights and weekends. This plan is $39.99 and when you sign up you can get a discounted phone with the service. In addition I’ve added a second line with the “family share” plan, whereas you can add an additional line to the plan (with all the same offers as the original plan) for an additional $20. Because I’m a state employee, I get a discount of about $10 a month, so my total bill for both my phone and my boyfriend’s is about $59 a month if we don’t use any additional services like text message or wireless web access.

For those who want it, you can use your phone to send and receive text messages, but Verizon will charge for each message sent and received (unless you chose to add an option to your plan that allows for unlimited messaging). Wireless we connectivity for your phone is also extra each month.

Phone Service

What really sold me on Verizon Wireless is the fact that while coverage may not be great everywhere, almost anywhere you go, there is some level of service provided by Verizon Wireless. Many times I’ve pulled out my phone around others who have phones by different carriers and I’ve been the only one who’s managed to get a signal. Additionally, I travel fairly frequently and everywhere I’ve gone with the phone, I’ve had a signal and been within Verizon service areas so I wouldn’t have to pay an extra roaming fees.

Here in the greater Boston area and eastern Massachusetts most of Verizon Wireless’ service has been updated for digital coverage. Basically this means that you have clearer calls and its easier to get calls through in areas that may not have the strongest signal.

There are a few areas of old fashioned analog coverage here and there and strangely enough there are a few towns in eastern Massachusetts where there is no coverage. I’m not sure if there are no Verizon towers nearby or the town itself just doesn’t have cellular coverage, but if you go through Sherborn or Hopedale with a Verizon phone, you will lose the call.

There are also small pockets where signals come and go – you’ll quickly learn about the service coverage in the region of your typical daily travels. However on the whole, the coverage area is very extensive and the non-service areas are small and quickly passed. Plus like you see on all of the commercials, Verizon is actively working to improve their network. I’ve noticed in the few years that I have lived in eastern Massachusetts, the service levels have improved significantly, the major improvement being almost complete digital coverage throughout the region.

Phones

Verizon has a good sized selection of phones to chose from when you sign up with their service including phones from LG, Motorola, Kyocera and others, the prices on the phones range anywhere from about $100 to several hundred for the phone without any service. If you’re getting the phone with new service, you can get many of them for free and quite often, they are offering a discounted multi-phone option for people signing up on the family share program.

Customer Service

Here’s where Verizon has left me wanting – don’t even bother trying to call if you want to have any sort of problem rectified. While I’ve never had any major issues with my phone or my plan, there have been times when I’ve had questions about a billing charge or a part of my service plan and I’ve gotten absolutely nowhere with the telephone customer service. First off you’re initially stuck into a voicemail maze and when you finally do get a person, I was bumped around from person to person.

If you want any kind of customer service, go to the Verizon Wireless stores. At the stores you can do everything and more that you could do on the phone, including paying your bills, changing service plans, adding lines, and get new phones. All that and you’ll be dealing with real people who can walk you through the more complicated aspects of cellular phone ownership.

Billing

Verizon offers both traditional monthly mailed bills and online bill delivery and payment. Total monthly usage on your phones is shown on the bills, but individual calls are no longer shown on the regular bill – to see those details you need to log onto your account on Verizon’s website.

Other Deals

If you have Verizon phone service in your home, you can package both your land-line phone and your cellular phone service into one package to save money. I had priced this out when I recently moved, but for me it wasn’t worth it, especially since I wasn’t getting DSL from Verizon, that package offers the most savings, but I wouldn’t have been able to use my state employee discount for the cellular plan.

Final Thoughts

For anyone who lives in eastern Massachusetts and travels throughout the region and the rest of the country, Verizon Wireless service is a good choice. They offer extensive digital coverage in eastern Massachusetts along with service throughout the US on their America’s Choice network. If you can deal with the spotty customer service over the phone, I think Verizon Wireless is a cellular phone worth checking out.

Even without a state employee discount, Verizon would still be economical (I had it for several years before I realized I could get a discount – doesn’t hurt to open your mouth when you’re talking to one of their reps). Because of the unlimited off-peak calls and the unlimited calling to other Verizon customers, I’d be willing to be you’d be hard pressed to use up even the lowest minute plan (the 400 minute one). My boyfriend and I together get to maybe 300 peak minutes during any one month. Otherwise we’re calling each other, other Verizon phones (my whole family has Verizon, so that helps) or calling in the evenings or on weekends.

For me, Verizon Wireless is a good compromise between cost and coverage when you compare it to other available cellular carriers in the area, especially when you factor in the discount they offer to state employees.

I am placing this in the general reviews of Verizon section because although Epinions has categories for Verizon Mobile Phone Service in Las Vegas, Kansas City, Houston, Buffalo, Tampa, and assorted other cities, it does not have a category titled Verizon Mobile Phone Service in the Boston area, or eastern Massachusetts and that’s what I’ve covered in this review..

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 59

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