Sorry about writing this under Milwaukee/Racine, but there is no option for rating US Cellular in Ukiah, CA which is in the greater Bay Area. So that explains that :) Here goes my opinion.
First off, I have to say how impressed I am with their digital coverage in this rural area of California. If you know the area, you will know that it is made up of smaller cities, with many remote areas between them. Vineyards, Oaks, Redwoods, Pines, Deer, and Bear rule in a lot of the county. Ukiah, the largest city, has about 30,000 people in the area. But with US Cellular, you can be in seemingly the middle of nowhere, in an area full of trees and hills, and place a clear, digital call and even use 2 way text messaging, they really have put their heart and soul into covering the area. They are continually adding towers, and opening up new stores.
Their selection of phones is also excellent. They currently have the Nokia 5120, 5165, 8260, 7160, the Motorola "peanut" 2397 phone, Startac 7797, and a couple of Ericsson’s (similar to AT&T's offerings) I have the Nokia 5165(paid 29.99 on a 2 year contract), it is awesome. And the Tri Mode Technology makes it a breeze to roam.
Now onto the rate plans :) I have the Western Digital Edge 400(39.99 a month), which includes 400 minutes in the 11 western states with no roaming charges, and no long distance charges from anywhere to anywhere in the US. I also have the 2 way text messaging option, great for keeping up on Sports scores and news, and send emails and messages to friends and family. Voice Mail, Caller ID, 3-way calling, Voice Mail waiting indicator, and Call Waiting are included in all the Regional and National plans. The PCS 2 way text messaging is 4.95 extra, but as I stated earlier, well worth it. There are also Span America Plans, with no roaming or long distance anywhere in the US. Most people choose the 11 state Western Digital Edge from what I have seen. There are also local plans, but they only include coverage in their licensed areas in California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. They cost more then the regional plans too, so I don't recommend getting those.
I would wholly recommend US Cellular to anyone needing service in Lake or Mendocino Counties. They have, and continue to show a commitment to being the best cellular carrier in the area, making the competition, Verizon, the largest carrier in the nation by the way, look horrible in comparison.


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 45.00