We've had PrimeCo for 3 years now. Very happy. For daily purposes I use their audiovox single-band digital clamshell. I don't think it's available any more, but it's good. Also have an "old" Qualcomm 2700 dual band phone for travel/roaming.

For local usage, there are Very few places in Chicago where I can't get a signal. I live in the west suburbs and commute to the north side and north suburbs. Train to the Loop and train and/or bus to the north. With this phone I can't take a call at my desk. But I don't want to do this anyway, and I can walk outside for privacy and a clear connection. We also like to ride around northeastern Ill. and talk. I mean anywhere from McHenry to Kanakee. At times on these outings we'll call home or California to talk with the kids. From home we'll call California, family in Florida, and anything over 8 miles away. All this is with the digital-only audiovox.

In addition, we'll use the 2700 travel phone on trips to Florida (in-laws), downstate (school), Wisconsin (daughter takes it when she's driving alone to a friend's), and Calif (other kids). My daughter now has it at Western Ill for emergency use (theoretically--we'll see...).

The phones share minutes. 450 weekday minutes (day = evenings) and unlimited weekend time. This works ok for our current light usage pattern. The bill is itemized so I can tell what's going on. Although this is not an easy chore, I don't think any phone bill in the world is "good", and we can call to sort it out with customer service, who have been good. Travelling outside our area (downstate, Calif, Florida, Wisconsin, Kentucky, whatever) the charges are not outrageous (we're pretty careful/frugal/stingy).

In all this usage, I have never, never, never (repeat several more times) had a conversation break up with static or cut out on me. Just to be clear (pin-drop clear, in fact) I'll repeat: never. Always clear and strong, with the expected but rare "no signal" dead spot.

What about Sprint? For that, tune in to my story of woe under that company's thread. I went with them because of the pricing similarity to PrimeCo and their internet service -- and got out 3 weeks later. Cancellation fee? Yes. But $150 is less painful than paying $40+/month for a year ($480+) on a service that doesn't work.


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 75/mo + eqpt