Updated Cricket coverage vs.Straight Talk coverage?

[n_k]

I was considering going with Straight Talk, but am now wondering how Cricket's new and improved coverage will compare with Straight Talk's use of the Verizon native network.

I understand that Vz network is the biggest, but am wondering if Cricket's collection of roaming agreements will make it a strong alternative. I know you can get Vz roaming for an extra $5 on Cricket, but I would like to keep things as cheap as possible.

Your thoughts on how the new Cricket compares with ST?

[AndreBSD]

Basically Cricket now has the coverage that Sprint does and Straight Talk has the coverage that Verizon does. Just look at the maps and see which one works for you.

[bassplayer929]

i mean you can look at the coverage maps... they both have them on their websites... but straight talk definitely beats cricket coverage wise, but i had straight talk and it was a mistake... the straight talk CS reps were awful, i don't mean the accents, i can get past that, but they don't know how to do anything! all they know how to do is set up an account and thats it... i was the biggest straight talk supporter till 3 months into it i started having service issues... my service would freak out where i had full bars and it would jump down to 0 for about 5 minutes... i could make and receive calls, but they were choppy and were eventually dropped. i tried rebooting my phone when this would happen, but as soon as the power came back on, the bars were still at 0... i even updated the PRL which did nothing.... i switched BACK to cricket after that... it started to happen every 10 or so minutes... just insane, and the CS reps did nothing, it was like they didn't even hear what i was saying... they were just programmed to have a one solution fixes all...

plus you never know if they will cut you off, its the most unstable company, it got stressful everytime my bill was due. i got tired of it and even got a new phone number cause straight talk wouldn't let mine go... just absolutely ridiculous...

[n_k]

Yeah, I checked out the coverage maps, but I've learned to be suspicious of them. As they say, your mileage may vary.

Anyway, with all the hype about the new roaming agreements announced today, I was hopeful that Cricket's coverage might be a little better.

[jgalaz1]

Basically Cricket now has the coverage that Sprint does and Straight Talk has the coverage that Verizon does. Just look at the maps and see which one works for you.

cricket signed roaming agreements with many other carriers besides sprint. There are alot of regional carriers as well as metropcs. So having someone look at sprint's coverage is not accurate. Just look at the coverage map for your area on mycricket.com to get the most accurate map.

[n_k]

Thanks, jgalaz. I saw the maps and they look really comprehensive, but I don't really trust carrier maps.

Can anyone tell me what their experience with the NEW coverage is like?

I'd also love to hear if anyone can give insight on their experience with the updated roaming coverage in the Little Rock AR, Detroit MI, New York NY, and Princeton NJ metro areas. I live in Little Rock, but travel a lot for work to those areas.

[bassplayer929]

the new coverage is great! there were plenty of buildings where i never got a single bar at before, but now i have full bars! i dunno about traveling yet...

[djjim]

the new coverage is great! there were plenty of buildings where i never got a single bar at before, but now i have full bars! i dunno about traveling yet...

I don't understand how that is possible since Cricket is not allowing in-market roaming. If you are in a Cricket market, then coverage is identical as before. You will only see changes when you travel outside your local Cricket market...

[n_k]

Bassplayer: what market are you in?

[bassplayer929]

nashville, and thats what i heard too, but maybe since i had no service in the building in the first place, its not considered in the market? i dunno, i just know i have bars now!

did cricket update the power of their towers?

[Cricket_Ryan]

I was considering going with Straight Talk, but am now wondering how Cricket's new and improved coverage will compare with Straight Talk's use of the Verizon native network.

I understand that Vz network is the biggest, but am wondering if Cricket's collection of roaming agreements will make it a strong alternative. I know you can get Vz roaming for an extra $5 on Cricket, but I would like to keep things as cheap as possible.

Your thoughts on how the new Cricket compares with ST?

Hi N K,

My name is Ryan and I work in partnership with Cricket Wireless. As mentioned by other members of the forum, Cricket's new Nationwide coverage is made possible by additions Cricket has made to its own, proprietary 3G network; it has also been supplemented through agreements with some roaming partners, including Sprint. Cricket is utilizing Sprint coverage towers and its 4G/3G wireless network in some parts of the United States.

With Nationwide Talk & Text coverage on all new rate plans, there will be a reduced need to purchase roaming minutes. Cricket Wireless and Cricket PAYGo customers can use their service in roaming coverage areas as long as they have a plan that includes the roaming feature (100min. w/$60 plan), a roaming bolt-on package starting at $5 or the use of Flex Bucket balance to pay for roaming minutes a la carte.

Compared to Straight Talks $45, Cricket offers all the same unlimited nationwide coverage and features, with an addition of 3-way calling, call forwarding and call waiting for only $40/month!


Best,
Ryan on behalf of Cricket
www.mycricket.com
http://cricket.smr3.com/0369006/

[n_k]

Hi N K,

My name is Ryan and I work in partnership with Cricket Wireless. As mentioned by other members of the forum, Cricket's new Nationwide coverage is made possible by additions Cricket has made to its own, proprietary 3G network; it has also been supplemented through agreements with some roaming partners, including Sprint. Cricket is utilizing Sprint coverage towers and its 4G/3G wireless network in some parts of the United States.

With Nationwide Talk & Text coverage on all new rate plans, there will be a reduced need to purchase roaming minutes. Cricket Wireless and Cricket PAYGo customers can use their service in roaming coverage areas as long as they have a plan that includes the roaming feature (100min. w/$60 plan), a roaming bolt-on package starting at $5 or the use of Flex Bucket balance to pay for roaming minutes a la carte.

Compared to Straight Talks $45, Cricket offers all the same unlimited nationwide coverage and features, with an addition of 3-way calling, call forwarding and call waiting for only $40/month!


Best,
Ryan on behalf of Cricket
www.mycricket.com
http://cricket.smr3.com/0369006/

Thanks, Ryan. In markets served by BOTH Cricket and Sprint, do you only get access to the Cricket towers? Or do the Sprint towers fill any Cricket coverage gaps within the market? And when you make a call using those Sprint towers, does it use up roaming minutes?

[bassplayer929]

Thanks, Ryan. In markets served by BOTH Cricket and Sprint, do you only get access to the Cricket towers? Or do the Sprint towers fill any Cricket coverage gaps within the market? And when you make a call using those Sprint towers, does it use up roaming minutes?

i can tell you that if your on the sprint coverage, it doesn;t take away from your roaming. look on the coverage map, dark green is all unlimited coverage, the light green is roaming and thats where those minutes will be used.



my question, is if i have money in my flex bucket, not dedicated to roaming minutes, so i just put it in my account, if i go into a roaming area, do i have to ask cricket to use that money for roaming, or will it automatically deduct the money when i make calls?

[Cricket_Ryan]

i can tell you that if your on the sprint coverage, it doesn;t take away from your roaming. look on the coverage map, dark green is all unlimited coverage, the light green is roaming and thats where those minutes will be used.



my question, is if i have money in my flex bucket, not dedicated to roaming minutes, so i just put it in my account, if i go into a roaming area, do i have to ask cricket to use that money for roaming, or will it automatically deduct the money when i make calls?

Hi guys,

Bassplayer covered the roaming question perfectly.

With regards to your Flex Bucket funds, you do not have to dedicate funds to roaming minutes. Cricket Wireless customers can use their Flex Bucket or pre-purchased roaming minutes to use Cricket service in roaming areas. Flex Bucket balance is used to pay for roaming minutes a la carte -Nationwide Roaming minutes at $0.39 per minute.

Have a great weekend everyone!
Ryan on behalf of Cricket

[Woof]

Hi guys,

Bassplayer covered the roaming question perfectly.

With regards to your Flex Bucket funds, you do not have to dedicate funds to roaming minutes. Cricket Wireless customers can use their Flex Bucket or pre-purchased roaming minutes to use Cricket service in roaming areas. Flex Bucket balance is used to pay for roaming minutes a la carte -Nationwide Roaming minutes at $0.39 per minute.

Have a great weekend everyone!
Ryan on behalf of Cricket

This post is not accurate.