I really don't want to go, but..

[freibrauer]

Trust me guys, if I had the money to switch to one of those carriers, I would in a heartbeat. Unfortunalty I don't. Right now I'm stuck with the crappy Desire.

Phones now are personal preference anyway. Put a 1ghz CPU in a phone and good memory with a good market and 90% of peoples needs are met.

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[newyork4me]

Trust me guys, if I had the money to switch to one of those carriers, I would in a heartbeat. Unfortunalty I don't. Right now I'm stuck with the crappy Desire.

Isn't VZW the same price as USCC?

$40 for 450 minutes, $20 for unlimited text, $30 for data?

[freibrauer]

Isn't VZW the same price as USCC?

$40 for 450 minutes, $20 for unlimited text, $30 for data?

Depends how many minutes you really need. USCC's plans include unlimited incoming so instead of 450 minutes its more like 900, for me anyway. I use about half of my time on incoming calls.

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[jayrph]

I feel the same way as the original poster. I'm actually considering going to the Verizon store today just to check out the offerings and check pricing for a comparable plan. I have been with us cellular forever (10+ years). My wife gets a 20% off discount on their plans through her employer. I get a 20% off of Verizon with my employer. Never had a problem with service but the last year or so I notice more and more how far behind they are on releasing newer phones. They wife and I have the mez which we like but after playing the my bro-in-laws GSII skyrocket on 4G the other day I really want a new phone and I want 4G. Do I really NEED a new phone? Probably not, but if I only bought things off of true need then I would hardly buy anything new would I? My decision would be easy to stay what with the 4G LTE launch planned in my market for April, but launching with the Aviator as the only 4G phone... That hardly has me excited. If they could have landed a flagship phone like the Nexus, guaranteed I stay with US cell. I just wish they would give some idea about what's in the pipeline. If I knew for sure that the Nexus or some other relatively cutting edge phone was coming in the next 6 months I would probably hold tight. I just don't want to wait and wait only to be offered some year old design of a phone as the payoff.

[rjdriver]

I feel the same way as the original poster. I'm actually considering going to the Verizon store today just to check out the offerings and check pricing for a comparable plan. I have been with us cellular forever (10+ years). My wife gets a 20% off discount on their plans through her employer. I get a 20% off of Verizon with my employer. Never had a problem with service but the last year or so I notice more and more how far behind they are on releasing newer phones. They wife and I have the mez which we like but after playing the my bro-in-laws GSII skyrocket on 4G the other day I really want a new phone and I want 4G. Do I really NEED a new phone? Probably not, but if I only bought things off of true need then I would hardly buy anything new would I? My decision would be easy to stay what with the 4G LTE launch planned in my market for April, but launching with the Aviator as the only 4G phone... That hardly has me excited. If they could have landed a flagship phone like the Nexus, guaranteed I stay with US cell. I just wish they would give some idea about what's in the pipeline. If I knew for sure that the Nexus or some other relatively cutting edge phone was coming in the next 6 months I would probably hold tight. I just don't want to wait and wait only to be offered some year old design of a phone as the payoff.

I'm right there with you on this one, I did go to Verizon at lunch today and dollar wise I am at the same price for what I have with US cell, been researching online since about the nexus.....man, I just hate the thought of being "locked in" a two year contract again.....in some ways I do like the belief plan........ but waiting for phones from US cell is like taking a slow boat to China.

[ropp29]

I'm right there with you on this one, I did go to Verizon at lunch today and dollar wise I am at the same price for what I have with US cell, been researching online since about the nexus.....man, I just hate the thought of being "locked in" a two year contract again.....in some ways I do like the belief plan........ but waiting for phones from US cell is like taking a slow boat to China.

And one thing I don't like about the other carriers is how long it takes to upgrade. The last time I upgraded with USCC it was after only 13 months thanks to Belief points. No way that's going to happen on Verizon or AT&T. Choosing a phone is generally a more high-stakes decision on other carriers because you're going to be stuck with it for longer.

[vin_mitchell]

And one thing I don't like about the other carriers is how long it takes to upgrade. The last time I upgraded with USCC it was after only 13 months thanks to Belief points. No way that's going to happen on Verizon or AT&T. Choosing a phone is generally a more high-stakes decision on other carriers because you're going to be stuck with it for longer.

Agreed!

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[Extraordinary]

Have you looked at their monthly prices and customer service? Ouch, not worth it to me but good luck!

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Verizon customer service is great, one of the best companies to call IMO.

Price is higher than most, but if you are building a family plan it's not too bad, especially if you don't need unlimited calling and you pick the 1400 or 2100 plan... use the 10 Friends&Family to your advantage with Google Voice....

And one thing I don't like about the other carriers is how long it takes to upgrade. The last time I upgraded with USCC it was after only 13 months thanks to Belief points. No way that's going to happen on Verizon or AT&T. Choosing a phone is generally a more high-stakes decision on other carriers because you're going to be stuck with it for longer.

Very true, but don't you think this has something to do with the reason why USC doesn't carry some of the very expensive devices? They would lose out if they offer this program and expensive phones like the Galaxy Nexus and iPhone 4S.

[freibrauer]

And one thing I don't like about the other carriers is how long it takes to upgrade. The last time I upgraded with USCC it was after only 13 months thanks to Belief points. No way that's going to happen on Verizon or AT&T. Choosing a phone is generally a more high-stakes decision on other carriers because you're going to be stuck with it for longer.

Good point, fast incrimental upgrades or super high end phone that your stuck with till even USCC is ahead of you.

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[newyork4me]

And one thing I don't like about the other carriers is how long it takes to upgrade. The last time I upgraded with USCC it was after only 13 months thanks to Belief points. No way that's going to happen on Verizon or AT&T. Choosing a phone is generally a more high-stakes decision on other carriers because you're going to be stuck with it for longer.

VZW's standard upgrade window is 20 months, and most of the time they've been early upgrading people who ask.

Even if you wait 20 months, that is only 7 months longer than USCC...and USCC has been taking more than 7 months to get a phone after it is released on AT&T or VZW. The droid charge was released 5/2011...USCC is going to start selling it 3/2012.

If someone got the Droid Charge when it was released (5/2011) they'd be upgrade eligible 1/2013. If someone waited for it to be on USCC as the Aviator, they'd get it 3/2012 and be eligible again 4/2013. The VZW customer would still be able to upgrade sooner, and to a then cutting-edge phone, not something the other carriers have already had for 6+ months.

[freibrauer]

VZW's standard upgrade window is 20 months, and most of the time they've been early upgrading people who ask.

Even if you wait 20 months, that is only 7 months longer than USCC...and USCC has been taking more than 7 months to get a phone after it is released on AT&T or VZW. The droid charge was released 5/2011...USCC is going to start selling it 3/2012.

If someone got the Droid Charge when it was released (5/2011) they'd be upgrade eligible 1/2013. If someone waited for it to be on USCC as the Aviator, they'd get it 3/2012 and be eligible again 4/2013. The VZW customer would still be able to upgrade sooner, and to a then cutting-edge phone, not something the other carriers have already had for 6+ months.

To be fair some uscc plans are 10 or 11 months according to their radio ads. But I take your point.

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[ilvla2]

See, and that's the thing. Years ago it didn't really matter because everyone was analog, and cutting edge phones really didn't exist, but today USCC is competing with mega carriers like AT&T and VZ and they just can't compete like they used to. Here, they used to be the coverage leader by a WIDE Margin, but Verizon has caught up to them in that department, and even passed them in a few areas, and they have a better selection of phones and faster network, and AT&T is close to having the same coverage, and again has a much faster network (I pull 8000-10000 down on their HSPA+ network in our area) and better phones. So, while USCC still maintains a SLIGHT edge in coverage area, they are losing even that fast, and USCC and VZ both roam in-market onto each other in dead spots, and now VZ can roam on USCC's EVDO (USCC has been able to use VZ's EVDO for a while), so you don't lose any coverage by going with Verizon. Then you have low cost carriers who have moved in like T-Mobile and Metro PCS, who, while not having quite the coverage have better plans, so USCC is getting undercut there too.

That said, USCC is opening a new store here in Ukiah, replacing their current one that they've been in since they rolled out service here back in the late 80's and early 90's, so they must be doing somewhat okay. They have a couple of authorized agents in town as well, DFM Car Stereo and Pacific Paging and Cellular, and have one other corporate store in the two county market (RSA 344, Mendocino, Lake Counties) in Clearlake, as well as several authorized agents. I hope they do survive and do well, but like I said earlier they really have few advantages any more over the the other guys.

[freibrauer]

See, and that's the thing. Years ago it didn't really matter because everyone was analog, and cutting edge phones really didn't exist, but today USCC is competing with mega carriers like AT&T and VZ and they just can't compete like they used to. Here, they used to be the coverage leader by a WIDE Margin, but Verizon has caught up to them in that department, and even passed them in a few areas, and they have a better selection of phones and faster network, and AT&T is close to having the same coverage, and again has a much faster network (I pull 8000-10000 down on their HSPA+ network in our area) and better phones. So, while USCC still maintains a SLIGHT edge in coverage area, they are losing even that fast, and USCC and VZ both roam in-market onto each other in dead spots, and now VZ can roam on USCC's EVDO (USCC has been able to use VZ's EVDO for a while), so you don't lose any coverage by going with Verizon. Then you have low cost carriers who have moved in like T-Mobile and Metro PCS, who, while not having quite the coverage have better plans, so USCC is getting undercut there too.

That said, USCC is opening a new store here in Ukiah, replacing their current one that they've been in since they rolled out service here back in the late 80's and early 90's, so they must be doing somewhat okay. They have a couple of authorized agents in town as well, DFM Car Stereo and Pacific Paging and Cellular, and have one other corporate store in the two county market (RSA 344, Mendocino, Lake Counties) in Clearlake, as well as several authorized agents. I hope they do survive and do well, but like I said earlier they really have few advantages any more over the the other guys.

Yea, long term I think they're doomed but in the short term their solid financially. I give em 5ish years... on another note, I was bored and roaming their site. Did everyone else notice the hero can be prepay? Unless that's an error a 1+ ghz pre pay phone? Prolly not worth the upfront cost, still interesting. I remember when they had 0 prepay smartphones...

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[jayrph]

Well I think US Cellular may have just lost another customer. I just went to a Verizon store today and played with some of their 4G phone offerings. I was very impressed with many of the phones. I will also say that my initial experience with Verizon customer service was very positive. Everyone was helpful and took time to answer all my questions. I liked the Rezound, Razr, and Nexus. They have a buy one get one on Droid Razrs which I found out I can do with the Razr Maxx. It was a really, really nice phone. So for $299 I can get two Razr Maxx's (one for the wife and one for myself). They also have double the data promotion with a 4G purchase so I can get 4 gigs/month for $30 a line. I already live and work in the Verizon's 4G LTE coverage footprint. The difference in their nationwide 700 anytime minute plan and the one I have currently is negligible (within $10 a month). I'm trying to find a reason why I should stay but I'm not coming up with much. Faster phone upgrades maybe, but Verizon is 20 months for a phone upgrade. I can get it quicker with US Cell but as others have stated you get to upgrade to a phone that other carriers have had for quite some time already. Only thing I am concerned is if I find a big dropoff in customer service but my initial impression of Verizon was positive. Anyway, I think I will take the wife back to see what she thinks. Decisions, decisions.

[vin_mitchell]

Well I think US Cellular may have just lost another customer. I just went to a Verizon store today and played with some of their 4G phone offerings. I was very impressed with many of the phones. I will also say that my initial experience with Verizon customer service was very positive. Everyone was helpful and took time to answer all my questions. I liked the Rezound, Razr, and Nexus. They have a buy one get one on Droid Razrs which I found out I can do with the Razr Maxx. It was a really, really nice phone. So for $299 I can get two Razr Maxx's (one for the wife and one for myself). They also have double the data promotion with a 4G purchase so I can get 4 gigs/month for $30 a line. I already live and work in the Verizon's 4G LTE coverage footprint. The difference in their nationwide 700 anytime minute plan and the one I have currently is negligible (within $10 a month). I'm trying to find a reason why I should stay but I'm not coming up with much. Faster phone upgrades maybe, but Verizon is 20 months for a phone upgrade. I can get it quicker with US Cell but as others have stated you get to upgrade to a phone that other carriers have had for quite some time already. Only thing I am concerned is if I find a big dropoff in customer service but my initial impression of Verizon was positive. Anyway, I think I will take the wife back to see what she thinks. Decisions, decisions.

As you say that I'm sure someone else is leaving Verizon to come to us cellular to save money and the best customer service ! :-)

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