As you all know, Lloyd and I are getting married next June. Many things come with that lifelong commitment including love, friendship, companionship, someone to spend those warm winter nights with, and, oh yeah, the merging of two cell phone plans.
I’ve been with Sprint (Nextel?) for over 10 years. Lloyd’s been with Verizon for about the same time. It’s amazing we’ve even made it this far with such different tastes in cell phone providers. Shouldn’t that mean we’re not even compatible?
We haven’t arrived to the merging of the phone plans just yet, but my Sprint contract is up for renewal in October and Lloyd’s plan is up for renewal in January. So, to make our lives easier after we’re married, we’re taking the time today to figure out which cell phone provider we want to use once we’re a family. Either I’ll switch to Verizon or Lloyd will switch to Sprint and we’ll merge our plans in June. At least, I hope it’s that easy.
This morning, we had a brief talk about which provider we should go with. Basically, we agreed that both Sprint and Verizon have treated us well over the years. Neither of our phones drop any calls and we generally always have good service. Our bills are about the same amount, mine may be just a few bucks cheaper. We agreed that either of us are fine with switching cell phone providers.
Since Lloyd and I are sooo flexible and easy to please, we decided we’d let the phone companies make the choice for us. Whoever gives us the best rate and the best phones – whether it’s Verizon or Sprint – can have us as customers. Oh yeah, and we HAVE to keep our same phone number. I don’t even want to mess around with trying to update my phone number all over the place.
So Verizon or Sprint, if you’re listening, the winner will be the one who offers us these things:
- best price for minutes, texts, and data plans
- best phone (because I think I want a Smart Phone now…I know, the horror)
- allow us to keep our same number
So, how do we go about asking Sprint and Verizon to duke it out for us?
It’s almost kind of funny if you really think about it…
In this corner, weighing in at $xx.xx per month with free nights and weekends and unlimited text messages, the corporation that merged with Nextel in a confusing yellow and black mess, SSSSSSSSPPPPPRRRRRIIIIINNNNTTT!!!
And in this corner, boasting a reasonable fee of $xx.xx per month with a generous amount of anytime minutes and a free data plan, the company that made that “Can You Hear Me Now?” guy famous, VERIIIZON WIREEEELESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!
At least, that’s how I imagined it going down when I was daydreaming about cell phone companies fighting over Lloyd and I at the coffee pot this morning (those numbers and stats are all fictional, by the way).
And I’ve totally considered E-mailing both companies in one E-mail and carbon copying Lloyd and actually asking them to “reply all and tell us in 200 words or less why we should choose them as our cell phone provider”. Wouldn’t that be kind of fun? To have the companies literally fight over us in an E-mail? Sounds pretty fun to me…
In the end, I figured, I’ll probably just have to stop by the Sprint and Verizon stores in our area and tell them the situation and see what they can offer us. After that, I’ll crunch the numbers and see which provider will work best.
Side note: This is my semi-type A personality coming out, but I actually kind of want to switch to Verizon so that I can just do it all myself and not have to ask Lloyd if/when he’s going to do it. Not that he wouldn’t do it, but he wouldn’t do it at my ridiculously unrealistic required rate of progression and then I would start to get all panicky. I’m sure you other type As can totally feel me, or maybe I’m just a weirdo? 
So, tell me: Who is your cell phone provider? Do you like them? Have you ever switched your phone to a new provider before (while keeping the same number)? If so, what was your experience?
About Amber
Type A here, and I hear ya, girl!
My cell phone provider is Verizon. I’ve been with them for seven years now, and I love them! First, they give the best coverage in our area, so I love that we never lose calls. As far as plans go, I like mobile-to-mobile (Not sure if every cell company has caught on to this or not yet.) because practically everyone I know also uses Verizon so I hardly ever touch my minutes. If you have a texting package, mobile-to-mobile texts and picture messages are also free. But those things are only beneficial if most of your families/friends are with Verizon too. Just my two cents! 
Well, it’s only very recently that it became possible to switch networks while keeping your number! And we’re still pretty much in a duopoly situation. I’ve never changed provider though and don’t see any reason to at this stage.
We may be pioneers when it comes to eftpos and debit cards but we are so behind in cellphone technology!
Type A too! Totally feel ya on that one. We still have different providers b/c I have a dinosaur phone w/T Mobile that comes with a $40 cell bill and he aint about to leave his ATT& T iphone provider! If ever whenever I decide to go smart phone and have a higher cell bill I have no prob going to AT&T. It’ll be interesting to see who wins the cell phone battle!
I’ve been with T-Mobile for four years and lovelovelove them. I would highly discourage you from AT&T, terrible service.
Mike and I have iPhones and so we would never leave AT&T!
The service is good where we live so no complaints. Between Sprint and Verizon I would suggest Verizon especially if you are getting a smartphone. They have the best phones, next to the iPhone ofcourse! 
“Not that he wouldn’t do it, but he wouldn’t do it at my ridiculously unrealistic required rate of progression and then I would start to get all panic”
Ha – that is so how I get too!
Good luck!
Another Type A here! My family started on T-Mobile, switched to Spring and now we’ve been with Verizon for 10+ years. They are great. Coverage is awesome and almost everyone I know has Verizon so I use almost no minutes a month thanks to free mobile-to-mobile. I also agree about the text messages, I have a data plan with my Blackberry and unlimited texting to anyone on any network, but the “in” ones are free! (Btw, I’m still on a family plan!)
Also… I’m holding out for an iPhone (or Android) early next year on Verizon when my contract is up
Go for it. I’d call one company, say the other is doing this package, can they match or better it? Etc etc…
I’ve had AT&T since high school back when they were originally AT&T then switched to Cingular then switched back to AT&T, about 10 years now. They are OK, I’ve been lusting over an iPhone for years now, but will definitely not be buying one. AT&T recently switched their data plan to limit it to 2GB, anything over you must pay by the MB. I understand why, but I think it’s ridiculous.
I’m looking at switching to Verizon simply because of their network and assortment of Android phones. Both my parents and inlaws live in the boonies, and Verizon is the only carrier that has service in both locations.
Not sure it’s a Type A trait (always have seen myself as a B…), but I did exactly that. Added another number to my verizon plan online and got our new phone in a jiffy! Definitely easier than going to the store, and free shipping!
I’ve been with Sprint for 13 years (the only provider I’ve ever had!) and would be loath to change, esp. now that I get a 20 percent discount since I work for a large company that has a lot of accounts with them, apparently, and also because they have their new unlimited call, text, anytime minutes for a set fee that is awesome. I’ve never had any issues with them, either. Also, I hear ya with the Type A. My BF is a big-time procrastinator and I find it so much easier to do most things myself so that they get done immediately as I like them–which is why all the bills, etc., are in my name!
I also make most of our travel arrangements and what not.
I’ve had service with AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, and I LOVE Verizon! The service is wonderful and they’re usually very helpful. Currently using a Blackberry, but waiting to upgrade to an Android (or even iPhone).
Word- another Type A here! I had AT&T for about 7 years, and can easily say they went downhill after the whole “are we Cingular, are we not Cingular?” deal. After dealing with many a crappy customer service issue, I made the jump to Verizon and never looked back. They have awesome service, and I am a Google lover so I prefer Android phones to the Iphone. My company also has discounts for plans on the major providers, and Verizon has the best discount. I can’t offer any advice on Sprint because no one I know has it.