[_Jim]

The landline companies cobbled together their networks by buying smaller companies and cell towers to form a network in many cases.

Uh uh.

Many, many times you'll find the non-wireline carriers ("A" band carriers) did just this - and they went in underfunded whereas the Bell/Wireline ventures (cellular "B" band) were fully funded ...

I worked for an A-bander and Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems was our competitor in this market. For years the A-band stunk and there was a wholesale change-out of the cellular infrastructure equipment from Mororola (it stunk) to Ericsson RBS884 series gear that was capable of digital ...

[Dog Gone]

I only have experience with two companies, Sprint PCS and Cingular, plus what I've been told or read. Sprint has lousy connections, even within a major metropolitan area like Houston, and Cingular has great ones.

AT&T has the most complaints on file of any cell phone network.

Your local service may vary.