[Dog Gone]

Going with the companies that are entirely wireless, instead of the companies that were landlines and got into the business later, gives you better coverage and signal strength. The landline companies cobbled together their networks by buying smaller companies and cell towers to form a network in many cases.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Look for GSM technology.

[eno_]

Verizon Wireless has very little to do with Verizon Communications, which is the land line company. Similarly, AT&T Wireless is not very much connected to AT&T the long distance carrier. SpintPCS is pretty closely tied to Sprint the LD carrier and regional ILEC. This has mostly to do with the fact that Verizon Wireless is part owned by Vodafone and AT&T wireless is a partnership with NTT DoCoMo.

[_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 ...

[Psycho_Runner]

Respectfully disagree. The wireless companies actually buy time from the RBOC's who have built their wireless netwroks. Some RBOC's still continue to have lousy service.

Here in Silicon valley, verizon seems to have the best service, bar none. I have friends who have sprint and sprint is not good in the local area.