Verizon Wireless Versus T-mobile Cell Phone Service
When it comes to the most popular and largest cell phone providers in the United States, Verizon Wireless (VZW) and T-Mobile are clearly two companies at the top. This article compares the service provided by Verizon Wireless versus T-mobile with an emphasis on signal quality, basic cell phone plans, their cost, and available features. Customer service references are included. Having had direct experience with the service and pricing provided by both companies, this content producer is happy to offer an ‘inside’ look at what can be expected of each.
The Big Difference
For cell phone users within the megalopolis know as the eastern USA, one would expect the transmission of cellular signals to be strong everywhere. Not so. From in person reports provided by several users, and first hand experience with both Verizon Wireless and T-mobile phones, Verizon Wireless has in my experience had a stronger and more consistently available signal from New England, down through the Mid-Atlantic states to the southeast part of the country reaching Charlotte, NC. In numerous cases I have been unable to use my T-Mobile phone due to a very bad or nonexistent signal while associates having Verizon Wireless service received a signal strong enough to make calls, whether in populated or rural areas of the eastern US. If Verizon’s wireless service costs a little more it’s worth it to me because many more connections can be made. The reason for this, as advertised, is that VZW sinks millions of dollars on a regular basis into upgrading and expanding their network coverage.
Contract Plans & Their Price
All notion pricing data is apt as of early May of 2007 for a central New Jersey zip code.
Verizon Wireless has a choice of single user basic plans, ranging monthly in impress from just under $40 (450 minutes) up to $200 (6000 minutes.) Their website indicates that contract length is either one year or two years. The one-year option is new and may not be available everywhere. T-Mobile single user plans range from $30 (300 minutes, free weekends only) to $130 (5000 minutes.) All the T-Mobile plans require a two year contract according to their website.
Verizon Wireless family plans run monthly from $70 (700 minutes) to $300 (6000 minutes) while T-Mobile family plans range from $60 (700 minutes) to $130 (3000 minutes.) In both cases family plan prices are for 2 lines, so add $10 per line to the monthly cost for up to 3 additional lines. For families wanting 6 lines or more you may need a different plan.
All the plans above include free nights (9:01 PM to 5:59 AM) and weekends (Saturday & Sunday), except where noted. But there is a big difference. Verizon will turn off the amount charged per minute if you are on the phone during the transition from 9:00 to 9:01 PM. T-Mobile will not. So with T-Mobile, if you want to avoid using up your anytime minutes (or being charged for overage) you better know what time it is, and wait until after 9:00 PM to compose those calls. Also the basic plans discussed include free domestic long distance.
Pay Up Front
Verizon Wireless has Easy Pay (a prepay plan,) which does not require any time commitment. The plans are $50 for 350 anytime minutes, $70 for 700 anytime minutes and both include 3000 night and weekend minutes. These plans have free mobile-to-mobile minutes for any calls to Verizon Wireless mobile phones. T-Mobile prepaid plans are different, and work like the standard minute-buying plans of Virgin Mobile or generic prepaid phone cards. Prices range from $10 for 30 minutes to $100 for 1000 minutes, and once you pay $100 all at once you become a “gold” member, getting 35% more minutes on each cheaper plan payment. Also the T-Mobile prepaid service offers unlimited e-mail, web browsing, domestic instant messaging, and domestic text messaging for $1 per day, and $0.15 per minute for nationwide calls.
Who Has the Best Customer Service?
Independent rating organizations such as J.D. Power and Associates have consistently given high ratings to Verizon Wireless customer service. Yet T-Mobile has a very strong customer satisfaction record. My personal contact with service representatives from each carrier have been positive, although some information I received from T-Mobile was contradictory and confusing. Without going into boring detail, be wary of plans which allow any phone user to order pricey ring tones or wallpaper through the phone itself. T-Mobile does not enable restriction of this ‘privilege.’ VZW is more willing to work with customers on this issue.
Features, Options and Restrictions
One of the restrictions for wireless calling plans that frustrate the consumer is the early termination fee (ETF) you are charged if the contract is terminated. Under my modern 1 year agreement with T-Mobile, the cost is $175 per line to finish the contract, and it does not matter when the contract is canceled. Verizon Wireless has a prorated ETF, so if you have fulfilled half of your contract agreement and need to terminate it, you are only charged 50 % of the early termination fee. If someone’s situation changes, and one or more lines need to be dropped from a family plan under contract, the prorated ETF from VZW will clearly cost less.
Other restrictions or penalties that have been annoying entail T-Mobile’s tendency to turn off service without warning when a bill has not been posted within their arbitrary system, and a severe limit on the maximum number of plan minutes that are offered. For example, their family plans offer 700, 1000 and then 2000 minutes per month, on up. Verizon Wireless, however, offers 700, 1400 and 2100 minutes per month, and higher. It is the hidden rules and regulations that I find difficult with T-Mobile, and for which Verizon Wireless tends to weigh in the interest of the customer.
All the basic contract plans cited here have free “mobile-to-mobile” calling, which means there is no charge for calls to a cell phone where service is provided by the same carrier as you. T-Mobile has the “My Faves” program which allows the caller to choose any five phone lines that can then be called for free, however, these plans are at least $10.00 more per month.
If broadband Internet connectivity is sought, VZW offers high quality and a number of options, although you will pay more for these. Also ahead of the curve, Verizon offers select TV broadcasts on certain phones. Both companies offer a myriad of calling features, such as messaging and email, that can raise the cost of your plan quickly. The number of combinations and permutations is mind-boggling, and not covered in this synopsis.
Summary
An independent website, http://www.consumersearch.com/www/electronics/cell-phone-plans/review.html, summarizes recent major consumer surveys done by J.D. Power and Associates, Consumer Reports magazine and PC Magazine. Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile come out on top, and in many cases are tied for first. For consistent call quality and the least dropped calls, especially in the eastern US, Verizon Wireless has been voted best. For pricing and calling plans some people win T-Mobile, although its neck-and-neck. If you use your phone outside of the country T-Mobile’s network is more compatible than Verizon’s. Yet in the largest surveys Verizon Wireless is most often the carrier of choice.
In my experience, when looking beneath the surface to discern which wireless phone company has a primary mission of customer satisfaction, and is the best one for the average American caller, Verizon Wireless is the distinct winner.
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Filed under Cost Of Telephone System by on Jan 15th, 2012. 