Todd Allcock wrote:
> At 05 Dec 2007 23:45:05 -0600 me@privacy.net wrote:
>
>> I think most experienced cell users (more than one provider, over
>> many years) would confirm that experience with coverage depends more
>> on the individual handset than the provider.
>
> Actually I find it's the opposite. While a crappy handset will give you
> more problems, in my experience an excellent performing handset can't save
> bad coverage.

This is true. No matter how good the handset, if there isn't ubiquitous
coverage you won't be able to connect. In my area, Sprint and T-Mobile
have far less coverage for two reasons: 1) they were latecomers and
ended up with the undesirable 1900 MHz spectrum which requires many more
towers for equivalent coverage than 800 MHz, and 2) they are running
into more organized opposition to putting up more towers (which didn't
exist in the early days when the companies that morphed into Verizon and
AT&T began putting up towers) .