Decisions....

[ObsoleteE]

Originally Posted by KurtMendel

That is BAD advice if you want to take your phone number with you to your new carrier. Cancelling service at the old carrier will make the number transfer (porting) process much more difficult, and may even make it impossible.

Keep your old service. When you activate with the new carrier, do it with a representative on the phone. Tell them you want to port a number from your old carrier. They will ask for the number and some security information about the old carrier account. Within 24 hours, you will have your old number with your new carrier. You will have a temporary number with the new carrier in the interim. Once the number is ported from the old carrier to the new one, the old carrier service will be cancelled automatically.

Also, for the OP, I would point out that your network coverage should not be much better either way. A Sprint phone will roam to Verizon towers. Sprint does not charge roaming on their current plans. The only way this matters is if the Sprint signal is much weaker than the Verizon one.

Thanks, in Western NY Verizon coverage is top dog. Would I have a problem arguing the ET fee after I switched and had my number transfered?

[KurtMendel]

Originally Posted by ObsoleteE

Thanks, in Western NY Verizon coverage is top dog. Would I have a problem arguing the ET fee after I switched and had my number transfered?

You will probably not have much luck arguing the ET fee. It's there so Sprint can recoup the portion of the cost they paid toward your last phone (even if you didn't get any discounts or rebates, there was still a subsidy).

Sprint now prorates ET fees. If you have a long time left on your contract, you will pay the full ET fee. I think it's $20 a month for each month left, up to $200 maximum, $40 minimum.

On a personal level, I strongly recommend against the switch. I have been in the WinMob device world since the Sprint PPC-6601 - a long time. Verizon is always MUCH later with ROM updates and bug fixes, later with device launches, they deliberately remove features from their devices, Verizon CS is atrocious, they are more expensive per month, and Sprint now has unlimited anytime minutes for Everything Data customers.

What I would recommend is this: buy a Sprint TP2. It has a much better antenna and I have seen much better network and signal. Use it for a while. If you're still unhappy, port your number to VZW and return it with no additional penalty. Just my opinion.

[ObsoleteE]

I went out with the idea of picking up a TP2 today from Best Buy. To my dismay they weren't sure when and if ever they would be carrying it. I started messing around with the Hero for a few mins, and I fell in love with it. I had to have it, and at 179.99 it was a bargain. What a great phone, Android kicks ***. Any ideas if there will be a HTC Hero section on PPCGeeks?

[meatgel]

Some members are asking for a Hero section ... let your voice be heard here ...

http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=89663

[jmorton10]

I live in Rochester also.

believe me, you DO NOT want to go with Sprint, there service is AWFUL around here (I know, I had Sprint for 2 years & absolutely hated it). Some of my co-workers are on sprint & they b!tch constanly about calls cutting out/no service etc.

I am on an unlimited VZ plan & all the BS about extra charges/nickel & diming you to death etc is BS. My bill is exactly the same every month & the service is fantastic (plus I paid $149 for my TP2)

~John

[ObsoleteE]

Originally Posted by jmorton10

I live in Rochester also.

believe me, you DO NOT want to go with Sprint, there service is AWFUL around here (I know, I had Sprint for 2 years & absolutely hated it). Some of my co-workers are on sprint & they b!tch constanly about calls cutting out/no service etc.

I am on an unlimited VZ plan & all the BS about extra charges/nickel & diming you to death etc is BS. My bill is exactly the same every month & the service is fantastic (plus I paid $149 for my TP2)

~John

I've been with sprint for about 7 or 8 years now. I know Verizon's coverage is superior, but my old phone was pretty much bricked. This phone is a lot of fun so far.

[AVakil]

Originally Posted by ObsoleteE

I tried that chatting with a rep online, they wouldn't budge. Got any tips?

Did you try e-mailing ecare? That's the only method that worked for me. Hope you are still within your 30 days.

[rdcrds]

Part of my 3-mail i got today when i asked about my mail in rebate.This is from ecare.
My name is Adrian, a supervisor in the Sprint Care department. This is a
follow up email on the previous response sent to you by Rosanna M.
Currently we are offering this phone for $199.99.

Your satisfaction as a Sprint subscriber is important to us. Please let
me know if I can be of further assistance.

Thank you for being with Sprint. Have a great day ahead

Adrian S.
E-Care
Sprint

[JackG058]

Originally Posted by jmorton10

I live in Rochester also.

believe me, you DO NOT want to go with Sprint, there service is AWFUL around here (I know, I had Sprint for 2 years & absolutely hated it). Some of my co-workers are on sprint & they b!tch constanly about calls cutting out/no service etc.

I am on an unlimited VZ plan & all the BS about extra charges/nickel & diming you to death etc is BS. My bill is exactly the same every month & the service is fantastic (plus I paid $149 for my TP2)

~John

I'm glad your experience with Vzw is good. However, you're blanket statement regarding nickel and diming you to death being unheard of is just plain wrong. There are millions of Vzw users out there, so your experience doesn't necessarily reflect all others in cellular land. I used to be on Vzw, and I DID get nickel and dimed every stinking month. I had to call in for about 6 months in a row to get unwarranted charges off of my bill. The final kicker for me was when Lord of The Rings came out and Vzw sent me a text message telling me that I could enter a sweepstakes by just replying, and that the text response was free. Well, I entered, and I ended up responding to several more from them over the next couple of days before I got tired of responding. I get my bill and guess what? The first text was free, but I got charged for all of the other responses. That was my final straw and I paid the ETF on two lines and switched to Sprint. Best move ever for me. And yes, it was Vzw sending the sweepstakes messages, as I verified that with them. So just be careful about telling others that they are speaking BS unless you've walked in their shoes. Everyone's experience is not identical with any carrier.

[mobilevader]

Originally Posted by JackG058

I'm glad your experience with Vzw is good. However, you're blanket statement regarding nickel and diming you to death being unheard of is just plain wrong. There are millions of Vzw users out there, so your experience doesn't necessarily reflect all others in cellular land. I used to be on Vzw, and I DID get nickel and dimed every stinking month. I had to call in for about 6 months in a row to get unwarranted charges off of my bill. The final kicker for me was when Lord of The Rings came out and Vzw sent me a text message telling me that I could enter a sweepstakes by just replying, and that the text response was free. Well, I entered, and I ended up responding to several more from them over the next couple of days before I got tired of responding. I get my bill and guess what? The first text was free, but I got charged for all of the other responses. That was my final straw and I paid the ETF on two lines and switched to Sprint. Best move ever for me. And yes, it was Vzw sending the sweepstakes messages, as I verified that with them. So just be careful about telling others that they are speaking BS unless you've walked in their shoes. Everyone's experience is not identical with any carrier.

If I did not have free txt msg, I would not have replied. Sorry.

Anyway, I had verizon for 7 years and never was nickled and dimed either. My bill was always the same. Verizon does have some odd plans right now... they are very tricky... sprint's plans are very simple to understand. In that sense, verizon can "trick" someone into not knowing what they can and can't do with a phone (I guess).

IMO (and experience) coverage is mostly the same with verizon as it is with sprint. Been with sprint for almost 3 years.

But as those already stated, coverage is important. What is the use of saving $20 a month if you can't use the phone! What if you are camping and REALLY need the phone (911 emergency where time matters)?

I love sprint and don't plan on leaving... well, I would if verizon's plans were not so high...