1. Price:
Pros: Verizon is fairly competitive with price plans, and meets the competition head-to-head with promotions. Considering Verizon's extensive coverage, they offer very good value. They were the first major carrier to launch an "Unlimited" plan. Cons: Verizon isn't a leader in giving the most minutes for the dollar, and, if there is a feature they don't think will bring new customers through to door, they think they don't need to offer it.

2. Coverage:
Pros: Verizon has areas where they are the undisputed coverage king, especially in the west. Having the largest number of licenses in these areas help. They are still improving their coverage in many areas, especially where they have purchased new PCS spectrum over the years. You can travel across entire states with Verizon service, unlike some carriers who have coverage only in high-traffic areas. Cons: While Verizon has a lot of areas covered, a few of the rural areas are served by other carriers with whom Verizon has a roaming agreement. Some of these areas are served by carriers with less robust coverage...some areas roaming coverage is better than Verizon's itself. Fortunately, Verizon phones don't need to roam very often. In a few markets like the Gulf states, Verizon does not have the most robust coverage.

3. Customer Service:
Pros: Verizon's customer service is noticeably among the best. We are led to believe Verizon is the industry-leader in customer service pay scales. These people seem to be instructed to take your side of a problem, and usually give you credits more readily than other carriers when there is a problem. they don't seem to rush you through the call. Cons: Verizon is big company, and many agents just haven't 'seen it all'. It's a high-turnover position, but they do try to find the answers. Requesting information by email seems to be the most unreliable. Customer Service hours end around 11pm, but technical assistance is 24/7.

4. Phone Selection:
Pros: Verizon's phones are well-tested on their network, so it is comforting to know the phones they sell fit minimum specs. Verizon is big enough to strong arm manufacturers to create products that set themselves apart, at least for a short time. Cons: Verizon has a nasty policy of installing their own special User Interface in all phones. While it isn't necessarily bad, it does seem to magnify some of the quirks in that you can't try another phone to get around a feature you don't like. I know many older users who dislike that they cannot choose a larger font.

5. Roaming:
Pros: Verizon gives you relatively simple-to-understand coverage areas. Their plans gives you coverage even if you must roam on another system. Roaming does not necessarily mean you won't get all the normal network features...in some cases it is transparent. Cons: Verizon seems to be more restrictive than other CDMA carriers about roaming, especially with their most popular plans. They can certainly demand good roaming agreements from other carriers, but if they don't play ball, Verizon just leaves them out of the Preferred Roaming List, to the detriment of their, and our, roaming abilities.

6. Features:
Pros: Verizon has all the typical digital features, and a lot of free tools. Their free Backup Assistant is worth hundreds if you find yourself needing to replace hundreds of lost entries in your phone book. Some of their features like the "Chaperone" service and "VZ Navigator" has become indispensable to some users. Cons: Verizon restricts some of the features customers of other carriers take for granted, like Blue Tooth. While Blue Tooth headsets work in some models, they restrict data transfer, instead forcing you through the "Get It Now" system, at an additional charge.

7. Plans:
Pros: Verizon offers competitive included-minute plans, but even better are their promotional plans. They allow existing customers to switch to these promotional plans, and unlike most other carriers, they will let you switch to a different price plan anytime during your billing month. If you do the math, a combination of on-network call ("IN") and/or off-peak add-ons result in a much bigger effective bucket of minutes. Old plans are normally grandfathered. Cons: If you change plans, you may lose any promotional features of your original plan. Or, even more of a problem, when you change among regular plans, the new plan may not have the same add-on features as the old, requiring a new agreement. Your plan coverage area could change as well. Changing to pick up a new promotional plan usually requires starting a new contract. Plan changes are pro-rated. There are some plans available that are not shown in their brochures or online...you need to ask.

8. Information:
Pros: Verizon is a step ahead in offering documentation and online information to help users get maximum value and use from their phones. Their web site works well, and offers equipment and feature instructions. They also provide your bill viewable online, and your remaining minutes both online and on the phone. Their coverage locator is somewhat useful in determining generally where you will find coverage. Cons: Verizon's coverage maps vary greatly in their detail. Unlike the other major carriers, their coverage maps do not show a gradient of signal strength...it's pass/fail. Coverage shown for roaming partners is relatively poor.

9. Data:
Pros: Verizon offers excellent broadband features, some that provide very fast data speeds, and multimedia features. They have the largest 3G network, by far. Yes, you can watch TV on your phone. Their "Get It Now" apps are extensive, but not the greatest in number. Cons: They restrict how much access you have without one of their data plans. You may need your own ISP to use their 'slow' service. Data services that uses your included minutes are being phased out. Using data while roaming off the Verizon network is not universally available. Just having a data-capable phone may require you to subscribe to a more expensive plan or add-on.

Get Online Discounts from VERIZON WIRELESS