|
|
|
Alaska Cellular Reviews
General Alaska Observations: What limited information we
have is based more from visitors than
locals.
Alaska Communication Systems (ACS) has the coverage advantage and provides
a good value. Also, their relationship
with
Verizon Wireless gives them a leg up on mainland roaming.
Alaska Digitel ranks next, especially with their newly-acquired
spectrum that enables them to offer
more
broadband features. Equally effective
in
second place is AT&T, especially if you're considering an iPhone,
but Alaskans often frown on doing business
with "outsiders", which is
probably
undeserved. MTA Wireless deserves consideration, but we have received
little information about them. In some
towns,
wireless carriers like GCI have constructed a cell site with federal
money to provide service where landlines
have not been installed.
|
ALASKA COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
Excellent coverage throughout the state.
Good price plans, including both statewide
and mainland US Unlimited plans. Excellent
Nationwide roaming coverage, good CDMA phone
selection.
ALASKA DIGITEL
Good Local coverage, price plans include
lots of minutes but their mainland roaming
plans start at $60. Statewide coverage is
available, mainland US roaming is supplied
by Sprint and their roaming partners. They
have a good selection of CDMA phones and
prices are higher for a 3-year contract on some models.
ALASKA WIRELESS
Local coverage is limited to Dutch Harbor
and Unalaska in the Aleutian Islands. Plans
are expensive. GSM Roaming through the rest
of Alaska is provided by AT&T and in
the mainland US by both AT&T and T-Mobile.
|
|
|
|
|
|
AT&T Review
AT&T
AT&T is what was once Cingular, which
was part of SBC, which took over AT&T
Wireless and took AT&T's name. They have
a large GSM network, but in the west, have
a lot less developed spectrum than in the
rest of the country. That is about to change
with AT&T's acquisition of Alltel Wireless
in 74 markets being divested by Verizon Wireless.
Currently in the west, they have weak coverage
away from urban areas and interstate highways.
They claim that their Alltel purchases will
all be converted to 3G GSM within a year
of closing. Parts of the Alltel network already
provide GSM coverage. However, improvements
realized from the Alltel acquisition may
not show in better coverage until 2011. Currently
with GSM, AT&T will roam more readily
internationally, but there are areas in the
US with no GSM coverage. AT&T's takeover
of several cellular networks has improved
their service in some areas already, including
Alaska. AT&T offers a good selection
of GSM phones including the Apple iPhone.
Parts of what was the old AT&T Wireless
network in the interior west is still not
among the best. They still suffer from some
coverage 'holes', but they are updating some
of these areas. Most improvements will be
made in the "new" markets. In several
markets where AT&T operates at 1900 MHz only, we have been disappointed. However, not
all AT&T 1900 MHz-only markets are equal.
AT&T offers a variety of plans including
Unlimited minutes and services, and 'calling
circle' plans. They have extensive data coverage.
One of their greatest assets is also their
worst problem: the overwhelming success of
the Apple iPhone that uses the AT&T network
exclusively. It has overloaded their system
resulting in dropped calls, interrupted data
and slower service.
Pros: AT&T has a large network and covers
much of the nation, usage is transparent
whether on- or off-network, good digital
and data services, good national plans, "Rollover"
for those who can use it, "Unlimited"
calling plans available, a good selection
of phones. Improvements in coverage have
been substantial in some areas, lacking in
others. Excellent international roaming capabilities.
Additions of Alltel, Unicel and Centennial
network purchases will give AT&T substantial
rural coverage improvements.
Cons: AT&T plans aren't as generous as
some, customers can only access GSM networks
which are not as universally available as
CDMA, customer service varies from above
to below average, some markets have a large
number of dropped calls caused by large data
users.
Get Web-Only Discounts on Wireless from AT&T.
BRISTOL BAY CELLULAR
Coverage available across the Aleutian Islands
where service is available. Plans are limited
and are pricey for local coverage. We believe
their system is still analog-only and you
must apply to be able to roam on their system,
and only if you have an analog-capable phone.
Lifeline plans are available.
COPPER VALLEY WIRELESS
Good local coverage serving Valdez, AK and
northward. Reasonable price plans with statewide
and mainland US roaming included. They have
a relatively good selection of CDMA phones.
As part of the local telecommunications co-op,
service is a little above average and bundle
discounts are available.
CORDOVA WIRELESS
Cordova is part of the Cordova Telephone
Cooperative along the south coast of Alaska,
south of Valdez. They have a small selection
of GSM phones but it includes smart phones.
They have a number of rate plans including
Local, Statewide and National plans, but
no Unlimited plan. They have reasonable prices
for Local and Statewide service, but rates
for National plans start at a high rate.
There may not be any other service in the
area.
GCI CELLULAR
Good coverage and they offer both statewide
and mainland US Unlimited minute plans. They
also have capped statewide and National plans
which are reasonable. They have a reasonable
selection of GSM phones. They have government-supported
Lifeline wireless service, especially where
there are no landlines.
MTA WIRELESS
They have good statewide coverage and offer
Unlimited statewide voice minutes. They have
a number of other Local and National plans
starting as low as $10 per month. Their National
Unlimited calling plans are slightly higher
than average. They have a reasonable selection
of CDMA phones.
OTZ CELLULAR
This is the cellular division of the OTZ
Telephone Cooperative in Kotzebue, AK in
the northwest part of the state. Plans include
Unlimited minutes, however Roaming and Long
Distance are extra on all plans. Rates are
reasonable but do not include statewide roaming.
Some plans require having OTZ landline service,
but customers can get a "bundle"
discount on cellular service.
TRACFONE
Tracfone isn't an actual cellular carrier
but is a major supplier of cellular phones
and service. They are the largest prepaid
wireless company and arrange for their phones
to use whichever wireless carrier is available
in a given geographic area. As a result,
Tracfone actually has more included roaming
coverage available than perhaps any other
single company. They offer price points that
start as low as $8.33 a month and offer all
the advantages of prepaid services. They
offer several promotions with bonus minutes,
and offer plans with 365-day expiration.
Their service is mostly limited to Voice
and Text but does support data use of their
web-capable phones. While their plans are
Prepaid, they offer the option of having
the fees deducted from your account automatically,
eliminating the need to renew on an exact
expiration date. TracFone offers Free international
calls to 60 countries by calling a special
number, and with their International Neighbors
features, can provide a local number in Mexico
or Canada for incoming calls from those countries
at Local rates for both callers. Tracfone
offers additional plan options through NET10, and Unlimited plans with
STRAIGHT TALK. Pros: Coverage and Local service, available
virtually everywhere in the US, good price
plans, no roaming or long distance charges,
Local numbers in all markets, included Long
Distance calling to 60 countries. Cons: You
must use their own branded phones, no smart phones, coverage is determined by the phone model
(CDMA or GSM) which may limit your roaming
coverage.
Get Online Deals on TracFone
|