Arizona Cellular Reviews
General Arizona Observations: Verizon Wireless dominates most of the state with the exception of Mohave County, which is a big chunk, where Sprint and AT&T are tops. Sprint also gets good marks in urban areas and roams on the best rural carriers throughout the state, except in Navajo country. AT&T and T-Mobile have more urban dead spots than the others and also have somewhat of a roaming disadvantage as GSM coverage is not as extensive in the state. The Native American reservations are a big challenge and Cellular One may be your only choice there. AT&T post-paid phones roam there, but have challenges in other parts of the state. Cricket is good for Unlimited plans, but has limited coverage.

AIRPEAK
This is a small carrier in the extreme southeastern corner of California and southwest corner of Arizona and also serves parts around Mexicali in Mexico. They primarily function as a 2-way radio service that's also combined with cellular, similar to Nextel. Airpeak survives by super-serving their business clients, so you need to talk to one of the representatives and 'negotiate' a plan. At last report plans were pricey for such limited coverage, and roaming was very limited.

ALLTEL
Virtually all of the Alltel network in this state is to be purchased by AT&T. Parts of the Alltel network in other areas will be sold to AT&T, Verizon, and ATN, the parent company of Commnet Wireless, after government approval. There will be a transition period through 2010 during which Alltel customers will be notified of the changes to their account and service. Those Alltel customers who will transfer to Verizon Wireless are already being served by Verizon. For all others, current plans will be maintained, you can continue to use your Alltel phone as usual, and the changeover will be relatively painless. Eventually you will be offered a new AT&T phone and, most likely, be assigned a new AT&T plan. With a new phone you will be using the AT&T GSM network, some of which will be using different cell sites, which may affect coverage. While there is some uncertainty in a transition like this, previous changes to AT&T have gone smoothly. There is no harm in signing up as a new Alltel customer today, the changeover process will continue to at least the end of 2010 and your service may not change until 2011. Most of your coverage will be similar to Alltel's and you will eventually be able to use AT&T's entire network and features, including the iPhone. For now, you can use your Alltel phone across most of the country and get excellent coverage and reliable data service. Alltel phones currently prefer the Verizon network when roaming. Alltel still offers some attractive plans that will be available at least through the transition. Expect some of this to change under AT&T. Currently, new Alltel customers are required to only sign a 1-year contract.

Pros: Good coverage, very good prices, a variety of plans, good customer service, good broadband services including while roaming. Cons: The uncertainty of the transition to AT&T is a little unsettling, but for most customers, service will improve.
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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 network, but in the west, has a lot less spectrum available 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 GSM within a year of closing. Parts of the Alltel network are already providing 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. In Arizona AT&T is generally as good as the others, but in northern Ohio it is disappointing. AT&T offers a variety of plans including Unlimited minutes and services. They have extensive data coverage.

Pros: AT&T has a very 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.
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CELLULAR ONE (NORTHEAST ARIZONA)
Cellular One has the best, or only coverage among the Native American properties along the northeast Arizona and northwest New Mexico border. They have added PCS service, new sites across the 4-Corners area, an 850 MHz GSM overlay, and are adding more cell sites. They have special low-cost wireless programs. They also support fixed wireless service for homes away from wirelines. They offer Regional and National plans, and, while their plans are not expensive, they start at a relatively high price, especially their National plans. They offer an Unlimited National plan. They have several levels of My Circle-type calling features. They have a good selection of phone models including smart phones. Their prepaid plans are either too expensive or too complicated. Pros: Excellent coverage, big selection of plans including Regional and National plans, locally-owned, good customer service, life-line plans, a large number of phones available. Cons: Some areas are still analog which means users with digital phones can only access parts of the network (there are no GSM + analog phones), their National plans start at high price levels, their prepaid plans are expensive.

CLEARTALK
Cleartalk serves small communities in several states. If you live there, you'll be doing business with locals. They offer some of the features of an all-digital system, but no data. They have Unlimited plans starting around $30 with add-ons like Calling features and Long Distance available. Some customers have roaming service available on Sprint, but most plans are for regional service only. No National plans. Their phone selection is rather small and dated.

CRICKET
Cricket offers Unlimited wireless usage for one price, but coverage may be a little spotty. For the price, it may work well for you, or your family. They have a variety of plans. With unlimited usage, the circuits may become overloaded. Plans with nationwide roaming are available but those minutes may not be unlimited. Cricket is the largest "Unlimited' carrier and is adding many new markets, and your minutes can be Unlimited in each of those markets. You can use Cricket to replace a home wireline. In some markets, coverage is being expanded. Plans start as low as $30 ($25 in some markets) with Family plans starting at $95 for 3 lines. They have reciprocal roaming agreements with other small carriers which provide free Unlimited roaming in those "extended" markets. Cricket also offers reasonable Unlimited Broadband access and supplies a simple USB modem that plugs in to your laptop. Pros: Talk as much as you want, no contract, most data & digital serves are included, good Broadband service. Cons: You must pre-pay, "unlimited" coverage is limited to just within your home areas although some plans include other "extended" markets, off-network roaming is available at an extra charge, some dropped calls when circuits are busy.
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MOHAVE WIRELESS
Covering northwest Arizona, Mohave (also known as Citizen's Mohave) is small but real people answer the phone on the first or second ring. They have upgraded to CDMA digital at all of their sites, so most digital features are available. Mohave is 40% owned by Verizon. Mohave's Prepaid plans are surprisingly expensive. Pros: Very personal service, they offer reasonable Local and National plans, a local "unlimited" plan, and digital features. Cons: They don't offer very many phone models, there are some coverage holes, but they have added a few new urban sites, their Mobile-to-Mobile minutes are limited to Mohave County.
Mohave Wireless Coverage Map.