BlackBerry Cell Phone Plans Comparison: AT&T vs. Nextel/Sprint
BlackBerry Cell Phones focus on providing quality email and messaging capabilities that keep businesspeople connected to the fast-paced enterprise world. They boast a proprietary PDA interface that’s the gold standard anything else in the productivity world. There are dozens of BlackBerry models and editions across all the major carriers and their performance varies depending on which cell phone provider you choose. So, before you sign up for that brand new BlackBerry, consider some of the important differences between two major providers of BlackBerry cell phone plans: AT&T and Nextel/Sprint.
With all the hyped-up commercials, complete with vital data omission, high factual disinformation, and a laser focus on your tender emotions rather than your data-crunching brain, it’s actually difficult to decide which is the better provider.
But, (drum roll, please…) here are the facts:
AT&T is the big kahuna of wireless carriers in the U.S. After AT&T merged with Bellsouth toward the close of 2006, AT&T now owns Cingular Wireless. AT&T is roaming partners with T-Mobile, SunCom, and others using GSM systems. It’s headquarters are in Atlanta, GA.
In 1899, The Brown Telephone Company in Abilene, KS founded Sprint, then in August 2005 Sprint Communication acquired Nextel Communications for $35 billion, forming the Sprint Nextel Corporation. It’s headquarters are in Reston, VA.
AT&T has a customer base of more than 78 million users, while Nextel/Sprint has more than 54 million users.
Both companies compare favorably on customer service, each 24 hours, 7 days a week, and until an extra hour is added to the day or an extra day is added to the week, it looks like a tie on customer service availability.
AT&T has 800/850, 1900, 2100 frequencies while Nextel/Sprint has 800/850 frequencies.
AT&T has a Nationwide GSM, WCDMA/UMTS network while Nextel/Sprint has an iDEN – TDMA based technology network.
AT&T has a Nationwide – GSM coverage while Nextel/Sprint has Nationwide CDMA coverage.
AT&T has all other GSM providers while Nextel/Sprint has any carrier with active iDEN/TDMA towers.
Finally, AT&T covers a 50 state service activation area while Nextel/Sprint has a 48 state service activation area.
The advantage of AT&T is that it’s nationwide service coverage and monthly plans compete favorably with all the major carriers. In addition, it has rollover minutes, extensive data and entertainments add-ons, and many phones are supported by the GSM network. It’s disadvantage is that customer service has declined since the merger with AT&T wireless.
The advantage of Sprint/Nextel is the extensive voice and high speed data coverage, free calling between Sprint and Nextel subscribers, and extensive business services. Its disadvantages is that it’s relatively limited on the variety of handsets, and the number of data and entertainment add-ons.
So, which is best for you? That depends mostly on which carrier covers your area best and which company has the BlackBerry model you want. Consumer Reports ranked AT&T fairly low on customer satisfaction in its recent report, but that’s likely due to the major drag that all those iPhone customers put on the network. Their contract with Apple is nearly up and some of that data congestion may clear up soon. Sprint/Nextel, on the other hand, is one of the more average cell phone providers wielding neither the vast selection of handsets offered by AT&T or the extreme coverage of Verizon – but depending on how the 4G battle pans out and where the iPhone ends up, Sprint/Nextel may be a major dark horse in the smartphone carrier battle.
Our advice: browse some phones and compare some pricing plans side-by-side. Check out our full listing of BlackBerry phones from AT&T and Nextel to survey your options.
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Tags: Blackberry