Originally Posted By: 7point82
<tangent alert>

How can we actually compare coverage from one carrier to another once roaming is taken into consideration? I use Sprint and very frequently stray from the defined coverage areas on their map. Most of the time my phone doesn't indicate that I'm roaming so I'm a little confused. I haven't had a cell phone plan in years that charged for roaming service so I honestly don't care who's network I'm on as long as my phone works.


because roaming agreements generally only apply for voice and SMS, not data services. That's why it matters what network you pick. Also, increasingly, carriers are NOT allowing their phones to roam to save on interconnect fees.