Ultimately, there is no provider that is hands-down a cut above its competitors. With all else being near even, your geographical location may be the deciding factor in determining the right carrier for your needs.
How To Determine The Best Carrier For Your Area
There are a number of interconnected factors that one must take into consideration, such as signal strength, response time, download speed and the number of reception towers in your area. To an extent, you will be able to gauge these factors by noticing the network’s general speed and stability when browsing the Web, streaming music or downloading apps.
For the most part, carriers keep a tight lid on the data regarding those metrics. This makes it very difficult for the average user to calculate and make comparisons, that is, until now. New apps are available that enable users to determine the best carrier for any given location.
Carrier Compare
This is an IOS app that runs a speed test on your phone. It then compares the information to crowdsourced data from other smartphones in the area, including the median speed for phones of every major carrier in the vicinity.
While Carrier Compare is a great app for comparing data speeds, Apple has severely restricted its overall effectiveness by not letting the app compare signal strength. Apparently, the restriction has to do with the infamous Antennagate back in 2010, which caused an enormous PR nightmare for Apple amid complaints that the iPhone 4 lost its reception when the lower left portion of the phone is touched. According to some insiders in the tech industry, Apple fears that an Antennagate II may be impending if users are allowed to compare and contrast signal strength.
CellMaps
This is an app developed by Mosaik, a company that collects and stores data for all the major carriers to showcase a worldwide coverage map. Updates are made quarterly and enable users to set search terms to better understand where they can get the best data coverage. The app is also useful for travelers and those relocating. Users will be able to check the coverage map of the destination to see if their current carrier provides good service for that particular area.
Currently, the app is free and available for Android version2.3.3 and later. However, with a very affordable $2 upgrade, users can experience the full power of CellMaps with a feature that enables direct comparisons between providers. The app also has the ability to zoom out to show the entire country or zoom in up close to show your street. For now, CellMaps is limited to the four major carriers and doesn’t include smaller providers like MetroPCS or Cellular.
Get Informed Before Selecting A Carrier
Before agreeing to sign the dotted line and locking yourself into a two-year contract, it is important that you arm yourself with as much information as possible. Some of the major carriers charge up to a $350 termination fee if you choose to sever ties before the two years are up.
The major carriers have good general reception in most areas though in certain places reception can get a little iffy due to uneven terrain or bad placement of towers. One carrier may have better call coverage at a certain location while another might have better data speeds. In another location, the opposite may be true. Aside from input from family and friends, you should also obtain raw and unbiased data by using an app like Carrier Compare or CellMaps.
Even those eligible to get a free phone through a government program for low income families should try to find out what kind of reception they would get. Cell phone reception is more location-dependent than most people realize and should always be taken into consideration as part of the decision making process when deciding on a carrier.
About The Author:
Ashley is a freelance writer and an occasional guest-blogger interested in tech, gadgets and business related topics. When she is not working she likes to travel and read as much as she can. If you have any question feel free to leave a comment.
