cell phone vs. home phone

I know here in PA, I don't have a home phone. Just a cell...this is how a lot of my friends are, too. I was kinda thinking the opposite...would it be feasible to have only a cell phone. Is the service reliable enough? I know that Cingular and other cell phone companies have great nationwide plans, or free calls within the calling network...it might end up being cheaper than calling cards in the long run...

My sister and brother-in-law who live on STX have a deal with Sprint there which includes their cell and home phones. They pay a flat $15 per month for unlimited calls...even to the states. They say the cell phone is expensive though...

Becky,
One thing to consider is that it may take some time before Innovative even gets to give you a phone line (if one is not already connected in your home/apt.). I know some people who have waited several months for a line.

Cingular has it's
"Cingular nation" that includes all roaming and long distance charges to or from the states It varies in total monthly minutes and can be shared at an additional $9.95 per phone. the base cost when I signed up was for 400 minutes. It is $39.99 plus the $9.95 plus taxes and fees. More minutes are more per month. I think a shared plan now advertses two phones and 500 minutes for $59.99 per month. Nights and weekends free.

Cingular has the usual cell phone connection problems. Innovative has their own problems. You should always use a calling card when calling long distance to the states on Innovative.

Depending on where you end up living on the island, if you have a good cell connection I would STRONGLY recommend not having a home phone line. Just buy lots of minutes, not only does it make it easier to do your monthly budget, but will save money. 10 cents a minute to the states adds up.

However, if you want high speed Internet at home you will need a phone line for DSL, unless you go satellite but those are more expensive even taking into account the phone line.

STT Local-
I have read on this board that Sprint and Cingular work best on STT- which do you have or which do you prefer? I am looking for an apt (first choice) on East End- is reception good there?
Thanks so much!
BW

Innovative is $30 a month WITHOUT LD...phone cards are $5 for 500+ minutes, so thats the way to do it. Can't see a cell being competitive (down here) UNLESS you can't stop flappin your jaw. Do a spreadsheet comparison with all the taxes and make a decision.
Good Luck, you'll need it!

I'm currently on a family plan with Sprint, shared with my mom and sisters, so I can call them free. I'll be at the UVI STT living in the dorms, so I was wondering if I would be able to get service there and in the Charlotte Amalie area.

I called the company but their server was down, and the online service map was not detailed enough to be helpful. Anyone with a Sprint phone that knows where I'd be covered? I'd like to stay on the same plan if I can so as to avoid using calling cards to call my family.

Does Tmobil work in stx?

I have a Cingular and have been reassured it will work well on St. Thomas. But what about an internet connection for a laptop? Don't you need a land line?

Hello,

blue water - I have Sprint and there are areas of the East End that I lose signal in, but mostly it works fine. I believe Cingular also has some drop zones on the East End. The areas that come to mind that I have lost signal in on the East End are around Bolongo and Bovoni.

Berlynn - I have used my Sprint phone at UVI & downtown. You should be able to keep your phone and same plan.

--Islander

David,

There are ways to connect to the internet using your cell phone from a laptop or even home computer, however it is as slow as dial up. Also on island there are wireless internet services which do not require a land line to your home. They have a small dish or box that receives radio waves from a tower for internet. Choice and Ackley to name a few have this service.

Teresa

thanks Islander- that is helpful!

No, T-Mobile does not work on STX. I had to switch from them to Cingular when I arrived.

STX has Cingular and Sprint available. A few other services have roaming here and would be compatible when you arrive (Nextel seems to have the best coverage of those plans). However, the Cingular plan you can get here allows free calls to anywhere in the states and no roaming charges or long distance charges when you are traveling on the mainland, plus nights and weekends are always free. I've even made calls when I was visiting Barbados and Antigua that billed as local calls. From St. Lucia, I didn't even get billed for minutes... the system apparently failed to recognize I was making calls. Gotta love that!

Go back to Cingular and talk to someone else - my husband, myself and two kids share 1000 minutes and it's not too bad...we have all sorts of extra features, so my base bill wouldn't be a good indicator...it took me 3 tries at the local office before someone even knew where STX was at...

You can pay another $5.95/mo. and get nighttime calling good after 7:00 p.m., which starts wherever the phone is...helps when you call the west coast!

Hope that helps.