Getting a Sprint phone on island vs. in States

First, you have to make sure Sprint will work where you'll be living. Sprint doesn't work where I live at all so if you got a Sprint phone anywhere & it doesn't work where you need it to, it's a waste of $$.

I am also wondering: why Sprint? AT&T is a good option for many in the VI. Also, although it is changing slowly, there are people here who will not return calls from non-340 area codes.

You can get a sprint phone in the Chicago store and tell them you want a 340 area code. You might get a weird look, but I did this about 5 years ago in New York. I just told them I lived in the VI and wanted the 340 area code and they let me pick out my 340 number from a list on their computer. Also, I still have Sprint and get really good reception from them. AT&T actually doesn't work where I work and live so Sprint is the better provider for me. If you know where you are going to be living and work, perhaps someone on island can tell you what service would be best?

It is changing slowly as mentioned but having a 340 phone here will definitely get you more returned phone calls . Not everyone has a cell phone with a long distance plan and paying LD charges from a land line to anything but a 340 # is still a huge deterrent - it also shows a level of commitment to have a local area code.

While I agree some people may not want to incur long distance charges to a stateside area coded cell phone, I don't agree that a 340 code phone shows any more commitment than some other area code. Cell phones and their plans are incredibly portable, and I think most people these days understand that. Indeed, technology and travel is making the concept of "area" code irrelevant. And it seems like everybody and their neighbor has a cell phone down here.... with free long distance being a basic part of most every plan. That said, a "340" phone might make the owner feel committed, and it sure makes numbers easier to dial.

I just hope Verizon gets down here quick to give ATT a run for their money.
I've been a Verizon customer since forever and only had to switch to ATT when we moved here. Yet Att cell coverage, dead spots, dropped calls, malfunctioning phones, network problems with caller ID, and billing mistakes are ridiculous. And it's not because "it's the VI," --it's because Verizon is better. Real competition will improve things.

I have Sprint and got pretty good service and I like that I can walk into thier office to conduct business. Dead spots are a given any more. Also I didn't have to change my plan at all.

Thanks for all the help.

Unfortunately I'm not sure which part of the island I'm moving to (honestly any apartment I can afford will due) so my plan of attack is to get a prepaid phone with minimum minutes until I get my apartment and see which cell phone service works better or at all.

On that note, after all my research it looks like I'm going with Virgin Mobile Prepaid (it uses the Sprint network I believe)-do you know of anyone who's used that? Even temporarily? I nerdily am looking at the coverage map on their website right now and STT appears to be completely covered.

And Neil, I couldn't agree more about Verizon getting their butts down to the VI-it would have made life ridiculously easier (because I have Verizon) and the introduction of more competition for a market that only has two competitors can only benefit the consumer that much more . And it's people like you who make me desire Sprint and dread having to get AT&T.