Verizon cell service

Verizon has some roaming coverage on STX, but it's very unreliable and your bill will probably be higher than you'd like from extra charges. Cingular isn't perfect, but generally has better coverage than Sprint.

When towers go down or something else occurs to reduce capacity of the system for a period of time, we all have some irritated comments to make about that "lo sentimos *itch"... which is a recording in Spanish that we get telling us that they are so incredibly sorry that the service we're paying so much to have is just not working today and maybe we can try calling some other time. Grrrrrrrr

I had Verizon before moving to STT. They will let you out of your contract because they do not offer service in the VI, so you can switch to Sprint or Cingular when you arrive. Ask them for details. The reverse is not true if you go back to the mainland... you will still be under contract with Sprint or Cingular there.

My Sprint cell phone has a feature where I can set it to work only in the Sprint cell phone coverage area. It is a way of making sure that I never have to pay roaming charges. My calls will automatically drop when I'm not in Sprint coverage area - I just accept that as the way I choose to prevent overcharges. I'd rather redial when in coverage area than pay outrageous fees.

Whatever cell phone company you choose, make sure it works where you will need it the most (home? work?)

Or for $5.00 a month, you can have free roaming and not be charged for calls outside Sprints area...UNLESS you are on east STJ and pick a BVI circuit... then it could be an international call and very expensive.

Thanks - this is great info. I figured as much about the contract cancellation when I went to the verizon store today. I didn't sign up until I get a chance to read the finer print. Verizon confirmed that while PR is on their network, nowhere in the USVI is officially "in"

Bottom line...

Cingular Nation plan is the only real option. The reception is "as good as" and the roaming and long distance is better than...

I started off with my Verizon phone here.

Verizon said, in essence, that it would be "no problem" because they have an agreement with Sprint to "bounce off" of their towers.

It was BS. I had never heard of such a thing....I was leary and should have been.

After 3 months of $1000 cell bills, I had to swich to Cingular. This includes changing my number, etc.....Now I have 500 beautiful business cards with the wrong number on them.

Thanks, Verizon!!!!! UGH!!!!!!!!!!

Go Cingular or Sprint. Cingular works at Cane Bay area (especially at places like Off the Wall) just fine where Sprint doesn't. But, I'm sure there are places that Sprint works that Cingular doesn't.

Jeez...it's a toss-up.

Alix

Alix,
I would escalate your complaint about being mislead by Verizon up the management chain. Of course, it can be argued you should have done something after the first huge bill. They are right... you CAN get reception off the Sprint circuit... it is just that the international roaming fees kill you. I would never pay such high cell fees.

I chose the $5.00 a month plan that offers unlimited free incoming calls when I saw it advertised in July '05. From what I was told at that time, the plan is only for 340 and 787 area codes, but you don't have to be in those area codes to receive the free calls (just Sprint nationwide coverage areas.) In otherwords, I can travel wherever Sprint coverage is offered and receive free incoming calls. I'm not sure if that plan is still being offered, as those plans are introduced and then taken away to keep us on our feet. I managed to get free Sprint cell to cell plan (which is now offered for $5.00 additional a month) because when I signed up for that plan several years ago it was offered free if I agreed to a two year contract (or renewed an existing one, which in my case I did). Every cell phone company has its lures and this is the one I figured worked best for my needs.

Alix - I'd agree - definitely escalate this to a manager, because they shouldn't have told you this. I asked the manager of the Boston Verizon store if there was any coverage on USVI and it was a flat out "no". In fact, he pulled up their national map on their computer and looked specifically at the possibility of roaming for my February trip and he said it wouldn't work.

So I got the 2 year agreement and hence a hefty discount on a jazzy new RAZR phone (which can ultimately go on eBay or to my father when I move). When I come down, I can legitimately tell them I'm moving "away" and will no longer be "in" 😆 so they can let me out of the contract.

Since my current handset is ready to cough up and die, I'm going to ditch my phone and get a cheap Cingular pre-paid phone for use on my PMVs so I can still have connectivity without committing to yet another monthly expense...

What local service does the islands have?? it sounds as though everything is bad

Local on STX is Cingular and Sprint. A few other services have some roaming coverage, but your best bet is to go with the primary carriers here.