PC Magazine - 2009 11.pdf - Libertad Zero

Call QUALITY withinyour home areaCoverage outsideof your home areaCall qualityoutside of yourhome areaVoice mailLikelihood of beingrecommendeda 8.1 b 8.3 a 8.1 a 7.9 8.2 ab 8.3 b 8.0 b 8.1 7.7 8.07.8 7.2 c 7.5 c 7.9 7.8d 7.6 d 7.6 7.6 c 7.8 7.5 c7.6 c 7.3 c 7.5 7.8 7.1 d7.9 7.7 7.8 7.8 7.78.0 b 7.7 7.8 7.7 8.07.8 7.9 7.7 7.4 8.07.8 7.2 7.4 — 7.77.4 7.1 7.3 7.5 7.97.5 7.7 7.7 7.7 7.2 c7.7 7.5 7.6 7.6 7.8Motorola phones were considered the mostreliable, and Nokia devices were recognizedfor their superior reception and sound quality.But as always, it’s the combination of carrierand manufacturer that matters as muchas the manufacturer alone—for example,Motorola’s phones were the lowest-rated onVerizon.We received fewer than 50 responsesfrom T-Mobile users, which is not enough todraw conclusions about that carrier’s productlines, so they were not included in oursurvey results.Cellular ServiceProvidersREADERS’ CHOICEVerizon You can probably hear us now ifyou’re using Verizon Wireless’s network foryour voice communications.TracFone Don’t feel like you have to payfor a multiyear contract. TracFone users arepretty happy with what they get from thecompany’s bargain-priced service.Once again, “the network”rules.Verizon Wireless (VZW) triumphedin the area of contractcell phone providers based onthe company’s traditional strengths of customerservice, coverage, and call quality,which rated either better or significantlybetter than average on most measures.Adding to Verizon’s domination of the ratingsthis year, second place went to Alltel,which Verizon bought and is absorbing.In the areas of fees and plan options, however,both VZW and AT&T could stand somework, according to our readers. As in previousyears, users griped about Verizon’s highrates, but subscribers are clearly willing topay a little more for the nation’s best cellularnetwork. Besides, the marks readers assigncellular service providers are traditionallyNOVEMBER 2009 PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION 63