Canceling your contract

Q: How do I cancel a contract from a carrier who claims to have nationwide service and doesn't? (Nextel has no service in Montana.) What are the best plans for nationwide/international service?
--Rich

A: You're correct, Rich. While Montana may be "big sky country," it's sorely lacking in Nextel service. Regrettably, you'll be hard-pressed to get out of your contract for that reason alone. If you live in Montana, you'd have a case (the reps shouldn't have sold you service in the first place), but if you just travel there and reside where you do get Nextel coverage, I doubt the company will let you off without a penalty. Since Nextel's coverage maps show Montana and most of Wyoming as a big blank spot, the carrier will argue that it's not deceiving anyone. It's frustrating, of course, that Nextel says it has nationwide service, but all the carriers make those kinds of claims--it's all part of marketing. Take our friends in Alaska, for example: it's certainly part of the United States, but the 49th state is the last frontier when it comes to cell phone service.

As for your second question, it's difficult to recommend one plan over another. It all depends on where you live and what you want. Also, CNET doesn't rate carriers for their coverage. That said, when judging from their coverage maps alone, Verizon and Sprint more or less offer the vastest nationwide coverage. The best thing for you to do is ask your associates, friends, and colleagues which service they use and how it works for them--maybe even take their phone to your house and office to make sure you get coverage there. For additional information and a complete description of the major carriers, check out our cell phone buying guide.

On-the-go insurance

Q: I recently purchased a Siemens SX66 from Cingular. The problem is, the carrier's phone insurance doesn't cover phones that costs more than $500. A search of the Internet produced a number of carriers in the United Kingdom but nothing much here. Is there a reliable company, or is it better to add it to one's home policy?
--John

A: Let me begin by saying that it's quite stingy of Cingular to not insure your phone. But then again, carriers have always made decisions that customers haven't liked. Unfortunately, buying cell phone insurance from a source other than your carrier is a curious predicament in the United States. As you said, there are several choices in the United Kingdom. But here in the States, I haven't been able to find any viable third-party options for insuring a mobile phone. It could be that I'm not looking in the right place, so if anyone knows of any alternatives, I'd love to hear about them. You can, however, add your SX66 to your homeowner's or renter's insurance policy, or you can insure it through your credit card.

If you select insurance with Cingular, there are a couple things you should remember. First, the carrier limits how many times a year you can replace a lost or damaged phone. Second, you don't always get the same mobile in return, so if you're loyal to a specific model, make sure you'll get what you want if you file a claim.

Phone home
Q: I recently switched from Verizon to T-Mobile. Generally speaking, T-Mobile works well enough--certainly out on the road--but it seems to me that Verizon has better building penetration. Is CDMA better at building penetration than GSM, or is my experience just happenstance as to where I have been?
--John

A: Building penetration depends on many more factors than just whether you're using GSM or CDMA. First off, the material that the building in question is made of plays the biggest role. In short, metal is your enemy. As a general rule, a metal structure will disrupt cell signals more than buildings constructed of wood or concrete. That's why cell service is so hard to get in an elevator; essentially, it's a big metal box. Concrete buildings disrupt signals to a lesser degree, but then you have to worry about the density of the concrete (more prevalent in older stone homes) and whether there is any metal embedded in the walls--remember, metal is bad. Generally speaking, wood will cause the least disruption.

The number of windows in a structure also affects reception. For example, a metal building with many windows admits more signals than a concrete building with only a few windows. Lastly, the height of a building also is a concern. Since cellular towers as a rule aren't designed to point signals upward, the higher you go the in a skyscraper, the less signal power you'll get.