Considering getting a T-Mobile phone but was wondering if anyone had any experience with their service in and around DSM. This would be for voice as well as data, with data being as or more important to me. Thanks CF!
T-mobile in Des Moines area
- Thread starter akellar
- Start date
We've had T-Mobile for 7 or 8 years, and have been very happy with them. Service around central Iowa is great. I don't have data, but my wife does, but I don't think she has any coverage issues. Our biggest issue is when we go to my parents in north central Iowa. Service is sketchy in some areas f you get too far from I-35. Their customer service is terrific.
Yeah I saw the newer Android phones at Costco and I like the phones but the service concerns me. I live in Stuart, just outside or WDM, and according to their service maps I wouldn't get data service. Kind of a necessity with an Android phone.
Yeah, would be a no go without that. Only caveat is if you'd be using home wifi in Stuart, and would have data access when needing it out and about.
I had t-mobile about 5 years ago or so. Unless the coverage map has expanded, the coverage was horrible. I have a friend that lives just off 63rd st in Des Moines and I couldn't get crap for signal at his house. I also used to travel quite a bit around Iowa and had zero coverage in NW Iowa. I went to Cherokee one night and lost coverage as soon as I got on Hwy 20 off of I-35
Yeah I thought about that but it would bother me too much knowing I was paying for a data plan and using my home wifi instead. I think I know my answer I was just hoping someone here would convince me otherwise.
Being from NW Iowa and traveling to Ames alot, I have alot of experience with T-Mobile. The coverage on Hwy 20 from I-35 was horrible, but they now have a tower in Duncombe and that fixed that issue. The only trouble I have had with T-Mobile in DSM is in the extreme NW corner where I-35 curves to the east. Pockets there have been questionable.
That's not special to T-Mobile. I'm from that area and there's a lot of spots that are dead areas for every carrier.
I used to have a T-Mobile phone, the only reason I got rid of it is work got me an iPhone.
I carried both an ATT phone (work) and a T-mobile phone (personal) for several years, and I can tell you 100% that T-mobile's coverage is much better than ATT. Everywhere there is ATT, T-Mobile will work, they 'rent' their network. The opposite is not true, T-Mobile is partners with a lot of regional carriers, such as Iwireless.
Oh, and their coverage map on the web is actually accurate, unlike ATT's. My house shows a strong signal level on the ATT map, yet I have to have a microcell to get signal, inside or outside...
I carried both an ATT phone (work) and a T-mobile phone (personal) for several years, and I can tell you 100% that T-mobile's coverage is much better than ATT. Everywhere there is ATT, T-Mobile will work, they 'rent' their network. The opposite is not true, T-Mobile is partners with a lot of regional carriers, such as Iwireless.
Oh, and their coverage map on the web is actually accurate, unlike ATT's. My house shows a strong signal level on the ATT map, yet I have to have a microcell to get signal, inside or outside...
Last edited:
I switched from Verizon (which I had for several years and really liked just for a phone) and have regretted it since. The data is particularly slow - although getting a little better. Coverage is so-so. Often lose coverage just north of Bondurant and inside buildings.
I would avoid T-Mobile around here and go with Verizon. I plan on switching back after the first of the year when my contract is up!
PS - T-Mobile is very good in big cities like Chicago - which obviously does you no good here.
I had T-Mobile for about 4 years while I was in college and got decent service in Ames. I would have stayed with them except for my work's cell phone reimbursement plan was only good for Verizon. They had decent service in Ames and as others have said, they rent their networks so you will be switching over to various local networks like I-Wireless where the coverage is pretty good still at no charge. I don't know what they have for data because I didn't have a data plan then.
T-mobile and AT&T use the same towers here in Cedar Rapids I would imagine they use the same ones in Des Moines too.
sorry to hijack thread...
can someone tell me if its possible to get TV on a phone? What phone? Is it a good phone? Good TV?
thanks
can someone tell me if its possible to get TV on a phone? What phone? Is it a good phone? Good TV?
thanks
Sprint has Sprint TV which has espn mobile. There are not many live channels but you can watch shows like you would on the network sites after they run. Not something I watch all the time, but it is handy for watching sports on espn.
I know several friends and co-workers who had T-mobile service and they constantly were having coverage/reception issues even where those of us who owned Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and US Cellular phones had solid reception. If you live in any rural location, T-mobile is not the way to go. T-mobile service outside urban areas is very problematic. Even inside urban areas, T-mobile can be spotty. Go with another cell service provider.
I use justin.tv app on iphone, also dish network is releasing an app with the sling enabled receivers to use on iphone or ipad for viewing. What are you wanting to watch exactly?
This is true, except that At&T is worse, I have direct experience in comparing T-Mobile to AT&T. If you want good rural coverage, your only real choices are US and Verizon.
