Penguin_shimmy

What would be the cell phone company to sign up with that works well in Walla Walla and has decently priced family plans?

mmaah

I used Verizon without a problem when we visited there 2 years ago--but would also be interested in current status about this...

leonsdaughter

Coincidentally I was on the phone with Verizon a couple of days ago. My D and I share a Verizon plan and we are in the Bay Area. They tell me that recently they upgraded their coverage for the Walla Squared area (from extended network to America's Choice--whatever that means) and they now have enough towers in that part of eastern WA for complete coverage. I too had no problems a year ago when we were there, and since most of the plans include free local and long distance assuming you stay within your minutes, it doesn't seem like changing providers--or area codes--will be necessary.

Padraig

I guess the question I would have is why on earth would they need a cell phone at Whitman. I guess current students have them now, but the idea seems rather absurb to me.

Penguin_shimmy

That's good to hear, leonsdaughter. I just talked to specialist the other day and he said Verizon has the best coverage in the nation. I have t-mobile right now and when I went to Whitman to visit, my phone had to switch towers with Unicel (whatever that is). That was considered roaming, but t-mobile doesn't charge for in nation roaming. Sometimes, I didn't get reception on the campus and it was a bother. So, I'm wondering if I should change to Verizon. However, I will have to pay more for Verizon and less for t-mobile. Would it be worth it to switch???

Penguin_shimmy

I guess you're right, Padraig, but I think my parents want me to keep my cell during college for safety reasons, when I go out and because I'm far away from home.

Padraig

Penguin Shimmy,

I guess in the coaching of high school students that I do, I think that students in high school are a lot less independent in general that my peers were 10 years ago. Cell phones are only a part of it, but if the way tv commercials market cell phones is indicative, then it's a fairly important part.

What better time to lose the electronic leash than college? It will be hard for your parents that you won't be at their call whenever they want you, but they'll learn to deal with it. After all, they have brought you up well with good, sound judgement, so this is when they can let go a little more. Especially because at Whitman most of your experience is on campus and cell phone coverage sucks when you're hiking in the Blues and you don't want to drop the phone in the water when you're kayaking.

Then again, I only called my parents one a month or so when I was in college. I'm the youngest of 4 kids, so they had learned to deal with separation issues.

The good news if you decide not to have a cell phone is there are telephones in every residence hall room that will connect to your parent's home if there is an emergency.

Padraig

ps- any incoming students should spend the summer learning how to do their own laundry if they haven't had the pleasure yet. There were a handful of students in my freshmen year hall who honestly hadn't ever done laundry in their life.

Wildflower

Verizon and T-Mobile would do fine. Cingular would work, too, as they have the largest coverage in the nation (after merging with Sprint --Verizon attempts to ignore that; before they use to advertise having the largest network, not they advertise it as "the best network", since it's no longer the largest). Keep in mind that rooms have a phone.

Cheers,

WF