I have a V400 on Cingular GSM in the Philadelphia market. I've been with
Cingular since they were Comcast Metrophone, then Cellular One, then
Cingular.

The V400 is a good phone that gets good reception even in weak areas. I had
a T720 that could not get a signal, but in the same spots the V400 will get
1 or 2 bars. Same with the Samsung S307 which my daughter has.

I've had no significant gripes over coverage issues. Addtionally, in my
experience they have been liberal in issuing credits for service complaints.
I've never had anything I had to elevate above a first level CS agent.

The only downside is their support for equipment. The used to have techs in
most of the company owned stores, but no more. If you need to have your
phone serviced you could be in for an hour drive or more to a store that has
technicians or shipping it somewhere for service.

Don

RE/

I've had Cingular about 23 miles West of Philadelphia for about five years.
No GSM, just (I think... CDMA).

Billing is pretty good.  The "bills" I get tell me everything I'd ever want to
know.  Quotes because I just have the billable amount debited to my credit card.

Service, on the other hand.....(I have nothing to base this on except my own
little world of experience).  IMHO Cingular's service has degraded significantly
since I've been using it.

To wit:

1) Connections are noticibly worse in recent months.  Same areas, land line
phones on the other end.

2) They've closed their walk-in repair facility in Trooper, PA.   Used to be
able to zip up there in about 10 minutes, get a repair or replacement, and be on
my way within about 20 minutes.

Recently tried going to their King Of Prussia store in hopes of remedying a bad
phone, waited about a half hour, finally managed to interject a question to an
already-occupied salesperson.  Sounds like the only way to get a repair now is
to mail in the phone and wait.  Few manhours, I guess, but no phone....

3) Calling their support line means losing a good fifteen minutes of time wading
though voice menus.  Of course they require you to key in your phone number when
you start...and then ask for it fifteen minutes later when you finally get
somebody.

4) The monthly rate has continued to rise.   It started out as a $40 per month
plan.  Now it's up to a consistant $59-60 per month - and I never use extra
minutes.   It's nominally $45 per month but that doesn't include add-on charges
and taxes which come to about $15 per month.

Personally, I'm shopping - although I don't expect much better from anybody
else...pressures of competition and all that...