Does anyone here use Nextel cell phone service?

[Maddy McCall]

I am currently using Cellular South and want to try another cell service.

The big attraction to Nextel for me is the walkie-talkie feature.

I don't get Consumer Reports, but I remember their recommendation being discussed here--just don't remember which service they rated tops.

Any advice here is welcomed. I am thinking of disconnecting my land line, going DSL for internet, and using Nextel (or a better cell service, if overwhelmingly recommended) for cell phones.

Has anyone else ditched land lines?

[GOPisEvil]

1. I am land-line free.

I have cable for internet and a cell phone (with AT&T Wireless, soon to be bought by Cingular, I think). I think there's another company offering walkie-talkie capablity, too. It might be Cingular. Also, the walkie-talkie feature doesn't do much good if the people you call are not also on the same system. Just a thought.

[Maddy McCall]

4. Have you ever been inconvenienced by dropping your landline?

[GOPisEvil]

7. Not at all.

If I am too far in the boonies to have good cell service, then I am away from home, and the landline is worthless. Either way, someone would have to leave a message.

The only problem that might have arisen is if the security gates at my apartment was tied into a phone system to make it open for guests, but that's never going to work. Heck, I'd just give my friends the security code. :P

It's actually made me a little more accessible, which can be a bad thing, depending on one's friends and fmaily. ;-) Also, I find that most telemarketers don't call cell numbers. :shrug:

[Lars39]

8. There is a downside to dropping your landline.

You have to find out if your cell phone company can triangulate your GPS, so that 911 could find you in an emergency. I want to say only Cingular can do this at this time, but I'm not positive.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. They only do big groups, like companies, is that right? (nt)

[Maddy McCall]

3. No, you can do individual or family plans.

[Lars39]

5. We used Nextel.

The walkie talkie feature was great, even thought it took a little while to get used to it. We would only use our phones if we were within a certain distance from I40, because of the tower placement. We live several miles from the interstate, though, so we only had problems travelling in the boonies, where there would be no tower. We couldn't use our phones in Lowe's because they used Nextel, and the store was wired funny. A lot of construction folks use Nextel. I kinda hated to give up my *beep beep*, I'd gotten so used to it. :)

[Maddy McCall]

6. Thanks, Lars...

One of the things about which I am most concerned is whether or not I will be able to catch a tower from my home, which is indeed in the boonies. :-)

[Liberal Christian]

9. Make sure you can return and cancel

If you're not certain you'll have good, consistent service at your home or the places you go frequently, make sure that Nextel allows you to use the phone for 30 days or so and return it, cancelling the service, if you can't get a good signal.

I'm in town, but for some reason, this neighborhood has very indifferent cell service. I could never give up my landline because of that. Check the phone wherever you go on a regular basis to make sure you're getting the service you need.

[Maddy McCall]

10. Thanks for your excellent advice!

And thanks to everyone who responded.