Here's my take on Verizon FWIW. I am no expert re electronics but have been very happy with Verizon...at least until my trip this summer to Italy. Verizon's system is not compatable with that in use throught Europe. While my son-in-law and granddaughter both could use their Blackberrys both to communicate within our family group as well as using the cell phone, mine sat idle! I do not know who their server(s) are but I think they are both Cingular. The family was complaining about Cingular in general.
In the US I have found Verizon to be great though not perfect in sparsely inhabited areas (like the Tenn-Tom). A new tower has been erected just above Grand Harbor Marina at the top of the Tenn-Tom and my phone coverage was excellent and for the first time my Verizon 'air card' worked beautifully on board my boat. I did not try my phone around the bend into Miss., but hopefully it will now work there too.
In the past I've had excellent coverage with just a few blockout areas cruising the Eastern ICW. Unfortunately Verizon's Broadband service is not available yet here in the Mobile area so I am using the older wireless for my computer with great results.
One thing that I feel is important and has not been mentioned is that Verizon hires ONLY Americans! You are never going to be communicating with someone from India or some other foreign place! I DO find though, that not all of their stores can help with Blackberry problems. For that you need a large store with technicians, not just sales people. I am NOT totally happy with my Blackberry but that's a separate problem.
I am not up on Sprint, though as my telephone company in FL I was often at odds with Sprint. Aot still depends on where you live and what's good in your area.

Here's my take on Verizon FWIW. I am no expert re electronics but have been very happy with Verizon...at least until my trip this summer to Italy. Verizon's system is not compatable with that in use throught Europe. While my son-in-law and granddaughter both could use their Blackberrys both to communicate within our family group as well as using the cell phone, mine sat idle! I do not know who their server(s) are but I think they are both Cingular. The family was complaining about Cingular in general. In the US I have found Verizon to be great though not perfect in sparsely inhabited areas (like the Tenn-Tom). A new tower has been erected just above Grand Harbor Marina at the top of the Tenn-Tom and my phone coverage was excellent and for the first time my Verizon 'air card' worked beautifully on board my boat. I did not try my phone around the bend into Miss., but hopefully it will now work there too. In the past I've had excellent coverage with just a few blockout areas cruising the Eastern ICW. Unfortunately Verizon's Broadband service is not available yet here in the Mobile area so I am using the older wireless for my computer with great results. One thing that I feel is important and has not been mentioned is that Verizon hires ONLY Americans! You are never going to be communicating with someone from India or some other foreign place! I DO find though, that not all of their stores can help with Blackberry problems. For that you need a large store with technicians, not just sales people. I am NOT totally happy with my Blackberry but that's a separate problem. I am not up on Sprint, though as my telephone company in FL I was often at odds with Sprint. Aot still depends on where you live and what's good in your area. Margery Griffith Cinderella Linssen GS 410

... One thing that I feel is important and has not been mentioned

I think you can be from a foreign place AND be an American. I believe there are a number of people who have done it. Dale Klahn >>> "Margery Griffith" <grandsturdy410@yahoo.com> 3:55 PM 7/26/06/06 >>> ... One thing that I feel is important and has not been mentioned is that Verizon hires ONLY Americans! You are never going to be communicating with someone from India or some other foreign place! ... Margery Griffith Cinderella Linssen GS 410