All the features in the world won't do you much good if you can't get a cell signal in your area. Consistently, Verizon received the best marks from JD Power & Associates for call quality among the four major nationwide carriers: Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Some local wireless companies, like Alltel in the Southern states, offer comparable or better service. Under the new Cell Phone Empowerment Act of 2007, mobile carriers might be required to publish annual data on dropped calls. Each service provider has approximate coverage maps, which would need to become more detailed under the provisions of the new legislation. Each company allows you to search by zip code to get a better idea of service in your area; coverage tends to be most reliable in the Northeastern states, and least reliable in the Northwest.
