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Can you buy and use a U.S cellular plan today if you live outside of their geographical service area?

TMWNN 2y ago
I do know that US Cellular as of 2012 no longer operates in its headquarters city of Chicago <https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-cellular-to-sell-select-midwest-markets-to-sprint-177625271.html https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-cellular-to-sell...>.
toast0 2y ago
Not according to the current terms of service [1]: > You are eligible for Service only if you or your employer has a customer or business address within UScellular licensed market area. If you meet the eligibility requirement only through your employer's business address, you may only be eligible for certain rate plans. > At least 50% of your monthly usage for each device on your account must be used in UScellular licensed markets. These kinds of terms are common for cellular plan, but it's less of an issue for companies with "nation-wide" networks. I would love to switch to a MVNO that runs on multiple networks. It would certainly be more expensive, but it would be nice for people in areas with poor coverage, since roaming is dead. [1] https://www.uscellular.com/legal/customer-service-agreement https://www.uscellular.com/legal/customer-service-agreement
- gaadd33 2y ago
  Doesn't Google Fi run on multiple networks and dynamically switch to the one with the best signal?
  - toast0 2y ago
    In many ways, not really. Since I don't live near US Cellular, it's just a TMobile MVNO now. Back when TMobile and Sprint were separate, it did it kind of, with weird software. If your phone didn't work with their weird software, it was just TMobile. I'd like a SIM that will legitimately roam to say TMobile and Verizon, or either of those and ATT, or all three would be great. This is possible, some foreign sims have roaming with multiple US carriers... but I haven't seen it for a US targetted sim.
hi-v-rocknroll 2y ago
Why not just get a VOIP number like Google Voice?
- joecool1029 2y ago
  Because it's not mobile service and you can't make calls if you don't have some kind of a data connection. I'm saying this as someone who's used a GV as my primary number to give out to people. Additionally a ton of things like banks don't like that it's a VOIP number and won't let you use various services tied to it. EDIT: In case you're not from US, US Cellular is a full regional cellular provider, they aren't asking how to get a US phone number.

I do know that US Cellular as of 2012 no longer operates in its headquarters city of Chicago <https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-cellular-to-sell-select-midwest-markets-to-sprint-177625271.html https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-cellular-to-sell...>.

toast0 2y ago

Not according to the current terms of service [1]: > You are eligible for Service only if you or your employer has a customer or business address within UScellular licensed market area. If you meet the eligibility requirement only through your employer's business address, you may only be eligible for certain rate plans. > At least 50% of your monthly usage for each device on your account must be used in UScellular licensed markets. These kinds of terms are common for cellular plan, but it's less of an issue for companies with "nation-wide" networks. I would love to switch to a MVNO that runs on multiple networks. It would certainly be more expensive, but it would be nice for people in areas with poor coverage, since roaming is dead. [1] https://www.uscellular.com/legal/customer-service-agreement https://www.uscellular.com/legal/customer-service-agreement

gaadd33 2y ago
Doesn't Google Fi run on multiple networks and dynamically switch to the one with the best signal?
- toast0 2y ago
  In many ways, not really. Since I don't live near US Cellular, it's just a TMobile MVNO now. Back when TMobile and Sprint were separate, it did it kind of, with weird software. If your phone didn't work with their weird software, it was just TMobile. I'd like a SIM that will legitimately roam to say TMobile and Verizon, or either of those and ATT, or all three would be great. This is possible, some foreign sims have roaming with multiple US carriers... but I haven't seen it for a US targetted sim.

hi-v-rocknroll 2y ago

Why not just get a VOIP number like Google Voice?

joecool1029 2y ago
Because it's not mobile service and you can't make calls if you don't have some kind of a data connection. I'm saying this as someone who's used a GV as my primary number to give out to people. Additionally a ton of things like banks don't like that it's a VOIP number and won't let you use various services tied to it. EDIT: In case you're not from US, US Cellular is a full regional cellular provider, they aren't asking how to get a US phone number.