Alltel

Since they're highly dependent on geography, the only reliable way to judge cell phone services is via owner surveys, which poll users on such considerations as best network coverage, fewest circuit overloads, least number of dropped calls and most effective customer service. Consumer Reports surveys the largest number of people by polling nearly 52,000 subscribers, while J.D. Power and Associates and PC Magazine solicit feedback from about 20,000 people each. Rounding out our list of reviews is TopTenReviews.com, which compares various cell phone plans according to their features, and Phonedog.com, which gives a useful sampling of owner reviews (with the caveat that these comments are anecdotal and based largely on where the user lives and receives service).

While Verizon (*est. $40 per month and up) and T-Mobile (*est. $30 per month and up) do best overall in national surveys, Alltel ranks highly in a couple of specific areas of the country, including Cleveland in the Midwest, as well as parts of the Southeast, such as Charlotte and Tampa. Alltel scores well in a user survey at PC Magazine, where it's a hit for its flexible calling-plan options. TopTenReviews.com, which rates calling plans, says Alltel isn't quite ready to play with the majors, since its national coverage entails roaming fees, and customer surveys indicate that its call quality excels only in certain areas. If you live in one of Alltel's covered regions and don't do much traveling, it's not a bad choice. Otherwise, you'd be better off with a top-ranked service like Verizon Wireless or T-Mobile.