In about three months, Windows Phone 8 devices will start to hit the stores. If your contract is up for renewal, this is a good time to think about cellular providers (specifically, the big four).
AT&T:
AT&T has always been the biggest supporter of Windows Phone. Up to now, AT&T has carried the latest and greatest Windows Phone and this is unlikely to change with the release with Windows Phone 8.
AT&T has the largest "4G" network. That means that it has the largest combined HSPA+ and LTE network. While its LTE network is smaller than those of Verizon Wireless, it has HSPA+ which it can fall back upon. Unfortunately, AT&T's coverage is not as extensive as Verizon Wireless and a few areas are only covered by EDGE.
Verizon Wireless:
Verizon Wireless has been very conservative about supporting Windows Phone. Verizon Wireless has traditionally been a big supporter of BlackBerry, but because of recent development from RIM/BlackBerry, Verizon Wireless has now chosen to support Windows Phone instead. As a result, Verizon Wireless is expected to carry at least one high end Windows Phone 8 device.
Verizon Wireless's LTE network is the largest of any carrier and is growing at an astonishing rate. Its LTE network is much faster than AT&T & T-Mobile HSPA+ network. Unfortunately, Verizon Wireless does not have any intermediate network between LTE and EV-DO, so it falls back on the much slower EV-DO network.
T-Mobile:
T-Mobile has also traditionally been a supporter of Windows Phone. T-Mobile has found success in selling mid-range Windows Phone. As a result, T-Mobile is expected to sell mid-range Windows Phone 8 devices. Because T-Mobile is rolling out HSPA+ in the 1900 Mhz band, most unlocked Windows Phone 8 devices will work on the carrier's HSPA+ network.
T-Mobile has been aggressive in rolling out its 42+ Mbps HSPA+ network. T-Mobile 42 Mbps HSPA+ is much faster than AT&T’s 21 Mbps HSPA+ network and Verizon Wireless’s EV-DO network, but is lower than AT&T’s and Verizon Wireless’s LTE network. T-Mobile network also has the smallest coverage of the big four carriers.
Sprint:
Sprint has not been a supporter of Windows Phone. After committing 15.5 billion dollars to Apple for the iPhone deal, Sprint will not likely show much enthusiasm for Windows Phone. Still, Sprint is expected to carry at least one Windows Phone 8 device.
Sprint’s 3G network is the slowest of any big four carriers. Sprint has also abandoned its WiMax network in favor of LTE. Its LTE coverage is much smaller than those of AT&T and Verizon Wireless. Outside its LTE coverage area, Sprint fall back on its excruciating slow and severely oversaturated EV-DO network.
AT&T:
AT&T has always been the biggest supporter of Windows Phone. Up to now, AT&T has carried the latest and greatest Windows Phone and this is unlikely to change with the release with Windows Phone 8.
AT&T has the largest "4G" network. That means that it has the largest combined HSPA+ and LTE network. While its LTE network is smaller than those of Verizon Wireless, it has HSPA+ which it can fall back upon. Unfortunately, AT&T's coverage is not as extensive as Verizon Wireless and a few areas are only covered by EDGE.
Verizon Wireless:
Verizon Wireless has been very conservative about supporting Windows Phone. Verizon Wireless has traditionally been a big supporter of BlackBerry, but because of recent development from RIM/BlackBerry, Verizon Wireless has now chosen to support Windows Phone instead. As a result, Verizon Wireless is expected to carry at least one high end Windows Phone 8 device.
Verizon Wireless's LTE network is the largest of any carrier and is growing at an astonishing rate. Its LTE network is much faster than AT&T & T-Mobile HSPA+ network. Unfortunately, Verizon Wireless does not have any intermediate network between LTE and EV-DO, so it falls back on the much slower EV-DO network.
T-Mobile:
T-Mobile has also traditionally been a supporter of Windows Phone. T-Mobile has found success in selling mid-range Windows Phone. As a result, T-Mobile is expected to sell mid-range Windows Phone 8 devices. Because T-Mobile is rolling out HSPA+ in the 1900 Mhz band, most unlocked Windows Phone 8 devices will work on the carrier's HSPA+ network.
T-Mobile has been aggressive in rolling out its 42+ Mbps HSPA+ network. T-Mobile 42 Mbps HSPA+ is much faster than AT&T’s 21 Mbps HSPA+ network and Verizon Wireless’s EV-DO network, but is lower than AT&T’s and Verizon Wireless’s LTE network. T-Mobile network also has the smallest coverage of the big four carriers.
Sprint:
Sprint has not been a supporter of Windows Phone. After committing 15.5 billion dollars to Apple for the iPhone deal, Sprint will not likely show much enthusiasm for Windows Phone. Still, Sprint is expected to carry at least one Windows Phone 8 device.
Sprint’s 3G network is the slowest of any big four carriers. Sprint has also abandoned its WiMax network in favor of LTE. Its LTE coverage is much smaller than those of AT&T and Verizon Wireless. Outside its LTE coverage area, Sprint fall back on its excruciating slow and severely oversaturated EV-DO network.