Strength bars are all over the place most of the time. Dropped calls and some missed calls. The AT&T store said I would get 3G out here but as soon as you open the phone it goes to Edge or data symbol. They lied at the store.

Coverage map is quite accurate (compared to others), indoors there are some dead spots but Nextel beeps when coming on network so one learns them quickly. If the cellphone comes on network you will get a beeps almost instantly that a voicemail or text is waiting, usually within a minute or two after the call was made (here in the canyon). I576 has better sensitivity than I850. Better battery life too. There's a weak spot in Inyokern and Redrock Canyon is dead. Most of 14 from Redrock to Freeman is dead. Most other spots in the area are useable to good :-)

I have just switched to Verizon and if I had it to do all over I would NEVER use Verizon. Reception is terrible. Recently I did not get any text messages for two days and at the end of those two days received 16 at once. And customer service is DREADFUL. I am not sure why they even have a Verizon store in Ridgecrest. Every time I go there they are not able to help. Recently I went in to the store for help and they called the over the phone customer service and handed me the phone. I could have done that at home. On another occassion I went in to pay my phone bill and was charged $3.00 to pay my bill in CASH! Do not get Verizon coverage, it is a waste of money and at a preimum price.