I travel frequently and the Sprint PCS service seems fairly reliable in town. If you go west of town you'll hit roam about 1 mile out, so if you don't have free roaming watch out. Anywhere in the city limits you'll be fine. If you are going to Joplin the only two bad areas seem to be Bagdad Hill if you go that way and just as you take the 1-44 on ramp to Joplin if taking the Interstate. Riverton and Galena have always been good on my phone. I think the phone makes all the difference in the world, so it is worth taking the time to find out what your friends have and how they like the reception of their phone. If you never, or rarely leave the SE Kansas / SW Missouri area without a doubt US Cellular is the only clear choice, though. Sprints local reception and to and from Joplin is not bad, and in Joplin you're fine all over. If you travel you'll like Sprint's reception in most mid size to larger towns. Between Baxter and KC, however, expect some lengthy dead spots... so if you take that route a lot beware. Between Fort Scott and Louisburg is almost dead.