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CDMA coverage for the Flathead Valley is 95%. Best bet for sure.

I just switched to Cellular One (formerly Chinook) from Alltel (formerly Cellular One but totally unrelated.. Cellular One is a franchised name). I switched for reasons unrelated to reception, in general nobody beats Alltel's reception in Kalispell, MT. The one place Cellular One beats them I have found to be in Somers, Cellular One blows Alltel / Verizon out of the water. As a general rule though, the coverage density on Cellular One is VERY good, especially considering that it is a 1900MHz GSM network. There is no coverage in Libby, Eureka, Hungry Horse, or West Glacier (though Hungry Horse and W. Glacier are supposed to be covered sooner rather than later... we'll see. Cellular One isn't licensed in Libby). I'm quite impressed with the pricing and value that Cellular One is offering. The network reliability could use some improvement - for example, text messaging was down last Friday night. But Alltel and Verizon have major reliability issues of their own around here. Cellular One's greatest asset right now is their customer service. They promise customer service that will "knock your socks off" and they deliver - no voice menu nonsense or anything. Just a reasonably knowledgeable person on the line quickly! Add service in Hungry Horse and I'll be a very happy camper! Additionally, they plan to cover highway 83 through the Swan Lake area - presently a dead spot for all carriers. This will be a *huge* benefit to public safety and simply cannot happen soon enough!

No, Alltel isn't perfect but they sure beat Verizon! Alltel's coverage around Kalispell is far better inside buildings, and it extends way further west and north of town.

I just switched to T-Mobile. WireFly / InPhonic will sell it to you despite no native coverage - I assume they have some special deal with T-Mobile to allow this. They give Spokane, WA numbers but with some hassle you can change them. The phone will default to roam on USA-590 (the Alltel GSM network, very mediocre) but can also choose to roam on USA-570 / CHINOOK (depends on what the phone feels like calling it, Chinook Wireless' new network) which is very good and well on it's way to becoming the best network in Montana. So why T-Mobile instead of a cheaper plan from Chinook directly? I travel a lot and also plan to leave this place... I'd say stick with Chinook directly if you're local and staying local. It's cheap and it's what you'll want to use with T-Mobile anyways /

Get Alltel if you want to be able to use your phone in stores. Verizon doesn't work in Super 1, Costco, Wal-Mart, Shopko, K-Mart, Target, Home Depot, basicallly any store or larger building Verizon won't work in, but Alltel does. Alltel is also improving customer service.

I moved here from the midwest and although Cingular is not a provider here, I get dependable service in 95% of the places in the county. There are few places that I am lacking coverage, my biggest problem is that the networks here are overwhelmed and I get busy signals occasionally. Also, it is my understanding that reception inside of buildings can depend on the type of phone you are using. As a side note, Verizon recently was granted approval for the installation of a new cell tower south of Kalispell on Lower Valley Rd.

Was there from Michigan on a national plan, had good digital two-way and phone use to MI in Kalispell city limits.

Cellularone is rude rude nasty. They have aweful customer service. They are rude to their customers and have no respect for anyone definitally go with Verizon if you want to be treated like a human and not a mop bucket

I work for Cellular One in Kalispell and I must say this. Cell one seems to have better coverage throught the area and inside all the new buildings (Target, TJMaxx, Ect.) But, Verizon beats them hands down at everything else. Customer care is awesome. I actually know the engineer that holds up the Cell One towers and he has explained the network and its advantages over Verizon. Without much more I'll just say my overall opinion. If you are cheap and need a bunch of minutes, go with Cell One. If you want a good phone, don't mind paying a lil extra, and want to be treated like you are a valuable customer, go with Verizon. Cell one has terrible coverage once you get out of the area. A national plan with Cell One will cost more, give you less, and the service sucks so bad that you can't even use your texts or Mobile to Mobile minutes when you aren't at home. With a Verizon plan you are covered nationwide with almost no glitches. I know this because I travel around the country a bit. I can't even take my Cell One phone with me, its like a joke. It seems that Cell One is trying harder to expand their network. I know they just added a tower in Whitefish and another by woodland park. They are also implementing a new voicemail system that is more stable and recently signed a deal with Spring PCS for the area which will bring alot. Verizon is still the way to go if you don't want to get screwed alot. Trust me here, I'm lucky to see a happy customer leave my store. I celebrate if I actually am able to make one happy. I almost feel bad that I have to deal with Cell One, but just like everyone, it has its ups and downs.

Verizon has pretty good coverage in Kalispell and surrounding areas. They are definitally better than Cellularone if your going to travel. I also have to say, as I have been a customer through both Cellularone, and now Verizon, Verizon has much better customer service, they are nicer and resolve problems much better than Cellularone. Cellularone has rude rude rude customer service. Also Verizon promises to improve coverage in the Kalispell area as they already added two new towers north of town, whereas Cellularone promises no improvements.