Verizon has okay native coverage on the Edgewood College campus. Even though I usually only get 0-2 bars, I can make calls about 95% of the time. I don't have any problems outside but when I go to the lower levels of buildings, I will hang on to a weak Verizon signal and not be able to make calls, but if I go down one more floor and lose the Verizon signal completly, my phone will jump over the the closer US Cellular tower and I'll be able to make / receive calls just fine. I think that Verizon could use a tower closer to this area, but their coverage isn't bad enough for me to switch providers because overall I get awesome coverage just about everywhere I go in Wisconsin.

Einstein PCS has awesome coverage in the monroe street area. They have a tower on Regent street so I get full bars all over campus at Edgewood College, even in the basement of my residence hall!

Although T-Mobile does not offer native coverage YET in Madison, it does provide free roaming on AT&T's network... and of course T-Mobile's plans are lower than AT&T's. I've never had a dropped call in Madison, and can't even recall having less than 5 bars, outside, at home, or in any other building. Many people here in Madison, including myself are students from Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Chicago. They bring there T-Mobile phones with them and have no problems.

I have had OK to good reception with ATT since June of 2007 on the far west side of Madison (Muir Field / PD) and on Fish and PD--where I spend most of my time. I also find that the signal is solid (at least 2 bars, usually 3-4) nearly everywhere I've gone in Madison... and solid to IL (Rockford) south and north east to Milwaukee. I have an HTC 8525. I previously had Verizon and had nothing but trouble in the Madison area.

No Contact with the outside world on the west side of Madison with AT&T and Sprint's garbage service stay away from these plans. I'm out to find another company!

It seems that depending on the day - not the weather - Verizon could have ok service or no service. Never is the service great. What's worse is the phone is programmed to always look for a verzion signal. It will not roam until the signal is 100% dead with verizon. The signal could be so weak that it's detectible, but good luck making calls. I recently went to washington dc and I had perfect service in the subway, 500 feet underground. Why can't the state capitol of wisconsin have equal service above ground? I also have experience with us celluar and they have great service all over wisconsin. I chose Verizon because I wanted the treo phone, which us cellular doesn't carry. When my contract is up with verizon, I will have to sacrifice technology for service quality and switch back to us cellular.

Verizon service in this area stinks. I recently moved here from Pittsburgh, where service was fantastic despite much hillier terrain. I am constantly dropping calls in this area. My fiance also has Verizon, but she can force her phone to switch to a "cell only" mode. When she does that she gets all five bars and will not lose calls here, but she can't send pics in that mode. I can't get the RAZR to do the same thing, so it is pretty much useless when I am here at home.

Dropped calls all the time on Verizon. 1-2 bars coverage maximum inside. Can't maintain a phone call for more than 5 minutes, and even that's with miserable voice quality. Sprint and AT&T phones get 5 bars inside same house.

Constantly drops calls inside my apartment. Customer service is HORRIBLE. I'm switching carriers when my contract is up!

I have used US Cellular for six years. When my friends and I go up to norhtern Wisconsin, my phone is the only one that works. I am talking about Eagle River, Door County and places in between. Only occassional dropped calls. Not a problem. I would not change carriers because I like to travel in areas that other carriers can't get reception. My wife has spring (until her contract is up and she joins me with US Cellular) and can only get roaming, but no signal in northern Wisconsin. Hope this helps.