Does Your Cell Phone Have You Covered?

This weekend entailed a trip down I-35 to Plano, Texas for a soccer tournament, and amongst all of our gear that we had with us, the one thing we could NEVER forget is our LIFELINE of all lifeline: our cell phone.

This issue that is up for discussion today is one that has slowly “annoyed” me more and more with each trip I venture down this strip of highway. It’s not that I cannot live for 3 hours without my phone, but for the mere fact that we have these “smartphones” that are pretty useless for hours on end doesn’t seem very smart.

Maybe I could use that time to be more productive, get ahead with a bit of my work, do some things I’ve been a bit behind on? I’m all about trying to be as efficient as I can be, and that’s why this sometimes gets under my skin. There are very few times it seems that I have 3 hours stuck somewhere and I can actually get some things done! So for me it’s about being OP (On Purpose) with the use of my time. I realize this isn’t a super thrilling sexy post by all means, nothing that is going to send you out shopping or organizing or cooking, but it will be a great information gathering post.

I also want to preface all of this by saying the purpose of my post is not to bash any cell phone carrier at all. In fact, I’ve been quite happy with them. I’m wanting feedback as to what others experience, plain and simple, from those who might take this same road of highway as I do; the stretch of I-35 headed south of Oklahoma City.

Here’s a screenshot of what I had goin on…

You see that “E” across the top? Apparently that “E” is taking the place of the normal 4G that appears there, and means EDGE. Um… excuse me Mr. Cell phone tower gods… you don’t have an edge on this! There is not much happening with my phone.

Also the big blue square thing in the middle that is blank… yeah, that is my weather app, the one that is supposed to protect me and save me with all my severe weather alerts (IF I have a signal to get the alert… key point!).

So in this stretch of highway, literally as I pass Riverwind Casino, BOOM, it’s gone. Any source of internet and ability to text. (Keep in mind, I’m not the driver in all of this as well!) I can make a phone call. But for the rest of what a smartphone can do, it seems pretty archaic to me. I seem to get a TEENY tiny hint of reception if I blink thru Ardmore and again, it’s gone. I’d say till I’m into Texas. How far into it, I didn’t pay attention, but enough to know that I got zero in Oklahoma.

I’ve just shared a few of the big boys down below… and I prefer to refrain which carrier I’m using, but I know there are lots more out there. One of those is my carrier. {wink!}

So talk to me! I’d love to know if any of you out there have a cell phone provider that doesn’t drop calls THAT often, and you have GREAT coverage with internet and text from Oklahoma City to Dallas (sorry friends in Canada, London, Australia, Paris, Greece and other places! {grin!}).

And please… not looking for solicitations here either. Just looking to see if everyone has the same issues on this stretch or is it just me!