09-12-2014, 07:48 PM
Coverage is very YMMV. There are sites out there that map the cell towers, and take crowdsourced data about coverage quality.
Buying outright will give you a lot of flexibility.
Based on how the 5s situation played out, I'd wait until the Verizon model 6 becomes available without a contract, which may require some time.
It would give you the choice of Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile (or most any GSM carrier). The only exception would be Sprint, which you are dumping anyway.
Verizon would see the phone as one of its "own" and you'd have no problem using their service. The GSM portion is unlocked, and would require only the appropriate SIM, postpaid or prepaid.
Beware that the carrier-branded phones may still come locked, even without a contract, like T-Mo's for instance. You'd still have to contact them to have it unlocked, and there are condtions to fulfill, even if they are easy. Some MVNOs also lock the phones they sell to their service. In general, buying a phone from a carrier is more ripe for pitfalls.
Buying outright will give you a lot of flexibility.
Based on how the 5s situation played out, I'd wait until the Verizon model 6 becomes available without a contract, which may require some time.
It would give you the choice of Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile (or most any GSM carrier). The only exception would be Sprint, which you are dumping anyway.
Verizon would see the phone as one of its "own" and you'd have no problem using their service. The GSM portion is unlocked, and would require only the appropriate SIM, postpaid or prepaid.
Beware that the carrier-branded phones may still come locked, even without a contract, like T-Mo's for instance. You'd still have to contact them to have it unlocked, and there are condtions to fulfill, even if they are easy. Some MVNOs also lock the phones they sell to their service. In general, buying a phone from a carrier is more ripe for pitfalls.