National Cell Phone Networks

The US cell phone market is dominated by 4 major companies (AT&T Wireless, T-Mobile, Verizon and Sprint).

AT&T Wireless provides wireless phone service to all of North America through its GSM/GPRS network. AT&T’s subsidiary brands in the US include Cingular Wireless, Centennial Wireless and Edge Wireless.

Cingular Wireless The Cingular Wireless brand was retired by AT&T in 2007. All plans and services that were previously marketed under the Cingular Wireless brand are now being marketed by AT&T.
Centennial Wireless Centennial Wireless provides wireless phone service to the Midwest and Southeast United States as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands through AT&T’s GSM network.
Edge Wireless Edge Wireless provides wireless phone service to Oregon, Northern California, Southeastern Idaho and parts of Wyoming through AT&T’s GSM network.

T-Mobile provides wireless phone service to all of North America through its GSM/GPRS network. T-Mobile is owned by Deutsche Telekom. Its US subsidiaries include SunCom Wireless.

SunCom Wireless SunCom Wireless serves the Southeastern US, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands through T-Mobile’s GSM/GPRS network.

Verizon provides nationwide coverage through its CDMA network. Its subsidiaries include Jitterbug, Alltel Wireless, Qwest and SureWest Wireless.

Jitterbug Wireless Jitterbug Wireless provides nationwide coverage through Verizon’s CDMA network.
Alltel Wireless Alltel Wireless provides nationwide coverage through Verizon’s CDMA network.
Qwest Wireless Qwest Wireless provides nationwide coverage through Verizon’s CDMA network.
SureWest Wireless SureWest Wireless’ CDMA network serves the Sacramento and Kansas City areas.

Sprint provides nationwide coverage through its CDMA network and Nextel’s iDEN network. Is subsidieries include Nextel, Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile.

Nextel Nextel uses iDEN technology for its nationwide network and partners with other internationally based iDEN networks to provide worldwide coverage.
Virgin Mobile USA Virgin Mobile USA provides prepaid nationwide coverage through Sprint’s CDMA network.
Boost Mobile Boost Mobile provides nationwide coverage through Sprint’s CDMA network and Nextel’s iDEN network.

Regional & Super-Regional Wireless Networks

There are also several regional or second tier national carriers in the market.

U.S. Cellular U.S. Cellular has a CDMA/1xRTT network that serves the Midwest.
MetroPCS MetroPCS has a CDMA/LTE network with nationwide coverage.
Cricket Cricket has a CDMA/EVDO network with nationwide coverage.
Cellular One Cellular One has a GSM network that serves the Southwest US.
Cellular South Cellular South has a CDMA network that serves the Southeast US and the Gulf Coast.
Alaska Communications System Alaska Communications System has a CDMA network that covers parts of Alaska.
Appalachian Wireless Appalachian Wireless has a CDMA/EVDO network that covers Eastern Kentucky and Western Virginia.
Bluegrass Cellular Bluegrass Cellular has a CDMA/EVDO network that serves Central Kentucky.
Cellcom Cellcom has a CDMA network that serves Wisconsin.
Cincinnati Bell Cincinnati Bell has a GSM/GPRS network that covers Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and the greater Cincinnati area.
Long Lines Wireless Long Lines Wireless has a GSM/GPRS network that serves Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota.
nTelos nTelos has a CDMA/EVDO network that serves Virginia and West Virginia. It partners with Sprint/Nextel for national and international service.
Wireless Pioneer Wireless Pioneer has a CDMA/EVDO network that serves Kansas and Oklahoma.
AirFire Mobile AirFire Mobile (formerly known as Einstein wireless) has a GSM network that serves Wisconsin. AirFire Mobile provides unlocked phones as well as month-to-month service plans and unsubsidized phones.

Prepaid Service Plan Vendors

There are also a small number of providers who offer prepaid service plans or inexpensive phones. These include:

TracFone TracFone (aka Net10, Straight Talk, and Safelink) offers both CDMA & GSM phones.
Kajeet Kajeet offers prepaid phones tied to Srint’s CDMA network.