When it comes to cell phone carriers, most people know of the �Big 4�: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint. Each one has its strengths and each one has its weaknesses. If they had to be ranked by most users, Verizon would take the lead, but does that mean they are the best cell phone carrier out there?

Everyone wants to find the best package at the best price point. But, if you�re out on the road frequently, driving through rural areas and back roads, you�re going to want a provider that covers you no matter where you go.

However, with the innovation of cool phones like the iPhone, Droid, and BlackBerry, people are switching carriers in search of the hottest phone out there, even if the service is poor.

Personally, I have T-Mobile. Great customer service, but that�s about it. I have shoddy service in my house, at work, at school, pretty much most places. If I stray 30 miles away from a major city or highway, I can say goodbye to cell phone service.

Why do I stay with them?

They don�t have the coolest phones or the best service, so what keeps me from leaving and heading over to Verizon? Not much at this point. Verizon has the Droid and service everywhere. Plus, considering they have more customers than any other provider and you get free calls to other Verizon customers, most of your calls won�t even use up minutes.

As the sole carrier offering iPhones, AT&T has one large advantage, but that and a $25 a month charge for a 2 GB data plan seem to be their only allure. Their service isn�t that great, and once the iPhone has moved onto another carrier, I expect most of the iPhone fans will move along with it. Verizon has introduced the Droid, which is a great competitor to the iPhone. People that always wanted the iPhone, but could never bring themselves to make the switch, now have the next best alternative, the Droid, and with that comes many alternatives.

I know I haven�t touched on Sprint, because I don�t really have much to say. Sprint has been around forever and we used to have Sprint as our first cell phone carrier prior to T-Mobile. They have okay coverage, okay phones, and okay plans. Their plans are reasonably priced and they have a flat rate for unlimited minutes, unlimited texting, and an unlimited data plan. Does that make me want to change carriers and join Sprint? No, because even with those options, they still do not have the luster that other carriers have. To each his own in the case of Sprint, they remain a neutral party in my opinion.

People that travel a lot need a phone that can provide good service, act as a laptop and a phone, and all for a good, fair price. Each carrier is swimming with options from phones to plans to service coverage. Does each carrier have their own benefits for certain types of use? Sprint�s unlimited calling, texting, and data plan make it the best for business use, but Verizon�s coverage is ideal for families with friends all over the country. T-mobile is great for customer service, but AT&T offers the iPhone. What provider is the best one for you?