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Cyn, I recall late 90's a couple cell engineers in the bay area set up vans with receiving equipment for all the carriers, and analysis equipment to watch the receivers. They then logged miles, gradually generating "true" coverage maps, and published those maps to the web.
There were maps from north of S.F. down through Monterey, around Sacramento, Walnut Creek, etc. The contrast vs. what carriers provided suggested in their brochures was insane, and included coverage level so you could tell where signal was weak. In my area at least, it corresponded beautifully with where I experienced dropped calls or other reception difficulty.
The site vanished after six months or so, about the same time AT&T was being hit by the big DC/NY class action stuff. (Not necessarily related, I'm just remembering the timeframe.) I don't have verification but word was the guys responsible received a large 7-figure payout to make the maps go away.
Beyond the annoying nickle & diming and lack of performance, what annoys me most is how the cell companies already play the same control game the media monsters (RI/MPAA) are creating. Even if a feature is built into our purchased hardware or media, we're unable to use it without paying by the moment. (i.e. $1/picture upload, $2+ ringsounds(!), disabling bluetooth, etc.) This absolutely kills the creative uses people come up with from combined technologies. My own experience with trying new tech in combination and seeing solutions grow from nothing to critical mass tells me this type of "bit metering" has damped untold killer applications like so much technology pesticide.
Tech is better these days, but in a way I prefer the absolute freedom we enjoyed during the 80's. Before big, tech-clueless money began imposing controls.
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There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195
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