[travisp]

There is also more than signal bars. AT&T works fine at and near my home, but it works awfully at one city I travel to. I get full 3g signal bars there, but websites time out, except at night time, and many incoming calls don't get through to me (going straight to voicemail).

So yes, technically I get great 3g signal there, but their network there simply can't handle it.

[dgreensp]

Also, AT&T may have more places with 75%+ signal strength, but who has more places with 50%+ signal strength, or more places with any signal strength?

All available evidence points to Verizon having better coverage, especially in outlying areas, including this article's focus on speed rather than coverage, and AT&T's commercials saying "What do you mean we don't have coverage? Pick any city. We have coverage in Boston. We have coverage in San Francisco..." Lame.

[gamble]

I recall reading rumors when AT&T's network quality first became an issue that they were upgrading the radios at base stations in major cities, but not the backhaul capacity. Not sure if it's true, but it would explain why you get full bars without any bandwidth.