Mobiledia.com (pronounced MOH-bel-EE-dee-ah) is an independent resource on mobile technology, read by over two million visitors every month.

Started by Allen Tsai, Mobiledia has been educating readers with unbiased information since Sept 2002, through in-depth editorial reviews, comparison shopping tools, breaking industry news, and active community forums.

In Oct 2003 we also created CellReception.com, the authoritative resource for wireless reception and tower locations nationwide. Frustrated by the lack of coverage information provided by carriers, we developed proprietary cell phone tower and wireless coverage tools to objectively aid consumers in choosing a carrier with superior reception.

Built as an extension of Mobiledia.com, CellReception.com retrieves tower information from the FCC's antenna registration database.

Most antenna structures must be registered with the FCC before being built, however there are a few exceptions. As a result, maps may or may not represent a complete picture of all towers in the area.

Through Google Maps' satellite imagery, we combined the FCC's database of cell phone towers to give consumers a convenient way to locate towers nearby. Using a bit of AJAX, towers are retrieved and plotted dynamically based on the longitudinal and latitudinal boundaries of the window, allowing users to drag, zoom, and click for added detail.

Additionally, we ask our visitors to voluntarily write comments and ratings on their carrier coverage. Compiling the largest single source of carrier reviews by their own customers, perspective shoppers can read suggestions from their own neighborhood peers.

CellReception.com is not affiliated with the cell phone carriers, FCC, or Google Maps.

Regularly recognized as an authority in the mobile industry, we are often cited or quoted in major media outlets. For press inquiries or questions, please contact us. Here are some select nationwide mentions:

Feb 18, 2008

Planning a road trip? Prepare for cellphone outages

"... We must also come to terms with the fact that our cellphones aren't as reliable outside the city. Luckily, we can plan for these things..."

"... Websites such as Mobiledia's CellReception.com allow users to type in their locations and get a map or a list of past issues with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon in that area..."

Feb 18, 2008

Computing Q&A

"What's the best way to find out which cell phone models have the best reception?..."

"... What you can do is go to the Mobiledia Web site (cellreception.com) and check how well or badly the big wireless carriers cover your area. The Web site lets you search for nearby cellular towers, and it has a database of user comments about coverage from people in your ZIP code..."

Jul 9, 2007

Why Don't Cell Carriers Care About Loyalty?

"Cellular providers spend most of their efforts luring new customers into switching from some other service, offering only a few breadcrumbs for their loyal subscribers..."

"... Use sites like cellreception.com that tell you how well the carrier provides service in your zip code area. At least that way you'll know how the phone provider stacks up your geographic area."

Jun 21, 2007

Staying Connected via Cellphone (and Cellphone Bill)

"For a second opinion, I phoned the lead analyst for mobile phones at PC Magazine..."

"... He looked at cellphone coverage maps - available online at sites like Cellreception.com - before warning me that switching to a Vermont carrier for prepaid minutes would be prohibitively expensive."

Feb 22, 2007

Money-saving tips

"Correspondents will tell you how to fight back if you think you're being mistreated as a customer. Here are some tips that could save you money and aggravation..."

"... Consumers generally have little idea how reliable their cell phone service will be when they buy a phone and sign a contract. The best information comes from word of mouth or from Web sites such as CellReception.com."

Jul 27, 2006

Beyond Tuition

"The Zogby study reports that 89% of college students have cell phones. One dad complained that the most shocking cost he encountered was 'that darned cell-phone bill.'..."

"... Check sites such as Cellreception.com to make sure that there's good service on campus; some carriers entice students with special discounts or enhanced service..."

Jul 14, 2006

A Cell Phone That Tells You If You're Too Drunk To Drive Or Call Your Ex

"In fact, since developers have nearly exhausted every cell-phone gizmo aimed at engaging our senses of sight, hearing, and, more recently, touch, it seems like smell technology is the latest trend. Soon enough, people may be asking, 'Can you smell me now?'..."

"... Mobiledia has reported that Samsung applied for a patent for a phone that releases puffs of perfume. And a broader range of scents may be available down the road as well: 'Smellophones' may record odors and be able to reproduce them later on..."

Jun 12, 2006

Have Simple Cell Phones Disappeared?

"Find out what cell phone provider has a tower and cell site near your location..."

"... Go to www.cellreception.com and enter your zip code; it will show you the nearest locations by provider. There's even a Dead Zone Search feature on the site, listing areas within various states where dead zones are reported..."

Jun 11, 2006

Which Cell Phone Is Best for You?

"To figure out which companies offer service you can use, start by checking the coverage maps..."

"... Get an independent analysis of coverage from a site like cellreception.com (a searchable database of cell-phone tower locations and consumer reports)..."

May 15, 2006

Computing Q&A: Tip of the Week

"Before you lock yourself into a cell phone contract, make sure there's good reception in your area..."

"... You also can check out Mobiledia Corp.'s Web site (cellreception.com), which keeps track of cell site deployments and features comments from users around the country..."

Mar 30, 2006

Switching Wireless Carriers

"If you're thinking about switching carriers, I recommend that you do the following..."

"... Check the new carrier's coverage. Wireless service providers include coverage maps on their sites, which you can search by zip code. Independent Web sites, such as Mobiledia, can provide even more information..."

Jan 1, 2006

Cell Phone Service, How to Choose

"At Consumer Reports, editors say that users in metropolitan areas should go with the cell-phone plan that gets the highest rating. Since Verizon and T-Mobile both rank highly in most regions, your best bet is to ask around -- find out how happy friends and neighbors are with their cell-phone service..."

"... Web sites like CellReception.com can give you a good idea what you can expect in your specific area. This Web site is a great source for identifying service 'dead spots...'"

Dec 29, 2005

A Cellphone and a Plan for Just About Any Situation

"A few times I thought I had found a nearly perfect phone and a tolerable service plan, but they used incompatible wireless technologies. So start by choosing a carrier, because no phone is useful if it does not get good reception where you need it..."

"... A good resource for all carriers is cellreception.com, where you get access to a map of local cellphone towers and reports from your neighbors about the reception they get..."

Dec 19, 2005

Where in the World Is...

"Individual programmers have been the first to seize on the technology and turn mundane lists into such interactive maps. But some larger businesses are starting to use mashups as a way to gain exposure and boost traffic to their sites..."

"... CellReception.com brings up a Google map of nearby cellular towers when you enter a city name or ZIP Code. Also provides comments about coverage and signal strength in nearby areas for multiple carriers..."

Nov 14, 2005

Era of the mash-ups Newest Web sites among Net's hottest phenomena

"Take a pinch of Yahoo or Google. Then stir in some census data, photographs or crime statistics. What you get is a 'mash-up.' Among the Internet's hottest phenomena, these Web sites combine ingredients from different online sources to create intriguing hybrids..."

"... A mix of mash-ups - www.cellreception.com (cell phone towers + maps)..."

Oct 20, 2005

A Journey to a Thousand Maps Begins With an Open Code

"Using a Google map as a base, programmers can create interactive charts with information like U.F.O. sightings, cheap gas locations, census findings, restaurant reviews or subway directions..."

"... Related Google Maps Mash-Ups - Cell Phone Reception..."

May 4, 2005

The Cellphone's Potential as a Search Tool Gets Tapped

"Still, searching the Web on a phone is frustrating for most users. Screens are tiny. Waiting for a page to appear can take 10 seconds or more. And when signals fade, the lag times can be unbearable..."

"... 'The experience is much like text browsing in the early days of the Internet,' said Allen Tsai, founder of Mobiledia.com, a site for comparison shopping of cellphones..."