| * * Chas 2005-05-19, 11:51 am |
|
<rishi@wheresmycell.com> wrote in message
news:1115584123.016639.178000@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Being away from the US for sometime, I was aware that Cingular and
AT&T
> merged but I wasn't aware that Cingular & T-Mobiles' network sharing
> deal ended and that Cingular actually sold their CA & NV networks to
> T-Mobile, until recently.
>
> Given the fact that that Cingular customers are allowed to roam on
the
> legacy network (T-Mobile) for the next 4 years as well as having
access
> to the new network they acquired from AT&T, is there any real reason
to
> consider T-Mobile at all as far as network coverage is concerned?
>
> 1) According to the press release last year, Cingular customers
would
> be able to roam on the old network for up to 4 years. Has this been
> confirmed in the final terms of the deal?
>
> 2) If T-Mobile & Cingular are essentially the same network IN CA &
NV
> with the exception of AT&T Wireless - is it safe to say that calls
from
> T-Mobile customers would be given 'priority' when routed through the
> network compared to Cingular users who are merely roaming on their
> legacy network? - Or are calls from either carrier handled in the
> exactly same manner?
>
> If the latter is true, then the Cingular network would obviously be
> superior for customers in CA or NV. Right?
>
> 3) How does overall nationwide service compare between the two
> carriers? Which carrier has coverage in more markets in the United
> States and is either carrier considered to have better service than
the
> other in certain parts of the country? (East coast for example)
>
> For customers in CA or NV:
> The only factors I could up with where T-Mobile could excel:
> - Customer Service
> - I haven't done a detailed comparison but perhaps cheaper
voice/data
> plans
> - T-Mobile Hotspot Service
>
> My apologies for the lengthy post. I don't have service yet with
> either carrier so I just want to see if there is any real reason to
> consider T-Mobile - and if so, WHY?
>
It depends on where you want to use your phone in both states. I live
in the SF Bay Area and had AT&TWS TDMA service until the end of
January. I was travelling a lot and it worked very well throughout
much of the country.... except around NYC, parts of NJ and most of
the west coast.
As recently as a year ago ALL cellular service was spotty at best in
Southern California. AT&TWS had no coverage in the LA basin until they
bought a 3rd rate cellular provider a few years ago. I was doing some
business consulting in San Diego and tested 5 different carriers for
my client. All were BAD and Nextel was the WORST!
In Northern CA, AT&TWS absorbed Cellular1's system several years ago.
I could look out my window and see downtown Oakland, SF, Mt. Tam and
the Golden Gate bridge but my phone would go to roam while sitting at
my desk.
Service in Northern Nevada was also very spotty. AT&TWS's GSM was
terrible in the Bay Area. I got burned out from 15 years of traveling
the country and I'm now just covering parts of Norcal. About a year
ago, I signed up with Verizon and I was very pleased with the service
until about a month and a half ago when I started having service
problems in the Oakland area where I make and receive about 25% of my
calls.
I've since been trying Cingular and Sprint. I tried a number of
Cingular phones and I'm currently using an older Nokia 6340i with
GAIT, 850/1900 GSM , 800/1900 TDMA, and 800 Mhz AMPS. The sound
quality varies from spot to spot but the service is acceptable plus it
works in my home where Verizon has ceased to function.
The best reception and sound has been from Sprint. I cover from San
Leandro north up 101 to Healdsburg and over to Napa and Sonoma. I use
up to 4000 minutes a month so I'm probably going to drop Verizon when
my contract expires in June and port my number over to Sprint. I'll
also keep a pay as you go Cingular account because a lot of people in
my company have Cingular service and I can save them money with MtoM.
You can try out all of the major carriers in California for 30 days
with no obligation except to pay for the minutes that you use.
The bottom line is what is the service coverage and sound quality in
the areas where you are going to use the phone?
Chas.
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