| Steven M. Scharf 2005-05-19, 11:52 am |
| "SteveT" <stevejoin@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:1115909106.730908.180780@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> Russell:
> Thanks for posting the tech support e-mail from Beyond Wireless. I
> hoped that this would be the case. However, I just want to clariy the
> followiing. I, too, was assured by e-mail tech support at BW
While their rates are good, their operators are clueless, and their
activation procedure leaves something to be desired.
I'm not sure how a TDMA phone "knows" if it is "Home" or "Roaming," but it
appears to be related to the IRDB (intercarrier roaming database) programmed
into the phone at the time of purchase. I don't know if it's like CDMA,
where you periodically are supposed to download new PRLs (preferred roaming
lists), but I've never seen an option for such a download on a TDMA phone.
What is the reason that they only sell into certain markets? Do they have an
agreement with AT&T that they are only allowed to sell into these markets?
It isn't a roaming issue apparently.
In terms of phones, I know that on some international prepaid GSM networks,
only a few specific models of phones actually work. This is because when you
place a call, it is diverted to the carrier's switch, the phone number
you're calling is called by the switch, and you are called back. This is
because in most countries, you don't pay for incoming calls, so they are in
essence placing two free calls, one back to you, one to whomever you are
calling, and then connecting you together. So the GSM phone needs to be
capable of being programmed to call one number, no matter which number you
enter, and then transmit the number you want to call as data.
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