GSM in Los Angeles San Fernando Valley

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George Weischadle - 21 Oct 2003 03:05 GMT

I've been in the ATTWS Northridge store twice recently to inquire about
deals to change my TDMA service to GSM. Both times the store people
cautioned me that service would NOT be as good on GSM as it is on TDMA, and
said they get complaints from new customers about GSM coverage.

Jeez ... if SALESMEN talk like that to customers, GSM coverage in the area
must really be lousy!!!

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Mike - 21 Oct 2003 05:11 GMT

>I've been in the ATTWS Northridge store twice recently to inquire about
>deals to change my TDMA service to GSM. Both times the store people
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>Jeez ... if SALESMEN talk like that to customers, GSM coverage in the area
>must really be lousy!!!

Well, that's one way to see it.

The other way is: right now, indeed, the GSM network is not nearly as
extensive as the TDMA network. It's still new, and still building.

For those willing to live with those limitations, and who want the GSM
service, it's there. My father, for example, would be fine with the
coverage, since 99% of the time, he's well within AT&T's GSM coverage
area locally. I would not (as my primary phone), as I travel all over
the country on a regular basis.

At some point in the future, the GSM coverage will likely virtually
equal the TDMA coverage, and it will be less of a point.

All situations are different.

Mike

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yeltrabnhoj@email.com - 21 Oct 2003 18:01 GMT

>>I've been in the ATTWS Northridge store twice recently to inquire about
>>deals to change my TDMA service to GSM. Both times the store people
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>>Jeez ... if SALESMEN talk like that to customers, GSM coverage in the area
>>must really be lousy!!!

>Well, that's one way to see it.
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>At some point in the future, the GSM coverage will likely virtually
>equal the TDMA coverage, and it will be less of a point.

Presumably at some point in time before the sun goes nova.

Has anyone at ATT Witless been forthright as to when that might be?

>All situations are different.
>
>Mike

--
Nobody but a fool goes into a federal counterrorism operation without duct tape - Richard Preston, THE COBRA EVENT.

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Mike - 22 Oct 2003 02:40 GMT

>>At some point in the future, the GSM coverage will likely virtually
>>equal the TDMA coverage, and it will be less of a point.
>
>Presumably at some point in time before the sun goes nova.
>
>Has anyone at ATT Witless been forthright as to when that might be?

Oooh, "ATT Witless"...that's clever ;)

Well, let's just take the facts here.

* It is presumably in AT&T Wireless' best business interest to expand
the GSM network to where it at very least approximates the TDMA
network. AT&T gains nothing by having a non-complete network. The
more people it reaches, the more money they make.

* Cell phone towers don't go up in a day, and everything involved in
making them operable (from electronics to local zoning regulations)
takes time.

They may or may not be making the conversion as fast as you'd like
("before the sun goes nova" was a cute line). If you're unhappy with
the coverage, it's your own fault. It doesn't take a rocket scientist
to find AT&T's GSM coverage maps, and last time I saw them, it didn't
say "Hey! Next year we're gonna cover everywhere we don't cover now!
Just you wait!!!"

Before I get tagged as an "apologist", which often happens when
dim-witted people in newsgroups see you're not saying "(carrier)
sucks!!!", my AT&T GSM phone isn't my primary phone, and is a
non-contracted "GoPhone" I could dump and sell at any time. And I DID
look at the coverage, and that's why I don't have it as my primary
phone.

Mike

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Andrew Amsel - 22 Oct 2003 18:08 GMT

Yes, I got almost the same thing in Austin, TX last week. I called a
local ATTWS store to ask about swtiching to GSM, and the rep said
"don't do it..." and told me all the areas around Austin that have no
coverage. Kind of strange in that GSM should be their bread and butter
right now.
Andrew
Austin, TX

> >>At some point in the future, the GSM coverage will likely virtually
> >>equal the TDMA coverage, and it will be less of a point.
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
>
> Mike

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Tony Clark - 26 Oct 2003 04:18 GMT

At least the sales people were being honest with you.

TC

> Yes, I got almost the same thing in Austin, TX last week. I called a
> local ATTWS store to ask about swtiching to GSM, and the rep said
[quoted text clipped - 39 lines]
> >
> > Mike

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John S. - 26 Oct 2003 13:58 GMT

>the rep said
>> "don't do it..." and told me all the areas around Austin that have no
>> coverage. Kind of strange in that GSM should be their bread and butter
>> right now.

Well, it is still in the stages of implementation all over the country. Some
places are solid as a rock (for instance almost all of central, South, and
North East Flroida are solid). I was recently in the NYC/NJ part of the East
and the service seemed pretty solid the 2 days I was there.

Around here (DFW) the service seems pretty solid but I haven't been home long
enough to really try it out. However, unlike Cingular and T-Mobile I do have
service in my living room at my house. I live way out on the edge of the
coverage area.

--
John S.
e-mail responses to - john at kiana dot net

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