Cingular / ATT

Cingular / ATT - Boston

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Scott Johnson - 27 Jun 2003 19:54 GMT

Hi, hopefully you can give me a bit of info. I've had my
current cell with ATTWS for almost 4 years and am ready
for something new. OK, learned about GSM, TDMA, CDMA,
etc. I know the cool stuff I really want won't be around for
a while but being a geek I can still be happy considering the
current next-gen roll-outs "beta". Anyway, the questions:

1. Is Cingular going to start it's GSM in Boston area? I hear
it is but can't find specifics.

2. If I'm correct, Cingular will be operating it's GSM at 850
vs. ATTWS/T-Mobile on 1900 (1800, can't remember which).
They all have announced roaming agreements with each other but the
multi-mode phones from ATT show GSM 900/1800/1900 while those from
Cingular (at least in NY)
show 850/1900. Can a 900/1800/1900 phone roam on a
850 network? If not, how can an ATTWS customer roam on
Cingular (or can't they).

3. Everything I've read suggests that the 850 band is stronger
for GSM, particularly from within buildings. Doesn't that argue
for Cingular over ATTWS/T-Mobile - assuming similar
coverage maps?

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Scott

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Leshka - 27 Jun 2003 23:42 GMT

skipped........

> 1. Is Cingular going to start it's GSM in Boston area? I hear
> it is but can't find specifics.

Cingular has the roaming agreement with T-Mobile for the East Coast, so in
Boston they use their network. So far the info on www.cingular.com doesn't
say anything about GSM service in Boston ( you can' buy GSM phone there)
that means only one thing - they might start soon, but when it's not clear
yet.
+ last year i traveled to Boston with my Cingular Nokia 3395 (GSM) on
Nationwide Plan and i got coverage almost everywhere in the city ( even in
subway).

> 2. If I'm correct, Cingular will be operating it's GSM at 850
> vs. ATTWS/T-Mobile on 1900 (1800, can't remember which).
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> 850 network? If not, how can an ATTWS customer roam on
> Cingular (or can't they).

As far as i read there is company created by ATTWS and BellSouth/SBC(read
Cingular) - Corridor LLC , which has licence for 850 Mhz freq. and they will
work together building out 850 Mhz network in US (in places like KanZas) ,
so that customers of both companies could use it. And the answer for your
question is - whethere there will be coverage of that Corridor LLC network
you will be able to use it ( as ATTWS or Cingular customer) but if there are
two networks Cingular and ATTWS present and no Corridor LLC net then you
can't JUMP from ATTWS to Cingular and back.
900/1800 Mhz is a E-GSM - Europian GSM Network standart.All GSM networks in
Europe are using 900\1800 Mhz freq to serve their users. And 850/1900 Mhz is
specification for american freq-ncy market. But multiband phone
900/1800/1900 will only work with american 1900 netowrk not 850, coz 850 Mhz
and 900 are not the same band freq.

> 3. Everything I've read suggests that the 850 band is stronger
> for GSM, particularly from within buildings. Doesn't that argue
> for Cingular over ATTWS/T-Mobile - assuming similar
> coverage maps?

Well, if they give you maps saying there "will be coverage for 850/1900 Mhz
phones" , then it means if you have such phone it will automaticly choose
the signal that is stronger in this area (850 or 1900 Mhz). But will always
try to jump to higher freq - like if there two networks exist in particular
area it will choose 1900 Mhz band.

thanx :)

alex

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y-does-my-computer-hate@me.com - 28 Jun 2003 05:21 GMT

cingular's gsm has just started being publically turned on this week.
not officially launched yet but probably soon

>skipped........
>> 1. Is Cingular going to start it's GSM in Boston area? I hear
[quoted text clipped - 45 lines]
>
>alex

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