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Wireless Internet - CSD

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Richie - 21 Oct 2004 00:15 GMT

I wanted to order CSD with Cingular (not GPRS Wireless Internet Express) .
I called Cingular Customer Care and was told that this feature is not
available.
Does anyone know about that?
I am in San Diego, California.

Thanks,
R

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Jud Hardcastle - 21 Oct 2004 00:33 GMT

> I wanted to order CSD with Cingular (not GPRS Wireless Internet Express) .
> I called Cingular Customer Care and was told that this feature is not
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Thanks,
> R

Not totally sure about San Diego but CSD ability is now INCLUDED FREE in
all GSM and GAIT plans in Texas--not sure if they can even turn it off
on a GSM plan. Try it--you probably already have it. You don't even
need to order Wireless Internet if you have a regular dialup account--
just plug your ISP's dialup info into the pda or pc, attach as a
standard modem (IR, bluetooth, wired) , and dial away. The salespeople
are clueless about CSD. Remember CSD comes out of whatever minute pool
a voice call at that time would come out of.

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Jud
Dallas TX USA

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Richie - 21 Oct 2004 02:36 GMT

thanks Jud,
I'll give it a try and post my response later.

>> I wanted to order CSD with Cingular (not GPRS Wireless Internet Express)
>> .
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> are clueless about CSD. Remember CSD comes out of whatever minute pool
> a voice call at that time would come out of.

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Richie - 21 Oct 2004 04:41 GMT

Hi Jud,
I tried doing what you suggested but it does not work.... i get message
"there was no anwer" (error 678... the modem of other device did not pickup
the phone).

i remember that a while back CSD was offered in my market as Wireless
Internet. I wonder if it's a feature that needs to be added to my account.

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Jud Hardcastle - 21 Oct 2004 14:23 GMT

> Hi Jud,
> I tried doing what you suggested but it does not work.... i get message
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> i remember that a while back CSD was offered in my market as Wireless
> Internet. I wonder if it's a feature that needs to be added to my account.

You shouldn't need WI unless you want WAP on the phone or don't have
another dialup account to use on the pda/pc. Although if they DO have
something turned off ordering WI might turn it back on.

What phone? Is it possible it doesn't have the ability? How/what are
you attaching--can you verify that parts working?

Signature

Jud
Dallas TX USA

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John Navas - 21 Oct 2004 16:31 GMT

In <MPG.1be0b226fc400959897df@news.dallas.sbcglobal.net> on Wed, 20 Oct 2004
23:33:49 GMT, Jud Hardcastle <l5i5changethistodash5rbo@xemaps.removethis.com>
wrote:

>> I wanted to order CSD with Cingular (not GPRS Wireless Internet Express) .
>> I called Cingular Customer Care and was told that this feature is not
>> available.
>> Does anyone know about that?
>> I am in San Diego, California.

>Not totally sure about San Diego but CSD ability is now INCLUDED FREE in
>all GSM and GAIT plans in Texas--not sure if they can even turn it off
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>are clueless about CSD. Remember CSD comes out of whatever minute pool
>a voice call at that time would come out of.

At least here in California, I don't think CSD is enabled unless you order
either Wireless Internet or Wireless Internet Express. It definitely isn't
enabled with MEdia Works.

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Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular

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Richie - 21 Oct 2004 17:37 GMT

Hi John,

So what do I need to do in order to order Wireless Internet CSD. I think
the cost is something like $3.99 per month (or at least it used to be).
Customer care does not seem to know what i'm talking about. They only
know about Wireless Internet Express.

> At least here in California, I don't think CSD is enabled unless you order
> either Wireless Internet or Wireless Internet Express. It definitely
> isn't
> enabled with MEdia Works.

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John Navas - 21 Oct 2004 20:06 GMT

My understanding (not verified) is that you currently get Wireless Internet
(CSD) automatically with Wireless Internet Express (GPRS and EDGE/EGPRS), but
not with MEdia packages.

Here in California:

1. Wireless Internet is not available separately.

2. The cheapest Wireless Internet Express is 500KB for $2.99.

In the future I would not be surprised to see Cingular phase out CSD entirely,
since it's much less efficient (particularly in wireless utilization, in
addition to infrastructure) as compared to GPRS/EGPRS.

>So what do I need to do in order to order Wireless Internet CSD. I think
>the cost is something like $3.99 per month (or at least it used to be).
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>> isn't
>> enabled with MEdia Works.

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Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular

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user@comcast.net - 23 Oct 2004 01:36 GMT

in Massachusetts you can't get it at all anymore on new GSM
plans...the computer won't allow them to enter the billing code...I
spent 25 mins looking over the Cingular store employees' shoulders
while they tried many different ideas...they called their store mgr
who said it can't be done anymore

>My understanding (not verified) is that you currently get Wireless Internet
>(CSD) automatically with Wireless Internet Express (GPRS and EDGE/EGPRS), but
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>>> isn't
>>> enabled with MEdia Works.

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Todd Allcock - 24 Oct 2004 19:39 GMT

> Here in California:
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> since it's much less efficient (particularly in wireless utilization, in
> addition to infrastructure) as compared to GPRS/EGPRS.

Yet they charge $$$ for it, but not for CSD use!

You'd think if they wanted customers to use the more efficient method,
they'd offer the financial incentive to do it! T-Mobile, for example,
offers unlimited WAP over GPRS for $5/month. I've rarely used CSD
since. It's a win-win scenario- T-Mo gets $5/month from me and I
don't tie up a full channel checking e-mail during my "free" nights
and weekends.

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John Navas - 24 Oct 2004 21:17 GMT

>> Here in California:
>>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
>Yet they charge $$$ for it, but not for CSD use!

They charge minutes for CSD use, which equals $$$.

>You'd think if they wanted customers to use the more efficient method,
>they'd offer the financial incentive to do it!

MEdia Works is a real bargain at $20/mo for unlimited data.

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Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular

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Todd Allcock - 26 Oct 2004 21:50 GMT

> [POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

> >Yet they charge $$$ for it, but not for CSD use!
>
> They charge minutes for CSD use, which equals $$$.

Not nights and weekends...

> MEdia Works is a real bargain at $20/mo for unlimited data.

Not bad, but T-Mo's $5 unlimited is hard to beat. They allow
tethering (which is a grey area w/MEdia IIRC) but limit your
web-browsing to port 80 (no https). When I really need a secure site
like banking, however, I simply reconnect via CSD. To enable all
ports I could bump up to T-Mo's $20 plan. MEdia works is a decent
value though, considering the larger network it operates in compared
to T-Mo.

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coveredup - 27 Oct 2004 04:01 GMT

>My understanding (not verified) is that you currently get Wireles

Internet

>(CSD) automatically with Wireless Internet Express (GPRS an

EDGE/EGPRS), but

>not with MEdia packages.

You definitly do not get csd WITH the Media Packages -- took me
couple of weeks of calls to Cingular to figure that out -- the only wa
I got CSD on my GSM plan was to add --- Wireless Internet -- either on
of the metered plans or the unlimited for $79 -- not a very good dea
----

Now I understand that you can get CSD by asking for

Feature Package HOME Wireless Internet - Circuit-Switched Data (G)
0.00

The charge is reported as 3.99 -- but I have not asked for it -- s
can not verify -- this is correct ---

now I dont see this on the Cingular site -- But I do see somethin
called GSM Data Curcuit (CSD) -- maybe thats what is offered now? -
when I click it -- I get a page not found --- so what new with Cingula
---- ( I dont think Cingular wants to sell data ( too much revenue wit
voice)-- they just don't support it at all

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John Navas - 27 Oct 2004 08:21 GMT

>Now I understand that you can get CSD by asking for
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>---- ( I dont think Cingular wants to sell data ( too much revenue with
>voice)-- they just don't support it at all )

Cingular wants subscribers to use GPRS and EGPRS (EDGE) instead of CSD,
because CSD is much less efficient.

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Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular

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John Navas - 27 Oct 2004 08:20 GMT

>> MEdia Works is a real bargain at $20/mo for unlimited data.
>
>... MEdia works is a decent
>value though, considering the larger network it operates in compared
>to T-Mo.

MEdia is a better value because it includes EDGE, whereas T-Mobile is
currently just GPRS. EDGE is about 2.5x the speed of GPRS.

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Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular

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Bernard Farquart - 27 Oct 2004 19:35 GMT

> MEdia is a better value because it includes EDGE, whereas T-Mobile is
> currently just GPRS. EDGE is about 2.5x the speed of GPRS.

Do you have any idea when EDGE would show up in the WA market?
the local store personel seem to be spectacularly uninformed, and
calling 611 has given me conflicting answers. (including "what is EDGE?")

Bernard

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John Navas - 27 Oct 2004 19:55 GMT

>> MEdia is a better value because it includes EDGE, whereas T-Mobile is
>> currently just GPRS. EDGE is about 2.5x the speed of GPRS.
>
>Do you have any idea when EDGE would show up in the WA market?
>the local store personel seem to be spectacularly uninformed, and
>calling 611 has given me conflicting answers. (including "what is EDGE?")

<http://www.cingular.com/business/gprs_edge_coverage>
EDGE is shown as being available in Washington state.
Current coverage map is <http://www.cingular.com/download/Gprs-Edge_07_29.pdf>
Most (but not all) Washington state data coverage appears to be EDGE-enabled.

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Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular

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Bernard Farquart - 28 Oct 2004 08:20 GMT

> <http://www.cingular.com/business/gprs_edge_coverage>
> EDGE is shown as being available in Washington state.
> Current coverage map is
> <http://www.cingular.com/download/Gprs-Edge_07_29.pdf>
> Most (but not all) Washington state data coverage appears to be
> EDGE-enabled.

Uhh, not to seem too obtuse, but how would I know if I
were using an EDGE network as opposed to regular
GPRS? I get 50kbps downloads when I go to DSL reports
on my tethered laptop, my understanding was that that was
typical for regular GPRS network speeds. Am I waiting for
an improvement that is not going to appear?

I have a V 400 that shows GPRS active during my
surfing, and I use mobile phone tools to connect.
(I know you insist it is unnecessary, but windows
won't work the phone for me without it.)

Would it say something else if it were an EDGE
network? I actually am pretty O.K. with the speeds
I get as it is, but hey, more is always better, right?

Bernard

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John Navas - 28 Oct 2004 21:47 GMT

>> <http://www.cingular.com/business/gprs_edge_coverage>
>> EDGE is shown as being available in Washington state.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>were using an EDGE network as opposed to regular
>GPRS?

AFAIK, only by inference (speed).

>I get 50kbps downloads when I go to DSL reports
>on my tethered laptop, my understanding was that that was
>typical for regular GPRS network speeds.

That's a good GPRS speed, and thus is probably not EDGE.

>Am I waiting for
>an improvement that is not going to appear?

Hard to say.

>I have a V 400 that shows GPRS active during my
>surfing, and I use mobile phone tools to connect.
>(I know you insist it is unnecessary, but windows
>won't work the phone for me without it.)

The V400 isn't EDGE-capable -- you need an EDGE-capable handset (e.g., V551,
due to be released RSN) or PC Card (e.g., Sony Ericsson GC8x) to use EDGE.

>Would it say something else if it were an EDGE
>network?

Not AFAIK.

>I actually am pretty O.K. with the speeds
>I get as it is, but hey, more is always better, right?

My typical EDGE speeds (on Cingular in Northern California) are 2x - 2.5x GPRS
speeds on downlink, and even better than that ratio on uplink.

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Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular

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Bernard Farquart - 28 Oct 2004 22:12 GMT

> The V400 isn't EDGE-capable -- you need an EDGE-capable handset (e.g.,
> V551,
> due to be released RSN) or PC Card (e.g., Sony Ericsson GC8x) to use EDGE.

AH HA!
Well, that would explain it then.

Thanks, I thought EDGE was just hopped up GPRS,
I didn't know I needed a different phone.

I guess I will deal with what I have for now, as I
like the phone otherwise.

Thanks

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John Navas - 28 Oct 2004 22:36 GMT

>> The V400 isn't EDGE-capable -- you need an EDGE-capable handset (e.g.,
>> V551,
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>Thanks, I thought EDGE was just hopped up GPRS,
>I didn't know I needed a different phone.

EDGE is indeed "hopped up GPRS" -- the data protocol is called EGPRS (Enhanced
GPRS, or Enhanced General Packet Radio Service) -- but is sufficiently
different from GPRS to require a different phone.

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Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular

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