Question re Cingular & SIM cards

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Rosso81 - 30 Aug 2005 14:32 GMT

I am in the process of moving to the US from the UK. In the UK we us
SIM Cards for all service providers so it is easy to switch your han
set and just swith the SIM card over.

However, visiting my parents (who are on Verizon) I have noticed the
do not use SIM cards. I know T-Mobile do over in the States but I wa
wondering if Cingular did as it is these who I would rather join.

Also if they do is it just a case of switching SIM cards if you chang
your phone?

Many thanks in advance

Ros

--
Rosso81

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sjwilson - 30 Aug 2005 16:54 GMT

Cingular uses sim cards, and yes you can just switch your sim card - bu
only if it is a phone from the same carrier (ie cingular sim, cingula
phone) or the phone is unlocked. It is also important to make sure th
phone & system are compatible (cingular uses 850/1900 freq, a 1900 onl
phone might not work as well in your area whether it is unlocked o
not)...

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Joseph - 31 Aug 2005 01:23 GMT

>However, visiting my parents (who are on Verizon) I have noticed they
>do not use SIM cards. I know T-Mobile do over in the States but I was
>wondering if Cingular did as it is these who I would rather join.

Verizon uses the mobile technology CDMA. cingular and T-Mobile use
GSM as is used in Europe though on a different frequency than is used
in Europe.

>Also if they do is it just a case of switching SIM cards if you change
>your phone?

Exactly. As long as the handset is unlocked you can freely switch
SIMs as often as you like or as needed.

In the USA several different technologies are used for mobile. AMPS
analogue was the oldest and still exists to some extent though it's
digital only in urban areas. The only areas that remain covered with
analogue AMPS are the very rural areas. GSM up until 2002 was mainly
just on VoiceStream which became T-Mobile. In 2002 cingular and AT&T
Wireless decided to overlay their "TDMA IS-136" digital systems with
GSM. GSM when first deployed in North America was deployed in the PCS
"1900" band. When cingular and AT&T Wireless overlayed their systems
with GSM to take advantage of spectrum which they held they also put
GSM in the "cellular" 800/850 frequency. That's where the problem
lies for visitors since most "world" phones are 900/1800/1900 but for
optimum reception with cingular (which absorbed AT&T Wireless) you
really do need a handset that is capable of receiving GSM 850 as well.
If you intend to use cingular you'll need to either buy a second-hand
handset that does 850 as well as 1900 or get a quad-banded handset.
- -

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John Navas - 31 Aug 2005 22:39 GMT

>In the USA several different technologies are used for mobile. AMPS
>analogue was the oldest and still exists to some extent though it's
>digital only in urban areas. The only areas that remain covered with
>analogue AMPS are the very rural areas.

AMPS is still available in urban areas.

>GSM up until 2002 was mainly
>just on VoiceStream which became T-Mobile.

Also PacBell which became Cingular here in California.

>In 2002 cingular and AT&T
>Wireless decided to overlay their "TDMA IS-136" digital systems with

Also known as D-AMPS.

>GSM. GSM when first deployed in North America was deployed in the PCS
>"1900" band. When cingular and AT&T Wireless overlayed their systems
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>optimum reception with cingular (which absorbed AT&T Wireless) you
>really do need a handset that is capable of receiving GSM 850 as well.

Depends on the area -- some areas don't have any GSM 850 coverage.

>If you intend to use cingular you'll need to either buy a second-hand
>handset that does 850 as well as 1900 or get a quad-banded handset.

Or a tri-band handset with 850/1800/1900.

Signature

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

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Question re Cingular &amp; SIM cards

Question re Cingular & SIM cards