Huh?  Bull.  If they're the same then someone screwed up.  As of right
now this is the coverage map for the "Nation GSM" plan:

http://onlinestore.cingular.com/html/Maps/Central_Texas/nation_GSM_map_6
_30_03.htm
http://tinyurl.com/38urc

and this is the coverage map for the "Nation" Multi-Network Phone (GAIT)
plan:

http://onlinestore.cingular.com/html/Maps/Central_Texas/nation_GAIT_map_
6_30_03.htm
http://tinyurl.com/286gg

Hardly identical.  The Nation GAIT plan includes all GSM, TDMA, and AMPS
- Cingular and Roaming Partners - giving basically the entire country.  
The Nation GSM plan is GSM only - again Cingular and Roaming Partners
but GSM coverage only - and therefore only 1/3 of the coverage because
so few other carriers have gone GSM.  It's physically impossible for the
two maps to even be close much less identical.  

Now if you were using a GSM only phone, or a 6340i that HADN'T BEEN
ACTIVATED FOR TDMA/AMPS, on the Nation GAIT plan the effect would be the
same as the Nation GSM plan.  Bottom line: YOU CAN'T USE GSM IF IT
PHYSICALLY ISN'T THERE.

If and when they release a GSM/AMPS phone the coverage for that plan
will "look" be the same as the GAIT plan since the phone could roam on
analog in those areas that don't have GSM - but without the benefits of
digital.  Better have lots of batteries.

1st rep right - 2nd rep clueless.  Cingular DOES have agreements to roam
on other carriers GSM networks - BUT the Nation GSM map ALREADY reflects
that.  The problem is that there are very few carriers other than
Cingular, ATTWS, and T-Mobile doing GSM (and Cingular and ATTWS overlap
in many areas and hence don't gain a lot of coverage there).  That will
probably improve gradually but it will take a couple of years at least
for GSM coverage to approach current TDMA/AMPS coverage.  It may NEVER
get there since some carriers may not upgrade to GSM at all.  They don't
have the capacity problem the big guys have so the only driving force is
going to be roaming compatability--both directions--and the dwindling
supply of TDMA/AMPS phones.  They could choose to go CDMA or even to
wait for the next generation W-CDMA or whatever.

Don't worry, you still have the same coverage country-wide as you had before
you called CS.  Jud's maps are the correct ones including the small area of
GSM future listing (mostly MT, WY, ND, SD, NE) from the Cingular/ATTWS
build-out agreement.  The GSM coverage area is much smaller and will
continue to be much smaller for many years to come.  The GSM Nation Plan
does require a GSM-only phone.  They will not let you use your 6340i on a
GSM-only plan.  The larger GAIT plan that you now have requires the Nokia
6340i or SE t62u phone.  They both will be using the GSM areas on the GSM
Nation Plan map and other TDMA/AMPS systems on the GAIT map.

Chris
Please respond in the newsgroup

YES

The first CS rep I called told me that the

NO

The second rep I called said that

YES

That didn't seem logical to me. So what's the real

GSM rates require GSM phones, GAIT uses both systems but bills as a
TDMA rate.