Cingular Wireless

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Lone Wolf - 18 Jun 2007 08:37 GMT

Just curious- roaming in LA on Optus (Australia) SIM.

On Cingular Wireless.

As I move around, some cells show as 'Cingular', some show as Cingular
(no '), and some show as CINGULAR. (all caps, no')

Any difference other than the id?

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Mike S. - 18 Jun 2007 11:28 GMT

>Just curious- roaming in LA on Optus (Australia) SIM.
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
>Any difference other than the id?

"Cingular" was an amalgam of networks acquired from other companies at
different times. The different ID's probably reflect different programming
by those towers, as well as your phone and SIM's interpretations of the
ID's received.

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Simon Templar - 18 Jun 2007 12:13 GMT

> Just curious- roaming in LA on Optus (Australia) SIM.
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Any difference other than the id?

Sounds like lazy programming by network technicians when setting up each
cell.

Signature

The views I present are that of my own and NOT of any organisation I may
belong to.

73 de Simon, VK3XEM.
<http://web.acma.gov.au/pls/radcom/client_search.client_lookup?pCLIENT_NO=157452>

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Donald Newcomb - 18 Jun 2007 12:35 GMT

> > Just curious- roaming in LA on Optus (Australia) SIM.
> >
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Sounds like lazy programming by network technicians when setting up each
> cell.

GSM cells don't transmit the name of the network, only the number. The only
explanation is that the OP's phone has "CINGULAR" for some network numbers
and "Cingular" for others. For historical reasons you may find in the US
that one network uses several different network numbers. This is due to the
fact that the equipment may have originally belonged to AT&T or some other
network.

Signature

Donald R. Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net

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Simon Templar - 18 Jun 2007 12:43 GMT

> GSM cells don't transmit the name of the network, only the number. The only
> explanation is that the OP's phone has "CINGULAR" for some network numbers
> and "Cingular" for others. For historical reasons you may find in the US
> that one network uses several different network numbers. This is due to the
> fact that the equipment may have originally belonged to AT&T or some other
> network.

That is just the convention for the US. Here in Australia all GSM
networks broadcast the location name (suburb or town).

Signature

The views I present are that of my own and NOT of any organisation I may
belong to.

73 de Simon, VK3XEM.
<http://web.acma.gov.au/pls/radcom/client_search.client_lookup?pCLIENT_NO=157452>

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Lone Wolf - 19 Jun 2007 03:12 GMT

>This is due to the
>fact that the equipment may have originally belonged to AT&T or some other
>network.

And to top it off, I saw a billboard today from the 101 freeway
advertising "less dropped calls on the new AT&T (previously Cingular)"

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Joel - 19 Jun 2007 13:46 GMT

Do you realize that if you manually network select your phone to T-Mobile
you will save 20% on your roaming calls.
T-Mobile is the preferred provider in the US for Optus customers.
The discount also applies for T-Mobile and Orange in the UK

> Just curious- roaming in LA on Optus (Australia) SIM.
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Any difference other than the id?

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Lone Wolf - 19 Jun 2007 14:46 GMT

>Do you realize that if you manually network select your phone to T-Mobile
>you will save 20% on your roaming calls.
>T-Mobile is the preferred provider in the US for Optus customers.
>The discount also applies for T-Mobile and Orange in the UK

I didn't know that, thanks.

Unfortunately when I go to select the network, only Cingular is listed,
and twice at that!

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