T-Mobile in San Francisco area?

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Ken Harris - 16 Jan 2004 05:30 GMT

I just got a GSM phone and a prepaid Cingular SIM, but I'm
thinking of changing to T-Mobile, however, my phone says there
are only two "available networks":

310-170 PacBell/Cingular
310-380 AT&T

Does this mean that there is no T-Mobile GSM coverage in my
area (I'm near Oakland, California, USA) ?

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danny burstein - 16 Jan 2004 07:53 GMT

>I just got a GSM phone and a prepaid Cingular SIM, but I'm
>thinking of changing to T-Mobile, however, my phone says there
>are only two "available networks":

>310-170 PacBell/Cingular, 310-380 AT&T

>Does this mean that there is no T-Mobile GSM coverage in my
>area (I'm near Oakland, California, USA) ?

Cingular and T-Mobile have a cross-usage agreement. In NYC, T-Mobile has
the physical equipment in place, and Cingular customers can transparently
use it. The other side of the coin is that California the network
equipment is owned by Cingular, and the T-Mobile folk camp on.

So signal strength and network avaialibility will be exacty the same
for the two companies (in these areas). In other parts of the country,
that will not be the case...

So make your decision based on rate plans and other features that make
the best sense for you.

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_____________________________________________________
Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key
dannyb@panix.com
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John S. - 16 Jan 2004 11:21 GMT

>I just got a GSM phone and a prepaid Cingular SIM, but I'm
>thinking of changing to T-Mobile, however, my phone says there
>are only two "available networks":

There are only two networks. T-Mobile re-sells the Cingular network in CA and
Nevada. Cingular re-sells T-Mobile in NY/NJ.

--
John S.
e-mail responses to - john at kiana dot net

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matt weber - 17 Jan 2004 00:07 GMT

>I just got a GSM phone and a prepaid Cingular SIM, but I'm
>thinking of changing to T-Mobile, however, my phone says there
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>Does this mean that there is no T-Mobile GSM coverage in my
>area (I'm near Oakland, California, USA) ?

T-Mobile and Cingular share infrastructure. In effect, PBMS/Cingular
will accept a T-mobile customer as a local. It is roam live coverage,
without any roam charges.

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Joseph - 20 Jan 2004 13:06 GMT

T-Mobile is a "virtual" operator in that they use cingular's
infrastructure. You'll never find T-Mobile (310-26(0)) as a network
in California.

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