Sprint PCS Data Coverage vs. Cingular

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Joe Hayes - 24 Apr 2005 01:55 GMT

Hello Everyone,

We're looking to deploy Treo 650's to our salesforce and I'm debating using
Sprint PCS or Cingular as our carrier. I'd like to know which one has
better data coverage, and does roaming apply in this situation. Thanks.

Reply to this Message

Isaiah Beard - 25 Apr 2005 20:45 GMT

> Hello Everyone,
>
> We're looking to deploy Treo 650's to our salesforce and I'm debating using
> Sprint PCS or Cingular as our carrier. I'd like to know which one has
> better data coverage, and does roaming apply in this situation.

As far as better data coverage goes, that's a tough one to answer. Have
you looked at the coverage maps for each carrier? I know they're
probably not the most accurate, but each should give you a sense for
whate cities and areas are covered, and you can make a judgement from
there. The easy answer though is that both services should cover every
major metropolitan area quite well with data capability.

As far as roaming goes: Sprint data services do NOT work when roaming
off the Sprint network. That said, I don't believe EDGE services work
either when roaming off Cingular's or AT&T's network, though the much
slower GPRS service most likely does work while roaming.

Signature

E-mail fudged to thwart spammers.
Transpose the c's and a's in my e-mail address to reply.

Reply to this Message

Central - 25 Apr 2005 22:39 GMT

> As far as better data coverage goes, that's a tough one to answer. Have
> you looked at the coverage maps for each carrier? I know they're
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> either when roaming off Cingular's or AT&T's network, though the much
> slower GPRS service most likely does work while roaming.

GPRS like 1xRTT on CDMA can work on any carrier/network you roam on that
supports it. The problem is most roaming providers don't allow data usage
because of cost and management(not that it isn't possible). When I had
Cingular, and granted this was before the big merge to GSM, their data
services only worked via their native digital network. There are AMPS data
services that work almost everywhere but that is usually for speciality
items, such as autonomous reporting devices, where maximum usable coverage
area is more important then bandwidth. Such services are not normally a
setup given to a consumer unless it is specifically asked for at a carrier
who supports it.

Reply to this Message

Mij Adyaw - 25 Apr 2005 23:03 GMT

I believe that Verizon data services will also only function when on the
Verizon network. I have had both Verizon and Sprint and prefer Srint Vision
as you can get unlimited Vision for $10. Verizon does not offer an unlimited
data plan except for laptops.

-mij

>> As far as better data coverage goes, that's a tough one to answer. Have
>> you looked at the coverage maps for each carrier? I know they're
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> setup given to a consumer unless it is specifically asked for at a carrier
> who supports it.

Reply to this Message

Stuart Friedman - 27 Apr 2005 03:58 GMT

While you can cheat and do some laptop data over the unlimited vision, many
people have gotten called on it. If you check your e-mail every now and
then, you'll probably be fine. If you choose to substitute this data
service for your home DSL line, watch out.

Roaming is the big issue in my mind. Sprint's data coverage is very good.
They are about to go to EVDO which will move them ahead of Cingular for a
year or two until Cingular gets one of its two 3g technologies running at
full speed.

Does your fleet enter Canada? You can roam in Canada with Cingular. Sprint
has no data coverage up there. I'm not sure whether you can get Edge now or
not. ATT (now part of Cingular's) historic connections with Rogers (the
owner of the two GSM carriers in Canada) means better roaming up there.

Stu

>I believe that Verizon data services will also only function when on the
>Verizon network. I have had both Verizon and Sprint and prefer Srint Vision
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>> carrier
>> who supports it.

Reply to this Message

Mij Adyaw - 27 Apr 2005 07:36 GMT

I have a Sprint cell phone and a Sprint laptop card in my laptop. The laptop
is on an unlimited Sprint data plan for $80/month and it works very well in
the US.

-mij

> While you can cheat and do some laptop data over the unlimited vision,
> many people have gotten called on it. If you check your e-mail every now
[quoted text clipped - 48 lines]
>>> carrier
>>> who supports it.

Reply to this Message