Cingular opens GSM network to ATTWS today
Apr 14, 2004 | 10:40 pm
#1
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Location: San Jos, California
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Cingular opens GSM network to ATTWS today
Many of you on the ATTWS network might get better service today onward. In many parts of the country, such as SF Bay Area, Cingular has opened their cell towers to ATTWS. I am now getting 5 signal bars on my phone that previously got 1 or 2 bars.
You will note that the phone shows Cingular as the carrier, but you won't be charged any roaming fees.
Since people are leaving AT&T in droves, Cingular needs a way to stem the flow and keep people at ATTWS while the merger is still pending.
You will note that the phone shows Cingular as the carrier, but you won't be charged any roaming fees.
Since people are leaving AT&T in droves, Cingular needs a way to stem the flow and keep people at ATTWS while the merger is still pending.
Apr 14, 2004 | 11:27 pm
#2
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I wondered why all day I am getting Cingular connections!
Is there a link to an ATTWS webpage that says there won't be roaming charges? Does the no roam charges apply to GPRS data connections too?
Is there a link to an ATTWS webpage that says there won't be roaming charges? Does the no roam charges apply to GPRS data connections too?
Apr 15, 2004 | 5:22 am
#4
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Thanks for the info. I was at the ball park in SF (Go Giants!) with my son Tuesday night. Both use AT&T. Cingular kept "grabbing" his phone while mine stayed with AT&T.
We weren't sure what was happening.
We weren't sure what was happening.
Apr 15, 2004 | 9:17 am
#5
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Location: San Jos, California
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If your son's phone is a GSM one and yours is a TDMA phone, the change only affects GSM. If they are both GSM, it's likely that yours was able to pick up a stronger signal from ATT (you might have a different phone that has better reception in general).
I believe the SIM card in GSM phones identifies the home system of the subscriber. The phone then will always try to connect to that network as the preferred network. If the signal is real bad, it will try to roam onto a stronger network.
Sometimes your phone settings can override this, but even with my Sony Ericsson T68i, it would hop back to AT&T even if I "manually" locked it onto Cingular.
I believe the SIM card in GSM phones identifies the home system of the subscriber. The phone then will always try to connect to that network as the preferred network. If the signal is real bad, it will try to roam onto a stronger network.
Sometimes your phone settings can override this, but even with my Sony Ericsson T68i, it would hop back to AT&T even if I "manually" locked it onto Cingular.
Originally Posted by Teacher49
Thanks for the info. I was at the ball park in SF (Go Giants!) with my son Tuesday night. Both use AT&T. Cingular kept "grabbing" his phone while mine stayed with AT&T.
We weren't sure what was happening.
We weren't sure what was happening.
Apr 17, 2004 | 5:37 am
#7
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Originally Posted by juanvaldez
If your son's phone is a GSM one and yours is a TDMA phone, the change only affects GSM. If they are both GSM, it's likely that yours was able to pick up a stronger signal from ATT (you might have a different phone that has better reception in general).
I believe the SIM card in GSM phones identifies the home system of the subscriber. The phone then will always try to connect to that network as the preferred network. If the signal is real bad, it will try to roam onto a stronger network.
Sometimes your phone settings can override this, but even with my Sony Ericsson T68i, it would hop back to AT&T even if I "manually" locked it onto Cingular.
I believe the SIM card in GSM phones identifies the home system of the subscriber. The phone then will always try to connect to that network as the preferred network. If the signal is real bad, it will try to roam onto a stronger network.
Sometimes your phone settings can override this, but even with my Sony Ericsson T68i, it would hop back to AT&T even if I "manually" locked it onto Cingular.
So the question becomes, will he be billed for roaming if Cingular "grabs" his phone if it is NOT GSM?
Thanks for the info!
Apr 17, 2004 | 10:55 am
#9
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My travels this week with ATTWS GSM
Bay Area, CA: Cingular available ANYWHERE!
Austin, TX: Cingular available ANYWHERE! (GSM850)
On the Road from Austin, TX to Houston: Cingular chosen on GSM850, No ATTWS GSM
Houston, TX: Cingular *NOT* Available (GSM850, network present but can't select)
Orange County, CA: Cingular *IS* selectable as a network....
Bay Area, CA: Cingular available ANYWHERE!
Austin, TX: Cingular available ANYWHERE! (GSM850)
On the Road from Austin, TX to Houston: Cingular chosen on GSM850, No ATTWS GSM
Houston, TX: Cingular *NOT* Available (GSM850, network present but can't select)
Orange County, CA: Cingular *IS* selectable as a network....
Apr 17, 2004 | 1:00 pm
#10
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Originally Posted by stimpy
No Cingular roaming that I've seen here in LA. But at least the Dodgers kicked Giant butt last night! 
Still, seeing Bonds turn on 2 consecutive 101mph pitches was amazing and worth the price of a seat on my couch. 
That he got ahead of the first one to actually pull for a 500 ft foulball out of the park was unbeleivable was almost as cool as the homer that followed. Steroids won't improve your vision or speed, afterall. Going to be a year for small moments, I'm afraid.But back to topic: just got off the phone with AT&T technical support:
As long as you are in your home calling area (nation wide for some plans) there is no roaming charge on Cingular for anytype of phone GSA or not.
Best wishes.
Apr 18, 2004 | 9:33 am
#11
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GSM America