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Skipper of the Sea Que · 11-19-2004, 08:48 AM

Comments on GSM and what I expect to happen to Cingular and AT&T cell phone coverage around the Lakes Region due to the merger.

Pre-merger Cingular TDMA customers will not see a change in their TDMA coverage. They can get more coverage by upgrading their phone to one of the few that cover both TDMA and GSM (multi mode and multi bands). Cingular is no longer offering new TDMA plans.

Pre-merger Cingular GSM customers will probably not see much change in coverage around the Lake.

AT&T had service primarily on only ONE of the GSM bands while the majority of Cingular GSM operates on TWO bands, 900 MHz and 1900 MHz. Pre-merger AT&T customers will get improved coverage by upgrading their GSM phone to a multi band phone to enjoy the additional coverage of the additional band(s) Cingular GSM offers. Or enabling that feature if you own a multi band phone. The merger now allows AT&T customers to use all Cingular GSM bands. More bands = more chances at coverage.

Here is an interesting article published in March from Consumer Affairs web site about AT&T and their phone upgrades. http://consumeraffairs.com/news04/att_upgrade.html

Over the next year or two I do not think that much will change with the combined Cingular and AT&T GSM coverage in the Lakes Region. The thrust of news reports and Press Releases (from Cingular and AT&T) talk about the merger expanding GSM coverage in the TOP 100 cellular markets. Neither the Lakes Region nor any other area of NH is in the top 100 cell markets. Conclusion can only be that overall GSM coverage will not significantly improve in the Lakes Region and Northern NH as a direct result of the merger. There is some mention in a Cingular Press Release about plans to fill in some coverage gaps in Southern New Hampshire.

If you are buying a GSM cell phone to use anywhere in the world (where there is service), be sure it operates in all three (or four) bands (850, 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz). The phone should be “unlocked” (so you can change the SIM or SmartCard) to allow the phone to work with any GSM service provider. Plus, you need to have a cell plan in place that allows use in the areas you will travel (billing and etc.). For more information and discussion on GSM international click http://www.thetravelinsider.info/2002/0308.htm .

For more GSM history, information (including discussion about SIM cards for your GSM phone) and related links click here: http://www.telestial.com/aboutgsm.htm

Final reminder: The better positioned and the higher up your cell antenna is (on any cell service) then the better the chances of getting and keeping a signal to and from cell towers (more bars more often). The proper cell antenna mounted outside your vehicle and directly plugged in to your cell phone (if your phone accepts an outside antenna) will considerably increase reliability and extend the useful coverage area of your hand held cell phone no matter what provider or mode you use.

A word about Verizon AMPS (analog) and CDMA (digital) coverage: Recently (Oct 2004) Verizon seems to have increased coverage in the Lakes Region and Northern NH. Their very new coverage map has ALL of NH filled in rather than just a portion (still no guarantee of seamless coverage but an indication of considerably improved coverage).

Disclaimers: Don’t believe everything a cell salesman tells you – they usually get large commissions for new accounts. Insert every possible legal disclaimer here…..

11-19-2004, 08:48 AM	#18
Skipper of the Sea Que Deceased Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: 1/2 way between Boston & Providence Posts: 573 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 32 Thanked 55 Times in 22 Posts	Affects of AT&T and Cingular merger on Lake GSM Comments on GSM and what I expect to happen to Cingular and AT&T cell phone coverage around the Lakes Region due to the merger. Pre-merger Cingular TDMA customers will not see a change in their TDMA coverage. They can get more coverage by upgrading their phone to one of the few that cover both TDMA and GSM (multi mode and multi bands). Cingular is no longer offering new TDMA plans. Pre-merger Cingular GSM customers will probably not see much change in coverage around the Lake. AT&T had service primarily on only ONE of the GSM bands while the majority of Cingular GSM operates on TWO bands, 900 MHz and 1900 MHz. Pre-merger AT&T customers will get improved coverage by upgrading their GSM phone to a multi band phone to enjoy the additional coverage of the additional band(s) Cingular GSM offers. Or enabling that feature if you own a multi band phone. The merger now allows AT&T customers to use all Cingular GSM bands. More bands = more chances at coverage. Here is an interesting article published in March from Consumer Affairs web site about AT&T and their phone upgrades. http://consumeraffairs.com/news04/att_upgrade.html Over the next year or two I do not think that much will change with the combined Cingular and AT&T GSM coverage in the Lakes Region. The thrust of news reports and Press Releases (from Cingular and AT&T) talk about the merger expanding GSM coverage in the TOP 100 cellular markets. Neither the Lakes Region nor any other area of NH is in the top 100 cell markets. Conclusion can only be that overall GSM coverage will not significantly improve in the Lakes Region and Northern NH as a direct result of the merger. There is some mention in a Cingular Press Release about plans to fill in some coverage gaps in Southern New Hampshire. If you are buying a GSM cell phone to use anywhere in the world (where there is service), be sure it operates in all three (or four) bands (850, 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz). The phone should be “unlocked” (so you can change the SIM or SmartCard) to allow the phone to work with any GSM service provider. Plus, you need to have a cell plan in place that allows use in the areas you will travel (billing and etc.). For more information and discussion on GSM international click http://www.thetravelinsider.info/2002/0308.htm . For more GSM history, information (including discussion about SIM cards for your GSM phone) and related links click here: http://www.telestial.com/aboutgsm.htm Final reminder: The better positioned and the higher up your cell antenna is (on any cell service) then the better the chances of getting and keeping a signal to and from cell towers (more bars more often). The proper cell antenna mounted outside your vehicle and directly plugged in to your cell phone (if your phone accepts an outside antenna) will considerably increase reliability and extend the useful coverage area of your hand held cell phone no matter what provider or mode you use. A word about Verizon AMPS (analog) and CDMA (digital) coverage: Recently (Oct 2004) Verizon seems to have increased coverage in the Lakes Region and Northern NH. Their very new coverage map has ALL of NH filled in rather than just a portion (still no guarantee of seamless coverage but an indication of considerably improved coverage). Disclaimers: Don’t believe everything a cell salesman tells you – they usually get large commissions for new accounts. Insert every possible legal disclaimer here…..