AT&T/Cingular vs. Verizon
I'm a current Verizon customer and am fairly happy, but really would rather have a GSM phone. The technology seems better for data and cross-company SMS messaging, and I occasionally travel to Europe.
I just bought a v620 GSM (unlocked) for an upcoming trip, and am thinking about switching from Verizon to either AT&T/Cingular or T-Mobile.
Does anyone have any opinions (preferably from personal experience) about coverage areas and service. Verizon has a good network. I'm wondering if I'll lose some coverage in moving away from Verizon.
Also, I'm wondering if AT&T/Cingular and T-Mobile have an agreement to share each other's networks, the way Verizon and Sprint do.
Thanks!
-AG
I just bought a v620 GSM (unlocked) for an upcoming trip, and am thinking about switching from Verizon to either AT&T/Cingular or T-Mobile.
Does anyone have any opinions (preferably from personal experience) about coverage areas and service. Verizon has a good network. I'm wondering if I'll lose some coverage in moving away from Verizon.
Also, I'm wondering if AT&T/Cingular and T-Mobile have an agreement to share each other's networks, the way Verizon and Sprint do.
Thanks!
-AG
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ok well i dont have direct experience on the networks but i do know alot about them since i have worked for att(tdma) and cingular(gsm) where i live in canada is sasktel(cdma same as verizon and sprint)
Here is the truth.. CDMA is a better technology for call quality. more users can use each tower than gsm towers can hold.. so less cdma towers need to be in place.. that is all fine and dandy..
but if u want call clarity gsm has it beat hands down.. gsm also has way better data transfer speeds with edge technology now.. and has potential to blow the living **** outta cmda in that field
phonewise the gsm phones are definately nicer.. the network isnt as developed all over the country as the old tdma/cdma networks but in the coming yea...
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Here is the truth.. CDMA is a better technology for call quality. more users can use each tower than gsm towers can hold.. so less cdma towers need to be in place.. that is all fine and dandy..
but if u want call clarity gsm has it beat hands down.. gsm also has way better data transfer speeds with edge technology now.. and has potential to blow the living **** outta cmda in that field
phonewise the gsm phones are definately nicer.. the network isnt as developed all over the country as the old tdma/cdma networks but in the coming yea...
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O.K. I know the previous responder was attempting to help but I feel it is filled with confusion. So allow me to clarify some points.
To respond to your question. When traveling, compatibility with other caries is important
CDMA VS GSM
Versatility- (i.e. being able to use in other countries around the world) Winner GSM
Data Speed - here is the big confusion & pro (CDMA tech is all ways going to be faster) Winner CDMA
Congestion - (will you get a dropped call) GSM will drop more often then CDMA
Finally the carrier network quality right now ATTWS/CINGULAR IS OVER CONJESTED
two good links to help with this follows
http://www.skytel.mn/cdma.shtml »
http://www.newmobilecomputing.com/story.php?news_id= ... »
P.S. (EDGE TE...
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To respond to your question. When traveling, compatibility with other caries is important
CDMA VS GSM
Versatility- (i.e. being able to use in other countries around the world) Winner GSM
Data Speed - here is the big confusion & pro (CDMA tech is all ways going to be faster) Winner CDMA
Congestion - (will you get a dropped call) GSM will drop more often then CDMA
Finally the carrier network quality right now ATTWS/CINGULAR IS OVER CONJESTED
two good links to help with this follows
http://www.skytel.mn/cdma.shtml »
http://www.newmobilecomputing.com/story.php?news_id= ... »
P.S. (EDGE TE...
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no offence man but u have a few things wrong here.. GSM right now in the USA is faster than CDMA.. edge is currently processing speeds at upwords of 400 kb/s Verizon has just a handful of markets in the usa with that EV1 or whatever technology.. att and cingular are launching(and have already launched in some places) UTMS which is just as fast if not faster.. CDMA has the potential to upgrade again but that will take years..
I live in saskatchewan canada.. we have Rogers(which is exactly as att was because att used to own rogers) they use tdma and gsm.. also we have sasktel and telus.. they use analog and cdma.. I have used both services.. cdma was more consistant than gsm for rural places forsure.. but when you compare call quality and c...
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I live in saskatchewan canada.. we have Rogers(which is exactly as att was because att used to own rogers) they use tdma and gsm.. also we have sasktel and telus.. they use analog and cdma.. I have used both services.. cdma was more consistant than gsm for rural places forsure.. but when you compare call quality and c...
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If you spend 50-100 bucks and get like V551 or something with 4 bands 800/900/1800/1900 you are going to get better service than a bottom of a line ericcson with 800/1900 mhz transmission.
Quad band doesn't mean squat if you aren't traveling internationally. US only uses the 850/1900 mhz bands. If you have a phone that uses both 850 and 1900 mhz and you are not traveling across either big ocean, you're picking up all the signal you can. 900/1800 mhz bands are used in Europe, Asia, Africa... basically everywhere else BUT the Americas. (Japan uses 2100 mhz)
Quad band doesn't mean squat if you aren't traveling internationally. US only uses the 850/1900 mhz bands. If you have a phone that uses both 850 and 1900 mhz and you are not traveling across either big ocean, you're picking up all the signal you can. 900/1800 mhz bands are used in Europe, Asia, Africa... basically everywhere else BUT the Americas. (Japan uses 2100 mhz)
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no u are wrong sir.. us has 800 and 850.. 850 is just the new standard but 800 is still in place.. maybe cingular had 850 but att has 800.. 850 is a newer signal than 800 is
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First of all, I'm not a sir. Second of all, 800/850 are, for all intents and purposes, the same thing. Third of all, I am right.
I work in the wireless industry and have been for more than a couple of years. Do a little research. No, as a matter of fact here. I've got the research here for you. https://www.phonescoop.com/glossary/term.php? gid=25 Check the definition for 'band' in the phonescoop glossary. It states, "In wireless communication, band refers to a frequency or contiguous range of frequencies. Currently, wireless communication service providers use the Cellular (800 MHz) and PCS (1900) MHz bands for transmission in the United States."
So, let's not even start arguing which bands are available in the US and the America...
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I work in the wireless industry and have been for more than a couple of years. Do a little research. No, as a matter of fact here. I've got the research here for you. https://www.phonescoop.com/glossary/term.php? gid=25 Check the definition for 'band' in the phonescoop glossary. It states, "In wireless communication, band refers to a frequency or contiguous range of frequencies. Currently, wireless communication service providers use the Cellular (800 MHz) and PCS (1900) MHz bands for transmission in the United States."
So, let's not even start arguing which bands are available in the US and the America...
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Another definition...
Quad-Band
Designates a GSM phone that supports all four major GSM frequency bands, making it compatible with all major GSM networks worldwide.
The four bands include the 800 (AKA 850) and 1900 bands - used in the Americas - and 900/1800, used in most other parts of the world.
Quad-Band
Designates a GSM phone that supports all four major GSM frequency bands, making it compatible with all major GSM networks worldwide.
The four bands include the 800 (AKA 850) and 1900 bands - used in the Americas - and 900/1800, used in most other parts of the world.
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800 and 850 are different.. 850 is newer than 800.. if you look at the damn phones some of the older ones only pick up 800 and all the new ones pick up 850/800.. so if you had a brain that would help you understand that if you had an old first generation gsm phone "A" and it picked up 800/1900 reception your phone wont work off a 850 tower.. phone "B" has 850/1900 it i will work off an 850 tower.
all the new towers in the usa are 850(which works better in buildings but cant handle as many simultaneous callers using it) and 1900 which spreads over a broader base of callers without being overloaded.
that is also the advatage of cdma over gsm.. the towers there can handle much more call flow than the gsm towers can..hense less dropped call...
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all the new towers in the usa are 850(which works better in buildings but cant handle as many simultaneous callers using it) and 1900 which spreads over a broader base of callers without being overloaded.
that is also the advatage of cdma over gsm.. the towers there can handle much more call flow than the gsm towers can..hense less dropped call...
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Look at any quad band phone on the market. What bands are they... 850/900/1800/1900? And I dont mean do a search on phonescoop because phonescoop refers to 850 as 800. I mean pickup up the box of the newest quad band phone and read the specifications. 850/900/1800/1900?
Now pay attention if you have some to spare. Mhz ratings are a rough estimate and vary. Generally a tower operating at the 1900mhz frequency will operate with variance between 1900 and say 1920 for example. rather than say 1900-1920 they just say 1900mhz. So anyways originally 800 was roughly 800 but upon a finer tuneing they found that it was closer to 850 and began calling it that because it was more accurate. So really 800/850 is one and the same.
Now pay attention if you have some to spare. Mhz ratings are a rough estimate and vary. Generally a tower operating at the 1900mhz frequency will operate with variance between 1900 and say 1920 for example. rather than say 1900-1920 they just say 1900mhz. So anyways originally 800 was roughly 800 but upon a finer tuneing they found that it was closer to 850 and began calling it that because it was more accurate. So really 800/850 is one and the same.
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Oh, I must be stupid because I thought our whole little discussion was with regards to quad band v/s dual band. Wow, what an idiot I must be. Dang.
As I said before, and as phonescoop states 800/850 are essentially the same. Check the explanation given by JHxETC. It was referred to as 800mhz until they found that 850mhz was a more accurate description of the frequency. Technically, 800mhz and 850mhz are two different frequencies, in the cellular world, they are referred to as the same. So, get over it.
We aren't even discussing GSM v/s CDMA. Each has its own advantages. Depends on which is more important to the customer.
OK, you aren't stupid, but I still stand by my assertion that if you aren't traveling across either of th...
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As I said before, and as phonescoop states 800/850 are essentially the same. Check the explanation given by JHxETC. It was referred to as 800mhz until they found that 850mhz was a more accurate description of the frequency. Technically, 800mhz and 850mhz are two different frequencies, in the cellular world, they are referred to as the same. So, get over it.
We aren't even discussing GSM v/s CDMA. Each has its own advantages. Depends on which is more important to the customer.
OK, you aren't stupid, but I still stand by my assertion that if you aren't traveling across either of th...
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...BTW, AT&T service operates on 850 and 1900, 850 being the newer of the two. Cingular uses both and T-Mobile uses 1900 only.
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I was referencing that pop tarts commercial, you know the dude that yells that?.. but this will do as well I guess... hehe
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i like that pop tarts one when hes doin hydraulics in his pimp ride with the pop tarts in the passenger seat and is like daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn lol
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Compare maps and opinions for your area to get the best idea on any type of coverage loss. Though my guess would be that you will be fine.
I haven't read any of the responses so forgive me if i'm rehashing what was already said.
I have never had a text message not reach it's intended recipient (for cross provider issues anyway) with either cingular or verizon, they appear to work just as well on that front.
GSM isn't necessarily a better technology then CDMA it's just that the better part of the industry uses it, so you see alot more cutting edge stuff since the manufacturers or the equipment have more of a market for it. It's kind of like vehicles running on gasoline or diesel.
If your a tech junkie that likes to pickup the new...
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I haven't read any of the responses so forgive me if i'm rehashing what was already said.
I have never had a text message not reach it's intended recipient (for cross provider issues anyway) with either cingular or verizon, they appear to work just as well on that front.
GSM isn't necessarily a better technology then CDMA it's just that the better part of the industry uses it, so you see alot more cutting edge stuff since the manufacturers or the equipment have more of a market for it. It's kind of like vehicles running on gasoline or diesel.
If your a tech junkie that likes to pickup the new...
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Just wanted to clarify the statement about edge vs EVDO. You said edge does about 400 kbs's... evdo does an average of 300-500 and can peak at 2mbs/second.. Did I miss something as to why you feel edge is faster and why you feel you are confident in saying edge is faster when you say something like "verizons evd1 or whatever"?
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