prepaid plans- VERY limited coverage on T mobile
Just bought a new QUAD BAND Sony Erikson z520a unlocked GSM phone for use in Europe, though I live here. Want to find reasonable prepaid plan on wide GSM network. T mobile reasonable rate but seems very limited coverage. Looks like they are not using their 850 band for originating calls. Any idea if this will change. Any other ideas for prepaid coverage, mostly for US to US calling. Thanks.
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Ok, heres what I found out...
Domestic Roaming: T-Mobile To Go customers wishing to roam domestically can use their T-Mobile service on the following network: Simmetry.
Go here: http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/prepaid.aspx to view coverage areas.
I couldn't find anything specific about using the 850 band.. from what I can find though, as long as the phone supports the band that the carrier uses, you should be able to use it.
Go here: http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/default.as px?plancategory=4 for more info on prepaid.
Domestic Roaming: T-Mobile To Go customers wishing to roam domestically can use their T-Mobile service on the following network: Simmetry.
Go here: http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/prepaid.aspx to view coverage areas.
I couldn't find anything specific about using the 850 band.. from what I can find though, as long as the phone supports the band that the carrier uses, you should be able to use it.
Go here: http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/default.as px?plancategory=4 for more info on prepaid.
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Thanks. Did you look at the coverage map? It's mostly no coverage except for a few major metropolitan areas. Cingular has much broader coverage, using 850/1900. T mobile has better coverage for it's monthly subscribers, but it's really sparse for most of the US. Question is.....am I better off going with Cingular and paying more $$$ (I travel alot in US) or maybe a third party ....a la "beyond wirelessgsm.com" Anybody know anything about them? They use Cingular network, low per call charges also. Thanks. JW
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the idea that post paid and togo coverage is different is a misconception.
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are you sure? postpaid coverage includes roaming on more networks like cingular
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MistressM said:
the idea that post paid and togo coverage is different is a misconception.
It is not a misconception. T-Mobile To Go only has access to the T-Mobile network with very limited access to other networks while monthly billed has access to all networks that T-Mobile has a roaming agreement with.
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jwnephro said:
Just bought a new QUAD BAND Sony Erikson z520a unlocked GSM phone for use in Europe, though I live here. Want to find reasonable prepaid plan on wide GSM network. T mobile reasonable rate but seems very limited coverage. Looks like they are not using their 850 band for originating calls. Any idea if this will change. Any other ideas for prepaid coverage, mostly for US to US calling. Thanks.
T-Mobile uses *only* the PCS (1900 Mhz) band. The only carriers that use "850" or cellular are companies that were among the original "cellular" licensees. There were only two for each area. Originally one was the incumbent wireline telco and the other was independent of that. Now it can be the wirel...
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Thanks for the information. So it appears that prepaid plans are limited to the "native" network and T mobile won't allow it's 850 roaming agreements under prepay. Well I'm still looking around.
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we just got agreements with cingular to expand the coverage step 2 of our coverage expantion. the coverage is going to get better.. trust me!!
for example:
NC- we had no coverage at all. Now they can make their calls bc of the agreement. Same with SC some coverage but was limited as you say. but that was all Cingualar and they have coverage too. so go to tmobile.com and check the prepaid coverage map!!
for example:
NC- we had no coverage at all. Now they can make their calls bc of the agreement. Same with SC some coverage but was limited as you say. but that was all Cingualar and they have coverage too. so go to tmobile.com and check the prepaid coverage map!!
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Thnaks....I actually went with T mobile before I heard about the roaming agreement, and was pleased that I did. Great coverage in Manhattan where I spend my weekends. And with my unlocked phone, will be touring Europe this summer using local phone numbers using my European SIMS.
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Firstly, T-Mobile T0 G0 service just added 850 roaming but it's not the same as post pay coverage. below is the link for the pre pay coverage. Zoom in and you'lll see where the roaming coverages are.
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