Former ATT (Cingular Blue) customer - Need advise.

[goat704]

Hi, everyone.This is my first post,I usually just come for info.I still have a blue plan,3 lines-1250 anytime minutes-free roam-long distance-after 7:00 nights weekends,etc.I'm in St Paul,Mn and what I've just read explains my phones terrible or deteriorating service.I have been fighting Cingular and now AT&T to not switch plans since the merger. If I add a line,which I did they said I had to switch,they where wrong.I lost my phone ie: sim card and was told AT&T cards where no longer available and I'd have to switch.I found cards at World of Wireless and bought 4, 3 of which are in my safe for the future, the other in my phone.I have bought 2-v551's and 3-razr v3's since 2004 off Ebay because no new contract no phone upgrade! Now AT&T came back and I thought allright, I called to upgrade my phones as per their offer on my bill. Again I was told I had to give up my plan! I now understand why my voicemails arrive 3 days late in a single large group,my calls just terminate,and the network is busy.I don't know what 5 bars look like anymore either.My new v3xx from Ebay should arrive anyday and according to these posts I'll actually not be able to utilize it's feature's.Anybody know more about that Class action suit or does Mn need to start another one?

[Eric47]

they are probably offering you free phones at a new contract and new rate plan prices. that is pretty fair if you consider thats what everyone else is having to pay.

as far as your service, if you read this thread, it seems to be a common "blue" customer issue. probably bc your phone is not receiving the proper updates to the newer towers bc you are using old sim cards

[mrjr101]

Originally Posted by dmapr

Can't speak for Florida, but in my area all that matters is that the phone is 3G — and then you can have 3G with a "blue" account.

So you guys are saying that my problems will go away if I have a 3G phone capable of receiving 3G service?

Another thing, does my SIM have to be 3G? I've never heard of such a thing.

[mrjr101]

Originally Posted by EricN4707

they are probably offering you free phones at a new contract and new rate plan prices. that is pretty fair if you consider thats what everyone else is having to pay.

as far as your service, if you read this thread, it seems to be a common "blue" customer issue. probably bc your phone is not receiving the proper updates to the newer towers bc you are using old sim cards

If my phone (or blue customer phones) are not receiving the proper updates to the newer towers, who's problem is it? Our phones, ATT, the sim cards? And what's the best way to fix it? Of course, without changing plans

[Eric47]

its gonna be the sim card. its hard to explain and sounds silly but there is over 20 different sim types (just that cing/att have used over the years alone, not counting all the others) .

the newest 3G ones are UICC-A and UICC-B (B is needed for video share, but either can do 3G). if you dont have this, your gonna have problems.

its not the networks 96-98% of the time they are on point

[dmapr]

Originally Posted by mrjr101

So you guys are saying that my problems will go away if I have a 3G phone capable of receiving 3G service?

Another thing, does my SIM have to be 3G? I've never heard of such a thing.

Not necessarily — it will also depend on how good the 3G network is. My SIM is not 3G and it has no negative effect on my ability to use 3G service.

Originally Posted by mrjr101

If my phone (or blue customer phones) are not receiving the proper updates to the newer towers, who's problem is it? Our phones, ATT, the sim cards? And what's the best way to fix it? Of course, without changing plans

If you have an AT&T-supported phone you can place your SIM in it, call CS and request an OTA SIM update — haven't done it in a while, so I don't know if they still do it for Blue. That may help.

[mrjr101]

Originally Posted by dmapr

Not necessarily — it will also depend on how good the 3G network is. My SIM is not 3G and it has no negative effect on my ability to use 3G service.



If you have an AT&T-supported phone you can place your SIM in it, call CS and request an OTA SIM update — haven't done it in a while, so I don't know if they still do it for Blue. That may help.

Hmm, what do you mean by AT&T supported phones? Just phones that are currently supported by them? Or can it be phones that they once supported back in the "blue" days? Because I have a really old GSM phone that they used to support.

[mrjr101]

I have realized that my samsung X820 is a Tri Band (GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 Mhz) and it is the phone that experience poor reception and drop calls. Now, my Nokia N73 is a quad band (GSM 850 /900 / 1800 / 1900 Mhz) and I have very little trouble with it. Both of them uses the "blue" sims, same version.

Do you guys have a clue why i'm having trouble with the 1900 frequency, and not so much with the phone that has the 850? Is this relevant?

[hme83]

Apparently the area that you are in has spotty 1900 mhz coverage. At&t uses both the 850 and 1900 mhz bandwidths, but not necessarily both in all places.

You really need a phone with both the 850 and 1900 frequencies for adequate coverage in the US. You are getting good coverage with the N73 because it has both bands.

[dmapr]

Originally Posted by mrjr101

Hmm, what do you mean by AT&T supported phones? Just phones that are currently supported by them? Or can it be phones that they once supported back in the "blue" days? Because I have a really old GSM phone that they used to support.

Formerly supported. When you log in on AT&T site, you can choose from a list of "known" phones for AT&T Wireless network. Any of the phones on that list should be able to receive an OTA update.

[skippinjack]

Originally Posted by RadioFoneGuy

With the dropped calles it sounds like he has a SIM profile issue.

With the ATTWS SIM you will not get the latest PLMN this is watt ATT calls their PRL or perfered roaming list.

Cingular (ATT) uses 410 I dont remember what ATTWS had but depending on the last OTA the sim had may still be looking for the old ATTWS network and the ATT 410 as the first back up.
When set up like this your phone will search for 410 every 6-9 minutes which uses up your battery faster.

If ATT has made any network changes it wouldnt benefit a Blue SIM just Orange or new ATT one.

This may or may not be the case but my experience if network changes happened and handsets are having issue there is normally a Sim profile mismatch.

One example of network changes are the MNC for Cingular 410, in the 3 years since the merger more towers have been build and probably additional LACs in your area.

LACs or Location Area Codes can be barred in the SIM profile.

AT&T Wireless used (and I believe still uses in CA/NV in some areas) 310-380. His SIM *MIGHT* still be homed to that network. Of course, if that is the case, only God knows why it isn't homed to 310-410 yet!

Also, mrjr, that being said, from someone who has lived in Miami for 19 years.....if you attempt to use a phone on Cingular without 850 in South Florida, you are just flat out insane! 1900 coverage in South Florida is extremely sparse!

On a different note, ANYONE wanna offer me their old Blue account (Family or Individual Plan) to takeover? I may even throw in some bonuses! (new 3G phone mrjr?)

[skippinjack]

Originally Posted by goat704

Hi, everyone.This is my first post,I usually just come for info.I still have a blue plan,3 lines-1250 anytime minutes-free roam-long distance-after 7:00 nights weekends,etc.I'm in St Paul,Mn and what I've just read explains my phones terrible or deteriorating service.I have been fighting Cingular and now AT&T to not switch plans since the merger. If I add a line,which I did they said I had to switch,they where wrong.I lost my phone ie: sim card and was told AT&T cards where no longer available and I'd have to switch.I found cards at World of Wireless and bought 4, 3 of which are in my safe for the future, the other in my phone.I have bought 2-v551's and 3-razr v3's since 2004 off Ebay because no new contract no phone upgrade! Now AT&T came back and I thought allright, I called to upgrade my phones as per their offer on my bill. Again I was told I had to give up my plan! I now understand why my voicemails arrive 3 days late in a single large group,my calls just terminate,and the network is busy.I don't know what 5 bars look like anymore either.My new v3xx from Ebay should arrive anyday and according to these posts I'll actually not be able to utilize it's feature's.Anybody know more about that Class action suit or does Mn need to start another one?

Hell! I say start another one! Just get your attorney general pissed off at Cingular like she is at Sprint and y'all will be in business!

[dmapr]

Originally Posted by skippinjack

AT&T Wireless used (and I believe still uses in CA/NV in some areas) 310-380. His SIM *MIGHT* still be homed to that network. Of course, if that is the case, only God knows why it isn't homed to 310-410 yet!

Also, mrjr, that being said, from someone who has lived in Miami for 19 years.....if you attempt to use a phone on Cingular without 850 in South Florida, you are just flat out insane! 1900 coverage in South Florida is extremely sparse!

On a different note, ANYONE wanna offer me their old Blue account (Family or Individual Plan) to takeover? I may even throw in some bonuses! (new 3G phone mrjr?)

In Bay Area the switch to 310-410 has occurred a while ago — don't know about SoCal and NV.

[skippinjack]

Originally Posted by dmapr

In Bay Area the switch to 310-410 has occurred a while ago — don't know about SoCal and NV.

Sorry about that. I have a friend that lives in Palo Alto and I have been getting conflicting answers from him about what was going on. He says that in his travels, he still gets 310-380 here and there.

[Mobile Mike]

Originally Posted by dmapr

In Bay Area the switch to 310-410 has occurred a while ago — don't know about SoCal and NV.

It's now 310-410 in L.A.

This changed a while back.

[skippinjack]

Originally Posted by Mobile Mike

It's now 310-410 in L.A.

This changed a while back.

Again, I don't live out there (although hopefully I will soon ) so I can only go on what I have heard at the moment regardless of whether it is bull____ or not.

[dmapr]

Originally Posted by skippinjack

Again, I don't live out there (although hopefully I will soon ) so I can only go on what I have heard at the moment regardless of whether it is bull____ or not.

Don't feel bad — it's quite possible that there might still be a few LACs that haven't converted yet, but the trend is that 380 is going away. Also, I think 3G might be lagging behind in switching.

[windozesux]

Originally Posted by goat704

Hi, everyone.This is my first post... If I add a line,which I did they said I had to switch,they where wrong.

Could you please elaborate on exactly what steps you took to add a line to youe AT&T Blue plan. I have been buying unlocked phones for the last 3 years for me and my wife, so that we could keep the Blue plan. Now my 15 year old needs a phone. I have an old unlocked phone, and a few brand new unregistered "blue" sim cards.

How can I get a third line added to my family plan. CSR reps refuse to do it, but as you state, and I have read from others it is possible.

What's the secret, PLEASE!!!

Thanks,
Steve

[elmo01]

Originally Posted by windozesux

Could you please elaborate on exactly what steps you took to add a line to youe AT&T Blue plan. I have been buying unlocked phones for the last 3 years for me and my wife, so that we could keep the Blue plan. Now my 15 year old needs a phone. I have an old unlocked phone, and a few brand new unregistered "blue" sim cards.

How can I get a third line added to my family plan. CSR reps refuse to do it, but as you state, and I have read from others it is possible.

What's the secret, PLEASE!!!

Thanks,
Steve

he didnt... he took steps to maintain his old plan with some unused sims ready for action...

the folks at att can maintain a service that was an old att plan...

they just cant create a new one

[windozesux]

Originally Posted by elmo01

he didnt... he took steps to maintain his old plan with some unused sims ready for action...

the folks at att can maintain a service that was an old att plan...

they just cant create a new one

No he specifically said, he added a line, he was told he would have to migrate, and they were wrong. Somehow he got the line added.

. If I add a line,which I did they said I had to switch,they where wrong.

[Jay2TheRescue]