"AT&T" vs "Extended Area" vs "Roam" Question

[wasgate]

Hi, people.

I'm using a Nokia 5160i with a prepaid service provider, who uses the AT&T TDMA network. I'm in a rural/fringe area so I often receive the "Extended Area" or "Roam" menu message when I turn on the phone.

Question: When I establish a conversation while "in network" (AT&T), what happens if/when I move out of the in-network "AT&T" and into a 4x cost-rate "Extended Area" or "Roam" network while the conversation is in progress?

Does it switch out of network, charging me the 4x rate without notifying me, or does it drop the call, forcing me to redail using the "Extended Area" or "Roam" network?

Since I use this phone very infrequently, I've yet to run into this situation, as best as I can tell. Also, the 4x cost is something I'd prefer not to experience!

Feel free to get technical, if needed.

Thanks very much for your responses.

wasgate

[svanwormer]

From my experience, the call won't transfer from the extended area signal to the roam signal. Also, I believe extended area is basically your providers prefered roaming partner and roam is the unpreferred roaming partner. With my old ATT TDMA Panasonic Duramax, Cellular One would be Extended Area, but when I forced it to Thumb Cellular, it would say Roam. I also think this correlated with A-side and B-side carriers in the area. A-side are preferred, B-side and not. Cellular One channel is a1008 and Thumb Cellular is b350 from my house.

[wasgate]

Thanks for your input, svanwormer.

The good news is that starting a couple of days ago, my AT&T in-network signal has increased by 1 to 2 bars, which reduces the chance of being forced onto the "Ext Area" or "Roam" networks. I'm hoping that they've made some improvements in the cell tower coverage that is to my advantage.

That 4x prepaid charge (US .60/min) just doesn't thrill me.

Thanks, again, svanwormer.

wasgate

[Jerro]

Originally Posted by wasgate

Thanks for your input, svanwormer.

The good news is that starting a couple of days ago, my AT&T in-network signal has increased by 1 to 2 bars, which reduces the chance of being forced onto the "Ext Area" or "Roam" networks. I'm hoping that they've made some improvements in the cell tower coverage that is to my advantage.

That 4x prepaid charge (US .60/min) just doesn't thrill me.

Thanks, again, svanwormer.

wasgate

It would help if you mentioned what state what general area your are referring to.

[0oLakeShoreo0]

I have the same question with Verizon... Do you pay through the nose for Extended Area too?

I seem to remember hearing that Extended Area wasn't as bad as Roaming, maybe because it's the "preferred" carrier?