T-Mobile (GSM) Northern New England

[MicPic]

Recently I read where T-Mobile was "expanding" cell sites in New England, but could find no press release or any specific information. Does anyone know about this and where will the improvements be? Is there any "good" news about T-Mobile?

[RichXKU]

I haven't heard anything either. Take a look at T-mobile's coverage map of New England yourself. It's non-existant. Even if they do plan on expansions, it will be 2+ years before they get all the towers planned and approved, and equipment installed and connected to a degree where the coverage would be "worth it".

I have to hand it to them though, their maps are honest.

[jones]

Are there people living up there that you need coverage?

[MicPic]

Yes, actually, our lobsters and moose are quite "high tech" these days...

[Matt]

Here is the press release.

[Vermontskier]

Originally posted by: MicPic
Yes, actually, our lobsters and moose are quite "high tech" these days...

I spent quite some time in Brunswick, ME up until 2000. I had ATTWS (TDMA) at the time. It was useless. IN BRUNSWICK. 25,000 people & 25 miles North-East or Portland?!?! This is metro-city by Maine standards!

Maybe your kids will have GSM, or their kids. But for now, I'd stick with VZW tri-mode, don't get fooled by their "we're 99% digital, you don't need tri-mode!!!" arguement. As far as I understand it, this does NOT include roaming agreements with analog partners.

I have VZW and have been up to Maine a few times in the last 2 years and have had coverage (mostly digital) through to Bath...I can't vouch for the north-land, but I'd stick with VZW tri-mode, or a local CDMA carrier, until the government mandates that all coverage be one technology, like those smart socialist Euros!

[vermontcellboy]

BUT in Russia, or Ukraine... If I am in Ukraine, and my home carrier is UMC, I can't interline onto Kyivstar.. or in russia, if I have Bee Line I can't hit MTS.
At least that's what I think they do.
And I've been there.
-AG

[jones]

Will T-Mobile ever have Night Minutes on their Family Plan?

[magicski]

Actually this may sound a little strange. Have you ever called up wirth concern on this matter to T-Mobile. I have actually had some luck with finding locations of where towers were going to be put up. But a word of caution. T-Mobile will try to get your account information each time you call and note your account. I find most reps wont require your account information. However they might be reluctent to give you information on this press release without your account info...

Hope that helps.

-Jesse

[MicPic]

Interesting, but strange. Why would T-Mobile keep this sort of information so seretive or track who is inquiring? I guess that's my only reservation about T-Mobile, they don't provide the end-user with as much information as other carriers, like AT&T, which hosts a users' forum, etc.

T-Mobile seems to be strictly "marketing" driven and (as far as web-based support) keeps users in the dark after the sale. Now, I will say that their customer service people are extremely "nice", albeit sometimes not the smartest of people, but the salaries they probably pay, I guess they can't compete with Microsoft. (Any T-Moble employees lurking here, who'd like to address this issue? Don't take this personally, I CHOSE T-Moble and I'm invested in your company, so I'm not "the enemy", but I am a loyal customer who would like to see you all provide more information and functionality to your customers.)

Michael

[Matt]

MicPic,

What type of information do you want? Tower locations? Specifc towns where additional coverage will be provided, and a timeline for when that coverage will come online? I'm not aware of any carrier that does that (meaning - posts it on the web freely for customers or others, or offers specific schedules.)

[Matt]

I believe T-Mobile CSRs have access to new covearge maps that depict "future coverage". I have never seen one though (or asked for one).

[MicPic]

No, I don't think any carrier should have to reveal details about future expansion, but some bits of info for customers would be appreciated, like on "My T-Mobile" site, where only customers have access. Sort of like a "Service Updates" section. The aforementioned news artcile about T-Mobile's plans to expand in New England was no where to be seen at the T-Mobile site. I only found it by going to this forum. As a customer, I'd like to feel that T-Moble was more "pro-active" in providing useful and appropriate information regarding service. A customer shouldn't have to go to a third party for such information.

Of course, it would be nifty, if one could enter a cell site ID and get a general map of that cell's service area, but that's probably not something most customers would utilize.

If you look at the web sites of various cellular providers (both U.S. and abroad), you'll find that some provide a lot of information, forums, FAQ's, settings for various supported handsets, etc.) Maybe I'm in the minority, but I do have an interest in my carrier and (maybe it's because I'm on the fringe of T-Mobile service area) appreciate knowing about anything that will be improving my service.

As it is now, the T-Mobile site is mostly to market, which I know must remain paramount, but there is very little there for the existing customer's edification.

Thanks for listening.

Michael

[Matt]

Well, I don't know how long you've been a customer, but I keep all the crap they mail me. In 2002 I received two postcards talking about improved coverage in my area. They were both under the VS logo. In 2003, I have received 4 or 5 single page inserts in my bill - you have probably received them too.

The press release about The Ericsson agreement is acutally here:

http://www.t-mobile-international.co...ml?w=789&h=424 (or click here

They focus that type of stuff on the Main TMO Int'l website (there is an acrhive too.)

Mytmobile also has one of those square ads/info thingies about the (not new, but finally publicized) $25 service credit or 200 minutes when you refer your firends (it is per line AFAIK)

There also is a link on mytmobile to report coverage outages. I have read at least one person who things it was helpful in getting service improved.

I generally don't look at other carrier's sites in detail, so I'll just take your word for it. Perhaps you could tell TM what you think. Most people don't need the GPRS settings for their unlocked phones. Although I agree that more information is usually better.

Have you looked online? I never have before now and I just found the GPRS settings for any phone.

help--overview---access tzones help--configure other devices (under troubleshooting)

http://www.t-mobile.com/help/service...onfigother.asp

[polonius]

Originally posted by: vermontcellboy
BUT in Russia, or Ukraine... If I am in Ukraine, and my home carrier is UMC, I can't interline onto Kyivstar.. or in russia, if I have Bee Line I can't hit MTS.
At least that's what I think they do.
And I've been there.
-AG

Ukraine, like most countries, has national licenses by competing carriers offering national coverage, so their is no need for domestic roaming, and so yes, there is no roaming between any two Ukrainian carriers. Russia, like the USA and a few other countries, made the mistake of offering regional licenses. They therefore DO have national roaming. Beeline (KB impulse) has roaming agreements with nearly every other Russian operator:

BaykalWestCom
CJSC VimpelCom-Region (BeeLine GSM)
Central Telecommunication Company (Tambov RUS)
Dal Telecom International
Ermak RMS
Far Eastern Cellular Systems - 900
Gorizont-RT Ltd
JSC "Sonic Duo" (MegaFon Moscow)
JSC Elektrosvyaz of the Republic of Buryatia (ULAN-UDE CELLULAR NETWORK)
JSC Extel (Extel)
JSC Mobicom-Center (Mobicom-Center JSC)
JSC Sakhalin Telecom Mobile (Sakhalin GSM)
JSC Uralsvyazinform
Joint-stock company "Orensot" (Orensot)
LLC Ekaterinburg-2000 (ECC)
MegaFon, Open Joint Stock Company
New Telephone Company (NTC)
Nizhegorodskaya Cellular Communications (NCC)
OJSC Mobile Communication Systems-Povolzhie (Megafon)
Primtelefon (Primtelefone)
SIBCHALLENGE LTD
Sayantelecom LLC
Siberian Cellular Systems-900 (SCS-900)
Sibintertelecom
South Ural Cellular Telephone Co Ltd
StavTelesot (North Caucasian GSM)
Tomsk Cellular Communication
Uraltel Ltd
Yeniseytelecom (Yeniseitelecom)
ZAO SMARTS (SMARTS)
ZAO SMARTS (SMARTS-Ufa)
ZAO Ural GSM (MegaFon)
Zao Mobicom-Kavkaz