ATTWS GSM in NYC??

[JSmithNYC]

Has anyone heard about the ATTWS launch date for GSM in NYC? The most recent I heard is Oct. 15th but they keep changing it.

Thanks

[mprx]

launched in philly and some areas of snj today

[JSmithNYC]

I guess they'll get to NYC someday.. it will probebly be around the time they get their prices down to be somewhat competitive..

[parthery]

Oct. 15 is the tentative date.

[JustJoe]

Oct. 15th is STILL the tentative launch date for GSM/GPRS in the NY/NJ/CT market. I've been using a Nokia 8390 since the middle of September as part of an internal market readiness test. I'm actually waiting for the 6310i to come out, because I don't like phones that small. As for coverage, I don't have any complaints (LI/Manhattan/NJ). If you want GSM right at launch or if you have any questions, let me know via email and I can get you hooked up. (I work for AWS). I don't want to say too much, especially because I'm not allowed to.

[NYCDru]

You know, I am thinking about switcing from TDMA to GSM service on ATT, then something like what happened today happens. I managed to maintain a phone call with my GF literly EVERYWHERE in my house including the basement. With TDMA service like tyhat, why should i leave?

[Vomax]

Hey Justjoe, i'm definately interested - currently on att w/ dig. pocket net (crap) in NYC and in my 2week trial for cingular (not liking the coverage too much, and the SMS is horrendous). I _____ed out ATT last week b/c they promised new pocketnet enabled phones in "a few months" in may, and didn't even tell me they were going to roll out gsm here this month (if you're accurate) which made me angry enough to consider switching. but if what you say is true, it might be less of a hassle to stick with att. email me at yanzlow@optonline.net if you can jumpstart me on GSM.
thanks,
jp

The reason we would say "a couple of months" is because the launch date was still up in the air. We actually received some sort of formal confirmation on the date just a few weeks ago from our market VP. Just be aware that the 15th is still "tentative". The network guys are working extra hours on getting the GSM network "up to spec".

*Not an official AWS statement, just an employee saying what he can.*

[ERL857]

if it is launched on oct 15 will it be available in central jersey like monnmouth county and does anyone know why when the phone says exteneded area text messages cannot be recived

[JSmithNYC]

Any update on the launch date? Is it stil Oct 15th or have they pushed it back?

[JustJoe]

No dice in Monmouth, Middlesex, or Ocean counties. Unfortunately it's because of the FCC's dreaded spectrum caps. On TDMA, Cingular is the provider and ATTWS roams on their network in many areas of that area. I was on the Garden State Parkway from NYC to Atlantic City with no coverage most of the way. AC, on the other hand is on network is AT&T Wireless for GSM, but still Cingular for TDMA.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong on any of this.

[jmccrane]

Yeah, those holes in the Philly area for AT&T GSM are where AT&T never had TDMA...where they roam on Cingular (most of Delaware is this way, as well as some other areas).

I would bet AT&T will have a similar reciprocal GSM agreement with Cingular that they have now with TDMA. Wait until the end of the year or so, when Cingular launches GSM in Philly (hopefully by the end of the year, that is).

I live in Somerset County, NJ, and is part of the NY market and most of the towers are run by AT&T. I just got a T68i on AT&T GSM, but it doesn't work in my town. I called AT&T and they opened a trouble ticket and the tech who called me and left a message saying the towers have the service, but they aren't transmitting it yet, and there is no ETA for the service, but it can happen within the month. Does anyone know more information on this and could provide insight?

Thanks!!!

~Chris

[dallison]

those type of digital features usually work only when the phone says at&t. the north side of nj has gsm. minus 60% of the northernmost county in nj.

[ERL857]

att gsm launch in ny/nj oct 15 heard from customer service.

[ERL857]

is there any chance of it being available in central jersey in the near future

[JustJoe]

No ETA on Central NJ as a whole. Certain areas will probably get coverage before others, mainly due to existing coverage issues. If I find anything else out, I'll post it.

[HoOn]

Hmmmm.. I've been waiting for GSM for a couple of months now and now that it's available I'm nopt sure. I share a plan with my fiancee and she lives in Somerset NJ. It sucks coz theres supposedly no GSM in that area. I just heard that ATT has GSM shared accounts that started last Sunday. I would... ATT terminology, "migrate" but if I can't use it around Edison/Somerset then its a problem. Oh I live up North Jersey and work in NYC so it shouldnt be a problem. Its the reliability when I'm at my fiancee's location. hehehe
Soemtimes I envy T-Mobile because their GSM network seems to be advanced then AT&Ts. I'm thinking of switching... =/

There's no GSM signal in Somerset. (I was around the Easton Ave. area) I was there last week and no signal. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img] No signal in the majority of Somerset County with the exception of Bridgewater for some reason. The AT&T store said the service should be on the the next 30 to 60 days, but they don't have any set dates. I hope they can turn on the towers soon. I was also thinking of switching to T-Mobile if they don't turn on the service in a reasonable amount of time. I'm paying for the service I can only use on the weekends when I'm away from home. I have faith in AT&T and I hope they really do turn on service within that 30 to 60 day window since they will have better coverage in my area then T-Mobile.

[HoOn]

I don't understand why AT&T didnt roll out this whole area. I mean Somerset/Edison area is pretty close to NYC thats why I dont understand the reasoning for no GSM towers at launch time. It feels like they rushed it. :/

The towers are there and have the GSM cells and stuff in them, they don't have them on due to FCC Spectrum Issues. They have to get approved or something by the FCC to operate the towers in the area. Not sure what the exact details are, but the "Spectrum Issues" are the reasons for the towers not being on yet.

I heard a lot of good things with the Siemen S46. I might just migrate and get the phone because I can still use TDMA at those areas. =)

I'm now detecting ATT Wireless on my T-Mobile phone in New Jersey.

[HoOn]

What do you mean? You're seeing ATT Wireless signals in central NJ where they didnt before?

[ZaphodB]

Originally posted by: HoOn I don't understand why AT&T didnt roll out this whole area. I mean Somerset/Edison area is pretty close to NYC thats why I dont understand the reasoning for no GSM towers at launch time. It feels like they rushed it. :/

Edison is ten miles from Staten Island, which is technically part of New York City, but it's in Middlesex County which is not considered the NYC market for Cingular and AT&T. My mother accidentally went to an AT&T store in Union County (up in Rahway) and got a phone, then discovered she couldn't use it at her house because (guess what!) no AT&T signal at her house in Woodbridge... it being her first cell phone and me not being there to help her, she just put up with it for a year, then switched to Cingular, which she says is much nicer.

[bobolito]

ZaphodB, you said your mother put up with it for a year so I am assuming this was was a TDMA phone. What strikes me as odd is how can her AT&T phone not pickup a signal in Woodbridge? It should've picked up Cingular's TDMA towers in her house. This area is serviced by Cingular and AT&T TDMA users can use the Cingular TDMA network. Therefore, in getting service from Cingular, she was still using the same network.

About the rest of NJ for AT&T GSM service, you won't see AT&T GSM anytime soon because AT&T barely has any towers in Central and South Jersey as these areas are not part of the NYC market. Whatever towers AT&T has in Central/South NJ are already on GSM service. These towers are part of the Philly market along the southwestern NJ border and surroudings along the NJ Turnpike south of exit 8 and the PA Turnpike (I-276) in NJ. The rest of Central/South NJ is covered by Cingular's TDMA network and when they add GSM there, then you will see your AT&T GSM phone alive in those areas, unless AT&T builds their own coverage in those areas before Cingular adds GSM.

Look at this map.

My best advice is don't jump into any service after it has recently launched. AT&T has just installed its GSM service and it will have it's share of problems for a while. T-Mobile has had GSM service for a long time so they have developed more coverage. Give AT&T more time before trusting their GSM service. AT&T roaming partners (Cingular, Cellular One, Suncom, etc.) still have to go GSM and until then, AT&T on its own is not going to be for anyone who needs reliable GSM coverage across the country.

[HoOn]

Bobolito, so would getting the Siemens S46 be a good choice for people in New Jersey who want to try GSM and have the TDMA security if GSM is not available in an area?

[ERL857]

i have and s46 in central jersey where it says extended area and i cant recieve text messages and the voice mail indicator wont clear off the phone is ne one else having this problem?

is att ever gonna be able to set up service in those areas and if they will when?


it looks like now that its everywhere in nj by looking at the map except monmmouth ocean and like one more county...i spoke to an attws cs rep and they said wait a few weeks....i was in the mall and was picking up AT&T on my phone but i was not able to get phone calls does this mean they have towers around that just are not turned on yet???

[bobolito]

ERL857: I consolidated all your one-line messages into one post. Please use the edit command if you forget to add something to your post.

About the S46, I don't think those features will work if your home network is one and you are currently using the other. This is because the AT&T network is not GAIT this is what the GAIT network is all about.

HoOn, I suggest going with T-Mobile would be a better choice if you really want GSM. I personally stay away from GSM until there's enough coverage to justify switching from TDMA.

I feel everyone here about Central Jersey...I mean New Brunswick...County Seat/mini-urban epicenter/arts center/Rutgers University/urban population density...why is this city not covered for GSM on ATTWS yet? I understand the small forgotten cities like Perth aMboy (which is a gate to SI, NY so it should also be covered), but New Brunswick not being covered in GSM is crazy! Come on ATTWS...get the 08901/08903 going for me.