Taking AT&T GSM for a Test Drive - But Which Phone??

[R32VW]

I think that I'll try one of AT&T's GSM phones for 30 days to test signal strength and voice quality around my house and my usual routes. I will be off-contract on June 4, 2004 but if I understood the saleswoman at Advantage Wireless in Marysville (Washington state) correctly I will be "eligible" for an upgrade on April 4. If I purchased a phone on April 4 and did not like it then I could return it for a refund before the 30 day trial period and I would not have any further contract obligations (it would expire on June 4). Does this sound right? Something else I just thought of: my current plan is the Local Plan $29.99 (250 minutes) and I'm pretty sure that it has been discontinued. There is a "new" (?) Local Plan that costs $29.99 but offers 350 Anytime Minutes here. The question is, wouldn't I be signing up for a new plan when I picked up a new phone and wouldn't that extend my original contract? Or, if I returned the phone in under 30 days would the new plan be cancelled (I would revert back to my original plan and contract end-date)?

The "Upgrade Phones" that AT&T is currently offering are shown here. I have just begun to research some of the phones offered and I am considering the Sony Ericsson T616 primarily because it would be free (after $219.99 rebate) and it got a pretty good review at CNET.com. The one bad thing that CNET said was that talk time "...clocked in at a mere 2 hours, which was 3 hours shy of the company's rating of 5 hours" (page 3 of their review). The T616's camera is a nice bonus, but it is not essential to me.

Since I am currently using a Nokia phone (3360) I feel "comfortable" with their menus but I suppose that would be the only major draw for me to a new Nokia phone. Their screens all seem to be smaller (on average) than most flip-phones and the Nokia 3100 screen is substantially smaller than the Sony Ericson T616 (128x128 vs. 128x160 pixels, respectively). I chose the 3100 for a screen size comparison only because it looks like 128x128 is a standard screen size for Nokia.

Is anyone using the SE T616? How about Siemens? I had a Siemens home phone for a short time and the menus seemed counter-intuitive. I returned it for that reason, among others, but that has been my only experience with Siemens phones, home or cellular. I have already eliminated the Samsung SGH-x426 because it does not have external Caller ID.

How is AT&T GSM coverage, in general? Since I live out in the sticks it is very important that I can get a signal strength of at least 2 bars (I'm not sure how strength is measured but I'm using my Nokia 3360's "signal strength meter" as an example). Voice quality is also very important to me as I can hear "echoing" with my 3360, which is a TDMA phone. Is GSM really the best way to go? I was originally planning to drop AT&T in June and go with Verizon (don't know which phone) because their CDMA network is fairly "mature" and I should not have any problems but it seems to me, ultimately, that GSM is the "wave of the future." What would be the drawbacks, if any, of going with AT&T GSM right now?

Thank you all once again for the help and recommendations. I really like this forum! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

[ShoresGuy]

One important factor to take into consideration with AT&T is the fact that its TDMA network across the country is a lot more mature and built out more extensively than the GSM network. AT&T is improving its GSM network by adding GSM 850 onto the existing TDMA towers but this may or may not be available in your area depending on whether AT&T is on GSM 850 or on GSM 850/1900 at the same time. Like you said using the 30 day trial period would really benefit you and allow you to see how the signal strength/quality is in your rural area as well as how well the T616 holds up. The Nokia 3100 is quite a nifty phone and is probably the cheapest Nokia I know of that has both GSM 850/1900 for the US and the GSM 1800 band for roaming in Europe/Asia/Africa.

As for Siemens, you could always try out the SL56 and see how it works in your area. The predecessor to the SL56, the S56, also might be worth considering if it is still available.

Best of Luck [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] and do provide us with an update of how things go for you,

PS Where is Marysville? I could look it up but allowing a person to respond himself/herself often is more rewarding since you might learn more than just looking at a map.

[R32VW]

Originally posted by: ShoresGuy
Like you said using the 30 day trial period would really benefit you and allow you to see how the signal strength/quality is in your rural area as well as how well the T616 holds up.

So, if I order the T616 (I'm really leaning towards this phone) from attwireless.com will I be changing my plan? Please refer to the 1st paragraph in my post (towards the end) for details.

Originally posted by: ShoresGuy The Nokia 3100 is quite a nifty phone and is probably the cheapest Nokia I know of that has both GSM 850/1900 for the US and the GSM 1800 band for roaming in Europe/Asia/Africa.

Nokia would be my 2nd choice right now, behind the SE T616. I kinda feel that it's time to "graduate" from Nokia. It's hard to quantify but, for me at least, Nokia phones seem to be sort of geared towards "beginning users." I sincerely hope that I haven't offended anyone with this comment.

Originally posted by: ShoresGuyPS Where is Marysville? I could look it up but allowing a person to respond himself/herself often is more rewarding since you might learn more than just looking at a map.

Marysville is about 50 miles north of Seattle. I live on the Tulalip (say "too-lay-lip") Indian Reservation, which is west of I-5. Both Marysville & Tulalip are in Snohomish county but my home is physically closer to Lakewood, Wa.

Thank you for the reply and I certainly will keep everybody posted! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

[R32VW]

I found a great review site for the Sony Ericsson T610 / T616 at Mobiledia.com -

http://www.mobiledia.com/reviews/son...610/page1.html

Also, Mobiledia has an interesting Forum board -

http://www.mobiledia.com/forum/forum4.html

Hope I'm not violating any rules by posting these links but I don't think so......[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

[GoodmanR]

Originally posted by: R32VW

So, if I order the T616 (I'm really leaning towards this phone) from attwireless.com will I be changing my plan? Please refer to the 1st paragraph in my post (towards the end) for details.

Yes, you would have to change your plan.

Nokia would be my 2nd choice right now, behind the SE T616. I kinda feel that it's time to "graduate" from Nokia. It's hard to quantify but, for me at least, Nokia phones seem to be sort of geared towards "beginning users." I sincerely hope that I haven't offended anyone with this comment.

I wouldn't say Nokia is any less mainstream or beginner than Sony Ericsson. They both make entry level and high end phones.

Marysville is about 50 miles north of Seattle. I live on the Tulalip (say "too-lay-lip") Indian Reservation, which is west of I-5. Both Marysville & Tulalip are in Snohomish county but my home is physically closer to Lakewood, Wa.

Thank you for the reply and I certainly will keep everybody posted! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

[ShoresGuy]

Originally posted by: R32VWSo, if I order the T616 (I'm really leaning towards this phone) from attwireless.com will I be changing my plan? Please refer to the 1st paragraph in my post (towards the end) for details.

I honestly don't know, someone else should be able to answer this one better for you. If I recall correctly, if you get a new phone (upgrade), it means extending your contract by whatever amount of time you signed up for in the first place when you activated your AT&T service. Please don't quote me on this one though, I'm on shaky ground with this so I might be off.

[R32VW]

Originally posted by: GoodmanR
So, if I order the T616 (I'm really leaning towards this phone) from attwireless.com will I be changing my plan? Please refer to the 1st paragraph in my post (towards the end) for details.

Yes, you would have to change your plan.

Let me see if I understand:

1. My <u>current</u> contract expires June 4, 2004;
2. I want to test a new phone, probably the SE T616;
3. In order to acquire the new phone for "free" (after rebate), I would have to upgrade - which means signing up for either a 1 or 2-year contract (I prefer 1 year);
4. If I don't like the phone or GSM doesn't work where I live and I return the phone in under 30 days, is the "new" plan cancelled and do I revert to the original plan and contract termination date?

The thing is, if AT&T's GSM service is fairly good then I'll probably stick with them for at least 1 more year but the majority of my experiences with AT&T have been not so good. Nothing really terrible but nothing exemplary either.

[NYCDru]

Why don't you rock a Go phone for a couple months. You know, grab the cheapest one (Seimens C56 I belive) get unlimited weekends (when else would you have "free time" to do some tests). Then you have a low cost NO RISK way of testing there coverage.

[DCinSEA]

I live just south of you (Bothell). AT&T Wireless is adding GSM850 and will be done in this area by end of June from information I could gather. Both the Nokia and SE are good phones, you really cannot go wrong with either. Hit the Alderwood AT&T Wireless store to look at both phones in person, if you get down this way (I think that would be closest store for you), and see which one you like best. Going the GoPhone route would be a good way to test out the GSM...

My GSM coverage is good everywhere but my house, but my TDMA is good there so once they add the GSM850 I know it will vastly improve.

[R32VW]

Originally posted by: NYCDru
Why don't you rock a Go phone for a couple months. You know, grab the cheapest one (Seimens C56 I belive) get unlimited weekends (when else would you have "free time" to do some tests). Then you have a low cost NO RISK way of testing there coverage.

That is another great idea, Dru! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] Except, it would have to be available at one of my local stores (Everett or Alderwood). The price of a Siemens C56 (Refurbished) and plan (80 minutes) comes to $49.98. While that is not wildly expensive, it does seem like a lot compared to the Sony Ericsson T616 for free (after rebate). I suppose I could always return the Siemens if coverage was lacking in my area.

BTW, I spent half an hour on the phone with a CS rep. and her supervisor last night trying to get a definitive answer to this question:

Originally posted by: R32VW

4. If I don't like the phone or GSM doesn't work where I live and I return the phone in under 30 days, is the "new" plan cancelled and do I revert to the original plan and contract termination date?

The answer is "Yes" which is what I had assumed it would be. I had the rep. make an entry in my file so that there would be no misunderstandings in the future (the attws.com "Upgrade" page is not very clear at all about this question).

DCinSea: Actually, the store on Everett Mall Way is closest to me so I'll see what they have for GoPhones. BTW, here's the GoPhone link.

[R32VW]

UPDATE: I picked up the Siemens C56 GoPhone (refurbished) today with 80 minutes of airtime. Signal strength was on a par with my Nokia 3360 (TDMA), meaning that around town (Everett, Wa.) I would average 2-4 bars. At my home, however, I get anywhere from 0-2 bars. This is acceptable as I am still able to make calls, although there is a bit of "static" on the line. I'm hoping that AT&T continues to improve their GSM network.......... [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] The battery is fully charged, btw.

Call quality is much better than my Nokia 3360 with no "echoing" and my friends say that it no longer sounds lime I'm "in a tunnel". I will continue to use the C56 thru the weekend to evaluate GSM, in general, before I decide to stay with AT&T/Cingular.

[ShoresGuy]

Cool good luck and welcome to the GSM bandwagon [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

[R32VW]

Thanks to everyone for all of the support, advice, and encouragement. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] My plan is to use up the 80 GoPhone minutes and return the Siemens to the store. I will order the Sony Ericsson T616 from attws.com for $220 and get a $220 rebate, so I'm pretty happy. I am also pleasantly surprised at the quality of GSM, relative to where I live.

[TProphet]

You may want to go further south into the Seattle area before you go with ATTWS GSM, if you plan to use it there. It's really awful on the Eastside (Bellevue/Redmond), on both the Siemens C56 and Nokia 3650. I think it is the worst service you can buy in the Puget Sound area.

[R32VW]

Thanks for the info. TProphet. Currently I don't get to Bellevue/Eastside & Seattle all that often but it is something to consider. Interesting how GSM performs "acceptable" (to me) in the woods of Tulalip (Marysville) but sux in ATTWS' own backyard, Redmond. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

The C56 will be returned in a few days as I am only using it to try GSM service. Apparently, it now falls to AT&T to make me an acceptable offer on the Sony Ericsson T616. It was free 48 hours ago when it was their "#2 Best Seller" and now that it has "slipped" to "#4" they want $50 for it. WTF?! I sent them an email stating that I would very happily drop AT&T altogether on June 4 (when my contract is up) and go with Verizon if they cannot make the T616 free again. I really do hate ATTWS most of the time.....maybe I was just talking myself into continuing service because I was "wowed" by the T616.