AT&T GSM Should Launch Soon in CA

[Kenny]

Word on the street indicates that AT&T may launch their GSM service in the greater L.A. area soon -- like end of May-June timeframe. The central valley area also including Sacramento, Fresno and Modesto may also launch around the same time frame.

Someone in another forum posted that one of the stores in Modesto has just received a shipment of some AT&T GSM phones (8390 and T68). Perhaps there is anticipation of a GSM launch in the very near future.

From another forum: fyi, this guy in L.A. signed up on a GSM account via a San Diego number.

"Launch in L.A. is very very CLOSE All last night my S46 kept on switching between GSM & TDMA and each time it did a switch I notice on my Nokia 7190 they were reassigning the CID & LAC of various sites. Appearently there are 4 separate GSM sites that can penetrate my home with full signal. So, looks like they are just optimizing all the sites in my area better.

Fresno will be launching part of Modesto Just called customer care & found that out, she did not have a launch date but told me the launch is VERY soon and the best place to check would be the local AT&T store to see if they received their GSM training. My sales rep in L.A. told me she will get her training on May 15 Because, the rep also did inform me L.A. launch is very CLOSE, the rep at 3G did notice I was roaming in AT&T GSM in L.A. & told me that is still included in my plan despite not shown on the coverage map."

the launching will be soon... & Cingular has a big part in it...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

i hope they launch in san francisco/oakland area soon.. cant wait to upgrade my ugly a@# Ericcson phone..

Cingular WILL have a pretty big part in this. Since they have always, even as pacbell wireless days, have been GSM. The plan, thus far, is to have AT&T gust use cingular sites while AT&T converts theres over. When this process is done, AT&T has agreed to let cingular use double when their conversion is complete. An EXTREME bonus for cingular cust as they do not plan to charge their cust any extra charges. They get the benfeit of this. As for at&t, a service that is famous for charging their cust roaming charges of sort, even though they are in the home are, since GSM is an expensive service, can expect it to be the more costly gsm server.... Just look at the Mlife pricing....[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[SuperWireless]

I'm amazed at this plan. According to the posts, ATT will use the Cingular network during its GSM launch in So. Calif. Anyone who uses Cingular in LA area (or who tries to call Cingular users) knows that Cingular is overloaded in the LA area, and cannot, at this time, handle the current subscriber volume. How can ATT possibly piggy-back on the Cingular system? Am I missing something? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

[Apoc]

This outta be instresting to see the outcome the big GSM change out this is going to finally open up the T-Mobile Market!

What are you people talking about? AT&T is NOT using Cingular in Ca, why do you think they built out their own Network in San Diego?

Voicestream/T-Mobile is sharing towers in CA, and in turn they are doing the same in NY.

AT&T and Cingular have a deal to jointly build out the major highways in the Midwest and other rural places, but AT&T is NOT sharing with CIngular in CA, where the heck did you hear that from? The Voicestream and Cingular deal is not secret news, it was announced in Oct/Nov of last year, but AT&T, Voicestream and Cingular all using the same towers? Especially when Cingular set up the deal so they could use Voicestream's service in LA? Yeah right guys...

Actually, here's the proof....

http://www.ATTWS.com/images/maps/gsm-nat.gif

All the parts that are in california shaded as 'a non AT&T gsm provider' is Cingular...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

Oh... & on another note... Voicestream is waiting for Gsm to be more popular in the california market? I think they are just waiting for more coverage so their cust can use AT&T & cingular sites without having to put up to much themselves...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]

<< [i]Actually, here's the proof....

http://www.attws.com/images/maps/gsm-nat.gif

All the parts that are in california shaded as 'a non AT&T gsm provider' is Cingular...

<< [i]

Proof????

well duhh, You've always been able to roam on Cingular in CA, but do you think it's going to be a seamless roam and you are able to use Cingular and AT&T's service back and forth as if was the same thing?

NO!

Ask people in San Diego if their AT&T phones will just automatically go to Cingular when there is no AT&T coverage.

Ask people in San Diego, if they can roam for FREE on Cingular. NO. Even if it's local AT&T makes you pay roaming charges if you do use Cingular's network.


You are talking as if they are merging the network together. NO. Granted if one buys out the other or consolidates anytime soon, then they will be merged, but they are still 2 separate networks. AT&T charges roaming fees whenever you use another provider, even if it's local. Now that's even if you happen to be in an area that has a roaming agreement with AT&T, which pretty much is only Cingular.

Now what Voicestream is doing IS using the Cingular footprint as if it was their own, because it is a truly shared network. Voicestream will be using all of Cingular's towers as it's home area as well as the towers it has built out on it's own as well as the new towers Cingular has built out.


And who said anything about Voicestream waiting for Cingular to be more popular? First of all if Voicestream wanted to wait and let Cingular do all the build out and wait until things are better, they could!!! Thats part of the deal!! If Cingular didn't build out their sites and improve the network, then Voicestream won't let Cingular onto their network in NY until they do improve in CA.

Cingular has to improve CA in order to launch in NY.

But they aren't just waiting. They have been out working to spilt cells and increase the footprint. Since last year! More so in the last few months.

for the above post: Cingular already owns a great majority of the gsm sites wich were once owned by Voicestream... And as far as the map goes, I was showing that pretty much as a benefeit for Cingular custs, not AT&T's... I work in the industry, and know this for a fact... Where it used to be a romaing partner for GSM on the east coast in the past, now states Cingular owned sites...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

For whatever its worth, an AT&T Wireless store manager told me this am that, no, AT&T would not be using Cingular's GSM network in the SF bay area. The were installing a redundant network of their own.

I can tell ya, it's not worth much... AT&T sites a gsm/gprs roaming partner? Who else has that service in Ca but Cingular? No one else does...

<< for the above post: Cingular already owns a great majority of the gsm sites wich were once owned by Voicestream... And as far as the map goes, I was showing that pretty much as a benefeit for Cingular custs, not AT&T's... I work in the industry, and know this for a fact... Where it used to be a romaing partner for GSM on the east coast in the past, now states Cingular owned sites...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] >>




hahah work in the industry, where? in a radio shack? Cingular does not own sites that were once owned by Voicestream, what kind of a crock of BS is that?
You know it for a fact? where? What fact is that? You don't even make any sense? DO you even know all the states that Cingular is GSM in? It's not many, It's pretty much just CA, NC and SC and parts of Florida I think. These are states that VS does not have serivce in yet.

Why in the blue hell would Cingular own VS's sites in all the other states that VS is in and Cingular (GSM) is not? Yeah, VS used to be a roaming partner for CIngular in NYC, but now it might not because in NYC it is a SHARED network now, just like in CA. Did you even know about all of that business, since of course you are an industry player, or do I have to find and cite company press releases for you?

Well, look at the facts... There are a million and one post on these forums that seem to support Anon's point of view. i notice for some reason, that Cingular being a major contender in the GSM market of Ca seems to make people angry...I dont know why. They plan to release new phones that bounce over from tdma/gsm, a benefeit for their users' so they can be on one service pretty much everywhere in the u.s. I just dont know why people seem to get angry when Cingular is trying to make deals with companies. Personaly, I plan to switch to them. In my opion, they seem to be doing whatever it takes to make their customers' happy. And in the end, isnt that really what it's about?

I also have to agree with the guy above... People really hate Cingular in CA, and those people who left it are going to wish they stayed. I come to this site from time to time and am amazed by all the rumors that seem to being going on about wireless companies. The person that took offence to the fact that someone stated that Cingular has aquired voicestream sites in ny really should look at this site a little more....

Alot of post on this site seem to be leaning to the fact that Cingular is a growing company, & is pushing for expansions of GSM. There is no need to take such anger at them...

<< I also have to agree with the guy above... People really hate Cingular in CA, and those people who left it are going to wish they stayed. I come to this site from time to time and am amazed by all the rumors that seem to being going on about wireless companies. The person that took offence to the fact that someone stated that Cingular has aquired voicestream sites in ny really should look at this site a little more....

Alot of post on this site seem to be leaning to the fact that Cingular is a growing company, & is pushing for expansions of GSM. There is no need to take such anger at them... >>



Jesus Christ, none of you know what the hell you are talking about. The facts are, Cingular owns sites and Voicestream owns sites.
In Ca and in NyC, the sites are shared. Both companies still own their own sites, but in NY and in CA it will be a shared network. If you say that Cingular acquired Voicestream's NYC sites, its a false statement because they in fact have NOT acquired them. BUT because the sites are shared they can show on their maps that it is not a roaming area because in fact it is not. Just like when Voicestream launches in CA and they release their new maps. Theire new maps will show California as a local home area, YET also showing the exact same footprint as Cingular.

The fact of the matter is that Cingular had no presence in NY and Voicestream had no presnece in CA, so instead of each building out a very expensive footprint, they decided to share. 1 big market for another.

NOW this is NOT what AT&T is doing. They are building out their own network. You will not use Cingulars network unless you have to and you WILL pay roaming charges, even in CA. Cingular Customers do NOT have to pay roaming charges because they offer free roaming onto another companies network. STILL, in places like CA, and in the future else where where they have GSM in the same market. It's not just going to go on AT&T's network anytime you want. You have to select it and Cingular can not be available. EXAMPLE, if you are in a coverage area, but the network is so busy you can't get a call out. You won't be able to go and select AT&T and make the call on their tower instead. BUT if your Cingular phone shows NO SERVICE, then you could force your phone onto AT&T's network, when you are in your home market.


DO you people actually Think Cingular cares that much? The fact that California has been ____ty for 2 years and they did nothing until late last year when they said that they would invest 1 billion into CA. Do you people even realize that they only did that because they had to fix the network in CA, before Voicestream would spend anything to upgrade the NY network. The only thing that motviated CIngular to fix CA was the fact that they wanted to be in NY, and they had to fix CA before Voicestream let them.


AT&T has phones that roam from TDMA to GSM already. They do this because they want everyone to get used to GSM, because in a few years, they hope to have their whole network changed to GSM. You think they just offer the phones, just because? NO! They need people to get used to GSM because Cingular is only GSM in about 5 states right now and the rest is still TDMA. They hope to complete their GSM overlay by the end of next year and they need people to stop using TDMA handsets and stop getting used to TDMA because as you will see, they will start offering less handsets and lesser handest for TDMA, when the day comes that they don't offer TDMA handsets anymore and they won't sign you up on a TDMA plan, just like they did with ANALOG service only.

AT&TWS is doing the exact same thing as Cingular is doing above.

Jesus, it's only a phone.. it's not YOUR life... I think you need to calm down...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

Well I think the person who said that CIngular has a big part in AT&T's CA GSM roll out needs a reality check and need to stop making up fantasies in his/her head.

[KevinJames]

This thread is one big joke. The last 14 posts have been from anonymous posters. In reading them, it almost seems like a bi-polar posting against himself.

[Jack]

I agree with you kevin----Just decided to check this one out interesting

Jack

i am the great an powerful ANON... And you all will bow to me!!Seriously though... no fanatasies. Cingular has agreement with both AT&T and voicestream.... I think the dude bashing 'Anon" is the one with the fantasies... If it works, more power to em&gt;&gt;&gt;

<< i am the great an powerful ANON... And you all will bow to me!!Seriously though... no fanatasies. Cingular has agreement with both AT&T and voicestream.... I think the dude bashing 'Anon" is the one with the fantasies... If it works, more power to em&gt;&gt;&gt; >>



Then prove it you idiots. There are 1001 articles and press releases detailing the joint ventures in New York and Ca by Voicestream and Cingular. There is nothing about AT&T and Cingular in CA doing anything. The "agreement" you speak of is a roaming agreement thats currently in place. When AT&T launhces it's GSM that Roaming agreement won't mean jack. It will be 2 separate networks operating separatley.

Also to say that Cingulat now owns a majority of the sites once owned by Voicestream is possibly the most idiotic thing I have ever heard and should be proof enough that the ANON who said that Cingular is playing a big part in AT&T's CA GSM rollout has no idea as to what he/she is talking about.

just called AT&T store in oakland, CA, they said it be switch to GSM in Sept or Oct. damn! i cant wait that long, i was hoping it's next month..

ken

just called another store.. San Francisco, CA. they said the same thing, Sept or Oct for GSM..

ken

<< just called another store.. San Francisco, CA. they said the same thing, Sept or Oct for GSM..

ken >>



Get Voicestream or Cingular then. Sure Cingular has it's problems now, but you'll see that when Voicestream adds its 40 mhz of spectrum, turns on the new cell sites it built out including all the improvements Cingular is making now, you'll see those system busy problems go away. Oh yeah and voicestream will also add 2 switiches.

You really want AT&T GSM? Without more bandwith how well do you think it will be? They are just running GSM of their TDMA towers????? So now the tower that has to share spectrum with TDMA and Analog, (which is fine since it switches back and forth) AND GSM will work well? Splitting the same spectrum into 3 instead of 2 expect for just one spectrum for 1 type of system like Cingular and Voicestream?? You think Cingular had problems with capacity and system busy....just wait til AT&T tries to run all 3 on the same towers and same frequency. Oh yeah, you MAY be able to roam with Cingular in your home area, but AT&T will charge you, even though its local.

Good Luck with that.

cingular turned me off cus they charge u by the minutes when u surf web.. u check email, and there is no new message. 10seconds used, cingular charge u for the whole minute. u read a email, 1 minutes 9seconds, they charge u 2 min..
Voicestream? There is voicestream in CA already? Or do u mean Verizson? Versizon is the same, they charge u by the minutes to surf web..
But i really like the AT&T business plan. they charge u 12.99$ for 2 meg of data. i can live with that happily. u can takes as longs as u want to read your email, read the news, etc..

i currently using the Ericcson r289 to surf web.. this damn phone is so big and heavy and so ugly.. cant wait to get rid of it..

ken

[Jack]

voicestreams charges per meg for information

Jack

<< cingular turned me off cus they charge u by the minutes when u surf web.. u check email, and there is no new message. 10seconds used, cingular charge u for the whole minute. u read a email, 1 minutes 9seconds, they charge u 2 min..
Voicestream? There is voicestream in CA already? Or do u mean Verizson? Versizon is the same, they charge u by the minutes to surf web..
But i really like the AT&T business plan. they charge u 12.99$ for 2 meg of data. i can live with that happily. u can takes as longs as u want to read your email, read the news, etc..

i currently using the Ericcson r289 to surf web.. this damn phone is so big and heavy and so ugly.. cant wait to get rid of it..

ken >>



Yep thats right!!! Voicestream charges per the kilobyte. Voicestream will be in CA in July, earlier than AT&T in the bay area. $19.99 for 5 megs of data, OR $2.99 for 1 meg of data. 1 meg is all you need if you only use WAP from the phone, and the overage is billed to the nearest Kilobyte. Since Voicestream is only using their sites and bandwith to do GSM voice and GPRS data, rather than AT&T using thier sites for Analog, TDMA, GSM, and GPRS, you should also have a faster overall connection.

Plus Voicestream's GPRS newtwork is nationwide and is available in all 41 (including CA/NV) states that they are in. ALL of Voicestream's phones will have a WAP browser in CA, excpet for the Nokia 3390, but if you want something smaller than the 289 that does WAP via GPRS high speed connection, the V66, should be about 100 bucks in CA when they launch. It's small, has a wap browser and it does it via GPRS.


Just get Voicestream/T-Mobile when they come to CA rather than waiting for AT&T.

[KevinJames]

Thanks. No thanks. I'll wait for ATT. Much bigger company with more expansive network.