T-Mobile or Cingular in Northern California...

[CRC]

Hey All!
Need your help here. I will be switching to GSM by May of next year when my Verizon contract expires to be more "global". Want to get a Cingular or T-Mobile phone in December or January and use the winner side by side with Verizon to see which works better. If there are any user's or rep's out there who can share personal experiences of which they think is better in Northern & Southern California, I would appreciate any assistance.
1. Are the network's separated now...is Cingular on AT&T's GSM network and is T-Mobile on Cingular's. Also does Cingular run on 850 along with 1900 in California.
2. Need feedback on dropped calls, call quality, etc. I have looked at survey's, but looking for actual user's experiences.
3. For phones I'm looking at tri or quad band...want them to work well in the U.S. as well as both European band's of 900/1800 if possible.
4. Phones for Cingular: Moto V180, Nokia 3120.
5. Phones for T-Mobile: Samsung E105 or C225, or Moto V180.
Don't need camera's, etc. So in the Bay Area, who's the best...Cingular or T-Mobile?
Thanks in advance for your help and assistance!
Chris

[bobolito]

T-Mobile is getting Cingular's network in your area. They left a pretty well-built network over there from what I hear. However, if you are thinking of going across the country, an phone with North American dual-band capabilities will serve you better than a single band 1900Mhz service. In the US, Cingular has a clear edge in coverage, especially now with the union with AT&T Wireless.

In your area, if you go with T-Mobile, you get to access their network only, which they are getting from Cingular. However, if you go with Cingular, you will be able to access both their network and AT&T's network. That will give you a clear advantage in coverage. Besides, between AT&T's network and Cingular's, you get both 850Mhz and 1900Mhz service.

Now, between now and May 2005, I am sure many things will change with T-Mobile and Cingular in your area because the T-Mobile/Cingular joint venture (network sharing) dissolution, the T-Mobile acquisition of Cingular's network and the reconfiguration of AT&T's network to Cingular in the west coast is all supposed to happen in the next few months. So, I suggest you give both of them a try to see how they work in May 2005 and forget about getting opinions now because whatever you hear today will serve no purpose 6 or 7 months from now.

[CRC]

Thanks Bobolito!!

[jgar2005]

Wirelessly posted (MOT-V300/0B.09.3AR MIB/2.2 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.0)

Cingular and T-mobile are identical networks. Where ever one works the other one works

[NYCDru]

For now, yes. Next year, yes. In three years....we will see...probably not though.

[chefofthefuture]

I've tried switching to GSM twice, both times ended up giving up on it (T-mobile a couple years ago, more recently ATT). So my question to you is: do you postitively have to use the same phone overseas? (Not same #, same phone).

Bottom line for me was that a worldwide phone doesn't make up for the service that works for me best here in the US, thus use 95% of the time. So, I keep an unlocked v60g to use GSM overseas, and keep Verizon at home.

No matter what you choose, use the trial period before you port!

[CRC]

But Chef, hasn't a lot changed with both GSM carrier's in the last two years, especially with Cingular and the merger? And even before the merger, has T-Mobile's service improved in 2 year's? Just wondering who's better now in the Bay Area.
Guess I won't be going over to Europe that often...so would I have to use the same world-wide phone? No...it's just that I can't see having two phones, two different bills with two different carrier's...was just trying to see if the GSM coverage has improved enough to make the switch.
And yes, I will do the trial period before making a definate decision. Thanks again Chef for your help and reply.
Chris

[NYCDru]

I think you missed something. Chef has the v60g UNLOCKED with NO CARRIER HERE. The cheapest way to travel is to bring an unlocked phone and buy a pre-payed sim card when you get there anyway. (Think $0.09 -$0.25/minute Versus $0.99 - $2.49/ minute) Pre-pay is the way to go when traveling abroad and tjhere IS NO BILL. Just the money you payed for the pre-pay.

[azcellphonejunkie]

Originally Posted by NYCDru

I think you missed something. Chef has the v60g UNLOCKED with NO CARRIER HERE. The cheapest way to travel is to bring an unlocked phone and buy a pre-payed sim card when you get there anyway. (Think $0.09 -$0.25/minute Versus $0.99 - $2.49/ minute) Pre-pay is the way to go when traveling abroad and tjhere IS NO BILL. Just the money you payed for the pre-pay.

My fiance just got back from China. While there, I had her get a prepaid SIM and we talked for $.20 per minute versus the $2.99 that T-Mobile offers in that area. A pretty significant savings!!!

[chefofthefuture]

Originally Posted by NYCDru

I think you missed something. Chef has the v60g UNLOCKED with NO CARRIER HERE.

Yes... NYCDru has this right. I use Verizon in the US and pick up a SIM card for a local provider when I'm abroad. It means I carry two phones, but since my overseas trips aren't for business, I prefer to save money by doing this and have the convenience of a local number in that country.