ATT TDMA to ATT GSM

AT&T is going to offer Gait phones, which means that it will be able to ulitize both their Tdma and Gsm services, The phone itself will search for Gsm signal first and then it will search for tdma signal. All in all the phone makes up the coverage that you normally would not receive if you had just a Gsm phone.

 

To add to Dukedog's post, according to 3gamericas.org



<< TDMA and GSM digital subscribers may roam on either network with the use of the dual-technology GAIT (GSM ANSI-136 Interoperability Team) terminals. This means that GSM and TDMA subscribers have truly global coverage in 189 countries and territories. However, there is not a solution for TDMA roaming with CDMA networks. >>



See complete article at: http://www.3gamericas.org/English/Technology_Center/QA/tdmaqa.cfm

 

Scalici: I'm not sure I understand your post, so....

Verizon's CDMA technology is already beyond the technology of GSM, so going backwards is not going to happen. However, there has been some talk about phones from Verizon being CDMA and GSM. That possibility is still in its infancy. I doubt Verizon will build its own GSM network. (That seems unlikely to me because eventually all the carriers in the USA and abroad are going CDMA2000 or w-CDMA.) So, though I am only an industry watcher, I would venture the most logical choice would be for Verizon to develop GSM roaming agreements.

 

Cingular is also launching GSM in NYC this summer. Does anyone know if both AT&T and Cingular will share towers with GSM just like they are doing now with TDMA? And also, will these coming GAIT phones pick up analog signals in addition to GSM and TDMA?

 

bobolito:

From what I've read around these parts and others, some GAIT phones will only be digitial (TDMA, GSM). Others will also have analog. If I remember correctly, the new Siemens GAIT phone is only digital.

kev

 

Kevin, don't you think that since 40%(more, less?) of Verizon is owned by Vodaphone UK, that Verizon is under a lot of pressure to put up some sort of GSM? I seem to remember them having a tiff over it a while ago.

 

VodaPhone NEEDS a stronger US presence (consider their chief Euro rival Deutche Telecom/T-Mobile owns VoiceStream) and Verizon NEEDS a stronger international (roaming) story. Since the chances of the Euro carriers offering anything other than multi-BAND GSM phones in the near -- and even possibly far -- term seem remote (to say the least), the solution would seem to be in Verizon's court.

Multi-protocol (CDMA/GSM??) phones would solve the US roaming in Europe problem and bring potentially more (roaming) business to VodaPhone. And such phones could potentially be used in the US. It would not do a whole lot for the Europeans traveling to the US.

The Europeans are converting their networks to something much more CDMA-like, but it will be a while before they are (all) there and there is likely to be a substantial time when both GSM and whatever are supported. (Although the Europeans are not as constrained as the US in simply wiping out one service and implementing another. Customer friendly is not a trait often ascribed to them!)

It is certainly not clear that Verizon has lost a ton of business because their customers can't transparently roam to Europe. VoiceStream has not been wildly succesful because of the Europeans who can roam here. It is hard to see exactly what economic incentives the US carriers have to make a massive push for European compatibility. (The push to convert is driven more by SERVICES -- video, etc) than by technology compatibility.) The US has traditionally driven it's technology to the world. It has not widely embraced others.... I don't see why cellphones will be much different.

 

<< Cingular is also launching GSM in NYC this summer. Does anyone know if both AT&T and Cingular will share towers with GSM just like they are doing now with TDMA? And also, will these coming GAIT phones pick up analog signals in addition to GSM and TDMA? >>



Cingular's GSM service in NYC market is an agreement with VoiceSteam for sharing of tower space. In return, VS is sharing Cingular/s network in CA and NV, after Cingular spends $450 million to upgrade it.

 

what about at&t wireless gsm in pennsylvania

Jack

 

In that case, I am better off keeping my TDMA Cingular phone. While Voicestream GSM coverage is not bad here in North Jersey, TDMA coverage by AT&T is better (Cingular covers my area by agreement with AT&T). Plus, I have the peace of mind of being able to pickup multiple networks when I travel with my Nokia 3360 (TDMA800/1900 and AMPS800). I've been in stretches of highways in upstate NY, MA and PA where Voicestream customers are totally out of coverage. However, with my phone, I am always covered wherever I go since not only TDMA coverage is more extensive than GSM, but also I can at least get analog signal where there's no digital TDMA coverage. This is only in the meantime since AT&T will be converting to GSM in the next few years. I believe they will start converting the more important markets first and then work their way out to the smaller towns and suburbs.