Cingular Finally Completes Network Integration

Excuse me, but only jones is allowed to post this type of info.

 

I'm waiting for Sprint and Nextel
Finally Integrating IDEN and CDMA Network
Press Release.

 

Again, why bring sprint into this? Integrating iden and CDMA isnt even possible!

 

Really, I honestly didn't know that man.

 

Not going to happen... they never said they would. Now, as to when they can get CDMA deployed on the rebanded 800 MHz chanell and migrate away from iDEN - that is the news I want to hear. Seems it will still be a few years away. Rebanding is going to take longer than hoped.

 

The only thing Sprint needs to do in my opinion is carefully examine the locations of existing Nextel towers and add CDMA to the ones where Sprint is weak or has capacity issues. They already are starting to do this here in So. Cal at some sites but not as many as I had hoped for. I'm sure in time they will do it but many of us were hoping for it to happen a little faster than it has.

 

I agree, larry. NEXTEL does have some additional coverage, not only in cities, that would benefit Sprint, but also more highway coverage in a lot of areas, which would greatly benefit Sprint and cut down their roaming costs on other carriers.

 

I may have to fire up my Cingular SIM I got with my v190 recently. With my Speakout SIM I am still using the old network. But I am positive that Cingular & T-Mobile are still sharing the network, as AT&T had no presence in Bullhead and a very small presence in Laughlin.

 

And depending on their plans for iDEN, it may be worth them adding Nextel antenna's to Sprint towers to fill in there gaps. Again, if they plan on keeping the iDEN network for more then a couple of years.

 

Did'nt Sprint came up w/
a Dual Mode IDEN/CDMA Phone?

(Equal Oppotunity Poster)

 

Yes, they did. It is going to be released within the next month actually (if it isnt already out)

I wouldnt exactly call that integration, as the phone does run on 2 seperate networks that were already existing. Even worse, the phone will make voice calls ONLY on CDMA, and only use IDEN for PTT.

 

I dont think that they are shaing the network by any means, if Cingular orange has no presence there, they will roam on T-Mobile(the old Cingular network). There is no more sharing in CA, it's now all roaming for Cingular.

 

GAIT and TDMA are still alive and kicking, in my area. They will probably hang on for another year.

 

If I remember correctly the deal Cingular & T-Mobile signed after Cingular bought ATTWS was for the sharing of the network for four years. I know in CA Cingular as put most if not all of its customers on the blue network. Out here though they are still sharing the old (orange) network. Their is no way Cingular could keep selling service in an area they don't have a network in. As they could not do activations on an other network. Also I have heard that T-Mobile cutomers are still seeing Cingular on thier phones. I am more curious to see if Cingular has started on expanding the blue network for the switch over.

 

I wouldn't say "even worse." I think the fact that it uses CDMA for voice only and IDEN only for PTT opens a new possibility for Sprint/Nextel PTT: the ability to receive regular phone calls while on a PTT session, something not previously possible on Nextel's stand-alone service. Now, I am not saying that they will have this ability, but with an IDEN/CDMA phone, it is entirely possible.

On Cingular's PTT this is already possible because PTT calls are just a modified regular phone call, so they can take advantage of the already available Call Waiting feature.

About Cingular's completion of integration, I am assuming they mean integration in those areas where both the blue and orange networks overlapped. Currently, there are still towers on the blue network. Currently, the network in those areas still bears the old 380 ID that identifies AT&T Wireless. I was a witness of that just 24 hours ago in Las Vegas where the 410 network ID doesn't exist. I was also able to roam on T-Mobile's 170 network which used to belong to Cingular. That being said, they still have work to do in regards to the "conversion" of blue towers to the fully integrated "gold" network, so in my view, they are being a little bit premature with this announcement.

 

Thanks for the info bobo!

I would think Vegas would of been integrated by now. Is this process done by market?

 

Yes, it is done by market. But in the case of Las Vegas there isn't any real integration to complete, since the only thing they need to do is the network ID change from 380 to 410 like they did in NYC/NJ. So I would call this a "conversion" rather than "integration".

Still, in the whole process of converting to a "single network" nationwide, both conversion and integration are required to be finished in order to call the job "complete," which is why I find this announcement premature.

 

It's standard company propoghanda, it's the Hey look what we just did (while just hiding the rough stuff in the background)

Basically Cingular has done the majority of the legwork now they just need to finish sweeping up.

 

Like I said as far as I know there is no more sharing in CA/NV, period. I'm not sure excatly what the terms of their so-called 'preferred roaming agreement' are, but I know it's for ridiculous cheap roaming on T-Mobile's network until sometime next year. Maybe this fact, and the fact that the blue network covers some areas around there enables them to sell service there and who knows maybe they are going to make big improvements.

 

That is true it is a conversion rather then a intergation. If the conversion needs to be done throughout the market, then Cingular need to get busy in my area.