New GSM 850MHz

The Siemens S46 is a GAIT phone. GAIT does not need Analog functionality to be GAIT. In another forum, somebody said that it is not a GAIT service if there is no hand-off between TDMA and GSM. As long as the device can function on both networks then it is indeed. Siemens advertises the device as a GAIT device...I hardly believe that such a reputable company would put it out as one, if it were not.

 

Well first of all, how do you find these two-month old threads to revive?

S46 is NOT a GAIT phone. It does GSM and IS-136, but does not meet the full GAIT specs. To be GAIT-compliant, you DO have to have AMPS. The one point you are correct on is that there are no in-call handoffs between GSM and IS-136.

(I'm using IS-136 in this post just to be clear, most of the time I would use TDMA, i'm not trying to be some super-____ freak )

 

VPNGSM, show me where Siemens is advertising the S46 as a GAIT phone and then I'll believe you. They only describe it as Multiband GSM-TDMA phone.

 

On top of that, a GAIT phone requires a special SIM
And, most importantly: the network must be equipped with GAIT inter-networking equipment which is known as the Interworking and Interoperability Function (IIF) – the IIF serves as the gateway for roaming between GSM and TDMA. AT&T which sells the S46, is not deploying GAIT on its network - so, even if the S46 were a GAIT phone (which it is NOT), it wouldn't work properly (with respect to GAIT functionality) on AT&T's network.

 

emag0rad, you are right on the mark! I work with some of the testing in the north Texas area and I can personally vouch for all of the additions that needed to be added for these phones to work on a TDMA platform. And it is almost finished (but you didn't hear it from me!) so we can expect to see a lot of Nokia 6340I's out there soon. Followed close behind by the Sony Ericsson T62U (which adds GPRS in GSM mode!)

 

What's makes me scratch my head is why AT&T label their maps as GAIT, but nowhere else in their website you see the word GAIT. Only in their maps.