When will East TN convert to AT&T GSM?

Knoxville will launch in mid-summer....Memphis is getting it first (March) and Nashville/Chattanooga are next (June).

 

Parthery you seem to know quite a bit about AT&T and SunCom. Do you have any idea when SunCom (Triton PCS) is going to launch there GSM service in the Tri-Cities, TN/VA area?

 

any timeframe for little rock?

 

I also live in Tri Cities, does anyone know about Verizon Wireless in North Carolina, specifically the rural areas?

 

Little Rock is in the 2nd phase for launch.

AT&T is launching GSM in the Telecorp markets by market size...the larger markets (New Orleans, Memphis, etc...) will launch first...followed by the mid-size markets (Louisville, Nashville, Milwaukee, Little Rock, etc...) with the smaller markets (Des Moines, Knoxville)bringing up the rear....they have been diligent about hitting their launch dates so...by mid-summer most of their markets will be up and running.

As for Triton (SunCom)...the first markets they are concentrating on are Richmond/Williamsburg followed by Charleston and Columbia...they too will be filling in from there. Not sure exactly when Tri-Cities will launch but my guess is by summer.

The companies typically hold their launch dates close to the vest...for one reason its people like us that will be beating down their door on launch date for a new phone...the other reason is the obvious one for publicly traded companies....failure to make those goals can manipulate the stock price.

 

Thanks for the info Parthery. By the way from what I hear Richmond could come online with GSM from SunCom as soon as next month.

 

Parthey if you don't mind my asking which Plan you on with the S-46, and do you wonder alot to TN.? I'm doing National Network multi band and have the devil with roaming charges that I have finally gotten credit for. I have done most my traveling in TN Cha to Nashville.

 

Verizon doesn't have coverage in rual areas of NC. They only cover the central pidemont areas between Raleigh and Charlotte
as well as Fayetteville. All of the NC rual areas are covered by Alltel on B side and U.S. Cellular on the A side. As usual, all of the
1900 Mhz carriers only over urban areas and along interstates.

 

I am on the multiband National Network as well...and also travel frequently between Atlanta and Nashville.

I have not yet seen a roaming charge in these areas. I did, however get charged roaming in Des Moines (on the AT&T Telecorp Network) but they took it off without any argument.

 

Hey Parthey couple of more questions since you are operating in my neck of the woods.

Att is nailing me on roaming yesterday they did finally credit me over $200. I'm getting nailed Calhoun GA but I never wonder too far off 75 (only stop for gas.) Also I'm gettting nailed big time in Tullahoma and got popped once in Chattnooga and Nashville. My normal travel profile on the Tennessee trip is Atlanta Tullahoma and on to Nashville and back. The funny thing is when I am in Tullahoma my phone says ATT.

Couple more questions:

When you leave Atlanta headed for Nashville are manually switching the S-46 to TDMA? Or do you leave it in Automatic? (I found you lose GSM about mile marker 299 on I-75). I have been manually switching to keep from dropping calls and I have heard you get better battery life because the phone does not keep looking for a GSM signal.

What software firmware version is your S-46 on?

Thanks maybe you can help me resolve this I have an open trouble ticket with ATT and they are clueless.

 

Calhoun is "Extended Area" on my phone....I lose the GSM signal just north of Cartersville (MM295 or so) and don't pick it back up until north of Calhoun (MM325)...interestingly, my 6360 dumps out and heads for Cingular a good 10 miles before the S46 does.

Once I pick up the (Telecorp) AT&T signal near Dalton, it stays AT&T continuously up through Nashville and on to Louisville, KY...I have found that sometimes it will try to Roam/No Service going over Monteagle on I-24 but I think this is a signal issue. I am using the HandsFree USA installed car kit with external antenna which tends to help.

S/W version is 24....although I have seen some new ones with version 32 now??

 

awesom hey parthery what can ya tell me about the rollout shcedule for VABeach and/or Ocean City?
thanks a bunch

 

a rep at the columbia mall store in maryland told me that ocean city is switched on and going through testing right now. She said it will be officially launched in a month or so but that you can get signal there now while they test. But as always take anything reps say with a grain of salt!

 

I'm sure Cingular will block roaming on all Suncom & AT&T GSM... I wish they wouldn't because that would certainly improve coverage markedly.

 

Actually Cryogenic from what I understand Cingular Wireless and SunCom (Triton PCS) have both TDMA and GSM roaming agreemeants with each other.

 

SunCom (Triton) will launch GSM/GPRS for commercial sale in Richmond and Norfolk in February...the sites may already be on for commercial traffic and AT&T roaming customers. Actually, a large piece of their area (I-85 between Atlanta and Charlotte and most of I-95 between Savannah and Richmond) will be activated for testing and AT&T roaming traffic within the next couple months.

Interestingly, it appears that SunCom will not be selling any GAIT or Multi Band Handsets (i.e. Siemens S46)...and yes - Cingular GSM/GAIT customers WILL be able to roam in the SunCom GPRS network.

 

Well, it's nice to know that Cingular GSM customers will be able to roam on Suncom's GSM systems.... the only problem is that most of rural VA (Roanoke, for example) might be a little while before they're launched. That means I'm still going to be going awhile without any coverage up there. Thank god for US Cellular.