With the news of an AT&T merger in the next year, I'm starting to make plans. I would rather exhaust every other options than to be stuck with AT&T.
Anybody know of any good pre-paid, alternative GSM phone company? My friend has H2O but I don't think they support the Vibrant.
So, what is you guys experience with them? Does their data/coverage suck?
For GSM, you're out of luck... you could try simple mobile or walmart, but they both use tmobile's network.
You have to move to a cdma provider Verizon, sprint, cricket, metro pcs, virgin mobile., etc.
Which actually makes a good point. After this merger AT&T will pretty much be the one and only GSM network in the US. Would this still be considered a monopoly? I LOVE being able to pull my sim out and put it in another phone quickly and easily plus I believe the call quality is much better. But that means I MUST use AT&T.
Related
Is this possible? I went into a Sprint store and they told me that it was against store policy to do that.
I really like this phone but I hate Cingular service it has to be the worst possible out there.
I appreciate any and all answers.
thanks in advance!
I beleive they are two different types.. Cingular is GSM .. I forget what sprint is.. but it's not GSM
nope wont work att is gsm sprint is cdma
so I guess I need to go back to cingular to still use this phone? Any others carriers I can use it on that may be worth my time?
Sprint uses CDMA, which is an old, OLD OOOOLLLLDDDD technology.
Sprint invested a lot in building the CDMA network in North America so they seem reluctant to abandon it, even if it is an inferior network infrastructure in nearly every measurable way.
With almost all other carriers, it is possible to unlock phones, swap SIM cards, etc., to change providers. With Sprint, it's not possible.
You could move to T-Mobile service easily. I'm not sure about Verizon.
Doom Tints said:
Sprint uses CDMA, which is an old, OLD OOOOLLLLDDDD technology.
Sprint invested a lot in building the CDMA network in North America so they seem reluctant to abandon it, even if it is an inferior network infrastructure in nearly every measurable way.
With almost all other carriers, it is possible to unlock phones, swap SIM cards, etc., to change providers. With Sprint, it's not possible.
You could move to T-Mobile service easily. I'm not sure about Verizon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very true. T-Mobile and AT&T are the only major GSM carriers in the USA. Verizon, like Sprint is CDMA.
American Networks
Cingular/AT&T = GSM
T-Mobile = GSM
Sprint+nextel = CDMA/TDMA
Verizon = CDMA
US Cellular = CDMA
Thats all I know, i will keep digging
Here's a list of current and future GSM carriers in the USA, most of which I've never heard of:
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_us.shtml
So another big-ish player who uses GSM would be Alltel.
Here's a list of CDMA carriers, if interested:
http://www.rentcell.com/cdma-info.htm
um... alltel is most deff CDMA and dobson cellular systems (which at&t just bought) also uses GSM..
revol wireless is cdma
northcoast pcs is cdma also
No, this website is correct about Alltel. If you look at its GSM coverage map, their GSM coverage is a bit limited. It's just not GSM where you are.
I don't know about the others you mentioned, or care.
so do alltel phones run dual then? cdma/gsm? cuz ive NEVER seen a gsm alltel phone at the store.. unless that area you mentioned has special phones
dbroncos38 said:
Is this possible? I went into a Sprint store and they told me that it was against store policy to do that.
I really like this phone but I hate Cingular service it has to be the worst possible out there.
I appreciate any and all answers.
thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
BEST POST EVER!
hahahahahahahahaha
Altell mainly uses CDMA in the US and only uses GSM for roaming partner revenue. CDMA is not old oudated technology either ATT/Cingular is using WCDMA now which is slightly different.
Sprint does have an equivalent to the 8525. It was the MDA and now it's the prophet I think - you may want to double check that. You should be able to ebay your 8525 for about as much as an ebay prophet will cost you.
hi
The prophet is also a GSM phone
as much as everyone hates at&t, i've had them for 10 years. Lately, the customer service has been much better, and I have never had a problem with service in my area. I would look over at my girlfriend's phone, which is T-Mobile, and then look over at my 8525, and when I had full service with at&t, she either had none or barely one bar. at&t is apparently spending $18 MIL a day putting up 70 new towers a week to expand not only the regular network, but the 3g network. also, if you go with t-mobile (correct me if i am wrong) but you won't get umts/hspda. good luck with your choice.
-Nstefanelli-
gthing said:
Sprint does have an equivalent to the 8525. It was the MDA and now it's the prophet I think - you may want to double check that. You should be able to ebay your 8525 for about as much as an ebay prophet will cost you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprint has the PPC6800 and, VZW is rumored to soon have the XV6800. Both are the same phones that are labeled for each carrier. It is the HTC Mogul (TyTN with WM6 and slightly smaller).
As for which network strategy is better, that has become quite a religious war because there is not much different anymore. CDMA always had the technical advantage, but now with WCDMA, there is much more parity.
As for which one is older, GSM was there before CDMA. To me, the key benefit to GSM based networks is that they can be used almost anywhere (given the right radio frequencies in the phone). CDMA is limited.
Doom Tints said:
No, this website is correct about Alltel. If you look at its GSM coverage map, their GSM coverage is a bit limited. It's just not GSM where you are.
I don't know about the others you mentioned, or care.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it is true that Alltel "owns" GSM, but that is because in 2005 they purchased a company called Western Wireless. They still run as two seperate companies. Alltel runs their network based completely on CDMA and has roaming agreements with Sprint and Verizon.
Here is a map for you: http://www.mountainwireless.com/Alltel_ww.jpg
Deadem said:
Altell mainly uses CDMA in the US and only uses GSM for roaming partner revenue. CDMA is not old oudated technology either ATT/Cingular is using WCDMA now which is slightly different.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ATT only have CDMA back then..then they upgraded their network to GSM and phase out the CDMA network to better compete with Cingular and T-mobile. Now with the merger between ATT and Cingular, they only have GSM networks. The new WCDMA is planned to boost its 3G speed.
It boils down to this: GSM is the worldwide standard for cellular phone communication, except in the U.S. If you never plan on travelling outside the U.S. then the CDMA technology is fine for you (Sprint, Verizon). If you ever think you may want to travel ANYWHERE outside the U.S. and take your phone with you for quick and easy communication, and maybe even data link, then consider GSM. In the U.S. that would be ATT/Cingular, T-Mobile (there may be a few new smaller outfits as well). ATT/Cingular leads the pack in 3G/HSDPA (cellular broadband) coverage.
Service seems to depend on who, at the present time, is #1 in subscribers and who is trying to BECOME #1. I originally had Verizon until my travels took me overseas frequently. Verizon's customer svc had started to fall off as far as I was concerned. My experience with ATT/Cingular's cust svc gets them a rating of 'Fair'--nothing spectacular, but I don't use cust svc very often and their signals are the best around.
Do you think hd2 owners who have at&t will get to use tmobiles wavelength and finally get more than edge network from this happening??
For reference if new to this subject at&t and tmobile both have an EDGE network on the same wavelength so on an unlocked tmobile hd2 one can use the slow 2g internet connection of at&t, but the 3g networks run off of different bands so an at&t # can't connect to any 3g whatsoever, with at&t's purchase of tmobile wouldn't at&t have to utilize tmobiles 3g wavelength in order to still provide 3g and 3.5g to everyone with tmobile phones that aren't compatible with at&t's current network? If so then I'm personally benefitting from this and finally getting a decent mobile data speed on my tmobile phone with my at&t network
Please don't bash at&t here, I know they suck, I've used their service for quite some time now, I'm just looking for opinions and facts on this matter
and I know euro hd2's already pick up at&t 3g, I'm talking about tmous hardware
From what I have read it seems that in a year or so if this deal is accepted by the FCC at&t will reuse and refit tmobiles network towers/equipment to use there 4g LTE network and give it a boost while removing T-Mobile service altogether causing us T-Mobile 3g/4g users to get new phones that work on AT&T's data network so in your case I highly doubt it there really isn't a benefit for AT&T or T-mobile other then T-Mobile users will be able to have different range of phones (mostly iPhone) I really hope the FCC denies this deal not only does it kills another service provider option limiting us to 3 major companies and forces people escaping the high price of service from sprint, Verizon, and At&t (I've been on them all and left because of price and QOS) but also makes AT&T top dog just because they bought out another company
Yea I read about this yesterday. Highly pissed off. I can't stand at&t. Crappy phone signal, high prices, and crappy customer service. I hope this deal does not go through. Just like when sprint was supposed to buy tmobile. Hopefully it's just a rumor.
XsceneXhippieX said:
Do you think hd2 owners who have at&t will get to use tmobiles wavelength and finally get more than edge network from this happening??
For reference if new to this subject at&t and tmobile both have an EDGE network on the same wavelength so on an unlocked tmobile hd2 one can use the slow 2g internet connection of at&t, but the 3g networks run off of different bands so an at&t # can't connect to any 3g whatsoever, with at&t's purchase of tmobile wouldn't at&t have to utilize tmobiles 3g wavelength in order to still provide 3g and 3.5g to everyone with tmobile phones that aren't compatible with at&t's current network? If so then I'm personally benefitting from this and finally getting a decent mobile data speed on my tmobile phone with my at&t network
Please don't bash at&t here, I know they suck, I've used their service for quite some time now, I'm just looking for opinions and facts on this matter
and I know euro hd2's already pick up at&t 3g, I'm talking about tmous hardware
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually I have read that its the exact opposite......AT&T has planned to upgrade all of Tmobiles service towers to the 4G LTE, leaving all T-Mobile Branded 3g phones unable to access
robstillholdin said:
Actually I have read that its the exact opposite......AT&T has planned to upgrade all of Tmobiles service towers to the 4G LTE, leaving all T-Mobile Branded 3g phones unable to access
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, about 5 minutes after i posted this i saw the article stating that at&t is decommissioning tmobile's 3/3.5g towers to use them for their LTE, too bad at&t is already selling "4g" phones (ie the atrix and the inspire 4g) with no capability of utilizing TRUE 4g via LTE later on... anyone else think at&t will re-release said phones as LTE devices for $50 more than the hspa versions? i cant wait to switch to verizon personally, but im waiting for a htc pyramid compatible with verizons 4g network to switch
I received a letter from tmobile if I wanted to attend a meeting/conference for San Jose, Ca becuase my current phone service will be upgraded.... not removed....
Is this confirmed yet? If so, I am going to be HIGHLY pissed off. I HATE AT&T with a passion and refuse to use their service.
Is it possible to unlock my HD2 and my fiancee's Galaxy S Vibrant to use on Sprint or Verizon?
Specialk47150 said:
Is this confirmed yet? If so, I am going to be HIGHLY pissed off. I HATE AT&T with a passion and refuse to use their service.
Is it possible to unlock my HD2 and my fiancee's Galaxy S Vibrant to use on Sprint or Verizon?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, only for gsm networks, which is now going through an approval process to become a single gsm network, not confirmed until the fcc gives the word though so keep your fingers crossed!
Sent from cyanogen mod 7
Specialk47150 said:
Is this confirmed yet? If so, I am going to be HIGHLY pissed off. I HATE AT&T with a passion and refuse to use their service.
Is it possible to unlock my HD2 and my fiancee's Galaxy S Vibrant to use on Sprint or Verizon?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No Tmobile and AT&T use sim cards and use totally different frequencies
If the deal passes I highly doubt that the T-mobile name will continue for long. Especially since both carriers operate on the voicestream network. This will combine T-mobile's few towers with ATT's many towers. But as someone mentioned earlier niether of these two have real 4G. It ticks me off when I see comercials calling it 4G. Only verizon is rolling out true 4G in LTE.
And in case you haven't heard. T-mobile was going down hill. They were losing money. There were talks of Sprint buying them at first. So it may be a good thing with ATT buying them up.
So since At&t will be acquiring T-Mobile, i was looking into changing carriers. A month ago I came across this company called Simple Mobile. They basically use T-Mobiles frequencies for 3G and 4G. Does anyone use Simple Mobile? Phone plans aren't bad at all but what concerns me is if they'll also be affected by the At&t buy out of T-mobile? Any thoughts?
service is the same, I have friends who use, as for being affected...I have no ideas , but would also like to know
I was looking at simple mobile website too the plans are pretty cheap and i like that you can use your previous phone. If i do switch ill be using my HD2 and maybe picking up vibrant 4g
They will be affected once the buyout takes place. Simple mobile uses Tmobile towers.
I'm thinking of switching my carrier from Verizon to something else. I have unlimited data with Verizon now so its my main reason to stay (this to shall pass). My main reason to change carriers is for devices. I noticed AT&T and T-Mobile get better phones all the time compared to Verizon's line up. So my main question is this, "Is a carrier switch worth it simply for a better device?" If so is AT&T my best choice or should I still consider T-Mobile?
Please try not to carrier bash in this thread. This is not what its for nor is it my goal. Thanks!
PS - I have an iPhone because it was cheaper to repair than my Thunderbolt at the time... worst mistake I ever made!
I'm sure this will get moved, but in general AT&T is going to have the better coverage.
In general, AT&T will offer better coverage while T-Mobile will offer better pricing. The two also handle data overages differently: AT&T will charge you an extra $15* per GB, while T-Mobile will still let you use your connection but at 2G speeds.
Since both are GSM carriers, you also have the option to outright buy any unlocked GSM compatible phone and have it work with at the very least Voice/Text/2G data. For 3G/4G to work, make sure you get one with AWS bands for T-Mobile or 1900Mhz bands for AT&T. Because of this, I dont think choosing one carrier over a phone is a good idea unless you absolutely need that subsidized price. And in that case, I would say go with AT&T since they tend to get the higher end phones (ex. One X vs One S).
Hope that helps.
*Havent checked in a while, this may not be accurate
talk2nate said:
I'm thinking of switching my carrier from Verizon to something else. I have unlimited data with Verizon now so its my main reason to stay (this to shall pass). My main reason to change carriers is for devices. I noticed AT&T and T-Mobile get better phones all the time compared to Verizon's line up. So my main question is this, "Is a carrier switch worth it simply for a better device?" If so is AT&T my best choice or should I still consider T-Mobile?
Please try not to carrier bash in this thread. This is not what its for nor is it my goal. Thanks!
PS - I have an iPhone because it was cheaper to repair than my Thunderbolt at the time... worst mistake I ever made!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your question is subjective - you're going to get opinions from several people who have different priorities than you do and, more importantly in terms of getting a "good" answer, their experiences will be different from what yours would be.
Look at coverage maps in your area and decide which carriers will be available, then make the decision yourself.
There are objective distinctions to be made in the case of AT&T vs. T-Mobile if you were going to buy an unbranded device, but that's not a concern for you.
If you need out of your contract, PM me. I may consider doing an assumption of liability for a line with unlimited data plan. I realize I'd have to outright buy the phones in the future, but Verizon is great in AZ.
Where do you live? Around here (Wichita) T-Mobile only really gives 4g coverage in the city and they didn't used to cover outside at all. But recently they got GRPS in a bunch of rural areas and good voice coverage on the way to my hometown which is NW. Also if they continue refarming the towers they will soon probably get 3g if you have a 1900 UTMS phone now even though it is CDMA. That is what I am doing now and I'm waiting for Wichita to get refarmed.
Sent from my XT862 using XDA
I have a Droid 3 I had on Verizon but pretty much left their service just because I couldn't stand the prices.
Sent from my XT862 using XDA
Howdy kids,
Quick question for those with more knowhow/info on the LTE bands and carriers. In your opinion at this stage of the game... Which US S4 version will have the most compatibily domestically (formost) and internationally? I know he carries all get thier own hardware/modem... im just currious which phone i should try if i might end up switching carries after 6months or so (no contract).
thanks for your thoughts
If I had to guess, probably T-Mobile. Unfortunately where I live, T-Mobile is almost all 2G/3G so I have to go with Sprint CDMA. But GSM networks are definitely the most flexible if you travel.
Sarcron said:
If I had to guess, probably T-Mobile. Unfortunately where I live, T-Mobile is almost all 2G/3G so I have to go with Sprint CDMA. But GSM networks are definitely the most flexible if you travel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I had to guess I'd say AT&T...def not T-Mobile - although both are gsm which adds flexibility, T-Mobile has terrible service and AT&T has better service (not saying ATT has the best...but its def better than T-Mobile) and sprint service is pretty bad too...
Also keep in mind it depends on where you live. The above is based on where I love which is southern California (orange county)
But definitely go for either the T-Mobile or att as gsm networks seem to be the most flexible
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2
Yep, GSM all the way if you travel and probably the snapdragon for the LTE if you have it in your home area or roam frequently where it is available. I'd likely go AT&T for the coverage unless you are in an area where you get good Tmo service and seldom leave it. No reason not to save the ching and get a cheaper plan with Tmo in that case.
I'd also add that if you plan on going off-contract and paying the full phone price, T-Mobile has the advantage of offering much better prepaid plans with unlimited data.
At&t id say. The verizon one will to but im betting the bootloader will be locked up. Once a dev cracks it then im sure roms will follow.