Need a GSM phone that would also work in rural areas

Hi,

I'd like to find a GSM phone that would also work in less populated areas:
like on skiing trip in Utah, for example. Doesn't it mean that analog
roaming support is required? My carrier is Cingular. Also, abot so-called
GSM World phones: ones with triple or quad band GSM - do they extend
coverage (as compared to regular GSM phones) when used in US and Canada
only?
I bought Nokia 3595 for my mother. Call quality is wonderful with it. But
I'm concerned that if I also ordered that model for myself, it could only be
used around main cities.

Thanks,
Boris

---

› See More: Need a GSM phone that would also work in rural areas

You don't need just any "World" GSM phone, that's not going to get you
additional coverage anywhere expect outside North America. You need a GAIT
handset, which can do TDMA/AMPS (analog), and GSM. These handsets are used
whenever TDMA networks are in transition to GSM, and allows the user the
traditional coverage area, and GSM usage when available. Cingular offers
these handsets for sale in areas that have a Cingular legacy (TDMA/AMPS)
networks in operation. In California, Washington, and Northern Idaho GAIT is
not available from Cingular because these markets have always been 1900 MHz
GSM only.

"Boris Dynin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi,
>
> I'd like to find a GSM phone that would also work in less populated areas:
> like on skiing trip in Utah, for example. Doesn't it mean that analog
> roaming support is required? My carrier is Cingular. Also, abot so-called
> GSM World phones: ones with triple or quad band GSM - do they extend
> coverage (as compared to regular GSM phones) when used in US and Canada
> only?
> I bought Nokia 3595 for my mother. Call quality is wonderful with it. But
> I'm concerned that if I also ordered that model for myself, it could only
be
> used around main cities.
>
> Thanks,
> Boris
>
>

In article <[email protected]>,
"Boris Dynin" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I'd like to find a GSM phone that would also work in less populated areas:
> like on skiing trip in Utah, for example. Doesn't it mean that analog
> roaming support is required? My carrier is Cingular. Also, abot so-called
> GSM World phones: ones with triple or quad band GSM - do they extend
> coverage (as compared to regular GSM phones) when used in US and Canada
> only?
> I bought Nokia 3595 for my mother. Call quality is wonderful with it. But
> I'm concerned that if I also ordered that model for myself, it could only be
> used around main cities.
>
> Thanks,
> Boris


The only ones I see on the Cingular web page are the Nokia 6340i and the
Sony/Ericissn T62u .

You are abolutely correct that in remote rural areas you might need a
phone that would work on Analog networks.

On Thu, 05 Feb 2004 10:53:35 GMT, "Boris Dynin" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>I'd like to find a GSM phone that would also work in less populated areas:
>like on skiing trip in Utah, for example. Doesn't it mean that analog
>roaming support is required? My carrier is Cingular.

Where you live makes a difference. If you are in a cingular GSM only
market such as CA/NV and the Carolinas you won't have the option of
anything other than just GSM. If you are in cingular's other areas
where they were one of the "cellular" licensees you could get a GAIT
phone such as the Nokia 6340i or the Ericcson T62U. If you are on the
west coast or east coast in the Carolinas that option's not available
to you.

>Also, abot so-called
>GSM World phones: ones with triple or quad band GSM - do they extend
>coverage (as compared to regular GSM phones) when used in US and Canada
>only?

They extend coverage in that they can be used outside of North
America.

>I bought Nokia 3595 for my mother. Call quality is wonderful with it. But
>I'm concerned that if I also ordered that model for myself, it could only be
>used around main cities.

The 3595 would only work in the Americas anywhere there's GSM 850 or
GSM 1900.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply

> Also, abot so-called
>GSM World phones: ones with triple or quad band GSM - do they extend
>coverage (as compared to regular GSM phones) when used in US and Canada
>only?

No, of course not. A world phone is one that would have the capability to use
the frequencies in use in "foreign" countries. Typically they are different in
Asia, Africa, and Europe from what we use here in the Americas.

So unless you go to one of those continents, it probably wouldn't do you any
good to pay extra for a world phone.

--
John S.
e-mail responses to - john at kiana dot net

>I bought Nokia 3595 for my mother. Call quality is wonderful with it. But
>I'm concerned that if I also ordered that model for myself, it could only be
>used around main cities.

Coverage is getting better and better. I recently drove from NYC to Charlotte,
NC and had coverage (GSM) almost the whole distance. The I-Roads are getting
where they are covered pretty well.

I got to NC and drove a few miles off the beaten path on Lake Norman just North
of Charlotte and had service there.

Keep in mind that the coverage is constantly getting better and better. There
are several areas where AT&T is even adding a LOT of capacity.

--
John S.
e-mail responses to - john at kiana dot net

Thanks to everybody who replied to my 1st post!

Boris
"Boris Dynin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi,
>
> I'd like to find a GSM phone that would also work in less populated areas:
> like on skiing trip in Utah, for example. Doesn't it mean that analog
> roaming support is required? My carrier is Cingular. Also, abot so-called
> GSM World phones: ones with triple or quad band GSM - do they extend
> coverage (as compared to regular GSM phones) when used in US and Canada
> only?
> I bought Nokia 3595 for my mother. Call quality is wonderful with it. But
> I'm concerned that if I also ordered that model for myself, it could only
be
> used around main cities.
>
> Thanks,
> Boris
>
>

"Sterling" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> In California, Washington, and Northern Idaho GAIT is
> not available from Cingular because these markets have always been 1900
MHz
> GSM only.

West coast Cingular customers can buy GAIT phones, but you have to go
through a special contact at Cingular's western regional headquarters. You
cannot buy a GAIT phone on-line or in a Cingular store in the western
region. They will not know what you are talking about, or they will deny the
existence of GAIT phones for the western region.

I have the contact information. Anyone interested in a GAIT phone in the
western region can contact me and I will forward your e-mail address to the
Cingular person that can help you.

Note that having a GAIT phone doesn't mean that you can roam onto
non-Cingular TDMA or AMPS where Cingular has GSM service, even if you are in
a dead spot, even if you are willing to pay roaming charges. However, if you
are going to visit areas with no GSM coverage at all, then the GAIT phone
has an advantage. And of course 911 will be available on TDMA or AMPS.

"Joseph" <[email protected]> wrote in message

> Where you live makes a difference. If you are in a cingular GSM only
> market such as CA/NV and the Carolinas you won't have the option of
> anything other than just GSM. If you are in cingular's other areas
> where they were one of the "cellular" licensees you could get a GAIT
> phone such as the Nokia 6340i or the Ericcson T62U. If you are on the
> west coast or east coast in the Carolinas that option's not available
> to you.

West coast Cingular customers can buy GAIT phones, but you have to go
through a special contact at Cingular's western regional headquarters. You
cannot buy a GAIT phone on-line or in a Cingular store in the western
region. They will not know what you are talking about, or they will deny the
existence of GAIT phones for the western region.

I have the contact information. Anyone interested in a GAIT phone in the
western region can contact me and I will forward your e-mail address to the
Cingular person that can help you.

Note that having a GAIT phone doesn't mean that you can roam onto
non-Cingular TDMA or AMPS where Cingular has GSM service, even if you are in
a dead spot, even if you are willing to pay roaming charges. However, if you
are going to visit areas with no GSM coverage at all, then the GAIT phone
has an advantage. And of course 911 will be available on TDMA or AMPS.

"Steven M. Scharf" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> "Joseph" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> > Where you live makes a difference. If you are in a cingular GSM only
> > market such as CA/NV and the Carolinas you won't have the option of
> > anything other than just GSM. If you are in cingular's other areas
> > where they were one of the "cellular" licensees you could get a GAIT
> > phone such as the Nokia 6340i or the Ericcson T62U. If you are on the
> > west coast or east coast in the Carolinas that option's not available
> > to you.
>
> West coast Cingular customers can buy GAIT phones, but you have to go
> through a special contact at Cingular's western regional headquarters. You
> cannot buy a GAIT phone on-line or in a Cingular store in the western
> region. They will not know what you are talking about, or they will deny the
> existence of GAIT phones for the western region.
>
> I have the contact information. Anyone interested in a GAIT phone in the
> western region can contact me and I will forward your e-mail address to the
> Cingular person that can help you.
>
> Note that having a GAIT phone doesn't mean that you can roam onto
> non-Cingular TDMA or AMPS where Cingular has GSM service, even if you are in
> a dead spot, even if you are willing to pay roaming charges. However, if you
> are going to visit areas with no GSM coverage at all, then the GAIT phone
> has an advantage. And of course 911 will be available on TDMA or AMPS.


Actually on the CA/NV statement about the GAIT service is not all
correct. If you are in the Northern NV market such as Reno, Sparks or
Carson City Cingular has GAIT available at their stores, in the Reno
main store they have the GAIT phones with service displayed.
I've tried my Cingular GAIT phone in rural parts of NV, CA, MT, ID,
WA, OR and so far I usually get service of some sort.

It seems, Nokia 3595 is capable of analog roaming.

http://www.letstalk.com/product/prod...42/brandId=140

The above page says it's dual mode. I assume it means both GSM and analog.

Boris

"Jim" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Steven M. Scharf" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> > "Joseph" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >
> > > Where you live makes a difference. If you are in a cingular GSM only
> > > market such as CA/NV and the Carolinas you won't have the option of
> > > anything other than just GSM. If you are in cingular's other areas
> > > where they were one of the "cellular" licensees you could get a GAIT
> > > phone such as the Nokia 6340i or the Ericcson T62U. If you are on the
> > > west coast or east coast in the Carolinas that option's not available
> > > to you.
> >
> > West coast Cingular customers can buy GAIT phones, but you have to go
> > through a special contact at Cingular's western regional headquarters.
You
> > cannot buy a GAIT phone on-line or in a Cingular store in the western
> > region. They will not know what you are talking about, or they will deny
the
> > existence of GAIT phones for the western region.
> >
> > I have the contact information. Anyone interested in a GAIT phone in the
> > western region can contact me and I will forward your e-mail address to
the
> > Cingular person that can help you.
> >
> > Note that having a GAIT phone doesn't mean that you can roam onto
> > non-Cingular TDMA or AMPS where Cingular has GSM service, even if you
are in
> > a dead spot, even if you are willing to pay roaming charges. However, if
you
> > are going to visit areas with no GSM coverage at all, then the GAIT
phone
> > has an advantage. And of course 911 will be available on TDMA or AMPS.
>
>
> Actually on the CA/NV statement about the GAIT service is not all
> correct. If you are in the Northern NV market such as Reno, Sparks or
> Carson City Cingular has GAIT available at their stores, in the Reno
> main store they have the GAIT phones with service displayed.
> I've tried my Cingular GAIT phone in rural parts of NV, CA, MT, ID,
> WA, OR and so far I usually get service of some sort.

"Boris Dynin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
| It seems, Nokia 3595 is capable of analog roaming.
|
|
http://www.letstalk.com/product/prod...42/brandId=140
|
| The above page says it's dual mode. I assume it means both GSM and analog.
|

The 3595 is a GSM only phone, no analog. 850/1900

In article <[email protected]>,
Boris Dynin <[email protected]> wrote:
>It seems, Nokia 3595 is capable of analog roaming.
>
>http://www.letstalk.com/product/prod...42/brandId=140
>
>The above page says it's dual mode. I assume it means both GSM and analog.

Probably means dual _band_ - 1900 and 850 mHz ... all digital.

"Jason Cothran" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Boris Dynin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> | It seems, Nokia 3595 is capable of analog roaming.
> |
> |
>
http://www.letstalk.com/product/prod...42/brandId=140
> |
> | The above page says it's dual mode. I assume it means both GSM and
analog.
> |
>
> The 3595 is a GSM only phone, no analog. 850/1900
I thought so too.
But the web page says: Mode - Dual Mode. Here's what they mean by Mode:
"Mode

Indicates the number of air interface transmission methods (such as analog,
digital, or digital PCS) a phone can use to communicate with a wireless
network. Single mode phones can only work on one type of network, such as
analog or digital. Dual mode phones can work with both analog and digital
networks. Tri-mode phones (aka "dual band, dual mode" and "digital
multi-network (DMN)") can work with analog, digital and digital PCS
networks.".

Boris

"Boris Dynin" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

>
> "Jason Cothran" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
>> "Boris Dynin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> | It seems, Nokia 3595 is capable of analog roaming.
>> |
>> |
>>
> http://www.letstalk.com/product/prod...100/prId=23712
> /to=3042/brandId=140
>> |
>> | The above page says it's dual mode. I assume it means both GSM and
> analog.
>> |
>>
>> The 3595 is a GSM only phone, no analog. 850/1900
> I thought so too.
> But the web page says: Mode - Dual Mode. Here's what they mean by
> Mode: "Mode
>
> Indicates the number of air interface transmission methods (such as
> analog, digital, or digital PCS) a phone can use to communicate with a
> wireless network. Single mode phones can only work on one type of
> network, such as analog or digital. Dual mode phones can work with
> both analog and digital networks. Tri-mode phones (aka "dual band,
> dual mode" and "digital multi-network (DMN)") can work with analog,
> digital and digital PCS networks.".
>
> Boris
>
>

Nokia lists the phone as supporting GSM/GPRS 850/1900. It is not an
analog phone, has no analog support, and does not support digital
protocols that are not GMS.

Scott