use GAIT phone on GSM plan?

I'm still on a GAIT plan even though I've been using a pure-GSM phone
for more than a year. But I've been thinking of changing to a GSM rate
plan. I want to know if I can still use my GAIT phone on a GSM plan. I
realize I wouldn't have access to TDMA service but that's ok. The
reason I want to be able to use my GAIT phone is for when I go out on
my boat, I'd rather take the cheap GAIT phone on the boat instead of
the expensive GSM phone.
Thanks

---

› See More: use GAIT phone on GSM plan?

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> I'm still on a GAIT plan even though I've been using a pure-GSM phone
> for more than a year. But I've been thinking of changing to a GSM rate
> plan. I want to know if I can still use my GAIT phone on a GSM plan. I
> realize I wouldn't have access to TDMA service but that's ok. The
> reason I want to be able to use my GAIT phone is for when I go out on
> my boat, I'd rather take the cheap GAIT phone on the boat instead of
> the expensive GSM phone.
> Thanks
>
Fairly sure someone said you can switch to pure GSM and still swap the
card back and forth--the GAIT phone will work on GSM; it *may* continue
to work on TDMA/AMPS also *IF* the CSR doesn't specifically remove those
options. You would probably get hit with roaming charges if the GAIT
phone did switch off GSM. You didn't say which GAIT phone but I think
the Eric can be set to GSM-only.

That's certainly not an option I would consider. In this area there are
still vast regions that do NOT have GSM despite the fact that Cingular's
map shows it's there. The map seems to assume that all their TDMA/AMPS
roaming partners have converted to GSM when in truth almost none of them
have. Turns out not even all of Cingular's towers have been converted--
I ran across a big area north west of Weatherford last week that was
still TDMA.

Once you move off the GAIT plan most likely they will NOT let you move
back to it later should you need it. Me--I'd keep the GAIT plan until I
was absolutely sure I wouldn't need TDMA or AMPS--especially AMPS! If
you haven't needed it in a whole year then you may be lucky enough to
really be in an area fully converted.

You could always buy a cheap GSM only phone off ebay if you're concerned
about loosing an expensive one.
--
Jud
Dallas TX USA

>I want to know if I can still use my GAIT phone on a GSM plan.

Of course you can. Works just fine.

I am using a 6340i on my T-Mobile plan without a hitch!

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

[email protected] wrote:
> I'm still on a GAIT plan even though I've been using a pure-GSM phone
> for more than a year. But I've been thinking of changing to a GSM rate
> plan. I want to know if I can still use my GAIT phone on a GSM plan. I
> realize I wouldn't have access to TDMA service but that's ok. The
> reason I want to be able to use my GAIT phone is for when I go out on
> my boat, I'd rather take the cheap GAIT phone on the boat instead of
> the expensive GSM phone.
> Thanks

I see that two other have already replied to you message. You didn't say
what phone you where using so I'm going to assume the Nokia 6340i. To
put it simply, a Cingular GSM only sim card will NOT work in the Nokia
6340i. However as John pointed out, his T-mobile sim card works fine.
I'm not exactly sure why, but At&t and T-mobile card will work in the
phone provided its unlocked. However, when you put a Cingular sim card
in the phone the phone starts up and appears to function, however when
you attempt to place a call it will send you to Cingular customer
support. When I put the unit I was testing into Field Test/Netmonitor I
discovered the GSM parts of the phone were not even being used. Instead,
the phone connected to Cinuglar's TDMA network. There is a rumor of a
"Reverse GAIT" will allows you to do this, but nothing is official yet.
My Advice is to stay on a GAIT plan unless you absolutely need something
that can only be added to a GSM only plan.

[email protected] wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I'm still on a GAIT plan even though I've been using a pure-GSM phone
> for more than a year. But I've been thinking of changing to a GSM rate
> plan. I want to know if I can still use my GAIT phone on a GSM plan. I
> realize I wouldn't have access to TDMA service but that's ok. The
> reason I want to be able to use my GAIT phone is for when I go out on
> my boat, I'd rather take the cheap GAIT phone on the boat instead of
> the expensive GSM phone.
> Thanks

I have questions about how GAIT plans work as well. Here's some more
info from another GAIT user.

{Dan A. wrote in another thread,
Google View Thread "Mag mount antennas?"
2004/09/01 alt.cellular.verizon]

"One bad thing about GAIT so far : If you're in an area with no GSM,
and your SIM is a GSM-only SIM (ala GoPhone) then your phone will
yield an error when trying to select TDMA/analog. The problem I
experience is that when GSM signal is available again, the phone
doesn't automatically find it. I have to power-cycle the phone. I'm
beginning to think it would have been better to buy a Sony Ericson
T226 -- just a GSM-Only phone with 850 and 1900 to avoid this issue.
Anyway, no biggy either way. A GAIT phone, activated on a GAIT plan is
a truly powerful thing, but a GAIT phone with a GSM-only SIM isn't
ideal. "

Q: "So to get full multinetwork capability, do you need a regular
yearly ATT/Cingular contract plan? Is there a special GAIT plan?"

"Yes. In GAITland, the SIM contains info needed for both GSM and TDMA
which is actually very weird. I do not believe it would be possible to
do two different GSM/TDMA plans."

-
Dave