Old Cingular plan with Analog in NC (roaming) and upgrade to Nokia6340i

<snip>
> I picked up another 6340i from eBay and it is a cingular branded phone.
> I put my Ericsson SIM in it, and it works.
>
> Q. Does this mean the Analog capability of the phone is enabled?
<snip>
No you need a esn swap for that to work, just call CS and ask for a esn swap
to your new phone. Look under the battery for the Electronic Serial Number.
The 6340 has both a IMEI number for GSM as well as ESN for TDMA & AMPS. Get
a extra battery or two as analog eats the battery fast.

---

› See More: Old Cingular plan with Analog in NC (roaming) and upgrade to Nokia6340i

Raleigh, NC.
History...
Several years ago I signed up for a Cingular local plan with 150
minutes and free long distance ($25) using Ericsson CF888 (GSM-850 +
AMPS). The phone performs well. I got two plans/phones, one for spouse.

We have trips back home to indian and the GSM did not work because they
were GSM-1900 (my hindsight). Analog Roaming worked well.

But the main reason I needed Analog was my annual camping trip to very
remote Kerr Lake, barely across the border into VA. The Ericsson Roamed
to a tower 56 miles away (just barely). I was the only person in the
campground with a working phone in May 2001-2.

Summer of 2002 I wanted to upgrade to a phone with working PC access to
the Address Book. I chose the Nokia 6340I and I upgraded my wife because
it works with the Indiana GSM 1900. Worked great.

When Cingular told me the upgrade would lose Analog service in NC
because Sprint owned all the Analog in NC and SC. and the phone models
(including the 6340i) are blocked for Analog access at the tower level.
I had to abort the upgrade for MY phone and I retained the Ericsson. It
continued to work in VA. through Summer 2004, still roaming to a
competitor tower.

2005 Anticipation.
I picked up another 6340i from eBay and it is a cingular branded phone.
I put my Ericsson SIM in it, and it works.

Q. Does this mean the Analog capability of the phone is enabled?

Q. Are there some other configuration settings I should check on?

Thanks
Carl [email protected]

> 2005 Anticipation.
> I picked up another 6340i from eBay and it is a cingular branded phone.
> I put my Ericsson SIM in it, and it works.
>
> Q1. Does this mean the Analog capability of the phone is enabled?

A1. No, it does not mean that Analog capability is enabled. When any
compatible and active SIM card is placed in the Nokia 6340i phone, the
phones will act as a dual-band GSM phone in terms of communicating with
GSM towers. Unless that specific SIM was registered with the ESN, it
will not work.

> Q2. Are there some other configuration settings I should check on?

You would have to make sure that your *plan* has GAIT capability. This
would allow you to use GSM 850, GSM 1900, TDMA 800, TDMA 1900, and AMPS
(800).

Cingular turned off my GAIT twice. Verizon still supports AMPS and CDMA
so that is the only phone that will work in non-GSM areas.

I speak from bitter experience there is not 6340I GAIT service anymore
in NC. Only pure GSM. Recommend we call Cingular and confirm specific
zip codes you travel to. If they have no coverage on a GSM phone you
may not have or could lose services any time.

DoctorZ wrote:
> Cingular turned off my GAIT twice. Verizon still supports AMPS and CDMA
> so that is the only phone that will work in non-GSM areas.
>
> I speak from bitter experience there is not 6340I GAIT service anymore
> in NC. Only pure GSM. Recommend we call Cingular and confirm specific
> zip codes you travel to. If they have no coverage on a GSM phone you
> may not have or could lose services any time.

Who was the analog roaming partner in NC? Especially if it might have
been a legacy roaming agreement, that roaming partner may now despise
Cingular (such as Verizon Wireless or another carrier) and refuse to let
Cingular customers utilize the network, even though it would mean extra
revenue. The same may be true for TDMA partners that migrated to CDMA
instead of GSM (such as U.S. Cellular), and it may not have any more
TDMA coverage to roam on.

TH

Then Cingular is charging the higher GAIT fees, knowing their AMPS
roaming
Agreements were not being honored. Sounds like criminal fraud.

Its not just NC as without GAIT, Cingular does not have perfect
coverage. Even in certain parts of metro Atlanta, I know of several
people that had to terminate their contract after TDMS was shut off. My
6340I would latch onto a American Roaming TDMS network and Cingular 3rd
level tech told me there was nothing they could do. I guess they are
not considering putting up more GSM cell sites in Atlanta.

DoctorZ wrote:
> Then Cingular is charging the higher GAIT fees, knowing their AMPS
> roaming
> Agreements were not being honored. Sounds like criminal fraud.

Actually, it's not. AFAIK, there is a clause in the terms and
conditions that Cingular does not guarantee coverage, and that coverage
can change at any time. Imagine that you own North American Van Lines.
You have a "roaming" agreement with the Florida Turnpike to allow your
vehicles to use that network for a modest fee, say 5 cents. Your
agreement was 5 years long and you started it in 1999. In 2004, when
the agreement expires, Florida Turnpike is unwilling to renew the
agreement, causing you have your drivers use it at a cost of $2.50.
That could be a substantial change. However, Florida Turnpike also
decides that your vehicles are too heavy, and won't allow them to use
your roads at all. There's not much your drivers can do. All your
drivers that signed up in 2003 are going to expect that road coverage
forever.

> Its not just NC as without GAIT, Cingular does not have perfect
> coverage. Even in certain parts of metro Atlanta, I know of several
> people that had to terminate their contract after TDMS was shut off. My
> 6340I would latch onto a American Roaming TDMS network and Cingular 3rd
> level tech told me there was nothing they could do. I guess they are
> not considering putting up more GSM cell sites in Atlanta.

When was this? I was getting coverage in Atlanta with TDMA just last month.

Cingular could have

1) Raised GAIT prices.

2) Provided notice they no longer could offer GAIT service.

Would you pay rent for an apartment, if they moved you to a smaller
one?

More on a house payment if the lender had increased costs?

Could Honda/GM raise someone's monthly auto payment, simply due to
increase in the cost of parts?

Can you not sue a medical facility regardless of the contract you
signed?

At least in my business we would take a loss if we had a subcontractor
that failed to perform. We would still meet our obligations and sue the
subcontractor. Dumping the customer with no notice, is stupid long
term. Continue to charge for service you have no intention of offering
is not fraud? Maybe they will cancel all service and pocket the money
for the next x years.

"DoctorZ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Cingular could have
>
> 1) Raised GAIT prices.
>
> 2) Provided notice they no longer could offer GAIT service.
>
> Would you pay rent for an apartment, if they moved you to a smaller
> one?
>
> More on a house payment if the lender had increased costs?
>
> Could Honda/GM raise someone's monthly auto payment, simply due to
> increase in the cost of parts?
>
> Can you not sue a medical facility regardless of the contract you
> signed?
>
> At least in my business we would take a loss if we had a subcontractor
> that failed to perform. We would still meet our obligations and sue the
> subcontractor. Dumping the customer with no notice, is stupid long
> term. Continue to charge for service you have no intention of offering
> is not fraud? Maybe they will cancel all service and pocket the money
> for the next x years.
>

DoctorZ,
You keep ranting about Cingular no longer offering GAIT service. I have had
a GAIT phone since that option was first offered, and originally it was on a
GAIT specific plan. I recently changed my plan to NATP1000P and added a
v551 phone. My account was provisioned with "GAIT calling area" and GAIT
for GSM." I pay the regular rate for my plan, which also happened to be a
promotional plan with extra rollover minutes I believe.
I can move my SIM between the v551 and my T62u, and each functions as it is
supposed to. My T62u connects to TDMA networks when necessary. I have not
had occasion to see an AMPS network since I made the change.
I'm not sure why you think GAIT service has been discontinued, or why you
have such a "burr under your saddle" but I suggest you check into it
further.
I seem to recall that you said you changed carriers, and if so I don't know
why you're belaboring the issue anyway. You seem bent on spreading
incorrect information. Why the chip on your shoulder?

Bob

It costs me about $36K in damages, so far. Since Cingular is not
informing their customers prior to deactivation of AMPS and TDMS, I
believe its useful inform others.

When/if Cingular terminates your TDMA access and assuming this causes a
loss of coverage, would you not inform others?

Sorry you think the truth is a rant or a chip, but hopefully it will
help others. For example the fact Verizon still offers onsite repairs
and Cingular will ship a replacement phone is an important issue for
some people. Its not a rant or chip to bring it to people's attention.
This way each person can make an informed decision.

Verizon data access is far ahead of Cingular in speed and coverage.
This is important to some people and not others.

If I lived in KY and never traveled, Cingular would be a preferred
choice.

If I need to travel in 50 states, Cingular is not a choice.

> It costs me about $36K in damages, so far. Since Cingular is not
> informing their customers prior to deactivation of AMPS and TDMS, I
> believe its useful inform others.

Why would you have $36,000 riding on everything from a *single* phone.
If you had that much riding on it, it should have been immaterial and
well worth it to ALWAYS stock a few phones from competing services.

> When/if Cingular terminates your TDMA access and assuming this causes a
> loss of coverage, would you not inform others?
>
> Sorry you think the truth is a rant or a chip, but hopefully it will
> help others. For example the fact Verizon still offers onsite repairs
> and Cingular will ship a replacement phone is an important issue for
> some people. Its not a rant or chip to bring it to people's attention.
> This way each person can make an informed decision.
>
> Verizon data access is far ahead of Cingular in speed and coverage.
> This is important to some people and not others.

Actually, I find Cingular data has better access than that of Verizon
Wireless. Cingular allows its customers to use data while roaming,
while Verizon data is much much much much more limited than its voice
territory.

> If I lived in KY and never traveled, Cingular would be a preferred
> choice.
>
> If I need to travel in 50 states, Cingular is not a choice.

Like I say, it depends, because I find Cingular's data coverage much
more comprehensive than that of Verizon Wireless.

I purchased a VT720 phone from Verizon after Cingular (actually BSM
provided notice) cancelled their one number service, which allowed
service in NC.

Still once a customer calls and gets a disconnect message they will
assume you are out of business. My accounts are auto debit and always
paid so there was no explanation for the disconnect message by
Cingular.

If Cingular had informed me they would disable GAIT; I could have
notified potential customers of the port and provided alternative
contact info.

By posting here, this will lead people requiring business class
service, from suffering a loss.

What do you base your data coverage claim on? The 1/17/2005 Wall Street
Journal has an article titled "Here Comes 3G. Really". The WSJ points
out real differences in the services and coverage. This may help people
determine the best provider for their own requirements.

Verizon "32 cities at 400Kbs-2Mbs, covering about 75 million people,
or about a quarter of the U.S. population" is certainly better than
the UMTS "Cingular Wireless, is currently offered in only six
cities" EVDO is faster than MTS. Having used Verizon's 144Kbs
service the speed does make a difference for certain business
requirements.

Surely Cingular would not let this go unchallenged if it was false.

DoctorZ wrote:
>
> I purchased a VT720 phone from Verizon after Cingular (actually BSM
> provided notice) cancelled their one number service, which allowed
> service in NC.
>
> Still once a customer calls and gets a disconnect message they will
> assume you are out of business. My accounts are auto debit and always
> paid so there was no explanation for the disconnect message by
> Cingular.

Sometimes systems have hiccups. My Verizon Communications landline was
down for extended periods of time last year. Yet I don't deduce that
Verizon decided to shut off all its landline customers. It was just an
unfortunate turn of events in the area, and they didn't seem to have a
priority to fix the system. Not this has anything to do with Verizon
Wireless or Cingular, it's just an example.

> If Cingular had informed me they would disable GAIT; I could have
> notified potential customers of the port and provided alternative
> contact info.

You don't have alternate contact information when riding with $36000 USD?

I guess that's a risk you're willing to take. I would never ride a
whole entire business on only one mobile phone without any alternate
ways of contacting me.

> By posting here, this will lead people requiring business class
> service, from suffering a loss.
>
> What do you base your data coverage claim on? The 1/17/2005 Wall Street
> Journal has an article titled "Here Comes 3G. Really". The WSJ points
> out real differences in the services and coverage. This may help people
> determine the best provider for their own requirements.

I recently traveled with a friend who had Verizon Wireless.

> Verizon "32 cities at 400Kbs-2Mbs, covering about 75 million people,
> or about a quarter of the U.S. population" is certainly better than
> the UMTS "Cingular Wireless, is currently offered in only six
> cities" EVDO is faster than MTS. Having used Verizon's 144Kbs
> service the speed does make a difference for certain business
> requirements.

Well...awhile back the CDMA carriers were bragging of their widespread
3G technology (CDMA2000 1xrtt). However, if 1xrtt is 3G on CDMA2000 and
UMTS is 3G for the GSM providers, it stands to reason that the GSM
providers have better technology.

I'm happy for Verizon Wireless that it has such a wonderful but very
limited national data network. I'm also happy that I had access to my
Cingular data when traveling on roaming partners. My friend didn't have
access to his data with a Verizon Wireless unit, so he kept wanting to
use my Blackberry.

> Surely Cingular would not let this go unchallenged if it was false.

"DoctorZ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> If Cingular had informed me they would disable GAIT; I could have
> notified potential customers of the port and provided alternative
> contact info.
>

Cingular has not disabled GAIT. I'm using it.

Even if service was unavailable at your location, callers would not get a
disconnect message. Their calls would go to voice mail unless Cingular/BSM
had cause to cancel your service.

What's the REAL story, DoctorZ?

"Tropical Haven" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> DoctorZ wrote:
>> Then Cingular is charging the higher GAIT fees, knowing their AMPS
>> roaming
>> Agreements were not being honored. Sounds like criminal fraud.
>
> Actually, it's not. AFAIK, there is a clause in the terms and conditions
> that Cingular does not guarantee coverage, and that coverage can change at
> any time. Imagine that you own North American Van Lines. You have a
> "roaming" agreement with the Florida Turnpike to allow your vehicles to
> use that network for a modest fee, say 5 cents. Your agreement was 5
> years long and you started it in 1999. In 2004, when the agreement
> expires, Florida Turnpike is unwilling to renew the agreement, causing you
> have your drivers use it at a cost of $2.50. That could be a substantial
> change. However, Florida Turnpike also decides that your vehicles are too
> heavy, and won't allow them to use your roads at all. There's not much
> your drivers can do. All your drivers that signed up in 2003 are going to
> expect that road coverage forever.
>
>> Its not just NC as without GAIT, Cingular does not have perfect
>> coverage. Even in certain parts of metro Atlanta, I know of several
>> people that had to terminate their contract after TDMS was shut off. My
>> 6340I would latch onto a American Roaming TDMS network and Cingular 3rd
>> level tech told me there was nothing they could do. I guess they are
>> not considering putting up more GSM cell sites in Atlanta.
>
> When was this? I was getting coverage in Atlanta with TDMA just last
> month.

They were sued for not (and lost) for not giving proper time to cancel a new
contract. If they change coverage they should give the customer a warning
and enough time to test the coverage. We paid them for almost a year for
poor coverage that was a result of the change.

T

>