FAQ: Don't ATTWS and Cingular subscribers now have the same coverage?

A: Yes and no.

Post-merger Cingular still has two separate networks, the old ATTWS (blue)
network and the old Cingular (orange) network. While both ATTWS and Cingular
customers can now freely roam on the other network, thus given all subscribers
the same coverage, frequency band issues aside, the difference is that such
roaming can only happen when there is no "usable" home network signal, and a
"usable" signal can actually be pretty crappy.

In other words, ATTWS (blue) handsets will only roam on the Cingular (orange)
network if there is no "usable" ATTWS (blue) network signal, and vice versa,
even with ENS. Thus in any given location a blue handset may get much better
service (on the blue network) than an orange handset (given a "usable" orange
signal), and vice versa.

The new Cingular ENS handsets and Cingular (orange) 64K SIMs (if you have
both) make it possible for Cingular to manually change your "home" network (to
blue or orange) OTA (over the air), thus giving subscribers the better of the
two networks until the two networks are actually integrated. However, even
with ENS, the handset still *isn't* able to automatically select the better
network signal -- GSM roaming rules still apply.

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

---

› See More: FAQ: Don't ATTWS and Cingular subscribers now have the same coverage?

Is there any neat mapping of orange/blue to 840/1900? The reason I ask
is that I switched from tmo to attws in January of this year. My wife
continued to use her tmo phone (6100), which she liked better. Her
reception has been fine (Boston).

Is there I way I can tell on my triband phone (6820) when I'm on 850
and when I'm on 1900? If I can do that, I can advise my wife on
locations where her phone might not work. Or am I missing something
here?

John Navas wrote:
> A: Yes and no.

> The new Cingular ENS handsets and Cingular (orange) 64K SIMs (if you have
> both) make it possible for Cingular to manually change your "home" network (to
> blue or orange) OTA (over the air), thus giving subscribers the better of the
> two networks until the two networks are actually integrated. However, even
> with ENS, the handset still *isn't* able to automatically select the better
> network signal -- GSM roaming rules still apply.


Also, I've been noticing that as a new Cingular Orange customer, using a
Cingular Blue tower to make a call still gets lsited as roaming on your
actual bill, though not on your online usage summary. I would've
thought they'd have eliminated that by now. Not that it makes a
difference really, but it does cause a lot fo confusion to be "roaming"
when technically, the towers all read "Cingular" now.


--
E-mail fudged to thwart spammers.
Transpose the c's and a's in my e-mail address to reply.

> Also, I've been noticing that as a new Cingular Orange customer, using a
> Cingular Blue tower to make a call still gets lsited as roaming on your
> actual bill, though not on your online usage summary. I would've
> thought they'd have eliminated that by now. Not that it makes a
> difference really, but it does cause a lot fo confusion to be "roaming"
> when technically, the towers all read "Cingular" now.

Maybe not...Cingular is switching everything to 310-410. ATTWS at 310-380, or
Cingular Blue, is not yet part of the "Cingular Network", even though Cingular owns
it, it is still a separate network.

It's kind of like Ford owning Volvo. Even though each still has a separate network
of dealerships and repair shops, they are still separate. Cingular just dropped the
ATTWS name, but still has a separate network. Some parts of ATTWS have been
"swapped" or sold off, some parts have been integrated into the Cingular network,
and some parts are awaiting integration.

TH

> A: Yes and no.
>
> Post-merger Cingular still has two separate networks, the old ATTWS (blue)
> network and the old Cingular (orange) network. While both ATTWS and Cingular
> customers can now freely roam on the other network, thus given all subscribers
> the same coverage, frequency band issues aside, the difference is that such
> roaming can only happen when there is no "usable" home network signal, and a
> "usable" signal can actually be pretty crappy.
>
> In other words, ATTWS (blue) handsets will only roam on the Cingular (orange)
> network if there is no "usable" ATTWS (blue) network signal, and vice versa,
> even with ENS. Thus in any given location a blue handset may get much better
> service (on the blue network) than an orange handset (given a "usable" orange
> signal), and vice versa.
>
> The new Cingular ENS handsets and Cingular (orange) 64K SIMs (if you have
> both) make it possible for Cingular to manually change your "home" network (to
> blue or orange) OTA (over the air), thus giving subscribers the better of the
> two networks until the two networks are actually integrated. However, even
> with ENS, the handset still *isn't* able to automatically select the better
> network signal -- GSM roaming rules still apply.

Don't forget that Blue GSM users can freely switch networks with a SIM utility.

TH

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.attws - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Tue, 02 Aug 2005 08:20:04 -0400,
Tropical Haven <[email protected]> wrote:

>> A: Yes and no.
>>
>> Post-merger Cingular still has two separate networks, the old ATTWS (blue)
>> network and the old Cingular (orange) network. While both ATTWS and Cingular
>> customers can now freely roam on the other network, thus given all subscribers
>> the same coverage, frequency band issues aside, the difference is that such
>> roaming can only happen when there is no "usable" home network signal, and a
>> "usable" signal can actually be pretty crappy.
>>
>> In other words, ATTWS (blue) handsets will only roam on the Cingular (orange)
>> network if there is no "usable" ATTWS (blue) network signal, and vice versa,
>> even with ENS. Thus in any given location a blue handset may get much better
>> service (on the blue network) than an orange handset (given a "usable" orange
>> signal), and vice versa.
>>
>> The new Cingular ENS handsets and Cingular (orange) 64K SIMs (if you have
>> both) make it possible for Cingular to manually change your "home" network (to
>> blue or orange) OTA (over the air), thus giving subscribers the better of the
>> two networks until the two networks are actually integrated. However, even
>> with ENS, the handset still *isn't* able to automatically select the better
>> network signal -- GSM roaming rules still apply.
>
>Don't forget that Blue GSM users can freely switch networks with a SIM utility.

How?

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

I can force my V180, acquired from ATTWS just before the merger, from
Cingular Blue to Orange, and vice versa by choosing Settings|Network|New
Network (or Available Networks).
>>
>>Don't forget that Blue GSM users can freely switch networks with a SIM
>>utility.
>
> How?
>
> --
> Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
> John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

> >> A: Yes and no.
> >>
> >> Post-merger Cingular still has two separate networks, the old ATTWS (blue)
> >> network and the old Cingular (orange) network. While both ATTWS and Cingular
> >> customers can now freely roam on the other network, thus given all subscribers
> >> the same coverage, frequency band issues aside, the difference is that such
> >> roaming can only happen when there is no "usable" home network signal, and a
> >> "usable" signal can actually be pretty crappy.
> >>
> >> In other words, ATTWS (blue) handsets will only roam on the Cingular (orange)
> >> network if there is no "usable" ATTWS (blue) network signal, and vice versa,
> >> even with ENS. Thus in any given location a blue handset may get much better
> >> service (on the blue network) than an orange handset (given a "usable" orange
> >> signal), and vice versa.
> >>
> >> The new Cingular ENS handsets and Cingular (orange) 64K SIMs (if you have
> >> both) make it possible for Cingular to manually change your "home" network (to
> >> blue or orange) OTA (over the air), thus giving subscribers the better of the
> >> two networks until the two networks are actually integrated. However, even
> >> with ENS, the handset still *isn't* able to automatically select the better
> >> network signal -- GSM roaming rules still apply.
> >
> >Don't forget that Blue GSM users can freely switch networks with a SIM utility.
>
> How?

It depends upon the phone, but Blue *SIM cards* allow you to view networks, and
choose. However, they may not always be available, like I can't roam on T-Mobile in
my home market. I took a transcontinental trip last month and tried it in various
markets, most of which I was able to use two to four carriers. In northern Indiana,
I was able to use Cingular Orange, Cingular Blue, T-Mobile, and Centennial.

TH