Question re Cingular & SIM cards

I am in the process of moving to the US from the UK. In the UK we use
SIM Cards for all service providers so it is easy to switch your hand
set and just swith the SIM card over.

However, visiting my parents (who are on Verizon) I have noticed they
do not use SIM cards. I know T-Mobile do over in the States but I was
wondering if Cingular did as it is these who I would rather join.

Also if they do is it just a case of switching SIM cards if you change
your phone?

Many thanks in advance

Ross


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Rosso81

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› See More: Question re Cingular & SIM cards

Cingular uses sim cards, and yes you can just switch your sim card - but only if it is a phone from the same carrier (ie cingular sim, cingular phone) or the phone is unlocked. It is also important to make sure the phone & system are compatible (cingular uses 850/1900 freq, a 1900 only phone might not work as well in your area whether it is unlocked or not)....

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

In <[email protected]> on Tue, 30 Aug 2005 17:23:55
-0700, Joseph <[email protected]> wrote:

>In the USA several different technologies are used for mobile. AMPS
>analogue was the oldest and still exists to some extent though it's
>digital only in urban areas. The only areas that remain covered with
>analogue AMPS are the very rural areas.

AMPS is still available in urban areas.

>GSM up until 2002 was mainly
>just on VoiceStream which became T-Mobile.

Also PacBell which became Cingular here in California.

>In 2002 cingular and AT&T
>Wireless decided to overlay their "TDMA IS-136" digital systems with

Also known as D-AMPS.

>GSM. GSM when first deployed in North America was deployed in the PCS
>"1900" band. When cingular and AT&T Wireless overlayed their systems
>with GSM to take advantage of spectrum which they held they also put
>GSM in the "cellular" 800/850 frequency. That's where the problem
>lies for visitors since most "world" phones are 900/1800/1900 but for
>optimum reception with cingular (which absorbed AT&T Wireless) you
>really do need a handset that is capable of receiving GSM 850 as well.

Depends on the area -- some areas don't have any GSM 850 coverage.

>If you intend to use cingular you'll need to either buy a second-hand
>handset that does 850 as well as 1900 or get a quad-banded handset.

Or a tri-band handset with 850/1800/1900.

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