Future of GSM phones with AT&T ???

I work for a company that still uses the "Original AT&T" GSM plan. We are very happy with what we have. I have been buying unlocked GSM phones on eBay to replace our phones when they die. This works great for us.

Now I am hearing rumors that AT&T is going to phase out their GSM phones in the near future. Or they will stop all of their old original GSM plans that we have had for 4 years now. I don't know what to believe.

Does anyone know for sure what the real facts are?

We have been contacted by Cingular and now the "New" AT&T trying to get us to "upgrade" our plan. What they are really doing is trying to get us to go with a new plan that costs more money.

I am in need of about six new GSM phones but I am hesitating to buy them because of the rumors that they are getting rid of their GSM service.

Please help me out here. Thank You.

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I had AT&T before it was Cingular, then all through Cingular and now AT&T again. My personal service has gone downhill since the new kings took over. But, it's unlikely they will be getting rid of GSM service.

GSM is the basic phone service, it is not about to go away. For internet use, it is likely that they will in the future sell only EDGE and 3G capable phones.
As far as the old ATT plans, they are likely to go away.

Originally Posted by RickB55

I work for a company that still uses the "Original AT&T" GSM plan. We are very happy with what we have. I have been buying unlocked GSM phones on eBay to replace our phones when they die. This works great for us.

Now I am hearing rumors that AT&T is going to phase out their GSM phones in the near future. Or they will stop all of their old original GSM plans that we have had for 4 years now. I don't know what to believe.

Does anyone know for sure what the real facts are?

We have been contacted by Cingular and now the "New" AT&T trying to get us to "upgrade" our plan. What they are really doing is trying to get us to go with a new plan that costs more money.

I am in need of about six new GSM phones but I am hesitating to buy them because of the rumors that they are getting rid of their GSM service.

Please help me out here. Thank You.

What you are talking about is the originial AT&T Wireless plans (known as Cingular Blue). These plans were derived when the old AT&T wireless was a TDMA carrier, on the verge of switching to GSM when AT&T became Cingular. The New at&t is requiring everyone on these old plans to switch because they are dropping TDMA and AMPS in 2009, and they are going to drop the old billing databases as well.
As far as AT&T dropping GSM itself, not going to happen. They are making a ton being the largest GSM provider in the US. You will just have to change to a newer rate plan at some point, that is all.