1. #1
    jdbacz
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    I currently have a tmobile prepaid phone. I've seen on this forum that if you don't get good reception (which I don't all the time), you can manually set your phone to select another network. I've tried this - it finds Cingular, but when I select it, it says "No system access". Could this be because of the phone? It is a 2-year-old basic Nokia model, I don't know the model #. I wonder if a newer phone model would allow this. I'd love to have the Cingular reception at the Tmobile price!


    See More: TMobile using Cingular network




  2. #2
    Bourn Identity
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    Re: TMobile using Cingular network

    T-Mobile ToGo only works on T-Mobile's network, it doesn't have roaming. If you were to switch over to post-paid, then you may choose a plan with included roaming.



  3. #3
    roberts1953
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    Re: TMobile using Cingular network

    Quote Originally Posted by Bourn Identity
    T-Mobile ToGo only works on T-Mobile's network, it doesn't have roaming. If you were to switch over to post-paid, then you may choose a plan with included roaming.
    Actually, Tmobile ToGo prepaid DOES have roaming. Check out the prepaid coverge map. No extra cost to roam either. In some places it is cingular, but not always. If you are in an area that allows roaming then the phone should switch over automatically. If you have the phone set to "automatic network selection". I would just leave it on this setting. Manual searches do allow you to see what networks have signals, but unless tmobile allows roaming in the area it wont log on to the other networks. Best just to check the coverage map if curious about coverage, and leave the phone on auto. If you manually choose a network that roaming is alowed on it wont switch back when tmobile again offers a better signal.



  4. #4
    roberts1953
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    Re: TMobile using Cingular network

    Quote Originally Posted by jdbacz
    I currently have a tmobile prepaid phone. I've seen on this forum that if you don't get good reception (which I don't all the time), you can manually set your phone to select another network. I've tried this - it finds Cingular, but when I select it, it says "No system access". Could this be because of the phone? It is a 2-year-old basic Nokia model, I don't know the model #. I wonder if a newer phone model would allow this. I'd love to have the Cingular reception at the Tmobile price!
    The phone model and age makes no difference on if it roams or not. It is competely dependent on where tmobile has opened up roaming for its prepaid users. The only exception to that is if the phone is capable of 850 and 1900 where the service provider has roaming agreements in place.

    BTW, what is your monthly minute usage? If it averages 125 minutes or so then look into Net10. Tmobile gives a 10 cents/min rate with the $100 card, but limited coverage, even with roaming. Net10 is always 10 cents/min. The catch is that the expirations are not as generous as tmobile. So if you will spend $12.50/month (125 min/month) on average then Net10 becomes an excellent deal. And what you get for the trouble is that Net10 will roam on many GSM networks including Cingular, Tmobile, and other regionals. You could have MORE then cingular coverage for the same price as Tmobile if your minimum usage is high enough.



  5. #5
    Bourn Identity
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    Re: TMobile using Cingular network

    Quote Originally Posted by roberts1953
    Actually, Tmobile ToGo prepaid DOES have roaming. Check out the prepaid coverge map. No extra cost to roam either. In some places it is cingular, but not always. If you are in an area that allows roaming then the phone should switch over automatically. If you have the phone set to "automatic network selection". I would just leave it on this setting. Manual searches do allow you to see what networks have signals, but unless tmobile allows roaming in the area it wont log on to the other networks. Best just to check the coverage map if curious about coverage, and leave the phone on auto. If you manually choose a network that roaming is alowed on it wont switch back when tmobile again offers a better signal.
    T-Mobile To Go customers are only able to roam on T-Mobile's network. Go here: Expanded 850 mhz Roaming Coverage FAQs

    "850 MHz roaming allows T-Mobile postpaid customers to access roaming service in areas that previously were not accessible. Currently 850MHz roaming is not available for T-Mobile To Go customers."



  6. #6
    roberts1953
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    Re: TMobile using Cingular network

    Quote Originally Posted by Bourn Identity
    T-Mobile To Go customers are only able to roam on T-Mobile's network. Go here: Expanded 850 mhz Roaming Coverage FAQs

    "850 MHz roaming allows T-Mobile postpaid customers to access roaming service in areas that previously were not accessible. Currently 850MHz roaming is not available for T-Mobile To Go customers."
    See for yourself. Tmobile prepaid now offers roaming on 1900 AND 850.
    Prepaid Coverage Check - Coverage Maps for your calling coverage and service coverage areas

    Everything with the little green boxes is 1900 roaming on non-tmobile towers. A good example is the Carolinas.
    Everything with the diagonal green bars is 850 roaming. Ceck out coverage in Arkansas, Missouri, and Kentucky for example. They have huge areas of 850 roaming on tmobile prepaid.

    No extra charge to use your minutes in these areas while roaming! I see that tmobile needs to update their FAQs.



  7. #7
    Bourn Identity
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    Re: TMobile using Cingular network

    Quote Originally Posted by roberts1953
    See for yourself. Tmobile prepaid now offers roaming on 1900 AND 850.
    Prepaid Coverage Check - Coverage Maps for your calling coverage and service coverage areas

    Everything with the little green boxes is 1900 roaming on non-tmobile towers. A good example is the Carolinas.
    Everything with the diagonal green bars is 850 roaming. Ceck out coverage in Arkansas, Missouri, and Kentucky for example. They have huge areas of 850 roaming on tmobile prepaid.

    No extra charge to use your minutes in these areas while roaming! I see that tmobile needs to update their FAQs.
    Yeah I see the 850 roaming on the map, but I have never heard of To Go customers being able to actually use it. Maybe my T-Mobile rep. forgot to mention it or something. How long have they been able to roam on 850? and I guess they do need to update the FAQ lol



  8. #8
    roberts1953
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    Re: TMobile using Cingular network

    Quote Originally Posted by Bourn Identity
    Yeah I see the 850 roaming on the map, but I have never heard of To Go customers being able to actually use it. Maybe my T-Mobile rep. forgot to mention it or something. How long have they been able to roam on 850? and I guess they do need to update the FAQ lol
    ToGo Roaming has been around for a few weeks. It started as just one small area in the Midwest. It keeps expanding every so often. The way it's been expanding it looks like tmobile isn't done adding on to roaming yet. But who knows.



  9. #9
    future145
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    Re: TMobile using Cingular network

    Quote Originally Posted by roberts1953
    BTW, what is your monthly minute usage? If it averages 125 minutes or so then look into Net10. Tmobile gives a 10 cents/min rate with the $100 card, but limited coverage, even with roaming. Net10 is always 10 cents/min. The catch is that the expirations are not as generous as tmobile. So if you will spend $12.50/month (125 min/month) on average then Net10 becomes an excellent deal. And what you get for the trouble is that Net10 will roam on many GSM networks including Cingular, Tmobile, and other regionals. You could have MORE then cingular coverage for the same price as Tmobile if your minimum usage is high enough.
    t-mo PP first starts you off at 25c per min, then when you buy more mins it goes down to 19c
    when you buy $100 worth of minutes (either by slowly buying smaller cards or the $100 card) you become a gold reward member and it turns to 10c per min i think



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