New TDMA charge

Saw this note on my latest bill. Sorry if this is old news.



"The rates for your service on Cingular's TDMA/Analog network are

increasing. As early as September, a TDMA/Analog network charge of $4.99

per line will appear on your bill each month. Alternatively, you have the

option to upgrade to a handset and rate plan on our new and improved GSM

network, the largest voice and data network in America, with the fewest

dropped calls of any national wireless carrier. To learn more, visit a

Cingular store near you."

---

› See More: New TDMA charge

Jeff A. Farrar wrote:
> Saw this note on my latest bill. Sorry if this is old news.
>
>
>
> "The rates for your service on Cingular's TDMA/Analog network are
>
> increasing. As early as September, a TDMA/Analog network charge of $4.99
>
> per line will appear on your bill each month. Alternatively, you have the
>
> option to upgrade to a handset and rate plan on our new and improved GSM
>
> network, the largest voice and data network in America, with the fewest
>
> dropped calls of any national wireless carrier. To learn more, visit a
>
> Cingular store near you."

I think that Cingular is jiving you, since there are several mistakes in
that statement. First of all, the TDMA/Analog network is larger than the
GSM network. Second, they don't have the largest voice and data
network in America (and they would have said "U.S.," not America), and
there is no proof that they have the fewest dropped calls. So that's
three errors just in that one paragraph, which means that they must be
joking.

"SMS" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Jeff A. Farrar wrote:
>> Saw this note on my latest bill. Sorry if this is old news.
>>
>>
>>
>> "The rates for your service on Cingular's TDMA/Analog network are
>>
>> increasing. As early as September, a TDMA/Analog network charge of $4.99
>>
>> per line will appear on your bill each month. Alternatively, you have the
>>
>> option to upgrade to a handset and rate plan on our new and improved GSM
>>
>> network, the largest voice and data network in America, with the fewest
>>
>> dropped calls of any national wireless carrier. To learn more, visit a
>>
>> Cingular store near you."
>
> I think that Cingular is jiving you, since there are several mistakes in
> that statement. First of all, the TDMA/Analog network is larger than the
> GSM network. Second, they don't have the largest voice and data network in
> America (and they would have said "U.S.," not America), and there is no
> proof that they have the fewest dropped calls. So that's three errors just
> in that one paragraph, which means that they must be joking.

That is exactly the way it read on my bill. I looked at the bill online and
copied it verbatim (cut and paste). I had already planned on switching to
GSM within the next week so it didn't effect me. But now it looks they are
going to start helping speed up the process by pushing them along.

Jeff A. Farrar wrote:

> That is exactly the way it read on my bill. I looked at the bill online and
> copied it verbatim (cut and paste). I had already planned on switching to
> GSM within the next week so it didn't effect me. But now it looks they are
> going to start helping speed up the process by pushing them along.

As long as you're prepared to lose all that analog coverage, then go for
it. Personally, I always advise people to change to CDMA/AMPS, so they
can keep the analog, but in my area (Northern California) AMPS is very
useful, where you are maybe it's different.

SMS wrote:
> Jeff A. Farrar wrote:
>
>> That is exactly the way it read on my bill. I looked at the bill
>> online and copied it verbatim (cut and paste). I had already planned
>> on switching to GSM within the next week so it didn't effect me. But
>> now it looks they are going to start helping speed up the process by
>> pushing them along.
>
>
> As long as you're prepared to lose all that analog coverage, then go for
> it. Personally, I always advise people to change to CDMA/AMPS, so they
> can keep the analog, but in my area (Northern California) AMPS is very
> useful, where you are maybe it's different.

I was going to switch to CDMA/AMPS/Sprint anyway. They still have a
$29.99 plan available. This just reinforces my decision.

Of course if one wants to "split hairs" and talk about
correct terminology, "GSM" is not a technological term.
GSM does use a particular technology which is mainly
TDMA, but a different advanced type of TDMA. This
"GSM" has many limitations which means that for high-
speed data "GSM" goes to WCDMA.. There are still some
states and areas where there is mainly analog and TDMA
in use. The thing that keeps "GSM" going is that it is
widely used by more subscribers, but sooner or later,
in my opinion, will reach its limits, but by then will
probably have changed so much that it won't be
recognizable as the original.

"SMS" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Jeff A. Farrar wrote:
>
>> That is exactly the way it read on my bill. I looked at the bill online
>> and copied it verbatim (cut and paste). I had already planned on
>> switching to GSM within the next week so it didn't effect me. But now it
>> looks they are going to start helping speed up the process by pushing
>> them along.
>
> As long as you're prepared to lose all that analog coverage, then go for
> it. Personally, I always advise people to change to CDMA/AMPS, so they can
> keep the analog, but in my area (Northern California) AMPS is very useful,
> where you are maybe it's different.

Both (GSM&TDMA) seem to be pretty close in this area. I figure TDMA is
going away in a year or so anyway. I'll give GSM a chance for 30 days and
if I don't like it, back it goes. Main reason is Cingular's cheapest family
share plan is $10 a month cheaper that Verizon.

Jeff A. Farrar wrote:

> Both (GSM&TDMA) seem to be pretty close in this area. I figure TDMA is
> going away in a year or so anyway. I'll give GSM a chance for 30 days and
> if I don't like it, back it goes. Main reason is Cingular's cheapest family
> share plan is $10 a month cheaper that Verizon.

This is true, but doesn't Sprint have a family plan similar to
Cingular's? What's really nice about Sprint is the earlier nights and
weekends, which lets you get away with a lower number of peak minutes.
Also, if you do go over your minute limit occasionally, you don't pay an
outrageous price for it, like you do on Verizon.

It's not GSM versus TDMA or GSM versus CDMA where the big coverage
difference exists, it's GSM versus TDMA+AMPS and GSM versus CDMA+AMPS.
With a tri-mode phone of Verizon or Sprint, you have far more coverage
than with a GSM phone. If you go to the mountains, or outside urban
areas, AMPS is still very useful.

SMS <[email protected]> wrote:
> Jeff A. Farrar wrote:
>
>> Both (GSM&TDMA) seem to be pretty close in this area. I figure TDMA is
>> going away in a year or so anyway. I'll give GSM a chance for 30 days and
>> if I don't like it, back it goes. Main reason is Cingular's cheapest family
>> share plan is $10 a month cheaper that Verizon.
>
> This is true, but doesn't Sprint have a family plan similar to
> Cingular's? What's really nice about Sprint is the earlier nights and
> weekends, which lets you get away with a lower number of peak minutes.
> Also, if you do go over your minute limit occasionally, you don't pay an
> outrageous price for it, like you do on Verizon.
>
> It's not GSM versus TDMA or GSM versus CDMA where the big coverage
> difference exists, it's GSM versus TDMA+AMPS and GSM versus CDMA+AMPS.
> With a tri-mode phone of Verizon or Sprint, you have far more coverage
> than with a GSM phone. If you go to the mountains, or outside urban
> areas, AMPS is still very useful.
>

With Verizon they are only selling a couple of tri-mode phones and soon, I
expect, they will not be selling any. Sprint still sells quite a few tri-mode
phones, but they have no begun selling dual-band digital only phones, so I
fear they are not far behind Verizon on this. In short, I would look at these
phones and see if what you want is there, but in general, I would make a
decision based upon a digital only future. Just my 2 cents.

--
Thomas T. Veldhouse
Key Fingerprint: 2DB9 813F F510 82C2 E1AE 34D0 D69D 1EDC D5EC AED1

In article <[email protected]>,
SMS <[email protected]> wrote:

> Jeff A. Farrar wrote:
>
> > Both (GSM&TDMA) seem to be pretty close in this area. I figure TDMA is
> > going away in a year or so anyway. I'll give GSM a chance for 30 days and
> > if I don't like it, back it goes. Main reason is Cingular's cheapest
> > family
> > share plan is $10 a month cheaper that Verizon.
>
> This is true, but doesn't Sprint have a family plan similar to
> Cingular's? What's really nice about Sprint is the earlier nights and
> weekends, which lets you get away with a lower number of peak minutes.
> Also, if you do go over your minute limit occasionally, you don't pay an
> outrageous price for it, like you do on Verizon.

But Sprint's phones use 1900 Mhz, which means on any call over a couple
of minutes, the phone gets hot, and after a some months of that, the
phone dies. Usually 2 days after the warranty is up.

"Jack Zwick" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> SMS <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Jeff A. Farrar wrote:
>>
>> > Both (GSM&TDMA) seem to be pretty close in this area. I figure TDMA is
>> > going away in a year or so anyway. I'll give GSM a chance for 30 days
>> > and
>> > if I don't like it, back it goes. Main reason is Cingular's cheapest
>> > family
>> > share plan is $10 a month cheaper that Verizon.
>>
>> This is true, but doesn't Sprint have a family plan similar to
>> Cingular's? What's really nice about Sprint is the earlier nights and
>> weekends, which lets you get away with a lower number of peak minutes.
>> Also, if you do go over your minute limit occasionally, you don't pay an
>> outrageous price for it, like you do on Verizon.
>
> But Sprint's phones use 1900 Mhz, which means on any call over a couple
> of minutes, the phone gets hot, and after a some months of that, the
> phone dies. Usually 2 days after the warranty is up.

Still bitter, Phillipe?

Jack Zwick <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> But Sprint's phones use 1900 Mhz, which means on any call over a couple
> of minutes, the phone gets hot, and after a some months of that, the
> phone dies. Usually 2 days after the warranty is up.

What are you talking about? I have had many Sprint PCS phones and not one has
died. None. They don't get hot; at most a little warm, and that has NOTHING
to do with the phone being PCS.

What agenda do you have that you make such a post?

--
Thomas T. Veldhouse
Key Fingerprint: 2DB9 813F F510 82C2 E1AE 34D0 D69D 1EDC D5EC AED1

Scott <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> But Sprint's phones use 1900 Mhz, which means on any call over a couple
>> of minutes, the phone gets hot, and after a some months of that, the
>> phone dies. Usually 2 days after the warranty is up.
>
> Still bitter, Phillipe?
>

I am glad it is not just me that know him by his first name.

--
Thomas T. Veldhouse
Key Fingerprint: 2DB9 813F F510 82C2 E1AE 34D0 D69D 1EDC D5EC AED1

Scott <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> But Sprint's phones use 1900 Mhz, which means on any call over a couple
>> of minutes, the phone gets hot, and after a some months of that, the
>> phone dies. Usually 2 days after the warranty is up.
>
> Still bitter, Phillipe?
>

He hasn't changed much over the years either.

User-Agent: MT-NewsWatcher/3.4 (PPC Mac OS X)

Upgraded to OS X, but that's about it.

--
Thomas T. Veldhouse
Key Fingerprint: 2DB9 813F F510 82C2 E1AE 34D0 D69D 1EDC D5EC AED1

Jack Zwick wrote:

> But Sprint's phones use 1900 Mhz, which means on any call over a couple
> of minutes, the phone gets hot, and after a some months of that, the
> phone dies. Usually 2 days after the warranty is up.

Huh?