Originally Posted by esvanr

I may do a trial of T-Mobile service, but I just read about the 7-11 pre-paid program that uses the Cingular GSM network. I know that the Cingular GSM coverage is decent around here, and the price for the 7-11 service sounds good.

All I need is two phones with 100 anytime minutes per month for less than $40/month, and I'll be happy...

I think that for light usage like what you said prepaid would be a very good deal. One thing to remember is no trial period with prepaid, though. Do you already have an unlocked GSM phone?

Tmobile To Go Prepaid would be 10 cents/minute with gold rewards. So 100 min is $10/month total for both lines. But the prepaid tmobile doesn't roam like postpaid so make sure the coverage works. For a trial you can pick up a phone for less then $40 that includes starter minutes.

SpeakOut at 20 cents/min would be $20 for 100 minutes/month for both lines on the cingular network.

www.o2wirelessservice.com/index.html would be about $13/month for about 100 min/month for one line on the cingular network.

www.beyondwirelessgsm.com would be about $13/month for about 100 min/month for one line on cinglar's network.

www.net10.com would give you 150 min/month for $15/month for one line.
And runs on both cingular and tmobile for the best coverage.

Yeah, I know that roaming onto another's system for voice coverage is not a big issue. But I've heard that only T-Mobile sites will deliver data services to users of devices like a Crackberry. And like I said, I don't plan on using a data device.

I may do a trial of T-Mobile service, but I just read about the 7-11 pre-paid program that uses the Cingular GSM network. I know that the Cingular GSM coverage is decent around here, and the price for the 7-11 service sounds good.

All I need is two phones with 100 anytime minutes per month for less than $40/month, and I'll be happy...

Originally Posted by esvanr

I did check out the map link from the T-Mobile site, but I was hoping for some anecdotal info. It is quite evident from the map where the antenna sites are. I'm figuring that if you are close to, but not in range of a T-Mobile site, then the phone will roam (to a Cingular site)?

I'm not planning on doing data, so GPRS connectivity (T-Mobile sites only?) is not a concern for me.

If you would like to try tmobile their should be a grace period where you can give it a trial and check out coverage. If you don't like it you can walk away from the contract. By the way, if you roam onto someone else such as Cingular it is not a bad thing. Where roaming is allowed, it is included with your service plan at no additional fee. Consider it enhanced coverage and enjoy it!

Any T-Mobile users out here in the SF Bay Area?

I did check out the map link from the T-Mobile site, but I was hoping for some anecdotal info. It is quite evident from the map where the antenna sites are. I'm figuring that if you are close to, but not in range of a T-Mobile site, then the phone will roam (to a Cingular site)?

I'm not planning on doing data, so GPRS connectivity (T-Mobile sites only?) is not a concern for me.

esvanr,

Click on the following link to search for coverage in any area:


T-Mobile Personal Coverage Check

Be sure to use the "Zoom In" and "Zoom Out" tools and color coded map legend. For the most part, the tool is very accurate.

I didn't see any recent ('06) info on the forum about the T-Mobile coverage in the SF Bay Area.

I'm a Cingular-takeover (former ATTWS) customer, and as soon as my TDMA coverage becomes useless, I'd like to find another provider.

Any new info on the T-Mobile GSM build-out in the Bay Area/Nor-Cal?