Useful info. Thanks Robert!

Originally Posted by golfadkt

Hi
First off I know nothing about cell phones! I have a Nokia 3560 which I bought with an old At&t plan. I am told it does not have a sim card and is not a gsm phone. I have Cingular cell service now. I will be going to another state (zip 33176) for a few months. What do I have to do to get a cell phone to use in the other state so I will not have roaming charges added to my bill?What phone is recommended? I have seen "unlocked" cell phones on Ebay Should I buy one of these if so what kind? Thanks for any help!

Your 3560 is a TDMA and AMPS phone. It is only operational on the old ATT and partners network, not GSM. It uses an electronic serial number in the phone to track your usage. GSM phones use a SIM card that is removable, allowing you to use it in any unlocked phones. Since Cingular baught out ATT they are trying to convert all TDMA customers over to their newer GSM network. Cingular will not allow you to make many changes to your account without changing your plan to one of their GSM plans. If you have a national plan then there shouldn't be any roaming charges.

You have a few of options-

Keep your old phone and plan. TDMA has excellent FL coverage. See if they will allow you to change your Tel # to a FL #. By the way, TDMA will be turned off in early 2008.

Sign up with a new GSM plan and buy a phone from Cingular.

Buy a cingular branded or unlocked phone on Ebay, and a SIM from ebay or a Cingular store. Put in the sim and activate the account.

Unlock fone is good for every GSM sim, except for Nextel. If ya have free roaming. I got free roaming from T-m, I move from CA to TX for 6 months, T-m just billed me as regular.
Enjoy,
Poly

Hi
First off I know nothing about cell phones! I have a Nokia 3560 which I bought with an old At&t plan. I am told it does not have a sim card and is not a gsm phone. I have Cingular cell service now. I will be going to another state (zip 33176) for a few months. What do I have to do to get a cell phone to use in the other state so I will not have roaming charges added to my bill?What phone is recommended? I have seen "unlocked" cell phones on Ebay Should I buy one of these if so what kind? Thanks for any help!