Cingular launches 3G!

[difenbaker]

Cingular Launches BroadConnect 3G Network
Today, 12:30 AM source: Cingular

Cingular today launched their long awaited 3G network in 16 metro areas. BroadConnect is the first HSDPA service to launch world-wide. HSDPA increases UMTS's download speeds to an average of 400-700 Kbps. Initially the high speed service is only available to laptop users through the Sierra Wireless AC860 and Novatel 720 PC Cards. The cards cost $100 with a 2 year contract. Unlimited data service is being offered for a promotional price of $60 per month. The service is available in Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Portland OR, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Tacoma and Washington D.C. Cingular will launch HSDPA handsets at a later date. Additionally the company has said it will expand BroadConnect coverage to 100 markets during 2006.

more here:
http://cingular.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=1390



.... sigh, no "Los Angeles" on that list.

[gomez]

Pretty cool news. Can't wait to be connected everywhere.

[Serifan]

... sigh, no "Los Angeles" on that list.
I know how you feel; NYC is also not on the list.

[christomas]

Yeah. Why oh why would they leave NY out :confused:

[carcomptoy]

Because Cingular is stupid...that is pretty pointless, when like the top two cities in the country are left out. It's like leaving London or Paris out of something in their respective cities?:confused:

[foofighter]

Cingular plans to launch UMTS in the LA market in 2007 I think the reason why they are holding off on launching is they're currently building their network frantically to get it up to snuff. Initially they are going to have UMTS on the 1900 PCS frequency and then migrate them over to 850. They built 320 sites last year and plan on doing just the same this year...it's a lot of fun...

[carcomptoy]

Why do they want to migrate them to 850??:confused:

[brad]

Why do they want to migrate them to 850??:confused:
So that America gets short changed on handsets again because of using a different frequency than most other parts of the world.

Sorry...

[carcomptoy]

GRRRR:mad:

[Box215]

Yeah. Why oh why would they leave NY out :confused:

its because cingular's network here is GARBAGE. They need to fix the voice quality issues, among other things, before they can upgrade it.

[hotzigetty]

basically cingular sucks eh??

[Box215]

indeed, i think so. well, for me anyway. basically (from my perspective), cingular would cost more for less minutes, less text messages, pay more for data as well, and worse coverage (imo, since the voice quality is garbage and cingualr would pose no greater coverage for me since i dont travel much, plus t-mobile has increased their coverage tremendously). so yeah, cingular sucks imo