Cingular as GSM?

[fadedevolution]

Ok. So I know what GSM and CDMA are now, and I know who is who. I live in Utah where Cingular isn't offered right now. It works if you have it, but you cant sign up if you live here. But Cingular recently bought out ATT wireless and (at a whooping price of 41 billion dollars) is going to be here soon. So soon it will be Cingular and Tmobile on GSM and Verizon and Sprint on CDMA. BUT, I have read lots of threads on this forum and no one seems to use Cingular. Why?? everyone uses Tmobile or sometimes ATT. Is Cingular not truly GSM or just uses the frequencies and not Sim cards or something? I am rather perplexed and wondered if anyone could clear the air for me. Thanks!!

[TheZodiac]

I think if you included Vodafone, Orange and others (as alot of peopel are from the UK, AU, and Europe) we can get allot more resposes to the POLL, wudya say? :)

[fadedevolution]

Well... I was mostly interested why people HERE use Tmobile ATT or Cingular I know all the other carriers but I dont really care who uses them... Cause I was just curioius what is used in the states. But if anyone could naswer my origional questions too that would be awesome. Thanks

[Box215]

No, Cingular is GSM (850/1900) just like ATT and T-Mobile (1900 only) I use T-Mobile, i cant really tell you why people dont use Cingular. Here in New York, CIngular isnt that popular, but i know that it is extremelt popular in the southeastern states (its owned by bellsouth). People must us eit because its the second largest wireless company in the states. I guess it just depends on where you live and what service is avaliable to you.

[jimkata2000]

AFAIK Cingular is newer to GSM than ATT and TMobile. Thats kind of my understanding as to why the are trying to buy AT&T. If you go to www.gsmworld.com and look at the roaming maps, you'll see that TMobile and AT&T have better overall coverage in the US than Cingular does. I am currently an AT&T customer, but thinking of switch to Cingular in case the merger doesn't happen. Their 850 Mhz coverage in my home area beats the pants of AT&T's, though they are both just getting started in the 850Mhz range.

Probably more info that you were interested in, but hope it helps.

[fadedevolution]

That was some useful Information. Just one more follow up question.. Since they did buy ATT when it becomes said and done 4Q this year, what frequencies will the new company have? Cause ATT already has 1900, and so if they add those two theya re going to have three frequencies just within thier own company. Is there somewhere, somehow to find out what frequenices are used by which companies and where?? Because that would be helpful

[Box215]

Both ATT and Cingular use the 850/1900 frequency, so there'll only be 2 frequencies in the new Cingular, not 3.

[fadedevolution]

What does Tmobile Use? so every ATT/Cingular phone is automatically a dual band?

[fadedevolution]

So what frequency does Tmobile use?

So every ATT/Cingular phone is a dualband just to be used within network?

[Box215]

T-Mobile only uses 1900. It's gotten to the point where all ATT phones are dual band (850/1900), because the 850 network has become popular. Not sure about Cingular. Not all ATT phones are dual band...some support the 1800 band and 2 (the Motorola V600 and the NEC 525) support all 4 GSM bands.

[jimkata2000]

I recently visited Cingular's site and most of their GSM phones are duel band 850/1900. But watch out, they still have a few 1900 only, which could be ok in your area, but if your in a rural area or in building a lot, make sure to get one with 850Mhz.

As far as why more people don't use Cingular, I've heard some buz that their customer service isn't too hot, and billing gets messed up more than a few times. My daughter got a phone from a local cell phone shop, and they sold her a CDMA(I think) phone with a two year contract. In our area, Cingular is moving most of their 850 lines to GSM. Her converage has gone to pot. She checked with Cingular directly, and they are switching phones for customers to get on GSM, but she wasn't far enought into her contract to switch. Of course Cingular didn't sell her the phone directly, but their distributor did and is leave a bad feeling for Cingular. She's also had billing problems to straighten out.