Is it still necessary to have a trimode phone?
Although fewer and fewer Verizon phones are trimode, I have found that to make a call from a distance of less than an hour from where I live, requires analogue capability. Furthermore, in perusing the Verizon maps, I find significant areas of the country in which only analogue service is available. I would not, therefore, give up analogue service in any phone I purchase, at least not yet.
I'm told that by 2007, the FCC has mandated that Verizon go to an all-digital system. I'm also told that this will not be binding upon small carriers. If this is correct, what will happen with regard to Verizon's roaming agreements with these small analogue carriers? Will they continue past that date? Will it still be necessary to have a trimode phone pa...
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I'm told that by 2007, the FCC has mandated that Verizon go to an all-digital system. I'm also told that this will not be binding upon small carriers. If this is correct, what will happen with regard to Verizon's roaming agreements with these small analogue carriers? Will they continue past that date? Will it still be necessary to have a trimode phone pa...
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Wow, thats a good question. I can only speculate on this, but I would imagine that Verizon would keep up many of the extended analog agreements as long as they are still needed/profitible. I know when ever someone up in BFE gets trapped in a bear trap while hiking and has a branch fall on their body, and so on and so forth and the person's life is saved from a verizon phone call, verizon loves to talk it up. I still like Tri-mode phones myself, but I have no problems with the all digital. I would also imagine that by 2007 that verizon would probably have gotten alot more digital towers then they do now. of course I'm just guessing
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wow 2007, but we'll all have phones with full high speed internet by then, and fly around in hovercars.
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My guess would be VZW will do what Cingular has done... offer a plan that includes analog. Cingular's primary offerings are GSM only, but we offer GAIT plans which include analog, TDMA and GSM. There are only a couple of handsets that work on the plan, but it is there for those that need it.
Its pretty obvious VZW is distancing themselves from analog, and with good reason. Digital features don't like analog! As they build out more digital coverage, analog will continue to dwindle. Using Cingular's GAIT plan as a model would be the easiest way to appease those who need coverage in BFE.
Its pretty obvious VZW is distancing themselves from analog, and with good reason. Digital features don't like analog! As they build out more digital coverage, analog will continue to dwindle. Using Cingular's GAIT plan as a model would be the easiest way to appease those who need coverage in BFE.
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Right now about the only two phone plans that support analog romaon are local digital choice plans (I know it says digital in the name but my understanding is your not charged for any kind of roaming in your home area) and the National Singlerate plans that are expensive as all hell but gives you no roaming charges anywhere you are no matter what the phone says (requires tri mode phone)
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I'm not quite sure what you mean by "support analog roaming". I have the America's Choice plan and can place a call in analog areas. Whether I have to pay roaming charges to do so is beside the point. At least I can place the call.
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WynneFox said:
I was refering to being able to make analog calls with out charge 🙂
America's Choice allows calls on analog systems as long as they are part of the areas which have agreements with Verizon. I recently drove across country and had no roaming even though some of the areas I called from were analog. Was really glad I had a trimode phone.
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