Data plan pricing
I'm about to switch carriers and the 2 it comes down to in my area (central Maine) is either Cingular or T-Mob. The other two in this area have outrageously priced data (for full internet access). What are you paying for data access on Cing? T-Mob seems to be offering unlimited data including using a phone-to-laptop connection for $20/month. From what I can tell, the same Cing offer is 59.99/mo. Is that right? What does Cing offer for that price that T-Mob doesn't?
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Not according to T-Mob. I've spoken w/ numerous reps and I've been told I can roam onto Cing and the other GSM carrier in my area with phone and data. From what it seems, coverage shouldn't be an issue - or am I missing something?
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They may have a roaming agreement in your area, but what you need to check into is if the Cingular towers in your area are 1900mhz or 850mhz. If they are 850, you have to be very picky with which T-mo phone you get, because not all of their phones have the 850 band.
Also, take a look at T-Mo's national coverage map and compare it to Cingular's. If you plan on travelling at all, Cingular has much better nationwide coverage compared to T-Mo.
Also, take a look at T-Mo's national coverage map and compare it to Cingular's. If you plan on travelling at all, Cingular has much better nationwide coverage compared to T-Mo.
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Thanks for the info. Are the roaming agreements state-specific? I was under the impression that wherever there was GSM service (T-mob or not) I would roam onto those towers.
Regarding the type of phone, I am aware that I need a quad-band phone, since I travel out of the country and face the same frequency issues. I have my eyes on the HTC Wizard (Cing 8125). But back to my original question, is the only difference the coverage for that price? I mean $20 vs. $60 - that seems a little excessive, don't you think?
Regarding the type of phone, I am aware that I need a quad-band phone, since I travel out of the country and face the same frequency issues. I have my eyes on the HTC Wizard (Cing 8125). But back to my original question, is the only difference the coverage for that price? I mean $20 vs. $60 - that seems a little excessive, don't you think?
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The roaming agreements are normally region specific. You really need to compare the national coverage maps to get a full perspective of coverage. You will not be able to get signal everywhere that there is a GSM tower. Just everywhere that T-Mobile's coverage map claims that you get coverage.
As far as the difference in price, it is mainly coverage based. I don't know what all T-mo's data plan includes, so there may be some things that Cingular gives you that T-mo doesn't, but I'm not sure as I don't have that much experience with T-Mobile's data services.
As far as the difference in price, it is mainly coverage based. I don't know what all T-mo's data plan includes, so there may be some things that Cingular gives you that T-mo doesn't, but I'm not sure as I don't have that much experience with T-Mobile's data services.
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cingular and tmobile have had a stormy relationship since at&t buyout. Cingular does not want roaming agreements with tmobile. Cingular ended q lot of the ones that tmobile had with at&t.
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Is that price only in certain areas? The cheapest price I could find in this area (central Maine) is 44.99 and that is only for use with PDA's - not using it as a modem for a laptop. The price for using on the PDA and a modem/laptop connection is 59.99 from what I've seen. I hope I'm wrong, but even still 39.99 is twice what T-Mob's offering. Plus it's only a one yr. contract - I will never sign another 2 yr. contract.
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tkoz said:
Is that price only in certain areas? The cheapest price I could find in this area (central Maine) is 44.99 and that is only for use with PDA's - not using it as a modem for a laptop. The price for using on the PDA and a modem/laptop connection is 59.99 from what I've seen. I hope I'm wrong, but even still 39.99 is twice what T-Mob's offering. Plus it's only a one yr. contract - I will never sign another 2 yr. contract.
it's 44.99 if you don't have a voice plan, otherwise it's 39.99.
as far as the roaming goes, t-mobile customers have been roaming less and less off cingular towers. since cingular doesn't need to roam off t-mobile's towers anymore, they let the current roaming agreements ex...
(continues)
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At that price can it be used as a modem for a laptop also? Also, is it that same price for a one yr. contract?
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you can use the pda connect for modem capabilities and still recieve the same data speeds. i do it everyday with my 650. you can have a 1yr with cingular, you don't have to get a 2yr. it just lowers the price of the phone.
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44.99 is without a voice plan. Most plans are nationwide, to streamline marketing and advertising..
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lol thats good if you spend most of your time worldwide, but if you spend most of your time in the US, cingular will provide better coverage and faster connection speed. Tmobile primarily follows the highways, with little rural coverage. In the end you have to decide for yourself, just check out the coverage and speeds of connection before you decide.
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cing is killing the tmobile roaming agreement nationwide, and has already done so in most markets.. so don't let them sell u on that.
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tkoz said:
No EDGE service on T-mob?
they are JUST starting to roll it out on their small network, where as Cingular is starting to roll out UMTS already.
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yea there is but its limited and they wont even show a coverage map for it.
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UMTS will be released in 18 markets if there is no UMTS coverage it will callback onto edge(if aviable) or GPRS
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not yet. they are about a generation behind cingular when it comes to data speed. (technology wise, not years lol)
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So, what are the differences between the two - speedwise? How big a difference are we talking?
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It is a very noticable difference. My RAZR only has GPRS and it is almost intolerable after using my SE S710a (EDGE Capable) for a while.
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yea and if you go for the umts card, you'll have edge until the umts rollout gets to your area, then it'll be extremely noticable
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