Supposedly, October. Most likely, before year end. And the DoJ is the Department of Justice. 🙂

Well that's good, My plan with VZW isn't up for a while, but I wanted to start looking around early. I wanted Cingular because they have the largest GSM network, and the fact that verizon is taking down their analog towers therefore making their digital area tiny.

I also have one more question, which phones operate on the GAIT network?

SonyEricsson T62u and Nokia 6340i. GAIT was developed as a bridge technology between TDMA and GSM while we completed our GSM overlay. There is talk that since the GSM network is nearly the same as the GAIT network, that GAIT will be eliminated. Not sure when, or if, it will happen.

The Nokia 6340i and Sonny Ericsson T62U. Don't bother with either, they have been very problematic in my market.

Will

Will...

How long ago did your market finish GSM overlay?

Phonepimp,

My previous West Texas market was still going through the pain of the conversion when I left in the end of May. Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland/Oddessa, El Paso, and Abilene where all solid. It was the more rural parts that were a hassle.

Thats why I hated gait phones. Simply because the phones would rather pick up a weak GSM signal than a strong Digital tower. I think the West Texas market is one of the only markets in Texas (out of 10) that can still sell Gait phones.

In my current DFW market, GSM was launched here as one of the first test sites for the coverage. Everything is solid now within 120 miles of the enire metro area. Where I work and live (Decatur) is 35 miles Northwest of Ft. Worth. GSM is good, but there are som...
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Still doing quite a bit of GAIT here until we finish new construction in ME and VT. Yuppers, Cingular Retail here.

The merger will be a good thing for us, but it won'r be without its challenges. The integration of the networks will most likely wind up being the EASIEST part...lol. Merging billing systems and back office, call centers, cross training reps in the field on both networks and the initial differences, designing the CSE plans will be just a few of the big picture challenges we face. Two companies of the size of ATTWS and Cingular have never attempted anything on this scale in wireless. We're breaking new ground. But its not the first time Cingular has faced integration of networks. We were formed from the integration of 11 diffe...
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Phonepimp you are the first Cingular associate that I've EVER seen agree with me on the state of the merger. In fact I've been saying what you just said for about 6 months.

Hell I even posted almost exactly what you said in this forum at one point and got shot down by all the cing posters. lol

So you're saying the GAIT thing isn't worth it at all? (Like I said, I still have 15 months on my plan, but that GAIT thing looked like it was a good deal) Anyways, since those were the only two phones to work on it, it doesn't really look that great (I was looking at the Moto V400/V600)

GAIT is great is some areas, Like VT and ME here in the Northeast, because there is a great deal of analog-only areas still. My suggestion would be to stop into a Cingular store or kiosk and give them the cities or towns you have concerns about, and have them check them out on our map tool. This will let you know if the coverage in those areas is good or not.

For most folks our GSM Nation product is quite good enough. It will get even better once the AWE buyout is completed. We will then have coverage in all 100 top markets in the US, and the largest all digital coverage in the US as well. Who am I kidding, we will have the largest network BAR NONE in the US...lol.

As for phone choices, if you don't need Bluetooth, The V400 performs be...
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Ok, I was just interested in the V600 beacause it had the data cable capabilities so I can transfer pix to my computer instead of over the air. It just seemed odd, they seem like the exact same phone save the $150 price difference. Thanks for your help

Just use Blue Tooth. you don't need a data cable with the V600 or Sony T637. ATT has the more expensive phone pricing because as I was told by an ATT rep, The factory stores cannot change the phone pricing. kind of why I switched to Cingular from them as it will be all one soon anyway and the phone was $100 less.

I got the T637 though. Did not care for the V600, especially a higher price.

V600 has bluetooth where the 400 does not. V600 will also play back short video downloads. Metal bezel and rear cover on the 600, where the 400 is high impact plastic.

No difference in camera or voice options.


Hope this helps.

Actually a little corporate birdie told me that VZW isn't taking down the towers.. Just adding digital transponders when they get the spectrum.

But hey that's just what a little birdie told me.