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T-Mobile...

JoeKing

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
10,641
1
81
I'm looking around for a new family plan for 3 people. T-Mobile seems to be a good deal and I'm thinking about signing up with them. I'm just wondering what your guys thoughts are about this service? I understand they go off Cingular's network, so does this mean it will be plauged by busy signals? (has cingular fixed its crappy service? I was a subscriber a few years ago) This is for the California area.

I guess seeing their spokeswomen Catherine Zeta Jones plastered on their kosiks at the mall finally got to me :)
 

brtspears2

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2000
8,659
1
81
I'm yet to experience major busy network problems on Cingular and T-Mobile. I get full reception almost everywhere I go, even on the slopes at Bear Mtn and Snow Summit.

This is from a So. Cal viewpoint. Might want to ask someone in Central California.
 

TechnoKid

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2001
5,575
0
0
Here in central cali, the signal is good, but somewhat sketchy in some areas (but really depends on the building you're in). I have cingular, btw. I rarely get a dropped call on one bar as long as I have a full battery.
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
T-Mobile doesn't run off of Cingular's network.

I thought they shared networks?

No. They have two totally separate networks. If your t-mobile phone can't find the t-mobile network, it will try to search for any other network around. If t-mobile has an agreement with other companies in the area, your t-mobile phone will piggy-back on that company's network. T-mobile has agreements in more areas with Cingular than they do other companies. Their networks are completely different.
 

TechnoKid

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2001
5,575
0
0
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
T-Mobile doesn't run off of Cingular's network.

I thought they shared networks?

No. They have two totally separate networks. If your t-mobile phone can't find the t-mobile network, it will try to search for any other network around. If t-mobile has an agreement with other companies in the area, your t-mobile phone will piggy-back on that company's network. T-mobile has agreements in more areas with Cingular than they do other companies. Their networks are completely different.

SOrry. I confused piggy-back with sharing.
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
T-Mobile doesn't run off of Cingular's network.

I thought they shared networks?

No. They have two totally separate networks. If your t-mobile phone can't find the t-mobile network, it will try to search for any other network around. If t-mobile has an agreement with other companies in the area, your t-mobile phone will piggy-back on that company's network. T-mobile has agreements in more areas with Cingular than they do other companies. Their networks are completely different.

SOrry. I confused piggy-back with sharing.

Maybe it's my interpretation? To me, sharing would be always using the same network, base stations, base station controllers, etc. T-Mobile has t-mobile-only towers and Cingular has Cingular-only towers. The whole idea of piggy-backing isn't reserved only for Cingular either. Around here, my T-Mobile phone can log onto the AT&T network.
 

Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
9,773
0
71
Originally posted by: HonkeyDonk
actually, I think T-mobile uses Sprint network towers

Nope. That's a technical impossibility as Sprint and T-Mobile each use different, incompatible digital technologies.
 

bolido2000

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2001
3,720
1
0
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
T-Mobile doesn't run off of Cingular's network.

I thought they shared networks?

No. They have two totally separate networks. If your t-mobile phone can't find the t-mobile network, it will try to search for any other network around. If t-mobile has an agreement with other companies in the area, your t-mobile phone will piggy-back on that company's network. T-mobile has agreements in more areas with Cingular than they do other companies. Their networks are completely different.

T-Mo uses the SAME towers as Cingular here in CA (I think NY too). They share the same towers but the switching is done independently from each other. In other states they are independent from each other. I believe the agreement ends in 2007 or something like that here in CA
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
Originally posted by: bolido2000
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
T-Mobile doesn't run off of Cingular's network.

I thought they shared networks?

No. They have two totally separate networks. If your t-mobile phone can't find the t-mobile network, it will try to search for any other network around. If t-mobile has an agreement with other companies in the area, your t-mobile phone will piggy-back on that company's network. T-mobile has agreements in more areas with Cingular than they do other companies. Their networks are completely different.

T-Mo uses the SAME towers as Cingular here in CA (I think NY too). They share the same towers but the switching is done independently from each other. In other states they are independent from each other. I believe the agreement ends in 2007 or something like that here in CA

See post above yours.
 

bolido2000

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2001
3,720
1
0
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: bolido2000
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
T-Mobile doesn't run off of Cingular's network.

I thought they shared networks?

No. They have two totally separate networks. If your t-mobile phone can't find the t-mobile network, it will try to search for any other network around. If t-mobile has an agreement with other companies in the area, your t-mobile phone will piggy-back on that company's network. T-mobile has agreements in more areas with Cingular than they do other companies. Their networks are completely different.

T-Mo uses the SAME towers as Cingular here in CA (I think NY too). They share the same towers but the switching is done independently from each other. In other states they are independent from each other. I believe the agreement ends in 2007 or something like that here in CA

See post above yours.

The networks are independent from each other. The towers are not. That's why in CA the reception for both T-Mo and Cingular is identical.
 

DaWhim

Lifer
Feb 3, 2003
12,985
1
81
Originally posted by: bolido2000
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
T-Mobile doesn't run off of Cingular's network.

I thought they shared networks?

No. They have two totally separate networks. If your t-mobile phone can't find the t-mobile network, it will try to search for any other network around. If t-mobile has an agreement with other companies in the area, your t-mobile phone will piggy-back on that company's network. T-mobile has agreements in more areas with Cingular than they do other companies. Their networks are completely different.

T-Mo uses the SAME towers as Cingular here in CA (I think NY too). They share the same towers but the switching is done independently from each other. In other states they are independent from each other. I believe the agreement ends in 2007 or something like that here in CA

hang out on HoFo more, you will find out, Tmo has no tower in CA.(i am not sure, but most people said so) cingular has no tower in NYC, they use tmo network.(not the entire state, I have cingular signal here)

I have tmo for 3 days, great service so far. customer service is very helpful. you can have wap browse for FREE. I just setup my AIM via WAP for totally FREE.
 

DaWhim

Lifer
Feb 3, 2003
12,985
1
81
Originally posted by: Joeyman
HoFo?

HoFo
go to enlighten yourself. I wish I go there before I order my first cellphone from attws. now I am playing $175 early termination fee to cancel with them.
 

Pliablemoose

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
25,195
0
56
Using TMobile in Dallas, (will convert my 3 accounts into a family plan after the 1st bill) very happy, better building penetration/coverage than AT&T.

Amazon has some great prices on T-Mobile phones...