> > What I'm trying to determine is, if AT&T or T-Mobile have the > > type of service you're describing: > > > > 1. will it work in both "analog" and "digital" service areas > > 2. does the phone need to support anything in particular to use it > > AT&T and T-Mobile are both GSM (digital) only. They don't have > any AMPS service. AFAIK, only the older CDMA carriers > (Verizon, Sprint, Alltel, etc.) have AMPS service -- and not > all of their phones will fall back to AMPS even if there is > AMPS service available). Most/all of the AMPS service is going > away soon anyway. > > I think that pretty much all GSM phones support data calls (I > could be wrong). Whether or not the network will allow them > without paying extra for a data plan is the question.
Got it. Is this official data plan service something that will work anywhere a GSM signal is had, or does there need to be a special type of service in the area? > > I don't think I'll have any luck finding a cell phone with an > > analog modem jack. Were you using an analog modem plugged > > into your cell phone with the service you were first > > describing? > > No. The "free" low-speed service offered by Verizon (and > apparently by Sprint) is all-digital. You just need a phone > and a data-cable. NB: it's possible that not all phones are > data-call capable or that the carrier has disabled that feature > in some phones. The tough part is that at least Verizon's > support for minutes-only data-calls is strictly unofficial. If > you stop at a store, they will claim (probably truthfully) to > know nothing about it. If you call Verizon support, the 1st > line support staff will also know nothing about it. If you can > work your way up a few layers, you can probably find somebody > who does know about it, but even they might not be allowed to > talk to you about it. > > > I've got to go with GSM. If both Sprint and Verizon offer it, > > there is probably a good chance that AT&T and/or T-Mobile do > > too. > > Could be. If you find out, let us know. :) > > What I do is use Verizon CDMA (far better coverage than any of > the GSM networks) in the US and I have a GSM phone that I use > internationally. You can get good used unlocked tri and > quad-band GSM phones for $20 and up. You can get brand new > ones for $30 and up. I got nearly new used Noka candy-bar > phone that's US-only for $18 off craig's list and a brand-new > quad-band Motorola V190 off ebay for $40. Just for giggles I > have a AT&T pre-paid SIM for my GSM phones so I can use them as > backups in the US. That's an interesting idea. It would be nice to have an AT&T plan that works all over the world, but I wonder if there is a big enough difference between CDMA and GSM reception in the US to justify two phones and buying SIM cards. - Grant -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list
