Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular,alt.cellular.attws (
More info?)
Russell wrote:
> "Joseph" <JoeOfSeattle@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:lfkbc1lm0j0kr8ptjrp7gjb4du3feseumd@4ax.com...
>
>>On Fri, 01 Jul 2005 21:53:53 GMT, "Russell"
>><russell7702REMOVE@THISearthlink.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>"Joseph" <JoeOfSeattle@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>news:4kiac19brd824hk2lb1lan96pkpsf1a312@4ax.com...
>>>
>>>>On Fri, 01 Jul 2005 11:22:07 GMT, "Russell"
>>>><russell7702REMOVE@THISearthlink.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>From a prepaid reselller who ought to know: "To the best of my
>>>>>knowledge there are no plans to merge the two networks. In fact I have
>>>>>been
>>>>>told that "[merging the two networks] is not going to happen.". Note
>>>>>the
>>>>>above is strictly TDMA which the reseller sells.
>>>>
>>>>TDMA networks have been merged as well. For all practical purposes
>>>>AT&T Wireless no longer exists in any way.
>>>>- -
>>>
>>>Could you explain the basis for this statement, Joseph? My evidence based
>>>on the TDMA phones I own is to the contrary.
>>>
>>>Anyone know if Florida has been merged? I don't live there but own
>>>prepaid
>>>phones in that area code - hence my interest.
>>
>>I'm only going by my "AT&T Wireless" IS-136 handsets both of which
>>changed over a month ago from AT&T to CINGULAR (all upper case.) I
>>assume that if it hasn't happened eventually it will that all areas
>>will have Cingular or CINGULAR on handsets.
>>- -
>
>
> Joseph, of I go by your email address, you're in Seattle. Can I ask whether
> you're a TDMA prepaid customer or a direct former AT&T blue TDMA customer?
> One thing I'm not sure is whether the phone now saying CINGULAR instead of
> AT&T is an indication that the merge is complete. While saying AT&T is a
> sure indication that no merge has occurred I don't believe more needs to be
> done at the infrastructure level than getting the towers to emit CINGULAR.
>
> Interestingly, my prepaid reseller now appears to be getting information
> about the merge - they've yet to divulge anything but they say they hope to
> do so soon.
>
> Russell
>
>
As to whether a phone displays Cingular or ATTWS is simply a matter of
what the alpha tag for a given cell is programmed to provide. The alpha
tag has nothing to do with it's official merge status, and is provided
to all subscribers on the cell regardless of their service level. Both
companies (and now the one) have cells in strategic locations that have
alpha tags displaying the name of the business for which the cell is
provided - typically a microcell inside a bank or other large business
structure. It wouldn't be unusual for the alpha tag of two adjacent
cells to display two separate alpha tags, and the phone display will
switch from one to the other if a hand-off occurs.
--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'