pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | Choice Already Exists
Get an unlocked GSM phone. As long as it works on USA GSM bands, you can use it with either T-Mobile or AT&T.
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Only SHATNER is Kirk. |
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n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY
 ·Optimum Online
| said by pnh102  :Get an unlocked GSM phone. As long as it works on USA GSM bands, you can use it with either T-Mobile or AT&T. Exactly. I have read the fluff pieces in the newspapers and online, and one would think this is a revolution in cellular service. Hell no! Anyone with GSM service has had the benefits of device choice for years. Even if Verizon should allow you to bring any CDMA compatible device to their network you still will not have the benefits of being able to swap devices as easily as popping out your SIM card and putting it in to another device. The day Verizon allows you to buy any old CDMA phone and plop in a subscriber module to activate it I will truly believe they are open. |
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tc1uscg
join:2005-03-09
Saint Clair Shores, MI
| said by n2jtx :said by pnh102 :Get an unlocked GSM phone. As long as it works on USA GSM bands, you can use it with either T-Mobile or AT&T. Exactly. I have read the fluff pieces in the newspapers and online, and one would think this is a revolution in cellular service. Hell no! Anyone with GSM service has had the benefits of device choice for years. Even if Verizon should allow you to bring any CDMA compatible device to their network you still will not have the benefits of being able to swap devices as easily as popping out your SIM card and putting it in to another device. The day Verizon allows you to buy any old CDMA phone and plop in a subscriber module to activate it I will truly believe they are open. Bingo. That's why Sprints WIMAX network must succeed. It will open the door (as google is trying to push) to devices from different forms and factors to work on 1 network. What people don't see is a paper tiger in the world of VZW. To me,they are like Apple. They like to keep things as closed as possible. The door will be open for them, but it will cost you to enter. |
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emptywig
Huh? What?
Premium
join:2002-08-05
Pasadena, TX | Sprint's WIMAX network? That's only on paper, right? I'd call that a paper tiger, too.
I'll believe in WIMAX when I see it, along with usable BPL.
wig
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Sometimes a paradox is just a paradox |
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VZW User
@rr.com | reply to n2jtx
you do realise the reason why there insent a "sim" card for cdma right? cdma vs gsm is totaly diffrent in how the authenticate devices on the network. |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
1 edit | reply to n2jtx
My MPX-220 just broke. My being able to use an older phone as a temporary replacement just by putting the SIM into it was extremely convenient.
I ended up getting a brand new replacement phone off eBay. I paid less for it than I would have from AT&T even with the discount given for renewing my contract. The end result is a brand new phone without a contract extension.
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Only SHATNER is Kirk. |
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tc1uscg
join:2005-03-09
Saint Clair Shores, MI
1 edit | reply to emptywig
said by emptywig :Sprint's WIMAX network? That's only on paper, right? I'd call that a paper tiger, too. I'll believe in WIMAX when I see it, along with usable BPL. wig Yep.. paper looks good.. And I don't they it was "paper" when it was demo'd in Chicago back in the fall. But you must be talking about when it's nationwide or at your front door. It's slated to be in my area 1st qtr 2008 so I would like to see it too. I don't pay much attention to media hype anyway. When it's hot in my area, I'll be happy. But the below video is promissing.
»www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtnC2OpKmds |
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tc1uscg
join:2005-03-09
Saint Clair Shores, MI
| reply to pnh102
said by pnh102 :Get an unlocked GSM phone. As long as it works on USA GSM bands, you can use it with either T-Mobile or AT&T. Or get a IP830W phone from Sprint. It covers not only CDMA/EVDO but GSM/GPRS (and it's unlocked). So you get the the best primary data network use and when you just need to limp along.. you can go GSM/GPRS in some farway land. But hey.. for 99 bucks, it's not a bad phone, just wish the battery would last longer.  |
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dot_null
Premium
join:2004-06-28
Kennesaw, GA | reply to VZW User
There are R-UIM cards available for CDMA (basically the CDMA version of a SIM), though Verizon has not implemented them as of yet. |
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emptywig
Huh? What?
Premium
join:2002-08-05
Pasadena, TX | reply to tc1uscg
I'm with you, man. Its just that they've been talking about it for years, and BPL (which is hot in some areas). I'm just taking a "yeah, right" attitude to all of this stuff.
wig
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Sometimes a paradox is just a paradox |
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tc1uscg1
@wideopenwest.com
| said by emptywig :I'm with you, man. Its just that they've been talking about it for years, and BPL (which is hot in some areas). I'm just taking a "yeah, right" attitude to all of this stuff. wig I'm telling you strait. It's not just on paper. Antenna elements are already being deployed in markets that will see this first. The switches are already funded and being installed in the MSO's. Now.. that's not saying it could turn into another ION boondoggle. They had put a cool billion into it, installed the eqp in POP sites, trained it's people, then wrong up one morning and said "oh shit. Shut it down.. shut it down now". Sad.. But I think there is more riding the WiMAX wave then just someones dream. As far as people making a big deal out of VZW broadcasting about allowing "others" to use their network.. Sprint's been doing this since 2000/2001. MVNO's have been doing it for for years too. It's one thing to allow a person with a SPRINT branded phone to walk into a verizon store and say, hey.. I had this phone in my drawer at home, how much for a plan?". Big deal.. Verizon charges more for it's plans then anyone else. They have to so they can pay for all those shiny happy people in their call centers. I've heard horror stories as much about them as anyone else. I just think VZW is opening a door that Sprint and Altel had already opened way before.. Good going Verizon.. following the leader..  Except they are number one in ripping off it's customers. I'll give them that much. AT&T isn't much better.  |
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n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY
·Optimum Online
| reply to dot_null
said by dot_null :There are R-UIM cards available for CDMA (basically the CDMA version of a SIM), though Verizon has not implemented them as of yet. Indeed. In fact, from the description of the R-UIM, it would work in GSM phones and allow you to roam in GSM areas with GSM carriers that your CDMA carrier has roaming agreements (think Vodaphone). It would certainly be better than the arrangement you have now where you have to get a loaner international phone from Verizon and a SIM that is tied in to your Verizon account. |
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dot_null
Premium
join:2004-06-28
Kennesaw, GA
 ·Callcentric
·Comcast
·VoiceStick
 ·AT&T Southeast
| said by n2jtx :said by dot_null :There are R-UIM cards available for CDMA (basically the CDMA version of a SIM), though Verizon has not implemented them as of yet. Indeed. In fact, from the description of the R-UIM, it would work in GSM phones and allow you to roam in GSM areas with GSM carriers that your CDMA carrier has roaming agreements (think Vodaphone). It would certainly be better than the arrangement you have now where you have to get a loaner international phone from Verizon and a SIM that is tied in to your Verizon account. I agree. Anything would be better than the current system. |
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Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
Premium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ
| reply to pnh102
whats needed is a firm worldwide standard for cellphones. so a phone from anywhere can work anywhere.
the US also needs to do like the EU and require phones to not be carrier tied.
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[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| said by Kearnstd :the US also needs to do like the EU and require phones to not be carrier tied. As long as you stick with a GSM provider in the USA, you can buy any phone that is not tied to any GSM carrier.
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Only SHATNER is Kirk. |
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