Verizon Wireless will be keeping GSM for roaming but they are going to convert the system to CDMA. Here is a link to there news article explaining what they are going to do with the network.
reply to dispatcher21 I'm pretty sure part of the deal was for certain areas (eastern washington in this case) were to be transferred over to AT&T where there was no AT&T service otherwise you would have a choice between Verizon or Verizon. I don't want Verizon and AT&T only has GSM going in it's favor so it's a little better than 'have any phone you want as long as it's the one we sell you".
Correct me if I'm wrong, but way back when this deal was first announced I seem to recall that Verizon and at&t were going to do some sort of trade agreement, where Verizon would give up certain parts of Rural Cellular to at&t, which would hand over to Verizon certain parts of Dobson Communications' service area.
not sure about Dobson with CDMA many of their areas if not all of them were GSM. The ones that weren't sold off to VZ long long time ago (the northwest Ohio market).
As far as ATT being a leader in GSM. I see TM doing a lot as well. They may not be as big but they're building out their 3G network and are nationwide. They both have roaming agreements as far as voice. But if TM took the network over you could except far better service i think. Especially with a call center being in WA state where TM is based.
Well VZ has to move the Unicel customers they're keeping to CDMA anyway... it's more about avoiding the ire of the FCC than making it convenient for customers.
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