Cell Phone Service Remains Weak

KTRE ^ | 1/12/04

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

The cell phone business is booming, but consumers are still not getting their dollar's worth according to Consumer Reports magazine.

Consumers Union President and CEO Jim Guest says a survey of 31-thousand cell phone users in 12 cities found poor quality of service among all carriers. He says that in terms of dropped calls, dead zones, static and billing errors, "consumers are no more satisfied this year than they were a year ago."

Guest says there "really has not been improvement in the industry," though being able to keep your number when you switch carriers is getting consumers better deals.

Guest suggests you check with friends to see what service they like best, and use the free trial period to make sure your phone works well in your area.

[Tax-chick]

Boy, that's the truth. More than half the time, when I try to call my husband's cell phone, it doesn't ring, it tells me the service doesn't exist, he can't hear me, I leave a message that he "doesn't get" ... I'm infuriated every time I pay the freepin' bill.

Apparently the only time cell phones work is when all parties involved are driving their cars!

[Dog Gone]

Going with the companies that are entirely wireless, instead of the companies that were landlines and got into the business later, gives you better coverage and signal strength. The landline companies cobbled together their networks by buying smaller companies and cell towers to form a network in many cases.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

I just returned some phones today. I had spent more than 5 hours on the phone with techs trying to activate them to no avail. Finally called, pushed my way into a manager's extension, and told her under no other terms these were coming back.

Service.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Look for GSM technology.

[Dog Gone]

What's that?

[j_tull]

Look for GSM technology.

But you have to look real hard. Not a lot of non-urban coverage out there, yet.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

It's a new technology for the US. The world has been using it but we've shunned it for political reasons staying with digital. GSM bands start at 850 and go to ~1800MHz. As stated, it's not everywhere in America, yet. You no longer have the "cell walls" to cross and the bandwidth provides so many more opportunities to do more. Consider the difference between HTML and XML.

[Tax-chick]

Good suggestions, thanks! When it's time to get a new contract, we'll definitely look at these other technologies.

[eno_]

Not in the U.S.

The GSM carriers in the U.S. are still in the process of migrating away from TDMA networks. Some, like Cingular and T-Mobile have truly crappy networks. If you want GSM, stick with AT&T.

Nokia and Siemens GSM handsets r001, Moto drools. 90% of CDMA handsets use Qualcomm chipsets, so go for a good manufacturer, like LG. The vx6000 camera phone rocks.

Verizon has better coverage in the U.S., but your phone will only work in the U.S., Canada, Korea, Japan, and South America. If you travel to Europe, you want GSM.

[eno_]

Verizon Wireless has very little to do with Verizon Communications, which is the land line company. Similarly, AT&T Wireless is not very much connected to AT&T the long distance carrier. SpintPCS is pretty closely tied to Sprint the LD carrier and regional ILEC. This has mostly to do with the fact that Verizon Wireless is part owned by Vodafone and AT&T wireless is a partnership with NTT DoCoMo.

[_Jim]

The landline companies cobbled together their networks by buying smaller companies and cell towers to form a network in many cases.

Uh uh.

Many, many times you'll find the non-wireline carriers ("A" band carriers) did just this - and they went in underfunded whereas the Bell/Wireline ventures (cellular "B" band) were fully funded ...

I worked for an A-bander and Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems was our competitor in this market. For years the A-band stunk and there was a wholesale change-out of the cellular infrastructure equipment from Mororola (it stunk) to Ericsson RBS884 series gear that was capable of digital ...

[eno_]

T-Mobile is all GSM, no TDMA. But they have the thinnest coverage anyway.

[Ditter]

I have Cingular & my service is great.

[eno_]

I have Cingular & my service is great.

GSM or TDMA? in areas where they built out their TDMA network well, service is fine. Just don't expect good coverage while traveling. The network is a patchwork.

[Ditter]

I don't know which one, I am in Houston.

[Ditter]

Which one is best over all?

[_Jim]

A little info on market 'opertors' excerpted from last year's FCC report on telecommunications:

a. Market Structure

40. In the United States, there are six mobile telephone operators that analysts typically describe as nationwide:

• AT&T Wireless,
• Sprint PCS,
• Verizon Wireless, LLC ("Verizon Wireless"),
• T-Mobile,
• Cingular Wireless, LLC ("Cingular Wireless" or "Cingular"), and
• Nextel.

When an operator is described as being "nationwide," it does not necessarily mean that the operator's license areas, service areas, or pricing plans cover the entire land area of the United States.

The six mobile telephony carriers that analyst reports typically describe as nationwide all offer service in at least some portion of the western, midwestern, and eastern United States.

In addition, each of the six national operators has networks covering at least 200 million people, while the next largest provider covers less than 60 million people. In addition to the nationwide operators, there are a number of large regional players, including

• ALLTEL Corp. ("ALLTEL"),
• Western Wireless Corp. ("Western Wireless"),
• United States Cellular Corp. ("US Cellular"), and
• Dobson.

[Dog Gone]

I only have experience with two companies, Sprint PCS and Cingular, plus what I've been told or read. Sprint has lousy connections, even within a major metropolitan area like Houston, and Cingular has great ones.

AT&T has the most complaints on file of any cell phone network.

Your local service may vary.

[_Jim]

You may have seen some of this in the trade press - some joint ventures announced/in progress/completed between cellular/PCS carriers involving network/infrastructure upgrades:

(b) Joint Ventures

45. Cingular Wireless/AT&T Wireless - As discussed in the Seventh Report, in January 2002, Cingular Wireless and AT&T Wireless announced the formation of an infrastructure joint venture to build out a GSM/GPRS network along 3,000 miles of interstate highways predominantly in western and midwestern states.

The companies have since expanded the venture to include highways in New England, increasing the coverage of the joint venture to more than 4,000 miles of roads. The companies also recently announced a new agreement to reduce roaming costs on each other?s networks.

46. AT&T Wireless/Sprint PCS - In January 2003, AT&T Wireless and Sprint PCS signed an agreement through which they will cooperate in the construction of new wireless towers.

Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will share information about their current tower inventories and future construction plans. This includes identifying areas of overlap; determining which company will build and maintain the tower; and deciding which will co-locate its network facilities on it. The companies claim that the arrangement will enable them to reduce the number of towers needed and the associated capital expenditures, thus enhancing their wireless footprints faster and at lower cost.

47. Cingular Wireless/T-Mobile - As mentioned in the Seventh Report, Cingular Wireless and TMobile (then known as VoiceStream) announced an infrastructure sharing joint venture in October 2001 whereby the companies would share their existing GSM networks in California, Nevada, and New York. Since then, in July 2002, T-Mobile launched service in California and Nevada (where Cingular already offered service), while Cingular launched service in New York City (where T-Mobile already offered service).