local roaming block removal ?

Thanks. I have so often seen this issue raised and addressed that the
two concepts have become blurred for me. It seems that one of the
reasons to unlock a cell phone is to able to use someone else's system
as this frees you from the providers access restrictions. I have seen
more posts for unlocking local phones than for unlocking world class
phones. Some people seem to be under the impression that an unlocked
local use cell phone allows them to connect with providers outside of
the designated few with whom there are roaming agreements.
If all that unlocking a cell phone is good for is international
travel then why bother with the issue at all? Don't those companies
already have roaming agreements with foreign providers? Can't you just
contact your provider and work out the details from there? Most
providers have a rather extensive list of international roaming
agreements.
Another thing I am not understanding is that most so called world
class phones do not even provide for the 900 MHz which most countries
use. Would not that unlocked phone be useless in many countries?

Matthew Smith <matty_d@macxxx.com> wrote in article
<matty_d-B8BC36.12423929082003@duster.adelaide.on.net>:
> The original poster does not want to put a different carrier's SIM in
> his phone. He wants to automatically roam onto AT&T where they have
> better coverage than use T-Mobile.
>
> Roaming is not a function of the phone but what the networks agree to
> set up between them. If T-Mobile doesn't allow you to roam to AT&T then
> you won't be able to do it. They probably don't have a roaming agreement.
>
> Roaming overseas is a different matter. Usually your home network has
> roaming agreements in place. The network can set your account up so that
> it can roam internationally or not. Accounts are usually set up so as
> not to roam internationally, due to the expenses that can be incurred on
> the service. This ensures that the customer doesn't use their phone in
> another country without being provided with the cost of using it there.
>
>
>
> In article <vktcnops6aa1e9@corp.supernews.com>,
> wmbray@hotmail.com (William Bray) wrote:
>
> > Contact T-Mobile and explain your situation to them. T-Mobile is one of
> > the most cooperative outfits around for unlocking your cell phone.
> > T-Mobile will usually do this within the first month of your contract.
> > There is one negative to having an unlocked cell phone- paying more
> > roaming charges.
> >
> > "azzuri" <lesio@softhome.net> wrote in article
> > <bil7rd$n2m$1@inews.gazeta.pl>:
> > > Is there any possibility to remove the block on roaming in the local area
> > > (USA) or country (Europe) ? Specific example - I have service with T Mobile
> > > in US. There are areas in my local area where AT&T has better coverage than
> > > T Mobile or T Mobile has no coverage at all. Unfortunately my phone does not
> > > let me choose a different carrier even if T Mobile is not available in the
> > > area. I would ideally like my phone to choose the strongest carrier same way
> > > it does when travel out of my local area.
>
> --
> Matthew Smith
> (to reply via email remove xxx)

[posted via phonescoop.com - free web access to the alt.cellular groups]

"azzuri" <lesio@softhome.net> wrote in message
news:bil7rd$n2m$1@inews.gazeta.pl...
> Is there any possibility to remove the block on roaming in the local area
> (USA) or country (Europe) ? Specific example - I have service with T
Mobile
> in US. There are areas in my local area where AT&T has better coverage
than
> T Mobile or T Mobile has no coverage at all. Unfortunately my phone does
not
> let me choose a different carrier even if T Mobile is not available in the
> area. I would ideally like my phone to choose the strongest carrier same
way
> it does when travel out of my local area.

Yes, you can choose the strongest carrier in your area -- with your wallet!
If ATTWS works "better" for you, switch providers! There's no chance of
having T-Mo "eat" the difference for you...

Matthew Smith <matty_d@macxxx.com> writes:

> The original poster does not want to put a different carrier's SIM in
> his phone. He wants to automatically roam onto AT&T where they have
> better coverage than use T-Mobile.

There is an on-again, off-again, roaming agreement between T-Mobile
and AT&T, although it probably won't help the original poster, as it
won't provide coverage in locations where the carrier thinks they
already have coverage. It'll only help when in areas where there are
only T-Mobile towers, or only AT&T towers.

From http://www.t-mobile.com/company/pres...release68.asp:

For AT&T Wireless customers, the roaming agreement provides advanced
1900 voice and data service covering approximately 3,000 highway miles
and 12.1 million potential customers in key markets including
Minneapolis, MN; Atlantic City, NJ (including along the Atlantic City
Expressway); Sarasota, FL; the Delaware/Maryland/Virginia Peninsula;
along I-25 from Albuquerque, NM to El Paso, Texas; and, along I-20 in
Texas from Dallas to Abilene.

For T-Mobile's customers, the agreement opens up advanced 1900
GSM/GPRS voice and data service in key markets and along more than
2,500 miles of Interstate highways, including AT&T Wireless' coverage
along I-40 from the California border to Albuquerque, NM; I-25 from
Denver to Albuquerque; I-80 in Pennsylvania; and I-30 from Texarkana,
Texas to Little Rock, AR. Markets include Little Rock; Green Bay and
Madison, Wis.; Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh, NC; and Knoxville,
Tenn. covering more than 10.9 million potential customers.

> Roaming overseas is a different matter. Usually your home network has
> roaming agreements in place. The network can set your account up so that
> it can roam internationally or not. Accounts are usually set up so as
> not to roam internationally, due to the expenses that can be incurred on
> the service. This ensures that the customer doesn't use their phone in
> another country without being provided with the cost of using it there.

On a side note, T-Mobile (US) doesn't seem to consider Canada international
roaming, since I wasn't set up for international roaming, and roamed
just fine on Rodgers/AT&T and Microcell/Fido on a trip to Montreal
this past weekend. Probably a specialized roaming deal...

Bob

wmbray@hotmail.com (William Bray) wrote in message news:<vktnep5lfe54c4@corp.supernews.com>...
> Thanks. I have so often seen this issue raised and addressed that the
> two concepts have become blurred for me. It seems that one of the
> reasons to unlock a cell phone is to able to use someone else's system
> as this frees you from the providers access restrictions.

No, it's so you can use the phone with another service provider's sim.

Let's say you bought the $500 PocketPC phone from AT&T, your year
is now up and you want to sign up with T-Mo. Sure you could use a
freebie phone, but you've already invested $500 in a GSM handset,
that if not unlocked, won't accept a T-Mo sim.

> I have seen
> more posts for unlocking local phones than for unlocking world class
> phones. Some people seem to be under the impression that an unlocked
> local use cell phone allows them to connect with providers outside of
> the designated few with whom there are roaming agreements.

No, just you! ;-)

> If all that unlocking a cell phone is good for is international
> travel then why bother with the issue at all? Don't those companies
> already have roaming agreements with foreign providers?

Yes you can roam internationally w/T-Mo for $1+/minute. However,
you could put a locally obtained pre-paid sim in an unlocked phone
and pay 15-cents a minute.

> Can't you just
> contact your provider and work out the details from there? Most
> providers have a rather extensive list of international roaming
> agreements.

For a price!

> Another thing I am not understanding is that most so called world
> class phones do not even provide for the 900 MHz which most countries
> use. Would not that unlocked phone be useless in many countries?

All of the T-Mo "world phones" are tri-band- 900, 1800, and 1900MHz.
What T-Mo doesn't offer are 850-MHz phones which is the frequency
many Cingular and AT&T markets will use after they convert fully
from TDMA to GSM. T-Mo doesn't operate in the 850-band at all.