Cingular Wireless & the i-Mate Smartphone2

[Guest Alundus]

I just bought the i-mate Smartphon2 in anticipation of using it with Cingular Wireless in the States. Cingular runs off of 850,900,1800,1900, GSM networks. I thought the i-mate ran off those frequences too but I can't get my phone to work. Cingular comes up with excuses that it can't ativate that phone. Anyone else tried this with success, or what other USA carrier can do this phone, AT&T? I have a contract with Cingular, so I really don't want to change. By the way I am in the Houston, Texas region if that helps. Thanks.

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[Guest sonofabit]

Go to: Settings -> Telephony -> Band Selection -> And change the Band to be PCS.

[Guest McHale]

Cingular uses 850 and 1900 *ONLY*

900/1800 are used outside of the US. No US wireless carrier uses 900 or 1800.

The iMate2 supports the 1900 band and *NOT* the 850 band.

The iMate2 *WILL* work on Cingular providing it is on the 1900 band. If you get to an area where Cingular is on 850 (like where I am), it will attempt to use the best GSM carrier on 1900 (roaming). In many areas, Cingular has blocked all other carriers from being roam-able.

So beware...

-Mc

[Guest nickcornaglia]

I used to use TMobile and it had terrible reception in my home. I then went to Verizon who has great reception everywhere I travel but has a limited range of phones under CDMA.

In my quest to open myself up to the limitless world of Unlocked GSM Phones. I researched different GSM Carriers ion my area.

TMobile was still not for me running on the 1900 Network only in my area. (I may just be too far from a tower or their signal is weak in my area).

ATT uses a band (800 or 1900...I'm not sure which) in my area that works very well in my home and everywhere I go. That was who I chose.

Cingular only uses the 850 band in my area which makes all current Smartphones worthless to buy until a quad band phone comes out (like the MPx220)

This may be the same case for you in which case you can either wait for a quad band phone or move to a different carrier.

[Guest McHale]

I've been Cingular for about 10 years now and am pretty happy with the GSM. The biggest problem with Verizon (and other CDMA carriers) is, will there ever be a new smartphone for CDMA? We already know there's a TON coming out for GSM.

Since AT&T was purchased by Cingular, you really have very few choices for GSM carriers in the US.

For now, T-Mobile is only 1900 and has limited coverage in comparison to Cingular with the added 850.

In the US, it would be VERY wise to wait for the quad-bands to come out unless Cingular drops the 850 thing (for those that don't own one already). There are some places that T-Mobile has no coverage where Cingular has it with 850. It's better to be safe than sorry...

Of course, if you already have the 1900 only smartphones, it's not a big problem as SOMEBODY has 1900 almost anyplace GSM is.

-Mc