Cell Number Portability on the horizon!

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by FireFly

Nope, that's the World Phone I was talking about. Telus has it.

Bell has the exact same model. It doesn't mean that it will jump onthe Rogers network if you get no coverage with Telus or Bell. It just means you can take it over seas and use it there with the same number. But you will always be CDMA when i North America.

Also the biggest reason for Japan to switch is the fact that CDMA can hold WAY MORE calls on one tower compared to GSM. Dollar for dollar CDMA is by far the better technology, of course they all have their Plus and Minus tho!

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by HOOT

Also the biggest reason for Japan to switch is the fact that CDMA can hold WAY MORE calls on one tower compared to GSM. Dollar for dollar CDMA is by far the better technology, of course they all have their Plus and Minus tho!

Ahh yes... because each user has it's own PN code versus limited time slots for TDMA systems (thought they have four frequencies to operate on) but the more users on one transmitter... the more signal degredation for CDMA. Neither technology is superior really.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by kermitology

http://www.mobilegazette.com/motorola-a840.htm

??

This looks like the phone he was using.

That's the one. When you travel to GSM countries, you just pop switch a setting in the phone to have it work off the SIM card with your same number.

Also of note, you CAN purchase a "Global Roaming SIM Card" and have it programmed with your phone number so you can put it into any unlocked GSM phone and use that cell phone to roam in GSM countries with Telus. So we won't leave you stranded if you're going overseas. The card is about $30 and then it's up to the consumer to buy a GSM phone, of which any will do provided it's unlocked.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by FireFly

That's the one. When you travel to GSM countries, you just pop switch a setting in the phone to have it work off the SIM card with your same number.

Really? According to the article, Motorola claims that it's seamless switching.

[SaprykinPWNSjoo]

I have unlocking codes if anyone wants them to unlock a non telus phone. I purchased them online by mistake only to find out they didn't work with my phone.

pm me if you'd like them

[drp_69]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

From what I've garnered on cell phones so far:

- GSM is used in more countries than CDMA (my Rogers phone has worked in more countries than my Telus phone ever did).
- Rogers has better phones than Telus, but I've gone so far as buying wierd phones off the net (that are unlocked) and hucking my Sim card in with no problems. I think I'm on toy #3 this year, which is a far better version of Telus' new Nokia slider thingy phone.
-Telus' service and billing is light years ahead of Rogers (they have cut off my phone twice because I needed to confirm my postal code, and when I called the service center and lost my mind the bi*ch hung up on me)
-coverage within Western Canada is way better on Telus than Rogers

There's good and bad between both companies.....all in all I'm willing to take some of the crap I get from Rogers in order to switch my phones around all the time, and get better coverage when I travel overseas.

Me too. I am with Rogers and had my V3 unlocked for $40 I have used it in UK (with a UK prepaid SIM) and in South Africa (with a SA pre-paid SIM) this is way cheaper then paying Rogers high roaming charges. GSM in my opinion is way better quality then Telus or Bell. I bought my son a Nokia in Dubia (duty Free shop) popped in his SIM here at home it works like a charm, and was a bargain price. Now you could not do that on the telus network. I think GSM is by far the most widely used sytem world wide.

[tjinaz]

Been doing this in the states for over 2 years now.

T-Mobile is the only one of the big vendors to use SIMs, wish Verizon would.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by drp_69

Me too. I am with Rogers and had my V3 unlocked for $40 I have used it in UK (with a UK prepaid SIM) and in South Africa (with a SA pre-paid SIM) this is way cheaper then paying Rogers high roaming charges. GSM in my opinion is way better quality then Telus or Bell. I bought my son a Nokia in Dubia (duty Free shop) popped in his SIM here at home it works like a charm, and was a bargain price. Now you could not do that on the telus network. I think GSM is by far the most widely used sytem world wide.

It maybe the most used but does that mean it is the best? I don't think a company in Japan would spend $100's of millions to take a step back in the technology game....but then again I could be wrong

GSM is great now but wait until CDMA starts putting out technology that GSM can't even handle. Just like right now CDMA has fast download speeds and can hold more calls.

CDMA you can take the old platform and upgrade it.....GSM you have to take it down and put up new stuff. When you have to do that how can you stay competitive with the huge costs?

[drp_69]

Originally Posted by tjinaz

Been doing this in the states for over 2 years now.

T-Mobile is the only one of the big vendors to use SIMs, wish Verizon would.

I thought Cingular was also GSM? Yes it is just checked the GSM Wensite.

And in reply to HOOTS last post. I am not to certain about the technology but I thought that GSM's EDGE service provided good high speed data up and downloads?

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by kermitology

Really? According to the article, Motorola claims that it's seamless switching.

Well it is in that you don't have to reprogram, you just go into settings and hit 'GSM mode' or something like that.

[Barnes]

I was going to go with Telus but I went to their store for 4 weeks in a row and each time I did, the person behind the counter told me thy didn't really have any phones but new ones would be coming out in a few days. 4 weeks later, I was a Bell customer. I have been with all 3 providers and they all suck. Bell at least stocked phones for purchase.

[Incogneto]

Originally Posted by FireFly

Wow, you should've talked to me... If you're on Telus that is.

I'll reiterate that for ANYONE who thinks they're 'getting hosed' by Telus, feel free to contact me to see if I can help.

PM sent.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by drp_69

I thought Cingular was also GSM? Yes it is just checked the GSM Wensite.

And in reply to HOOTS last post. I am not to certain about the technology but I thought that GSM's EDGE service provided good high speed data up and downloads?

GSM EDGE NETWORK = 384Kbps/max speed
CDMA EVDO NETWORK = 2.4Mbps/max speed (which equals approx. 2456 Kbps)

I could see how you could say the EDGE is the leading technology Only about 6.5 TIMES SLOWER!!!

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by Barnes

I was going to go with Telus but I went to their store for 4 weeks in a row and each time I did, the person behind the counter told me thy didn't really have any phones but new ones would be coming out in a few days. 4 weeks later, I was a Bell customer. I have been with all 3 providers and they all suck. Bell at least stocked phones for purchase.

What phone did you get?

I got the Samsung A920 as my latest purchase.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by kermitology

Really? According to the article, Motorola claims that it's seamless switching.

It can switch seemlessly. Your service provider does need to have a roaming agreement w/ the service provider you are roaming on though. Telus does not have an agreement w/ rogers (because why would they ever need or encourage this) so the world phone will not roam while in Canada. If you want your rogers or telus/bell world phone to roam your service provider needs to have an agreement w/ the service provider in the country you are going to.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by HOOT

What phone did you get?

I got the Samsung A920 as my latest purchase.

I got an Audiovox something or other with the flip screen. I have to admit, I'm an early adopter of technology and gadgets but I could care less about cellphones. They are just boring. Text msgs is the biggest step backwards in the history of technology. Just ****ing call me.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Rather than get some fancy GSM switching phone, I just got a cheap tri-band GSM phone and a couple of Vodafone & Orange Simcards. Nice cheap disposable phones to travel with without fear of loss.

Now if only the manufacturers would implement the feature I'd want the most....variable ringers by hour of day....would make my office a better place. Neither my Moto, Samsung, or current RIM have it...

I used to not get text messaging either but it's actually kind of nice to have a non intrusive way of communicating with someone. Much easier with a Blackberry though, although my old Moto's predictive wasn't too bad.

[Ayrahb]

I thought I would revive this thread since there is a couple of days left until WNP is in effect.

As one blogger put it, the service provider silence has been deafening. The same old marketing gimmicks are out there and (surprise, surpirise) no one except Virgin seems to be trying to attract new customers aggressively. This is gonna be a classic study in economics, marketing and game theory if there ever was one.

Anyway, if anyone comes accross some good "switch" deals, let us know.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by Ayrahb

I thought I would revive this thread since there is a couple of days left until WNP is in effect.

As one blogger put it, the service provider silence has been deafening. The same old marketing gimmicks are out there and (surprise, surpirise) no one except Virgin seems to be trying to attract new customers aggressively. This is gonna be a classic study in economics, marketing and game theory if there ever was one.

Anyway, if anyone comes accross some good "switch" deals, let us know.

All is silent on the Telus front. They usually wait for everyone else though. Also, they won't tell us anything until Wednesday anyways to avoid having leaks like me!

[Bobblehead]

I'd be happier if I could also keep the same phone so I don't need to be locked into a contract.