They're not really dispensing with the PCS segment. They're preferring 1900 MHz for data services. At the same time they are favoring the 850 MHz area for voice traffic. Most of the GSM voice call control channels have moved to 850 MHz with only a small amount of control channels remaining on 1900 MHz for those 1900-only phones and "Blue" accounts whose home market was not "merged" yet (these are very rare). For several years Cingular has required phones to support 850 MHz to get "nationwide coverage."
Business wise, Cingular wanted to address some lingering coverage issues with voice traffic and make room for data traffic and do both nationwide. Voice traffic is preferred on 850 MHz since it penetrates better and travels further without the extreme degradation from obstacles and terraine that 1900 MHz has. Data traffic, with its error correction and non-real-time requirements, is tolerant of drop-outs and errors. Users are already tolerant of data traffic having delays--like video, downloads, and web browsing, and the non-real-time nature allows for errors and drop-outs. This is in stark contrast with the real-time nature of digital voice traffic where retransmission and drop-outs cause frustrating and obvious problems for the user. 1900 MHz is a natural place for data. 850 MHz is a necessary place for voice. Where I live I found that both T-Mobile and Cingular are broadcasting from the same tower and roughly the same directions. When I'm downstairs, my T-Mo-To-Go phone always selects Cingular. When I'm upstairs or outside it selects T-Mobile. Before 850 roaming it was no signal downstairs and T-Mobile outside and upstairs. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> See what's inside the new Yahoo! Groups email. http://us.click.yahoo.com/PEOZVC/bOaOAA/cosFAA/G6uqlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> - - T-Mobile-US on Google Groups: http://groups.google.com/group/T-Mobile-US _ _ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/T-Mobile-US/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
