3G roaming

I apologize if this has been answered already, but when does the new 3G roaming agreement with AT&T take effect?

I would like to know this also, but i would like to know if the roaming agreement is only for 3g data services or does it include voice also?

Anytime by March

Thank you Viper, I cant wait for the improved coverage.

You will need to have a device that has UMTS 850 or 1900 to take advantage. 

Yup that is true too. I was very occupied to even think about that.

You will need to have a device that has UMTS 850 or 1900 to take advantage. 

For the ones that don't know, HSPA+ 1900 is more more widespread for AT&T than 850.. Mainly large cities (NY, SF) use 850 since AT&T's HSPA+ 1900 is very clogged up in those cities.

That is AT&T's fault. They did not build any of their networks efficiently to give the consumers the best possible results. They could always pull 2G services off 1900.

I the aggrement improve coverage in 2G only areas for  and give customers access to 3G?

3G HSPA 7.2 at least would give greater benefits then a 2G GPRS/EDGE network. It would provide more bandwidth to more users at once but HSPA 14.4 would be better. But AT&T hasn't learned from their mistakes but a bit of the factor is the amount of subscribers they have. But Verizon has over 7 Million more and they are doing A OK. Verizon knows what the heck they are doing. AT&T needs to learn from them even tho the technologies are not the same AT&T could do much better on efficiency giving the end user a better network especially with its 113MHz (6MHz Qualcomm LTE added) of spectrum holdings nationwide and in some areas individually it could be more or less. AT&T has a leap of spectrum in many many areas ahead of Verizon. This is why we prepare for a future filled of only 3G and 4G networks. However, in the future we should be using nothing less than HSPA+ 42 and make all networks fiber optic.

The roaming agreement maybe choosy as in the areas that its activated in. In the areas with coverage it may still be blocked as a roaming agreement is not needed. However, this theory will need testing. One thing off topic i'm waiting for is AT&T to give back T-Mobile its well deserved contract at Starbucks. AT&T has McDonalds and Popeyes and many places. Let T-Mobile have its places back. So lets see what March brings us.

One thing off topic i'm waiting for is AT&T to give back T-Mobile its well deserved contract at Starbucks. AT&T has McDonalds and Popeyes and many places. Let T-Mobile have its places back.

What's ridiculous is that T-Mobile still sells the $9.99 hotspot as an add on, yet it doesn't really get you internet anywhere anymore.  Obviously it used to work at Starbucks.  I think I tried the hotspot at a starbucks awhile back, and if you knew the name of the hotspot network, it was still there.  But only the name of AT&T network is broadcast. 

One thing off topic i'm waiting for is AT&T to give back T-Mobile its well deserved contract at Starbucks. AT&T has McDonalds and Popeyes and many places. Let T-Mobile have its places back.

What's ridiculous is that T-Mobile still sells the $9.99 hotspot as an add on, yet it doesn't really get you internet anywhere anymore.  Obviously it used to work at Starbucks.  I think I tried the hotspot at a starbucks awhile back, and if you knew the name of the hotspot network, it was still there.  But only the name of AT&T network is broadcast. 

True. I can't even get AT&T Wi-Fi to even work at Starbucks.

ust so I understand, if I live in a 2G only tmocile area, there is a chance that with the right phone I could get 3G once the aggrement starts?

Only if that area is selected to have 3G Roaming.

Wow. So my sister just started using AT&T (iPhone 3GS) and I did a Speed Test at my house in Seattle. DAMN AT&T's data network sucks. Worse then I thought. AT&T's ping went as high as 500ms ping, then 200's.

                                                   AT&T 3G vs. Tmo 3G

I think T-Mobile has serious backhaul, to boost their download speeds to the max. AT&T wants that.

I think T-Mobile has serious backhaul, to boost their download speeds to the max. AT&T wants that.

And AT&T has some serious backhaul problems, lol. I was expecting atleast 3mbps/1.5mbps, but this is just pathetic.

They just build out a network too quickly to try to play catch up and honestly AT&T doesn't care bout their business at all. Lets analyze the graph: You can see AT&T's Upload is spiking up and down and then it begins mid to the test to lose its connection thats when the speed stays the same and begins to slant down and also has a bit to do with the network load.

In T-Mobile's Download: You see it spike up which its supposed to but then it loops down a few times. Upping the power that the towers broadcast at would help eliminate the 2 holes. However, it is still a good result and shows T-Mobile's network is built better. Fiber is something T-Mobile is using. AT&T hasn't done this really. Frequency plays into a factor of the few holes as well.

But AT&T's downlink shows two things too many are on the network and deploying something higher than 14.4 will benefit their subscribers in a great way. They need to get on the ball of deploying 21 or 28 and 42 or 56.

I live on the outskirts of Seattle (not far from the city limits line), so I doubt AT&T's tower(s) is clogged in my city. Unless its a poor backhaul + the amount on the tower(s).

Thats one of AT&T's problems is the poor installation. But having a 14.4 network should yield around 3x to 4x more results. That speed is like having a HSPA 7.2 device but its not quite the speed yet.