04-14-2010, 08:39 PM
Two reasons:
1. T-Mobile restricts the roaming on pre-paid phones. I am actually surprised it worked on non-T-Mobile networks at all. They offer better roaming coverage if you have a monthly account.
2. T-Mobile and Cingular (now AT&T Wireless) used to have an extensive roaming agreement. When Cingular, then owned by SBC and BellSouth, bought the old AT&T Wireless from the old AT&T the government forced Cingular out of some or all of that relationship. (Since then SBC bought both the old AT&T and BellSouth, and changed the Cingular name to AT&T Wireless and the entire company to AT&T.)
Cingular used to use T-Mobile towers in New York City (I don't think they had any of their own, but probably got some from the old AT&T Wireless). They were forced to put in new towers, which I suspect is one reason NYC has had problems for iPhone users. Not sure what T-Mobile got out of the government's deal, but they must have gotten something. The point was to increase competition since Cingular was removing a competitor by purchasing AT&T wireless.
Good luck.
- Winston
1. T-Mobile restricts the roaming on pre-paid phones. I am actually surprised it worked on non-T-Mobile networks at all. They offer better roaming coverage if you have a monthly account.
2. T-Mobile and Cingular (now AT&T Wireless) used to have an extensive roaming agreement. When Cingular, then owned by SBC and BellSouth, bought the old AT&T Wireless from the old AT&T the government forced Cingular out of some or all of that relationship. (Since then SBC bought both the old AT&T and BellSouth, and changed the Cingular name to AT&T Wireless and the entire company to AT&T.)
Cingular used to use T-Mobile towers in New York City (I don't think they had any of their own, but probably got some from the old AT&T Wireless). They were forced to put in new towers, which I suspect is one reason NYC has had problems for iPhone users. Not sure what T-Mobile got out of the government's deal, but they must have gotten something. The point was to increase competition since Cingular was removing a competitor by purchasing AT&T wireless.
Good luck.
- Winston