Cingular data plans?

[DJ Rome]

Well, I've got the 3g enabled K800i now and I'm wondering how I can get it connected to my hx4700 and rx3715 and UX50 and Palm T3 via bluetooth. So, I'm looking at the rates and they're high! And I'm not even sure what I'll need! I know I'll be looking at getting an unlimited plan, but first of all, which plan do I get? There is a regular one and one for smartphones. The one for smartphones is considerably cheaper! Any ideas, guys? Or is there one for T-Mobile too? Advice and pointers would be greatly appreciated!

[Adama D. Brown]

There are actually three data plans for Cingular. There's their full unlimited data plan, primarily for laptop aircards, which is I believe $60 per month. There's the smartphone plan for $45. And there's "MediaNet" which is $20. All these plans are basically the same in terms of what you get, just priced differently for different devices. MediaNet is supposed to be just for data on the phone itself, not tethering, but as long as you don't go insane (stay under a couple hundred megs a month) you shouldn't have a problem. A side benefit of MediaNet is I believe it includes 200 text messages per month, so that may be an added savings.

T-Mobile has two data plans, T-MobileWeb for $6 and Total Internet for $30. T-MobileWeb gives you basic email and web browsing, but blocks most other applications. Total Internet has no restrictions, and also includes access to T-Mobile WiFi hotspots.

Depending on what plan you have, you'll need to configure your connection differently. You should be able to find walkthroughs on Google for Bluetooth dial-up networking using each of your devices. Use these details to connect using a full smartphone plan:

Access point: ISP.CINGULAR
User name: ISP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
Password: CINGULAR1

Or use these for MediaNet:

Access point: WAP.CINGULAR
User name: WAP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
Password: CINGULAR1

[DJ Rome]

So the MediaNet plan for Cingular is going to give me high-speed access to my pda for only $20 + 200 text messages and the T-Mobile plan is $30 and gives me access to T-Mobile hotspots?

I'm mainly concerned to get not just dial-up speeds but high-speed surfing. This will be possible with my K800i, correct?

[Adama D. Brown]

I don't think you'll get UMTS speeds on that phone no matter what data plan you select. The k800i is designed for European UMTS networks which run at 2100 MHz. Cingular's UMTS coverage is all at 1900 MHz. I'm fairly confidant that you'll only get EDGE speeds. On top of that, I believe the k800i lacks the 850 MHz band which is crucial to most of Cingular's coverage in the US, so you're going to see considerably less signal than with a phone that supports it.

To the best of my knowledge, the only 3G phones fully supported on Cingular are the LG CU320, Nokia 6282, and Samsung SGH-ZX10.

[DJ Rome]

Hmm. . . so the fastest speeds I can get minimum with Cingular would be how many kb/s?

[Adama D. Brown]

EDGE ranges from 10 to 25 KBytes/s (80 to 200 Kbits), depending on network, device, time of day, radio conditions, etcetera. Average speed would probably be around 15-17 KBytes.

[DJ Rome]

Hmm, representative told me to expect around 30-200 kbytes, but I guess it's actually bits (which makes more sense). I asked T-Mobile and they said that the highest they could support was regular GPRS 56k speeds. That's even with the $30 data plan. Any plans on Cingular or T-Mobile releasing a 3G network soon? I read an '05 article saying end of '06, but the customer service representative said probably early '07, but she wasn't sure, and she SOUNDED like she was from GA, which is where I live, and that's NOT very assuring. :-/ Guess I'll have to wait and see.

[Adama D. Brown]

T-Mobile actually does have EDGE, so they have similar speeds to Cingular. Cingular has a 3G network in some areas already. There's a listing of cities with 3G on Cingular's site here:

http://www.cingular.com/business/3G_cov_maps_pop

T-Mobile is probably going to launch 3G next year at some point. We don't know for certain whether it will be early next year or later, or how fast they intend to deploy. It's possible that they may have a few markets online by the end of this year, but unlikely.

[DJ Rome]

Yeah, I checked the Atlanta map. About 30 miles too far away.

[afreeman85]

I work for cingular, i can tell you that we offer a $29.99 data plan with Unlimited data usage and Internet based email access. We don't usually advertise the plan... so you'd have to go in and ask for it specifically. Some store reps may not even know that it's available, so if they say no then ask them to double check.


anyone in rochester NY looking to upgrade, stop by my kiosk in Greece Ridge Center. I'll be more than happy to help you out!