Cingular Wireless will shut off its analog TDMA cellular network in 2008 according to CEO Stan Sigman's keynote speech at TelecomNext. Even though the aging network still has two years of life, over 95% of Cingular voice traffic is already on the newer digital GSM network.
Cingular has been working on the TDMA to GSM transition since its merger with AT&T Wireless in 2004. The transition requires customers to upgrade handsets, typically at their expense.
Definition of TDMA...
Time division multiple access (TDMA) is digital transmission technology that allows a number of users to access a single radio-frequency (RF) channel without interference by allocating unique time slots to each user within each channel. The TDMA digital transmission scheme multiplexes three signals over a single channel. The current TDMA standard for cellular divides a single channel into six time slots, with each signal using two slots, providing a 3 to 1 gain in capacity over advanced mobile-phone service (AMPS). Each caller is assigned a specific time slot for transmission.
How MANY of the advertised total Cingular customers are on TDMA. What do they plan to DO with those of us that still use TDMA? I have been a customer of AT&T (now Cingular/AT&T) for 16 YEARS and am feeling very shafted!! AT&T gave away extra minutes, free mobile to mobile, etc.,etc., just to keep customers to make the sale/merger more attractive; now they want to cut my plan in (more than) HALF. What incentive to I have to STAY with AT&T/Cingular?? - NONE!!!
I was an AT&T customer and still have equipment with their logo. The new company could care less about their customers.
Called their customer dis-service/sales dept to find out if I could get replacement equipment to work with my TDMA plan. Was told that I would have to "upgrade" to GSM. Hmmm pay double the price to get less minutes. When all our TDMA phones die so will our association with this company.
Another thing I've noticed is that my area recently began having dead spots where I've always had coverage.
You people are retarded. TDMA is digital.