vB Easy Archive - Helpful Tip for T-Mobile BlackBerry users!

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Helpful Tip for T-Mobile BlackBerry users!
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Posted by: luv2fly007

If you have a T-mobile BlackBerry, it is easy to get frustrated when you enter an area without service. T-Mobile, as one of the newer entrants in the wireless business, has a network that isn't necessarily as broad as other carriers’ networks. For the savvy user, there is a little-known “secret” that can provide much wider coverage, however. Thanks to roaming agreements between T-Mobile and Cingular, T-Mobile users can log on to the Cingular network at no additional charge and use it if there is no T-Mobile coverage.

Accessing the Cingular network may take a bit of practice to do correctly, but it could be worth it if you need to be out of T-Mobile’s coverage area for a long period of time. Here is how it works: Go to the "wrench" or “tools” section on the BlackBerry screen then choose “Network” on the menu. Change the settings from “automatic” to “manual” and then “scan for networks.” If a Cingular network shows up, select it. You might get warned (we don't know why) that it is only available for "emergency calling" and be asked if it is “okay.” Select “yes.” Tah dah! You should have coverage for both voice and data and at no additional cost thanks to T-Mobile’s roaming agreement with Cingular. The only catch appears to be that after a number of hours the process might need to be repeated

Source: Telecommunications Research and Action Center: trac.org

Posted by: Descent

Will it only work in areas where t-mo service isn't available? i searched, picked cingular but i cant get on. stays on searching. i have decent tmobile coverage at home but not at college

Posted by: luv2fly007

Yes - I'm only guessing but you may not have a strong enough signal from Cingular to connect.

Posted by: cbreze

If you leave your network selection to auto it will switch automatically. Been my experience when travelling anyway, don`t have to do anything. That`s the reason for the auto selection in network section.

Posted by: dmxsoulja3

also would have to have the data roaming turned on.

Posted by: detroit820

Does this mean that if you pick up a Cingular signal while in data, would you pick up their higher speed data signal?

Posted by: Telyx

You may not get data at all while roaming on Cingular, according to T-Mobile's website.

Posted by: IanHummel

When I try to switch it tells me I will only be able to make emergency calls if I switch.

Posted by: gfunkdave

Yeah, the original post is BS. If there is a roaming agreement in place and no T-mobile signal, your phone will switch automatically. Otherwise it'll just say SOS instead of showing a signal bar, meaning there is coverage but your phone isn't allowed to use it. You can just call 911.

Edit: this will work in places where T-mobile has a roaming agreement with Cingular (e.g., out in the boonies where there's no native T-mo coverage) but in such cases your phone will switch to cingular automatically.

Posted by: jacobperry

i have no tmo coverage in my room but there is cingular coverage for anyone who is a cingular customer, network select clearly shows cingular as being there and it does show cingular on my home screen but it shows no signal and says Searching constantly... whats the deal?

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Posted by: Telyx

No T-Mo coverage in your room... how about outside, in your area? If there IS native T-Mo coverage in the area, you won't be able to roam on Cingular.