In article <O3Fcj.32691$JD.2428@newssvr21.news.prodigy.net> ,
me@nothingtoseehere.zzx says...
> John Navas wrote:
> > There is no real question. They've already made it clear that AMPS will
> > be shut down completely.
>
> Considering how large of remaining analog foot print Verizon has
> in Texas ("As shown by carriers own coverage maps." - Navas), its hard
> to imagine them turning up digital service in less than a year. Analog
> will indeed fade away, but not next year or even the year after perhaps.
>
> BTW, the analog foot print appears to have been static for the past
> few years.
>
>
Static because Verizon doesn't own/operate many AMPS towers in rural
Texas--they're roaming on other carrier's systems MOST of which are
ALREADY digital--but GSM/TDMA not CDMA. AMPS (and TDMA) *can* be turned
off by those carriers on the shutdown date--no need to "turn up" digital
because it's already done. The rural carrier's MAY add a few more towers
to cover areas where high-power AMPS reached and digital doesn't but
they're under no obligation to ADD CDMA. Verizon has been taking
advantage of analog roaming to tout their "more coverage" than ATT--and
correctly for those with dual mode phones (although no larger than my
GAIT phone/plan)--but the advantage is about to end.
--
Jud
Dallas TX USA