SMS ???. ? wrote:
> Jud Hardcastle wrote:
>> 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.
>
> Unlikely to end any time soon. All the news reports about the AMPS
> mandate ending always have statements by the rural carriers that they
> will keep AMPS operating for the foreseeable future (they really have
> no choice but to do so both for legal and practical reasons).
> Similarly, if AT&T, Verizon, and Alltel intend to comply with the FCC
> rules, then they will have to leave their fringe area AMPS network
> up, even if they don't want to talk about doing so.
>

News flash: AT&T has already stated their intentions, and in fact began
shutting down AMPS/TDMA back in June.

"http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iiczkwxq1jK5IKXGCsNQkWgOHmQAD8TM1PKG0"

"Verizon Wireless, AT&T Inc. and Alltel Corp. are the largest carriers that
still have analog networks. Alltel will take more time than Verizon and AT&T
to close its network, shutting down in three stages ending in September.
Each carrier will keep its portion of the newly available spectrum, and will
use it to boost their digital services."

"The larger carriers say their digital buildout will cover any gaps left by
the demise of analog service."


According to the above the carrier that will take the longest to shut down
AMPS, Alltel, will be finished by September. The chicken little-like comment
about fringe areas is wishful thinking.

Heck, even Canadian carriers--who have not already done so--intend on
shutting down AMPS come February to be inline with the US. Rogers shut it
down back in May.

The world doesn't revolve around the less than 1% of users who still use
AMPS.


>
> In any case, the bottom line is that the original poster is incorrect.
> Portions of the AMPS system will be shut down in February, but much of
> it will remain operational if you believe what the rural carriers are
> all saying.

In fact it's just the opposite: most of AMPS will be shut down with only a
handful of rural operators--statistically insignificant--that cling to AMPS.
From the same link:
"A few rural cellular providers may keep their networks up. Plateau
Wireless, which provides service in eastern New Mexico and western Texas,
will maintain its analog network alongside a digital one "for the
foreseeable future," according to Chief Executive Tom Phelps."

Whether you choose to accept it or not AMPS is going away sooner rather than
later. That doesn't mean by February 19 it will be completely gone. But a
year from now it will be in its death throes. Before you go off on some
rural tangent, rural areas don't run the country. The Amish still ride in
buggies but that doesn't mean we build interstate highways for them.


--
Mike