Cingular/T-Mobile coverage comparison?

Now that T-Mobile has 850 mhz coverage and lists Cingular as a roaming
partner, how does its actual coverage compare with that of Cingulars?

I suspect I can't tell from the coverage maps because T-mobile's maps
appear to be much more precise than Cingular's.

dmartin@newarts.com wrote:
> Now that T-Mobile has 850 mhz coverage and lists Cingular as a roaming
> partner, how does its actual coverage compare with that of Cingulars?
>
> I suspect I can't tell from the coverage maps because T-mobile's maps
> appear to be much more precise than Cingular's.

In areas where T-Mobile has a network, you may not be allowed to roam
onto Cingular, even if you're in a location where you can a Cingular
signal, but no T-Mobile signal. This is the case where I live,
Cingular's coverage on AT&T's old 850 MHz network is fine in my
neighborhood, but T-Mobile has no coverage, and T-Mobile users can't
roam onto Cingular. T-Mobile has been trying to get permission for a
1900 MHz site for years (first it was Cingular trying to get permission,
then when T-Mobile took over the 1900 MHz network, it became T-Mobile's
battle.

It's a never ending issue, since 1900 MHz doesn't have the range or the
penetration of 850 MHz. This is why T-Mobile tries to make up for their
network by offering more peak minutes for the money.