Change Log

13 August 2003

• Made changes to AMPS credit card roaming information. There is no requirement that AMPS carriers provide credit card calls to unregistered handsets. Verizon may not be complying with manual roaming requirement even on registered handsets.

• Added table comparing capacity ratings by technology

• Added section on voice quality

12 August 2003

• Major update to Technology Comparison table, added GSM 850 Mhz and AMPS

• Added piece on "Some Funny TDMA versus CDMA stuff from the Past"

9 August  2003

• Corrected error in prepaid table regarding T-Mobile local coverage (thanks to an e-mail)

8 August  2003

• Cingular GAIT handsets available in California (kind of, sort of)

7 August  2003

• Added information about Nextel's iDEN/GSM handsets

• Added "Best Phone for Adventurer's" section

• Added section on e-mail pre-sales support, with direct links to send e-mail to all carriers (except Cingular which no longer offers e-mail support)

6 August  2003

• Updated International GSM Roaming section; including adding the monthly fees charged by Sprint and Verizon for international roaming

5 August  2003

• Updated high speed data section

• Updated International GSM Roaming section with links to country lists and rate charts

• Updated prepaid section, added Boost Mobile, added hyperlinks in prepaid table

• Moved Samsung SPH-i700 into the unacceptable category (it has AMPS capability, but it is disabled)

3 August  2003

• Updated high speed data section

• Updated International GSM Roaming section with links to country lists and rate charts

• Updated prepaid section, added Boost Mobile, added hyperlinks in prepaid table

1 August  2003

• Added information about getting your world GSM phone unlocked by Cingular or T-Mobile

31 July 2003

• Fixed high speed data table and added linear table of data speeds

• Added back most recent news stories to main page

30 July 2003

• Fixed page with network maps

• Added section: "Statistics on Market Share, Subscriber Totals, Subscriber Additions, and Churn"

29 July 2003

• Added sub-section under High Speed Data section entitled: "Who Stole the Definition of 3G?"

• Corrected data rates in table of high speed data standards

• Added table of AMPS-capable and AMPS-incapable handsets

28 July 2003

• Added information regarding service for international GSM roaming on Verizon (thanks to an e-mail)

• Updated link for California PUCs final draft of Rules Governing Telecommunications Consumer Protection

• Re-did the section on high speed data

27 July 2003

• Nextel does indeed have landline access to voice mail, added the information (thanks to an e-mail)

• Added Consumer Reports recommendation that users purchase phones with digital and AMPS capability

26 July 2003

• Added link to Wall Street Journal article of October 2002

• Fixed AT&T coverage ratings to distinguish between TDMA and GSM

25 July 2003

• Corrected errors regarding AT&T and high speed data (I had not added AT&T's capabilities due to the GSM roll-out, thanks to an AT&T Wireless representative for pointing out this error)

24 July 2003

• Minor clean-up and corrections. Removed statements that AT&T does not offer GAIT

• Added information on cheap unlocked GSM world phones for use when international roaming

23 July 2003

• AT&T now offers the Sony-Ericsson T62u. It is not clear yet whether AMPS is enabled on this handset, but first indications are that AMPS does work

• Pharos International is still in business, but no longer takes PayPal

• Moved Market Share section into Appendix

• Added section to appendix, "Why is Someone so Upset about www.sfbacell.com?" This should explain the actions of this individual. No more e-mails on this subject please; I appreciate all the support.

• Added item to "What's Good about GSM" relating to voice mail and text messages while roaming

22 July 2003

• Added the section "Technology (CDMA versus GSM) DOES Matter" in an effort to dispel the misinformation being promulgated by some GSM advocates

• Pharos International appears to be out of business, no more $3.33/month prepaid

21 July 2003

• Corrected warning regarding GSM international roaming and voice mail

• Changed ratings of battery life. The original ratings were based on the various phones operating in the identical spectrum. But GSM phones in this area operate exclusively at 1900 Mhz and this increases battery life compared to CDMA at 800 Mhz.

• Added Cingular discount for union members

• Added Seybold comments regarding TDMA to GSM subscriber issues

19 July 2003

• Fixed error in monthly minimum for AT&T Free2Go

18 July 2003

• Added information about FCC extension of AMPS requirement.

17 July 2003

• Modified the "GSM in the U.S." section

• Added Sprint PCS local plan (not on Sprint website, advertised in newspaper)

• Added information about Circuit City carrying T-Mobile and Verizon

• Added Pie Chart of 2002 Market Share of Major Carriers

16 July 2003

• Improved readability by modifying colors of tables

• Added link in appendix to Navas Cable Modem/DSL Tuning Guide^TM

• Verizon has apparently dropped its brief attempt to charge $2 extra for "Enhanced Voice Mail"

• Updated Network Maps

• Corrected information about T-Mobile's Off-Peak Minutes

• Added termination fee for T-Mobile

• Corrected information about T-Mobile hiding rate plans on their web site (this referred to prepaid and now it is completely gone from their site, but still sold in stores)

• Corrected information about MetroPCS infrastructure. Apparently they are installing their own equipment onto some Sprint towers. I had originally stated that they were putting up their own towers.

• Added section explaining the differences between Cingular's Western Region, and Cingular's former BellSouth and SBC areas (due to apparent confusion in a Usenet post as to why there are so many complaints about Cingular in this area)

• Updated  information on Mobile to Mobile minutes (AT&T no longer offers them, Cingular now offers them)

• Added information on Cingular 7-7-7 option ($7 per month to make nights start at 7:00 p.m.)

• Added two items to "Mischief to Watch Out For"

• Modified San Benito County information (based on a e-mail)

• Removed Samsung A530 from recommended phone list (informed by e-mailer that it lacked AMPS)

• Added change log (request by e-mailer for this addition)

• Added another entry to Sprint Retention Plan table (sent in by e-mail, awesome plan)

• Added some more feedback

• Added warning about international GSM use with prepaid SIM and removing your regular SIM before you arrive (based on e-mail)

15 July 2003

• Added Nextel per several e-mail requests to do so

• Updated prepaid comparison, especially useful for tourists from GSM countries

• Updated information on prepaid SIM cards from T-Mobile and Cingular, and new AT&T pre-billed GSM service

• Updated rate information

• Updated dead spot tally

• Daily updates on Cellular News Stories

• New section on LNP (number portability), including a table of which carriers are adding big monthly fees ostensibly to cover the cost of implementing LNP

• New section outlining the evolution of the A side and B side 800 Mhz carriers for the San Francisco Bay Area

• More information on outlying areas and roaming capabilities (or lack thereof) from Bay Area carriers, including new north bay GSM service available only  to AT&T GSM subscribers

• Moved a bunch of stuff to separate pages to speed load time of main page over dial-up modems