Cingular to sell 3G phones in 2G areas again?
We noticed a little gem in Cingular's press release triumphantly announcing completion of their GSM network integration: "Unlike some competitive services, all 3G services and features, such as Cingular Video, are also available on the company's EDGE network." Really now, is that so? This after customer complaints prompted the company to pull its 3G handsets off the market in EDGE regions just a few short months ago? The verbage of the press release certainly seems to line up nicely with intelligence we're getting, which suggests that the carrier's had a change of heart and intends to once again stock store shelves nationwide with its high-speed devices, possibly on or around November 1. Among those devices should be the lustworthy Hermes-based 8525 -- that is, if the stars are aligned correctly and Cingular's execs wake up on the right sides of their beds that morning.[Thanks, Jason H.]
Update: Some readers are reporting that 3G handsets have already come to their HSDPA-unfriendly areas; from what we gather, rumors indicate that those sales will go nationwide on November 1 (give or take).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Rich @ Oct 8th 2006 8:18PM
I live in a Edge area and have seen the 3G phones on the Cingular website under my area code for about a month and a half now
Scott @ Oct 8th 2006 8:51PM
I recently purchased a LG CU500 (3G Device) in the detroit area. We do not have 3G coverage as of yet and the phone entered the detroit market only a little more than a week ago. The phone is not avilable via Cingular's webiste as per detroit.
Louis @ Oct 8th 2006 9:46PM
I'm a Sales Rep at a Cingular agent and I read about this on the Sales Portal about two months ago. We've also been selling CU500's in our non-3G market for several months now.
scott lewinter @ Oct 8th 2006 10:16PM
my friend has a cu500 in DALLAS. He can watch live tv for 10 bucks a month. He also can watch all sorts of video that buffers super fast. For him...he gets all the advantages of that phone. Maybe some areas are much farther along.
korey @ Oct 8th 2006 10:46PM
really cuz i want that LG CU500 t and I dont wanna go drop 100 unessecary dollars on the worlds smallest camera flip If i can get the LG next month.
kashif @ Oct 9th 2006 4:37AM
I used a CU500 in waco, tx (EDGE) back when the CU500 had just come out... it worked amazing, even on EDGE. I live in Dallas now, and there is a difference on 3g, but the cingular video worked fine on edge for me.
noodle @ Oct 9th 2006 7:25AM
Cingular is horrible! I was on their network too long. They were pretty good, untill @ 2 years ago. Then they've been progressively getting worse and worse. Their data is so slow its practically useless, and they drop "more" calls then anyone I've ever had! Do yourself a favor and get with Verizon Wireless, or if you've got to have GSM, TMobile. But whatever you do don't use Cingular. If you're holding out for HSDPA, don't hold your breath. I got one of their 3G phones recently, just to see how HSDPA would compare to my VZW EVDO. It doesn't exist yet, regardless of what they tell you. They will sell you 3g and you'll be stuck on their edge network for the next 2-3 years, with a token block of hsdpa every 100miles or so, if your lucky...
Josh @ Oct 9th 2006 10:08AM
Yeah, you could of always called cingular when you want to order a phone and ask for their selection that isn't listed on the website, and it usualy was only their 3G phones.
P.S. most of them are all ugly phones anyway.
Jason Gensburger @ Oct 9th 2006 3:46PM
I just checked Cingular's site in my zip code (in South Florida) and there are no 3G phones that show up. I sent an e-mail to Cingular about when 3G was going to be in my area and they pretty much had no clue how to answer. They sent me to a website that told me where 3G was currently available.