T-Mobile vs. AT&T in Northwest

I have been using T-Mobile/Voicestream in the Portland area for years with no problems. I now want to switch to the Panasonic GU87, that is only available thru AT&T in the US. sooo... my options are to buy an unlocked phone and continue using T-Mobile, or switch to AT&T.
My first choice would be to keep T-Mobile. They've been using GSM, never have had reception (Salem to Seattle as well as traveling in IL, TN, CT, MA, CA, NV, NY, etc....) or billing issues with them. My issue with the unlocked phone is it's not covered under Panasonic's warrenty and how some of the "m-mode" features will work with "T-zone".
My issues with AT&T... They are new to GSM... Just had a co-worker call from a major city on the east coast from a payphone because his AT&T cell didn't even find a roam signal! Would have to get a new phone number & more expensive service plans. But it wouldn't be "breaking the rules" with Panasonic, and would have some backup if there were issues (for a $300-500 phone, that's a pretty big thing).
Does anyone have experiance using an unlocked phone with another carrier? Or any general AT&T signal comments in the NW?

I have AT&T service and I live in New Jersey about 30-40 minutes away from NYC and don't seem to ever have a signal problem unless I'm in a basement of a building or in a bank or something like this. I have never used T-Mobile so I don't really know how their service is, but I can honestly say I am very satisfied with AT&T. Perhaps your friends phone just sucks. But if the reason you are thinking of switching is to get Panasonic's GU87 please let me save you the trouble of eternal hassle. To make a long story short. My gf and I both bought our phones at the same time. She got a Panasonic GU87 had to return the dang thing 5 times!!

Finally she just decided on a Nokia. The camera on the Panasonic is piss poor and will go out very easily. Hope this helps and good luck.

hey man i live in portland OR too.
well i have had a horrible experience with ATT in portland.
it totally sucks.
i cant make any calls, and people cannot call me.
it may partially be my phone (ericcson t68), but the service still sucks.,

i moved to T-mobile 3 days ago, and i have been VERY happy so far.
I CAN ACTUALLY CALL SOMEONE! wow imagine that.

my brother-in-law and my niece have been ATT users once, but they jump to T-Mobile and Verizon, and told me don't sign up ATT becoz there're a lot of dead spots around NY city
I used ATT once I had been in Fort Hood, TX, jump to Cingular becoz no service in upstate NY (Fort Drum)
it was a big mistake, very weak signal
I couldn't wait, then I paid penalty to "chop down" the contract, and jump to Verizon
and Verizon is the only provider that I travel NYC, Albany, Syracuse, Watertown/Fort Drum, Rochester, Buffalo, Toronto without any drop-off
at the same time, a buddy of mine uses sprint, it sucks, a lot of dead spots around the area!!!!!
I didn't know about T-Mobile (I signed up after I moved to NYC) around these area

Ok i just bought a T68i and the phone is good but thew serivce is bad. I m not able to call from the local safeway at all. and even if i am able to make a call it is breaking up. i wanna know if T-mobile is the best for the portland area, (im a local user)....and if so what plan to take...
(BUT SADLY I HAVE TO KEEP ATT FOR 12 MONTHS CAUSE of a contract)
Do you think att will improve their service?

it's poor...
wish you read it b4 you sign it up
hope ATT has 2 wks trial
if not, it's too bad
bcoz Verizon and T-Mobile have 2 weeks of trial
at least in NYC
another good idea, get the provider's prepaid service to try out
I was lucky sprint don't have prepaid, then I use Verizon
actually, sprint sucks anywhere

hey there. i've had at&t for a year, and i got screwed on a contract, so i tried to switch to tmobile. i had no luck with them on the gsm network (from eastern washington, outside of spokane.) so i switched back to at&t i don't have any problem with their gsm network. hopefully that helps a little bit. (plus, the panasonic phone is awesome!) good luck!!

cass

At&t Wireless fairs very well in the Northwest in terms of TDMA. As for GSM, everyone knows At&t Wireless is still expanding that network, however they lead in technology enhancements. No other GSM carrier in the U.S. has taken the steps to enhance the GSM network like At&t. Other GSM carriers just as At&t try to bring EDGE along, however while that is being expanded, At&t looks into the further future and is already launching a UMTS network in four select cities by end of 2004. UMTS is what you see in Korea and Japan, high speed data connectivity with the ability to hold video conferences. Don't get me wrong, when I took my vacation up to Seattle via road trip, all phones faired decently, one working better in one area than the other (Tmobile, Verizon, At&t). That is why there isn't really any "bad mouthing" of any company, because they all are competitive in their own nature. I just feel that At&t in this case has the edge even though both my At&t and Tmobile phone work fine, because At&t has the big connection to NTT Docomo Wireless, in my mind, the most enhanced wireless carrier in the world.

If you are going to go with At&t Wireless, go with a GAIT phone, Multi-band phone, or TDMA phone first. I think it is better to see the good side of At&t first and then when you want to get all of the perks of wireless service (mobile internet, multimedia messaging, and etc.), try the GSM network, but remember, they are still expanding it. Once again though, find the wireless carrier that works for you, because none of the wireless carriers pay for your bill, you do, so make it an enjoyable experience. Remember, most wireless carriers have trial periods, understand them well, and use them well.

T-Mobile vs. AT&T in Northwest

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