Roaming with T-Mobile service

This is a real newbie question, so bear with me. How do cell phones roam? I use a samsung r225m (not the greatest but it was pretty cheap) with T-mobile in Maryland. I recently went out of the t-mobile coverage area (on vacation) and could get NO service. I couldn't roam. I know there was some service out where I was since my Dad's phone was able to get a signal. My question is, how do cell phones roam, was my lack of service a fault of my phone or my service provider? I need to know this since my plan is up next month and its time to upgrade (I'm thinking t68i) and I'd like to get the 20/month unlimited internet with T-mobile. But, if t-mobile's coverage actually sucks THAT much and I can't roam when I travel I can't stay with T-mobile. Thanks for any input!

With T-Mobile, you either have service or you don't. GSM gives you things that others can't, but at a cost. It can't roam with TDMA or CDMA antennas, because it's two different networks. Check T-mobile.com for coverage areas.

I don't like T-Mobile since their coverage areas are not that large compared to other services. If you do not care about GSM or TDMA or CDMA and you do not travel outside the US, and you also want large coverage areas then I suggest you go for Verizon. I have to admit that Verizon has the largest coverage and their call qualities are superb. Now I use Cingular since I need a GSM phone that I could use when I travel. If you frequently travel (outside your coverage area but within the US) then it's better if you have the Nationwide plan since they will not charge you for roaming. You get less minutes for additional coverage.

Soon there will be phones that covers GSM and *DMA services (not sure if it's TDMA or CDMA or both). But I'm guessing that you can only choose one service at a time. Maybe the 2 lines options will be available soon after that. Hope this helps.

Thanks. I did a little research and what I have heard was that with T-mobile you basically cannot roam since they have very few associated providers they deal with. I had hoped that maybe since my phone was low-end that I was just not able to hop to another service when needed. I looked at ATT and their coverage maps seem pretty good where I am. I will probably just extend my contract for another year ( I would rather not give up my cell phone number so I'll wait till the fed makes them let me keep it!) then ditch them like a rotten sock and get a better plan and better phone. Again, thanks!

T-Mobile's coverage map is here: http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/

There's a note at the bottom that explains the reciprocity agreements.

Basically, if you roam onto a reciprocal network in the United States, everything is automatic. I was in Charleston, SC, a week or so ago, and the phone automatically connected with Cingular. AT&T GSM works the same way ... they don't officially offer service where I live, but an AT&T phone works just fine through a local provider (Suncom).

One of the reasons I got T-Mobile is for its excellent coverage in Europe.
http://www.t-mobile.com/international/coverage.asp

GSM phones also can support multiple SIM chips, so you can buy prepaid service and swap in a SIM chip for the local service in the country you are visiting.

Roaming with T-Mobile service

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