AT&T Wireless Network Is Open Too

narramissic writes "Following last week's much-heralded announcement that Verizon Wireless would open up its network, AT&T is making it known that its wireless network is also open to outside devices. 'By its nature, GSM technology is open,' said Michael Coe, an AT&T spokesman. 'Customers could always use GSM phones not sold by AT&T on our network. We can't guarantee the performance of the device, of course.' AT&T will start to publicize that information through salespeople at AT&T stores, Ralph de la Vega, CEO of the company's wireless business, told USA Today."

Comments

Cool.....But what about the phones?

[Dante333]

The thing that always drove me nuts was that they lock their phones up.

Re:I suppose...

[Midnight Thunder]

I assume they mean those with a roaming agreement, right and even then there might only be one roaming slot open for data services in any given area.

There are a few ways of using a GSM on a network:
  - If your already have an agrement:
      - Roaming agreement between the host network and your provider.
      - Buying a temporary agreement or a pay as you go and put into your phone. Of course these requires an unblocked phone.
  - Buying a unblocked phone off the highstreet and popping in the SIM, optionally signing up to the network if you aren't already part of it.

CDMA on the other has various levels of incompatibility and in all cases requires a phone call to the operator to get the account switched over to the new phone, even if you are on the same network.