Archived from groups: alt.cellular,alt.cellular.verizon,alt.cellular.sprintpcs (
More info?)
I don't know about consumer code promises made by the carriers (for that
matter, this is the first I've even heard of them). <G>
While I lacked the means to verify their accuracy, the way the maps depicted
coverage and even fringe areas suggested that professional site surveys had
been done. They were very similar to television site surveys I used to see
back in the 1960's when I was an antenna technician.
When Cellular Directions stopped publishing a hard copy book and went to web
subscriptions, they told me that the cellular industry was growing by such
leaps and bounds (not only adding new cities but adding new cell sites in
existing service areas) that they would have to publish a new book each
month, just to keep up. Because that was too expensive (and lacked accuracy
unless you bought a new book each month) they went the web instead.
"Røbert M" <rmarkoff@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:rmarkoff-1A5F8A.18055525052004@news05.east.earthlink.net...
> In article <P6SdnRqP8ut_KS7dRVn-hQ@adelphia.com>,
> "Michael" <mpmorgan(no spam)@adelphia.net> wrote:
>
> > About 15 years ago a company in Florida called Cellular Directions
published
> > something like this in book form however, it was more of a roaming guide
for
> > plain old cell phone customers like myself, and was intended to help us
> > determine whether their might be coverage wherever we were driving or
> > visiting. If you will remember, back then coverage was a lot more
sporadic,
> > the cellular providers were a lot of small independents and we didn't
have
> > huge companies like Verizon, AT&T, Cingular, etc, that provided
nationwide
> > coverage and published national coverage maps, so the book was of great
> > benefit, Back then I did a lot of cross country driving (and the books
were
> > only $15) so I always had one on hand to tell where I could find
coverage.
> > In addition, back then we didn't have follow me roaming so the books
> > published roamer access numbers, allowing folks back home to reach you
on
> > the road if they know where you were.
> >
> > Over the years, the system expanded so fast (requiring a commensurate
> > expansion of the book) and updates became so frequent, that Cellular
> > Directions could no longer afford to publish it as a $15 book for end
users.
> > I believe they sold out to someone who put it on the web in subscription
> > form for about $300 per year. Too rich for this end user's blood, plus
> > accessing the web for information from you car while on the road just
wasn't
> > practical so I stopped buying.
> >
> > Having looked at the new website and its prices, I think the concept is
> > good. But considering the price, it's simply not practical for the
average
> > cell phone customer.
>
> You mean they publish the accurate maps the Carriers promised to in the
> industries "Consumer Code" but never did?
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