[comp.dcom.telecom] Cellular System Improvements in Texas

mearle@pro-party.cts.com (Mark Earle) (03/27/91)

SWB subscribers in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and Austin have a new
feature to play with; automated hand-off.
 
No extra codes. If driving from CC to SA, and you're talking, the call
is handed off without being dropped. Yes, I tried it, it does seem to
work.

Likewise, SA  <--> AUS calls.
 
The 'gotcha' is the billing. It is based on where you start. So for
me, to talk going north (since my service is based in Corpus) it's
good, if I talk a lot to one person while driving. BUT, as soon as I
hang up (say, I've driven from CC to SA talking continously) the roam
light then comes on, and any subsequent calls are at the (reasonable)
roam rate. It won't hand off across SA, i.e., Corpus-Austin.
 
If I were to start my call in SA, driving south, even though I hit the
Corpus sites, the call would continue to be billed at the ROAM rate!
So being aware of home area and approximate expected hand off location
could be important to save bucks going south.
 
No real opinion, it works fine, and beats being cut off in the middle
of a call. Just have to be aware of the direction of travel to
minimize roam costs.
 
Oh-Follow Me Roaming is not affected by this arrangement, it says.
Unverified by me. I don't use FMR, since in one day I could be in a
lot of places -- and don't normally need incoming calls while out. If
necessary the few folks who know my approximate schedule can call the
roam ports.
 

mearle@pro-party.cts.com (Mark Earle) [WA2MCT/5]
My BBS: (512)-855-7564       Opus 1:160/50.0    
CI$ 73117,351   Packet: WA2MCT @ KA5LZG.TX.NA.USA