I was not expecting this after the failed acquisition but it is nice to see carriers working together. T-Mobile and AT&T just announced that they have entered into an emergency roaming agreement for areas heavily impacted by Hurricane Sandy in New York and New Jersey. This means that customers in those areas will be able to make calls on both AT&T and T-Mobile cell towers if either are available and it will all work seamlessly. Hopefully that means my phone will no longer say “All Circuits Busy.”
Here is how they describe it:
T-Mobile and AT&T have taken steps to help our customers in the following ways:
- Customers will be able to place calls just as they normally would, but their calls will be carried by whichever network is most operational in their area.
- This will be seamless for AT&T and T-Mobile customers with no change to their current rate plans or service agreements even if the phone indicates the device is attached to the other carrier’s network.
- T-Mobile and AT&T both utilize network technology based on GSM and UMTS standards, which allows for this sharing of voice and data traffic.
Below is the full press release:
AT&T and T-Mobile Open Networks to Customers of Both Carriers in New York and New Jersey
Dallas and Bellevue, Wash. — October 31, 2012 — In the wake of destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy, AT&T and T-Mobile are taking extraordinary measures to make sure our customers can stay in touch.
AT&T and T-Mobile have entered into an agreement to enable roaming on their networks to customers of both companies in the heavily impacted areas and where capacity is available and for subscribers with a compatible device.
AT&T and T-Mobile customers will be able to place calls just as they normally would, but their calls will be carried by whichever network is most operational in their area. This will be seamless for AT&T and T-Mobile customers with no change to their current rate plans or service agreements even if the phone indicates the device is attached to the other carrier’s network.
T-Mobile and AT&T both utilize network technology based on GSM and UMTS standards, which allows for this sharing of voice and data traffic.
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