Cingular spokesman Frank Merriman said the company won't allow users
> to bring telephones from other networks to ensure "quality remains the
> same across the board" for its users.
Of course Merriman would say that it is to "ensure quality." He's a company hack!
"When someone upgrades from AT&T Wireless to Cingular, they need a new
> phone, and the reason they need to upgrade is there is unique software
> imbedded in the phone to enable it to work properly," Merriman
> said. "The AT&T network is not functioning anymore, and there is no
> way that equipment can operate on the system as it is."
Which for a GSM phone is a line of BS. As long as the phone is unlocked it can work on any compatible GSM network. Of course they don't want you using an unlocked phone it's one less phone that they couldn't sell you. Cingular made the decision that when they "captured" all the former AT&T Wireless callers that Cingular would reap all the benefits and all the former AT&T Wireless subscribers would have none of it. To the victor goes the spoils.