Expert: DebiN - 12/12/2010

Question
QUESTION: AT&T is going to LTE after first of the year and I have a Nokia 6061 and I am wondering if my cell will still work with this signal.The message they sent was that I had to bring in my phone and get a new one. However I like my simple phone. I do not use texting, video, T.V or  camera. I just want a simple phone and AT%T can no longer offer a simple phone.

ANSWER: When AT&T goes to LTE, they are not closing down their GSM networks. If they (or any carrier) did this, they would lose millions of customers. Your phone is one of the old AT&T Wireless phones and the old AT&T Wireless SIM card you have will no longer work once the latest upgrade to the network happens. AT&T Wireless was bought by Cingular 6 years ago and then a couple of years later, Cingular's parents (SBC and BellSouth) became one company and changed the names to AT&T (the actual owner is the former SBC, but because AT&T was the more recognized name, decided to use this name). All current customers on Cingular or AT&T Mobility SIM cards will not have any issues with the network changes, but unfortunately, those last holdouts from the old AT&T Wireless days (like you) are now finally going to have to change.

Unfortunately, pretty much all of the phones today have cameras and phones have been able to text for many years. Fortunately, however, you don't have to use these features or pay for them. With the phones available today, I would recommend that you get one of the free ones (with your new 2 year agreement). There is currently a Nokia 6350. Since you are familiar with Nokia, this one might be an easy transition for you. You can still just use the phone and only pay for phone service and don't have to use anything else if you don't want to. This phone is flip phone so it's going to be very similar to what you had.

Even if you changed to another carrier, you would run into the same problem. There really aren't any "basic" phones anymore, but good news is that you don't have to use any of the features if you don't want to. I hope this helps.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I was originally with cingular when the name became AT&t. I looked at my simm card it is a cingular card so i guess I will be o.K. The next question , my 6061 is a dual band 850/1900 phone. I from research have deduced that they start sending the gsm signal on 1900 verses 850 with implementation of LTE. How much will this effect reception and coverage. By the way your spam test takes me twent tries to get right

Answer
You will be okay for awhile, but I would strongly recommend that you consider getting a 3G phone and updated SIM card. As the network grows, you will need 3G for certain. AT&T has always sent the signal on both the 850 and 1900 bands but perhaps something changed in your area.

If it helps to know, I have nothing to do with how this site sends emails, so I'm not sure what you are referring to regarding the spam test. I am just an unpaid expert who answers questions ;)