As of 8/7/2008, Verizon has
purchased Unicel. The GSM network will remain operational. Unicel has EDGE
running on its complete network.
The GSM network (see coverage map below) in New York and Vermont is now
owned by AT&T. The rest of the network (MA, NH, ME) will
be overlaid with CDMA/EV-DO and customers will be transitioned to the new
network in between 1Q09-2Q09.
Unicel serves most of Northern New England: Western, Northern
& Seacoast New Hampshire, Northeastern New York, Western Massachusetts, all of
Vermont, as well as most of ME. You may
need a 3 watt analog phone (not available with GSM) for reliable service in the more remote areas.
Unicel is CDMA in the old Star Cellular areas (Strafford Co NH and York
Co ME) and in Franklin Co MA. the rest of their system is GSM & TDMA/AMPS.
TDMA will likely be shut down by 2/2008 at the latest. AMPS will
be shut down too, although some outlaying areas may stay active for a
while beyond that.
Most of the Unicel network is GSM-850. Don't bring your tri-band Euro-phone
to Unicel country!
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