Final Report on GPRS in Italy:
I'm now back in the States and back on the CDMA 1XRTT Data network. After using GPRS in Italy for 2-1/2 weeks, I can report that there is currently no comparison between the GPRS access and speeds on Italy's TIM network and Verizons 1XRTT.
While traveling through Venice, Florence, Tuscany, Naples and Almafi, I was able to see a GPRS signal roughly 75% of the time. Of the times I could see a signal, I could connect to it 50% of the time. When connected, the access was very slow, and often hung up (not disconnected, just a 10 - 30 second pause in receiving data). And these three variations happened in the same locations.
Every time I would need the service, I would first check my device for the GPRS signal, holding my breath. If the signal was there, I would try to connect, again, watching the progress to see if I got in, and would proclaim to my traveling companions "BINGO!" and an "I'm In!" every time I was able to establish a connection. I would feel like I successfully hacked into their system.
Data access is not supposed to work that way, and TIM has a lot of work to do to get their networks running smoothly.
For the record the GPRS signal where I live in New Hampshire was a lot more stable, and faster than the Italian counterpart.
Still, it was refreshing and liberating to be back on the CDMA1XRTT service - especially for the quality of the phone calls! |
