Will my area EVER get AT&T service????? I'm not in the mountains or out in the boonies -- what's up with that??????? Santa Barbara - San Marcos Road and Via Regina.
There must be something with GSM services going on in that particular area.
I checked with T-Mobile and AT&T as far as coverage and you're right...AT&T doesn't have coverage in your area. T-Mobile, another GSM carrier, has weak or very limited coverage and it's spotty. Verizon Wireless, CDMA, has excellent coverage. Sprint, PCS/CDMA, has excellent coverage as well. Then I checked one of the smallest CDMA carriers, Metro PCS, and they have NO COVERAGE for miles of your location (but they do cover, for the most part, Santa Barbara).
I also looked in my system (I work at a wireless testing center, which tests all wireless networks in California, Nevada, Hawaii, and Alaska) and I see NO wireless towers pending for AT&T. This means they have no plans to build towers within the next year, at least.
What is special about your area compared to the rest of Santa Barbara? Is there anything different? An airport nearby? A military base nearby? Anything that you wouldn't find in the rest of the city? Tall trees? Skyscrapers? Anything...?
If you WANT wireless service without waiting, check Sprint PCS and Verizon Wireless. If with Sprint, try and get a Nextel device and plan because Nextel's existing coverage in your area is better than Sprint's.
Sprint PCS coverage of your area=FAIR
T-Mobile=limited coverage, 2G EDGE available in some areas.
Verizon Wireless=Perfect Coverage, all services including V CAST Mobile TV are available in MOST areas.
Also notice, the Verizon Wireless map is detailed. Are you in a national park? What about an area with mountains (I know you said you weren't). The lines represent something special...not sure. This can sometimes impact coverage with other carriers.
I checked AT&T in the system and they didn't show anything, here is their response: We Cannot Find Your Address