Okay I missed one yesterday. The branding issue between AT&T Wireless and AT&T got me, and I should know better.
AT&T Wireless is the company which was sold to Cingular. That explains the high prices.
Now, to add even more confusion, AT&T–the long distance, data and VoIP folks will launch an MVNO for wireless called AT&T Wireless after the sale to Cingular closes, since the license to use the AT&T Wireless name wasn’t part of the deal. Confused? I am. Well they may not use the AT&T brand name, which MAY help.
What I don’t understand is given the pending closing on the sale, is why they didn’t call the service Amtrak Wireless, powered by ……. That way, once the sale closes the AT&T Wireless brand could easily be replaced by Cingular. Oh, forgive me. These are the same people who have trains that are never late. What am I thinking. High prices. Bad branding. Trains that don’t run on time. Consistency. Got to love it.
Wi-Fi Networking News has a very good analysis on the deal.
In short. No roaming with Wayport, T-Mobile or Boingo. High prices. The only benefit is to a commuter who uses trains twice a day, every day.