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Question about unlocked phones and changing networks

Can someone explain why it I've heard that if you take an unlocked AT&T phone like the Fuze to T-Mobile or another provider, that you won't get full 3G data speeds like you do on AT&T? Isn't an unlocked phone "fully" unlocked? What would prevent data from operating at it's fullest?
Thank you! Trying to look online to find a site that will explain this and I'm not getting anywhere.

in usa it depend on what 3g band the provider use vs. what 3g band the phone have
elsewhere it would work 100% as only usa use alternative 3g bands

Two quick noob questions

I'm in Canada using Rogers GSM, currently with a Treo 650 + SIM card. I am about to buy a Sprint unlocked Touch Pro 2 (the GSM is unlocked on the phone). It's as simple as popping my SIM card in like any other GSM phone and that's it to use the phone?
Also, I found this on a site selling Touch Pro 2 unlocked: "*Cell phones which are marked as unlocked ( being international phones ) are not capable of working on the internet. They are not enabled to browse the internet and will not be able to access it."
^^^ Can someone tell me if this means Wi-Fi does not work, or 3G (data plan with carrier) does not work? I have no intention of getting a data plan so the 3G is irrelevant to me, I would only be using Wi-Fi here and there.
Thanks for any help

No, the WiFi is a completely separate radio...
If you end up getting a data plan, the difference would be that the World-Wide GSM frequencies are different than the US ones... So you might have to reconfigure some data settings and may only have 2G data where you are...

Thanks zcarman. What does it mean that the WiFi is a separate "radio?" Is that just the term for each connection aspect, like GPS, WiFi, bluetooth? Or?
Yes I have talked to Rogers support already about the lack of 3G, again that's no prob as I will not have a data plan..
And I was searching this forum a lot and it appears the Sprint TP2 already comes unlocked for GSM so I can pop in my SIM card, but then other posts say that it is a CDMA phone, I am just confused I suppose hehe..

Exactly, they are separate connections - Bluetooth, WiFi, CDMA, GSM - as far as the phone is concerned. The wifi as far as I know is B/G... No N support, but I don't know that for a fact since my networks are all backward compatible.
For better support of the SIM slot, you can force the phone to stay on GSM by setting to manual network instead of automatic so it stays connected to Rogers and doesn't try to flip back to CDMA - if you've already one this, then someone else will have to jump in, but the settings are:
All Settings > Personal > Phone > Network (tab) > Mode of Operation = GSM/UMTS Only

Thanks a lot zcarman, I just won a Sprint TP2 off ebay It should be here early next week. I am confused, though, about getting ROMs and all the modifications/hacks floating around here and PPC Geeks, because from what I have read it is super important to only install stuff based on whether your phone is CDMA or GSM... so which is mine? Because I will be using my sim card and GSM, does that mean I have a GSM TP2 and install ROMs and such for GSM version of the phone, or? Kinda confused on this

Sprint and Verizon are CDMA phones...
AT&T and T-Mo are GSM phones...
ONLY USE CDMA ROMS ON DEVICES LABELED FOR VZW OR SPRINT!

Thanks zcarman Appreciate all your help!!

[Q] stuck on 2g...wont go 3g...why?

So I I've searched for an answer or a problem similar only to come out with no luck...do what's going on right now is that I got my inspire unlocked from att and came to India because I now have to live here because in going to college here..anyway its unlocked and I purchased a prepaid plan from company Vodafone.
So I've been running with 2g for some time now and now I just sick off it and need 3g so I can also use mylaptop and connect to hotspot. Anyway I've got 3g plan however my phone is constantly staying on EDGE....which is pretty annoying because its so slow and I paid a bit to get 3g upgrade. I've tried the *%*#4636#*#* phone setting and switched to GSM/cdma auto. Also got the smsc and updated. Also I set up a new APN suited for the company with no luck..still on 2B.C. So my question is..how do you switch on 3g on inspire? Haven't been able to find that also been searching it. My Android is still 2.2.1 if that makes any difference. I've also called they company and HTC to no success...so please help me out. How do I initiate 3g on my inspire?
apparently I just need the option to turn on 3g and the phone info thing won't work...keeps me on edge.
Thanks

If you have tried going to your settings then to you mobile network settings. There should be an option to use only 2g networks. If that is checked, then you need to uncheck that.

shugga101 said:
If you have tried going to your settings then to you mobile network settings. There should be an option to use only 2g networks. If that is checked, then you need to uncheck that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But that's the problem...I can't find that option.I go into mobile network settings and see data roaming...apn..network operators..and always on mobile network option. I've been trying o find a option to set which to put..for instance 3g only or 2 g only or 3g preferred..no avail. still have Droid 2.2.1 if that makes any difference..

Their is no way to get 3g. India uses a different frequency for 3g. No way to change it outside of getting a different phone with compatible bands

The Inspire radio utilizes the 850/1900 3G bands. India uses the 900/1800 bands for 3G. If you use the phone in a market where the 3G is on a different frequency than the radio in the phone, the best you'll get is Edge. This is hardware related. There is no setting you can change or ROM you can flash that will allow it to operate on 3G in your market.

So no absolute way of getting 3g on my inspire in India?

Nope
..........

Huh...so best bet would be to get a new phone? What should I look for in order for this problem not to happen again?

Get the correct version, The Desire HD.

Is it company -problem or a country -problem? If I switch providrs, will it work?

drsteez said:
Is it company -problem or a country -problem? If I switch providrs, will it work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doubt it. Pretty much everyone except the US uses 900/1800, and att uses 850/1900 on it's phones (the inspire) - as previously stated this is in the phones hardware. So unless you can find a provider that uses 850/1900 for 3G your SOL - best bet is to get a new phone (DHD uses 900/1800 for 3G and is the same device as the Inspire, very minor differences)

Even i too have the same problem and I am from India.I have tried with my network operators many times but nothing works,i have to pay for 3g data and use 2g.Is there no fix for this issue?

omg, SEARCH. its what you agreed to do before posting.
ill put it simply for you. your inspire will never get 3g outside of the united states.
http://www.worldtimezone.com/gsm.html
if you are in purple, u need a desire hd, orange, you need an inspire.

Darunion said:
omg, SEARCH. its what you agreed to do before posting.
ill put it simply for you. your inspire will never get 3g outside of the united states.
http://www.worldtimezone.com/gsm.html
if you are in purple, u need a desire hd, orange, you need an inspire.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh god!!guess i need to buy another phone in order to use 3g in my country.

[Q] Us Cellular phone cdma with sim slot (gsm option)

Ok, so I've searched all over and haven't had much luck. I have no experience with cdma phones, as t mobile is all I've ever had.
I was given a new US Cellular HTC Hero s. I opened it up and saw the sim slot and though, sweet I can replace my sensation with it (I smashed the screen pretty bad). Well, that was a no go, as the phone is cdma. Looking online though, I see it can run in gsm (options global mode, cdma mode, gsm / umts mode. I unlocked the bootloader using the htc site (not sure it matters) and popped in my sim card again, and tried both global and gsm mode, though neither got signal or would dial out. (under networks, it had the tmo apn info.)
So, is the GSM mode offered on this phone only for non US bands? Would a custom rom (now or down the road) allow it to work on tmo? I read something about the HTC Merge and someone being able to switch out the modem in the rom that allowed it to work in the US, but that is well beyond me. I can follow instructions, work ADB and flash roms.. but thats about it.
Is it possible, or will it soon be, to have this phone work on GSM or am I just stuck trying to sell it as a us cellular phone (or perhaps another cdma carrier.. like I said, I don't know anything about cdma)

As a Canadian I'm not sure about who owns US cellular or if they are their own company but I'm guessing they work like Verizon world phones. They have sim card slots but will work only outside of the US. If those verizon phones are used within the States, they will only pick up Verizon's frequency, as opposed to T-Mobile or AT&T where you can unlock them and use them with any GSM carrier within the States. But yeah, you can unlock it and it will work with any GSM carrier outside the States but within the States I think it will only work under US Cellular CDMA network...please correct me if I'm wrong.

That's right, u.s. cdma "world phones" have gsm radios but are locked down from connecting to gsm networks in the u.s. This is not just the normal sim lock found on gsm phones but they are hard coded to ignore u.s. gsm networks.
Some have been unlocked to work on any network through various methods including flashing a modem from a non-us varient of the same phone and other hacks. I can't comment specifically on this phone however.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

Well, that points me in the right direction, and confirms what I read about swapping modems (on the other phone mentioned).
So basically it's software telling it not use a certain frequency, and not that the phone itself is incapable of picking it up (had my doubts about that)
Pretty shady the way phone companies are allowed to operate (don't get me started on my unlimited internet in my contract [pre data caps in tmo]. "Hey! check it out, this phone uses data 5 times faster than your old one, oh, and you get half as much too) sorry, end of rant.
I'll keep searching, and post if I find something..
On a side note, can cdma phones be flashed to another cdma carrier like verizon or sprint, or is it the same deal, coded to only use a certain frequency range?

only thing I've heard of is flashing sprint and verizon phones to cricket, metro pcs and boost.

Verizon S GS3 on Straight Talk

Hi all,
With Verizon releasing officially, the update making its SGS3 Global ready atleast for voice as of now, a lot of discussion is happening right now about the Global capabilities.
FYI. I'm a good reader and explorer on hofo,androidforums and xda. So any guidance is highly appreciated
So here is my question.
I have a Verizon S GS3. It is brand new.
1. Can I use it with Straight Talk T-Mobile SIM ( T-Mobile has good coverage near my house ) after doing the rooting, unlocking, etc. etc all the technical stuff
2. If I unlock the phone, will it be truly global capable, I mean, can I use my S GS3 on any GSM Network in the World, even in the USA, with 3G Speeds? Did anyone use it in any Country with 4G LTE Speeds?
3. I know this is really a very very strange question. But after unlocking the S GS3, will it be working on the AT&T LTE Netowrk in the USA? My thinking is, if it working in the LTE Network in the USA, then it will work in other countries as well, where LTE Network is going to be available in the future. Sorry, I know this is a bit weird.
If You can please refer and threads or links, it is fine with me. I'm also looking and not depending only on the answers that I get from this thread. But looking for replies/guidance/links though.
Thank You.

hope this is the answers you are looking for
qzmpal said:
Hi all,
With Verizon releasing officially, the update making its SGS3 Global ready atleast for voice as of now, a lot of discussion is happening right now about the Global capabilities.
FYI. I'm a good reader and explorer on hofo,androidforums and xda. So any guidance is highly appreciated
So here is my question.
I have a Verizon S GS3. It is brand new.
1. Can I use it with Straight Talk T-Mobile SIM ( T-Mobile has good coverage near my house ) after doing the rooting, unlocking, etc. etc all the technical stuff
2. If I unlock the phone, will it be truly global capable, I mean, can I use my S GS3 on any GSM Network in the World, even in the USA, with 3G Speeds? Did anyone use it in any Country with 4G LTE Speeds?
3. I know this is really a very very strange question. But after unlocking the S GS3, will it be working on the AT&T LTE Netowrk in the USA? My thinking is, if it working in the LTE Network in the USA, then it will work in other countries as well, where LTE Network is going to be available in the future. Sorry, I know this is a bit weird.
If You can please refer and threads or links, it is fine with me. I'm also looking and not depending only on the answers that I get from this thread. But looking for replies/guidance/links though.
Thank You.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
for Q1:yes you well be able to use any network... install any mod now most of them are already rooted and unlocked
for Q2:yes you can... all you need to ddo is to download a program called hiapn.. wipe the existing apn settings.. then auto detect and you are good to go 3g and hspa
Q3: yes it works thanks to the magic of hiapn software... but not many countrys use LTE .. usa canada japan and maybe few others

Verizon SGS3 on any GSM Carrier
Hi experts,
I have a small doubt here.
If the Verizon SGS3 can be used with any GSM Carrier around the world, then that means, the Verizon SGS3 can be used with AT&T or T-Mobile as well along with Verizon Network.
But the T-Mobile or AT&T Versions cannot be used on the Verizon's Network. Is that true?
I'm have got a traveling assignment coming up to Europe this Summer and I need to know what is the best possible solution out there before I leave.
Thank You.

Verizon's GS3 uses CDMA technology for the phone calling and data, as far as I know the SIM in the verizon version is only used for LTE.
From what I have read in forum posts, (this one in particular http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2013647) if you pop in a SIM card, calling and texting should work. If you want data to work then you need to change some APNs around. Stock touchwiz does not allow this so you would need an app to do that. AOSP ROMs should have a way for you to edit APNs.
On the topic of getting 4G on any other network besides Verizon, that is fairly unlikely as they all use different technologies/ bands. Verizon has LTE, T-Mobile has HSPA+, not entirely sure what AT&T has but I think its also LTE.

This phone will take any SIM card cut to micro-size.
3G+ speeds depends on the frequency the carrier uses. The VZW GS3 uses the following radio frequencies after the JB update: GPRS/EDGE/GSM (850/900/1800/1900); HSPA/UMTS (2100) [I had to search high and low to find this for my trip to China]
Each LTE carrier uses different radio frequencies, and global countries also use LTE frequencies different than the US ones. 4G is a very varied standard at the moment.
If you want fast internet on a non VZW carrier, it better have HSPA+, otherwise you are on 3G at best.
Right now, the only truely global phone is the iPhone5 on VZW, which supports 5 different LTE frequencies. Sad but true.
The US based SG3's dont even have the FM radio that the international versions have

Edge
Mix3d said:
This phone will take any SIM card cut to micro-size.
3G+ speeds depends on the frequency the carrier uses. The VZW GS3 uses the following radio frequencies after the JB update: GPRS/EDGE/GSM (850/900/1800/1900); HSPA/UMTS (2100) [I had to search high and low to find this for my trip to China]
Each LTE carrier uses different radio frequencies, and global countries also use LTE frequencies different than the US ones. 4G is a very varied standard at the moment.
If you want fast internet on a non VZW carrier, it better have HSPA+, otherwise you are on 3G at best.
Right now, the only truely global phone is the iPhone5 on VZW, which supports 5 different LTE frequencies. Sad but true.
The US based SG3's dont even have the FM radio that the international versions have
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, my girlfriend has a verizon s3 and with straight talk she is only on edge it never changes. It makes the phone nearly useless. Ive tried to talk her into letting me flash and unlock it but she isnt real interested in it. I dont even know forsure if unlocking the bootloader downgrading to 4.1.1 and using the att sim unlock method would work but I would assume that flashing it would allow you to at least get 3-4g. not?