[Q] Looking for a new phone to use on ATT - General Questions and Answers

Hi everyone im sick of my stupid htc freestyle its the worst phone i have ever owned.. Now im looking to get a new one.. the plans were to get an unlocked or unlock-able smartphone from Canada and use it on att in the USA.
Now i found the Samsung Galaxy GIO Unlocked from Bell Moblity in CA on ebay new and some not unlocked for cheaper.. I Know att 3g is 950/1900 Bell moblitys site lists the GIO with 950/1900 ("HSPA/UMTS: 850/1900 MHz")
Now ebay seller list it with (HSDPA 7.2Mbps 850/1900) Located here : Link unpostable!
How ever some ebay sellers say 900/2100 for 3g and so does the Samsung site!
Now which one does the phone have! or are there 2 versions!! Please help! Thanks.!

Related

[Q] i9020A on AWS = no 3G? And is "carrier locked" possible?

Will the i9020A version of the Nexus S (which is I think the model sold by Koodo Mobile in Canada) get 3G connection on the AWS spectrum used by Mobilicity? (I believe this should be the same as TMobile)?
Also, is there such a thing as a carrier locked Nexus S? I want to buy the Koodo Mobile Nexus S for $425 off contract (cheapest I can find), but I want to use it on the Mobilicity network. Will I need to carrier unlock the device somehow? I can't seem to find any "unlock Nexus S" sources, so I assume this is unnecessary?
The more I look into this issue, the more confused I get. A lot of places say the Nexus S is quad-band GSM + AWS, so doesn't that mean I should be able to get 3G from anywhere? The FAQ on this forum states that the original Nexus S can only get 3G speeds on TMobile's AWS band--conversely, does that then mean that the new "AT&T" Nexus S phones can't get 3G speeds on AWS? i.e. Do I need to buy a phone from an AWS carrier to get 3G?
Blindsight51 said:
Will the i9020A version of the Nexus S (which is I think the model sold by Koodo Mobile in Canada) get 3G connection on the AWS spectrum used by Mobilicity? (I believe this should be the same as TMobile)?
Also, is there such a thing as a carrier locked Nexus S? I want to buy the Koodo Mobile Nexus S for $425 off contract (cheapest I can find), but I want to use it on the Mobilicity network. Will I need to carrier unlock the device somehow? I can't seem to find any "unlock Nexus S" sources, so I assume this is unnecessary?
The more I look into this issue, the more confused I get. A lot of places say the Nexus S is quad-band GSM + AWS, so doesn't that mean I should be able to get 3G from anywhere? The FAQ on this forum states that the original Nexus S can only get 3G speeds on TMobile's AWS band--conversely, does that then mean that the new "AT&T" Nexus S phones can't get 3G speeds on AWS? i.e. Do I need to buy a phone from an AWS carrier to get 3G?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am in canada, just bought NS finally, that too from Koodo, and it is an Unlocked Rogers/AT&T/Bell/Telus/Fido compatible version. Not to mention it will work with any other bands in the world except the situation Wind/Mobilicity have.
Their phone system is not backwards compatible, they came out in the market just about 2 years ago, they started off with 3G/3.5G straight where Rogers initially started with Standard, moved on to Edge/2G/2.5G and upgraded themselves to 3G and eventually 3.5G, same goes for Telus/Bell/Fido.
If you purchase any of Wind/Mobilicity phone, they will be compatible with any other careers in the world, but you will not get 3G if tried on UMTS. Their phones will only work on the AWS 3G frequency. Which in case means if you bought wind/mobilicity compatible phone, you will get 2G/Edge on Rogers.
Other way around - Koodo phone with Wind/Mobilicity SIM - will give you Wind/Mobilicity Away network only, means it is useless for you. The only phone in canadian market works with Rogers and Wind 3G frequency is Nokia N8 which is a Pentaband phone. Nexus S on the other hand is a Quadband phone, and is made specifically for the career, thats why we have 3/4 different versions, AWS, UMTS, 4G to work with Sprint in US and i guess there is one other model for India and China as well.
All the Nexus S variants come unlocked, outright or on contract, as its a Google's own baby and they don't lock it except the bootloader.
I bought mine with Koodo from Future Shop as it is listed as not an outright sale on Koodo's website, but FS and BBY do sell them outright. It is unlocked out of the box, just pop your SIM in and you are good to go assuming you are going to go with Rogers/Bell/Telus/Koodo/Fido.
My two cents, go with Wind, they offer you wind tab, pay 350 + tax and use the phone to pay the rest of the money with wind tab and you are set if you really want Wind compatible phone.
I had the same problem and dilemma like you as I had a Desire Z with Bell and wanted to use it on Wind, ended up trading it with G2 from T-Mobile and used Wind mobile 3G network and Rogers 2G/Edge network up until now(I am with Rogers and have got a better deal with them for data, so no need to carry two phones on me anymore )
Hope this helps.
CreativeDevil
Blindsight51 said:
Will the i9020A version of the Nexus S (which is I think the model sold by Koodo Mobile in Canada) get 3G connection on the AWS spectrum used by Mobilicity? (I believe this should be the same as TMobile)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it will not work
you need i9020T not A
AWS only comes on the i9020T
creativedevil said:
I am in canada, just bought NS finally, that too from Koodo, and it is ...
...
Hope this helps.
CreativeDevil
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much. That explains it very clearly. I guess I'll need to shell out a bit extra and get a phone from Wind or Mobilicity.
+Thanks
Go for it bud... u wont regret...
Creativedevil
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

Get Vodafone PAYG/Outright UK Sensation?

Hey All
I'm on Telstra in Australia - a network which needs 850mhz 3G. I am REALLY interested in buying the sensation, and from what it looks, the Vodafone UK model supports UMTS 850?
I've got very close relatives who live in the UK, so I can get them to buy it for me. Can someone possibly tell me:
- Does the Vodafone UK one definitely support 850mhz 3G?
- Does it come network unlocked?
- Is there any way to buy it outright without a plan? (eg. PAYG or something)
I can get it shipped to my relatives in the UK or they might even go buy me one in the store. But for now, it looks like the VodaUK one is the only 850mhz capable one.
Thanks

[Q] Does it matter where you buy it

Hey guys,
Excited on getting my Nexus S.
Gonna buy it from the Chinese behemoth Taobao.com
I found out the Nexus S isn't officially available from Samsung China. So it looks like I will be getting an Asian or Euro model. I will get the i9020 (S AMOLED).
I will be moving to Canada soon.
My question is: are all unlocked Euro/Asia models the same in that their frequency bands and features will work in Canada? I don't want to get shafted by getting the wrong 3G band or something like that.
Also, is there region-specific software on the phone that cannot be removed?
It won't have any region specific software, and the radio should work anywhere in the world. If you find you have any issue with it when it arrives, post again, people here are very helpful!
Sent from my SNES
lchazl said:
Hey guys,
Excited on getting my Nexus S.
Gonna buy it from the Chinese behemoth Taobao.com
I found out the Nexus S isn't officially available from Samsung China. So it looks like I will be getting an Asian or Euro model. I will get the i9020 (S AMOLED).
I will be moving to Canada soon.
My question is: are all unlocked Euro/Asia models the same in that their frequency bands and features will work in Canada? I don't want to get shafted by getting the wrong 3G band or something like that.
Also, is there region-specific software on the phone that cannot be removed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They're not region specific per se, but radio specific. Here's the models:
GT-I9020 or GT-I9020T
900 / 1700 / 2100 MHz UMTS, Super AMOLED
GT-I9020A
850 / 1900 / 2100 MHz UMTS, Super AMOLED
GT-I9023
900 / 1700 / 2100 MHz UMTS, Super Clear LCD
Thanks bedalus and polobunny, will post again once I buy it in the next week or so. =)
If you're coming to Canada, then depending on which carrier you're going to, you'll need a specific version.
Bell, Telus and Rogers use the 9020A
Wind and Mobilicity use the 9020T
Wind and Mobilicity are only available within some urban centres, but are much cheaper. Some complain about quality, but I doubt it's that big a deal so long as you're in their 'zone'.
Keep this in mind when buying.
bloomfield9000 said:
If you're coming to Canada, then depending on which carrier you're going to, you'll need a specific version.
Bell, Telus and Rogers use the 9020A
Wind and Mobilicity use the 9020T
Wind and Mobilicity are only available within some urban centres, but are much cheaper. Some complain about quality, but I doubt it's that big a deal so long as you're in their 'zone'.
Keep this in mind when buying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks bloomfield for that.
I went to the cell phone mall today, went there to find the actual store of one of the guys off taobao. Anyways they all have it but one I saw was from Spain it looked like (inside the battery area) with an Australian manual (could be fake cuz of the paper and the folding was off)
And of course no warranty.
Another came in a Galaxy S box! and again a fake Chinese manual for another model. I was like wtf happened from getting it from overseas to here. They say blah blah blah old phone, etc. now the phone may be legit but why risk all that **** for 300+ bux when I can just get it new/used in Canada for around that WITH warranty.

[Q] Will 3G on a phone bought in the US (AT&T) work in the UK?

Hello, my friend is looking to buy a smartphone but shes asked me for some help and i dont quite know the answer.... She lives in the US and is on AT&T but comes to university here in England.
My question is, if she buys an AT&T phone, what gsm bands will the phone require for 3g to work here in england (and will it be HSDPA?). Information on the internet is scattered and confusing...
Better call your carrier there in England and ask them what frequencies they use. Then search for a smartphone that works on the frequencies available there in England. GSMarena has a nice phone finder, with a lot of filters (including network frequency)
http://www.gsmarena.com/search.php3
kickassy said:
Hello, my friend is looking to buy a smartphone but shes asked me for some help and i dont quite know the answer.... She lives in the US and is on AT&T but comes to university here in England.
My question is, if she buys an AT&T phone, what gsm bands will the phone require for 3g to work here in england (and will it be HSDPA?). Information on the internet is scattered and confusing...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know the Galaxy S II (both i9100 and i777 [AT&T version]) will both work in England because the English i9100 works on AT&T for both 3G and HSPA+ ("4G").

[Question] Bying a S7 in USA for International USE

Hello guys. I am traveling to USA this week and I wanted to buy a second hand Galaxy S7, from Craigslist.
I live in Brazil, and I was wondering which US carriers I can buy that would work here. (All Brazilian carriers are GSM)
Sprint? Cricket? Verizon? AT&T? T Mobile?
Thanks!
AT&T and T-Mobile are GSM carriers. Sprint and Verizon are CDMA. Also, the S7 model SM-G930U is unbranded, unlocked and supports both CDMA and GSM. Be cautious about purchases from Craigslist. Don't want to scare you too much, but you might want to read this for some pointers about staying safe and not getting ripped off.
http://lifehacker.com/5912906/how-can-i-avoid-getting-screwed-buying-on-craigslist
Thanks. I ended up buying the international version on amazon for 520 dollars. Thank you
i'm waiting for a good deal on black friday in US to use it in India.
Which version to purchase?? kindly clarify

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