Database Info

Web Surfing while Talking

I know this is an odd request, but is there anyway to use the internet while talking on the phone. Normally I wouldn't care but I'm tired of the iPhone goons hassling me about it since those new commercials.
If not would there be a way if I unlocked my phone for GSM so I could talk on one frequency and surf on another?
Please direct me to a link if this has already been answered, I searched and didn't find anything.

Whoo boy, the old GSM vs. CDMA debate. No to your first question; it's a technology limitation of CDMA, which is why AT&T loves flaunting that fact. GSM also has the leg up in the number of simultaneous connections for conference calling. If you're looking for ammunition, CDMA generally enjoys better penetration of structures, and I know that I have found my service on Sprint to be stronger and much more reliable than my old plan with AT&T. Some people would even say that CDMA offers better call quality than GSM, but that's a huge debate with opinions on both sides. Also, GSM's encryption method was cracked recently, making calls potentially more vulnerable to eavesdropping. Finally, even when I had my old Tilt on AT&T I don't think I did too much surfing while talking on the phone; I really don't think it's as amazing a feature as they make it out to be.
For your second question, the CDMA Worldphone edition Touch Pro 2 used by Verizon and Sprint does have a GSM radio, but the question has been asked before if both networks can be used simultaneously and I believe the answer is always no. Anyone else feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

last I checked in order to use cdma/gsm phone networks at the same time can't you just pop in a sim card!!!!!
trogdor1138 said:
Whoo boy, the old GSM vs. CDMA debate. No to your first question; it's a technology limitation of CDMA, which is why AT&T loves flaunting that fact. GSM also has the leg up in the number of simultaneous connections for conference calling. If you're looking for ammunition, CDMA generally enjoys better penetration of structures, and I know that I have found my service on Sprint to be stronger and much more reliable than my old plan with AT&T. Some people would even say that CDMA offers better call quality than GSM, but that's a huge debate with opinions on both sides. Also, GSM's encryption method was cracked recently, making calls potentially more vulnerable to eavesdropping. Finally, even when I had my old Tilt on AT&T I don't think I did too much surfing while talking on the phone; I really don't think it's as amazing a feature as they make it out to be.
For your second question, the CDMA Worldphone edition Touch Pro 2 used by Verizon and Sprint does have a GSM radio, but the question has been asked before if both networks can be used simultaneously and I believe the answer is always no. Anyone else feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
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one word IMPOSSIBLE!!!!!!!!!! GSM and CDMA are hardware radios an unlock is IMPOSSIBLE unless the phone is a world phone with both CDMA and GSM but your phone doesn't qualify so try getting a GSM/CDMA hybrid and then come back to me. However verizon will upgrade to LTE which is GSM based!!!!!!!! watch em LTE will allow voice and data at the same time. When LTE upgrade is complete say goodbye and good riddance to CDMA it will be shut down soon!!!!!
KW TP said:
I know this is an odd request, but is there anyway to use the internet while talking on the phone. Normally I wouldn't care but I'm tired of the iPhone goons hassling me about it since those new commercials.
If not would there be a way if I unlocked my phone for GSM so I could talk on one frequency and surf on another?
Please direct me to a link if this has already been answered, I searched and didn't find anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

qjsmartphone - I thought that the TP2 was a world phone and thus held both antennas for cdma and gsm?
trogdor1138 -thanks for the input.
now I'm with sprint, and they offer 4G. This may be an ignorant comment, but can't a world phone with both antenna's say call on cdma and use the 4G provided by sprint? Or am I missing something? I kind of new at this so forgive the question if it is stupid. If there is a wiki on it please give me the link and I will be glad to read up. Thanks

qjsmartphone said:
one word IMPOSSIBLE!!!!!!!!!! GSM and CDMA are hardware radios an unlock is IMPOSSIBLE unless the phone is a world phone with both CDMA and GSM but your phone doesn't qualify so try getting a GSM/CDMA hybrid and then come back to me. However verizon will upgrade to LTE which is GSM based!!!!!!!! watch em LTE will allow voice and data at the same time. When LTE upgrade is complete say goodbye and good riddance to CDMA it will be shut down soon!!!!!
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I'm not sure what you are talking about, but CDMA variant of Touch Pro 2 does have both GSM and CDMA hardware in them.
Also, LTE and WiMAX is a two new 4G technologies that will eventually replace 3G data.
LTE is not based on GSM, they are two different communication technologies.
Back to OP's question, if you are using CDMA branded TP2 you cannot surf and talk at a same time. It is limitation on CDMA technology.
4G and 3G is not compatible, is your grandparent's old 2G phone do 3G? no.
How about your 3G phone accesing 2G? yes. Usually when newer technology is being deployed, they make sure that it is backward compatible, so that they can lower battery consumption and remain accessible to area where new technology is not yet available.

Just be near wifi and then show them you can surf while talking.

segadc said:
Just be near wifi and then show them you can surf while talking.
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I like the way you think

Or pop in a ATT or T-mobile SIM card and switch to GSM mode. The phone IS capable of voice and data when using GSM.

isdnmatt said:
Or pop in a ATT or T-mobile SIM card and switch to GSM mode. The phone IS capable of voice and data when using GSM.
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I'll jump in here...
I thought Sprint/Verizon phones with both GSM/CDMA radios cannot use AT&T nor T-Mo SIM cards. I thought they only accepted the GSM SIM cards of countries outside the US.
Wait... HardSPL fixes that, doesn't it?... Oh well, I think I should stop stalking the CDMA forums when I have almost no idea on anything CDMA-related!
But, I'm still in favor of the WiFi suggestion!

mac people live in their own little world. don't let them bother you. sure, they can talk and surf the web at the same time...if they have 3g coverage. but there are areas where they have no coverage at all let alone 3g. then they can use the 'paper weight mode'. i also love how they tout their app store meanwhile we've had multiple wm app stores for years already. also i get to choose what apps i want to use without htc or sprint telling me what i'm allowed to.

segadc said:
Just be near wifi and then show them you can surf while talking.
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Click to collapse
this is what i would do
sumflipnol said:
I'll jump in here...
I thought Sprint/Verizon phones with both GSM/CDMA radios cannot use AT&T nor T-Mo SIM cards. I thought they only accepted the GSM SIM cards of countries outside the US.
Wait... HardSPL fixes that, doesn't it?... Oh well, I think I should stop stalking the CDMA forums when I have almost no idea on anything CDMA-related!
But, I'm still in favor of the WiFi suggestion!
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Click to collapse
i think you can use any SIM card you want if you phone is SIM Unlocked

yes you can use any sim card if your phone is sim unlock buy the Sprint TP2 is not working with us 3G

unlock
I called up VZW and told them I was going to Europe and wanted to use prepaid SIM cards instead of paying Big Red the $$. They gave me the SIM unlock code and now I can use T-Mo or AT&T SIM cards with no problem. Only downside is that their GSM frequencies are slightly off from the rest of the world so no high-speed data when using VZW on GSM carrier in the states...
Nate

qjsmartphone said:
one word IMPOSSIBLE!!!!!!!!!! GSM and CDMA are hardware radios an unlock is IMPOSSIBLE unless the phone is a world phone with both CDMA and GSM but your phone doesn't qualify so try getting a GSM/CDMA hybrid and then come back to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The CDMA Touch Pro 2 *is* a dual mode world phone with both GSM and CDMA.
sumflipnol said:
I'll jump in here...
I thought Sprint/Verizon phones with both GSM/CDMA radios cannot use AT&T nor T-Mo SIM cards. I thought they only accepted the GSM SIM cards of countries outside the US.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Verizon TP2 has a simple SIM lock on it which is similar to standard GSM SIM locks. Remove the SIM lock and you can use any SIM card with a compatible network, including US networks.
The Sprint TP2 doesn't have a standard SIM lock, but instead has the US frequency bands disabled. Hence the need for a new radio.

Motorola is pleased to provide the open source software used in the Triumph WX435 dev

here it is... lets get rollin!
http://sourceforge.net/motorola/triumphwx435/home/Home/

Great find!

This makes my day!

Actually Impressive Motorola did it this fast.
Well that was fast. Almost on the one month anniversary.
AWESOME

This makes today 100x better
Sent from my MOTWX435KT using XDA App

Can't wait to see what the Dev's do with this! Hoping for a new ROM for this weekend. Fingers crossed.

xdame said:
Can't wait to see what the Dev's do with this! Hoping for a new ROM for this weekend. Fingers crossed.
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Could they really get it out that fast?

Yes!!! Can't wait for a rom!

Now Im daydreaming!

i dream everyday for MIUI on the triumph

kofman13 said:
i dream everyday for MIUI on the triumph
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Lol. Definitely
MOTWX435KT

kofman13 said:
i dream everyday for MIUI on the triumph
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I dream of the day I can actully talk to somebody and look up something and send the message at the same time.....oh yeah...fix my compass too....lol Can anyine do that with software??

Oh good, finally. Looks like I'll start working on a Gingerbread build this weekend.

tsac said:
I dream of the day I can actully talk to somebody and look up something and send the message at the same time.....oh yeah...fix my compass too....lol Can anyine do that with software??
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Nope. CDMA cannot run both data and voice at the same time. HSPA can, but CDMA cannot. This is a technology difference at the carrier level and software can't fix it.
(This is why the iPhone or Android on Verizon cannot do it either - but I believe LTE addresses this, so as carriers migrate that way...)

I've been waiting for a ROM for my Triumph ever since I first got it. Super excited about this find!

Genesis3 said:
Nope. CDMA cannot run both data and voice at the same time. HSPA can, but CDMA cannot. This is a technology difference at the carrier level and software can't fix it.
(This is why the iPhone or Android on Verizon cannot do it either - but I believe LTE addresses this, so as carriers migrate that way...)
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Click to collapse
Verizon started introducing simultaneous data/voice on the Thunderbolt, even with 3G CDMA. It is possible, but the carrier (and phone chipset) has to support it. The technology is called SVDO. It enables EV-DO data while the phone is on a 1X call.
Found a write-up about it here.

Yes! I can't wait for a ROM too. I really hope the gps sync issue is fixed along with a new rom. It's not essential for me, but it would make this phone more likable than the Optimus V if someone will make a rom that fixes a lot of the issues this phone has.

bryceb04 said:
Verizon started introducing simultaneous data/voice on the Thunderbolt, even with 3G CDMA. It is possible, but the carrier (and phone chipset) has to support it. The technology is called SVDO. It enables EV-DO data while the phone is on a 1X call.
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Click to collapse
Just to expound on this, the idea here is just a bit more complicated on simultaneous voice and data (you're exactly right and I dont mean to offend at all, I'm just adding to your point).
SVDO as you mentioned, and LTE, are two different things in the idea of simultaneous voice and data. SVDO, as you already said, allows a 1x and EVDO session to occur simultaneously, and requires the chipset to support it. The problem is that very very few actually do. The thunderbolt is one such phone, but it only does it in very specific circumstances and in a special way.
LTE is an IP-based technology, and therefore treats voice and data the same (like GSM).
That being said, VoLTE (Voice over LTE) is not an easy road because of the difference between 3G and 1x (circuit switched networks), vs. LTE networks (IP based). Because of these huge differences, bridging equipment must be used to work with the handoffs of calls between the networks. This process on phones is called eHPRD and is in place on all current Verizon 4G phones. This process will not actually be used though and is an empty feature. This process is so complex that Verizon has said that their VoLTE system will NOT be doing handoffs to 3G or 1x. Calls placed and received on 4G LTE networks must remain on the network. That is why for now, Verizon's LTE ONLY handles data, Verizon is not initiating VoLTE until the first half of next year.
Also keep in mind that while LTE + 1x voice is *technically* simultaneous voice and data, it is not SVDO in the sense of the acronym, which refers to sending voice and data over the same bands by using spare frequency from a 3G data session to "squeeze in" a 1x voice band in the space where previously, a entire 3G band would have been placed. LTE + 1x voice is really no different from using Wifi + 1x voice. Both rely on the idea of using 2 entirely separate bands for a voice and data session rather than squeezing a voice and data session into 1 band.
The thunderbolt can do SVDO because it has 2 radios (and a proper radio firmware to enable SVDO and allow the two radios to work as 1). The qualcomm processor + radio (MSM8655) gives the phone its 1Ghz processor and the capability of 3G and 1x (but only 1x is used on the Thunderbolt); and then a second qualcomm radio (MDM9600 Gobi Radio commonly used on 4G mobile broadband cards) capable of LTE and 3G. That's why it has antennas literally bursting at the seams (and into the battery cover), and why its battery life is amongst the worst of all the 4G phones. A call received on the Thunderbolt always goes to the 1x radio on the MSM8655 processor. 3G and 1x treat data and voice separately, with 1x capable of voice or data and 3G capable of simultaneous voice and data only if SVDO is supported on the chipset (the thunderbolt nor any other 4G verizon phone support SVDO on a single chipset, the thunderbolt is able to do it with multiple chipsets). I'd make a table, but I'm not really sure how to, so in case my rambling on was a bit confusing, I'm going to lay out a concise list assuming Wifi isn't being used (which as said above is similar to LTE + Voice on current networks) That will change next year.
Verizon Thunderbolt:
When in a 4G LTE zone:
Data is sent over the 4G LTE radio from the MDM9600, while received or placed calls to the phone go over the built-in 1x radio in the MSM8655.​
When only 3G is available:
SVDO is activated through software. Data is sent over the 3G radio from the MDM9600, while received or placed calls to the phone go over the built-in 1x radio in the MSM8655. The 1x band for the call is squeezed into the same band as the 3G data session using SVDO.​
When only 1x is available:
Only the MSM8655 processor has a 1x band, so the session can be either data or voice, but not both. Even if the MDM9600 had 1x, it would not be possible to have simultaneous 1x voice and data because it is impossible to squeeze a 1x band into another 1x band.​
Droid Charge, LG Revolution, and other current Verizon 4G phones: The phones all share the fact that their 4G radio only supports 4G, there is no 3G or 1x data band in the second radio like the MDM9600 used in the Thunderbolt.
In the case of the LG Revolution, the same MSM8655 used in the Thunderbolt gives the phone its processor, and in this case, its 3G and 1x bands (The 3G is enabled on the MSM8655 on the Revolution but not on the Thunderbolt). This is because its second radio, the LG L2000, is only capable of 4G LTE.
In the case of the Droid Charge, the Hummingbird processor used does not have a built in radio. While the Thunderbolt and LG Revolution use a (Processor + Radio) + Radio methodology, the Samsung Droid Charge uses a Processor + Radio + Radio method. The Droid Charge has a VIA CBP7.1 radio to handle 3G and 1x, as well as Samsung's own CMC220 radio that once again, is only capable of 4G.
This results in the Revolution and the Charge behaving the exact same way:
When in a 4G LTE zone:
The phone's 4G radio handles data, while the phones primary radio handles voice.​
When only 3G is available:
On both phones, the 3G / 1x radios do not support SVDO. Therefore, the phone can support a single 3G data session until a call is placed, in which case the phone drops to 1x voice, removing data access while in the call.​
When only 1x is available:
Same as when only 3G is available, except the phone is holding a 1x data session until a call is placed, in which case it becomes a 1x voice session, removing data access while in the call.​
As for current 3G phones, no singular chipset fully supports SVDO, and since almost all phones only have one 3G/1x radio, simultaneous voice and data on these phones is impossible.
SVDO requires the carrier to support the technology, as well as the chipset in the phone to support it and the software to enable it. So far, no individual chipset supports SVDO. This includes the MSM8655, otherwise the LG Revolution would support SVDO over the 3G/1x bands built into the processor. But it does not. This first gen hardware is hacked together as 3G phones with additional 4G radios. This allows the Thunderbolt to get SVDO simply because its 4G radio also supports 3G. Since the software is written to allow SVDO, the two radios work together to provide it.
Late next year I would expect to start seeing matured single-chip solutions containing 4G + 3G / 1x in a single chip. These chips should allow built-in SVDO + VoLTE. Until then, there's not much support for it in current hardware without a multi-chip solution.
Lastly, I'm sorry for the long, drawn out, entirely off-topic post. But I hope it clears up some thoughts as to where we are headed with current CDMA technology and the transition to LTE.

Does the incredible 2 have the right hardware to support svdo?

US LTE on Zenfone 3 Ultra

As usual, a major phone maker from Asia is screwing over USA, by disabling US carrier compatible LTE bands in their flagship phone series. If anyone from US, or other parts of the world, left in the cold by Asus purchased this phone and would like to try this LTE unlock and report the results - that would be very much appreciated.
If anyone knows of an online store, which took the liberty of unlocking US compatible LTE bands (T-Mobile: 2,4,12, AT&T: 2,4,5,17) in Zenfone 3 Ultra - please post the link to the store.

Will Asus make a separate US version and sell it here, or will this phone be international only? I'm in the US on AT&T and would certainly like LTE capability, but I've been buying overseas phones for a while now and HSPA+ is certainly fast enough for my needs.
If Asus isn't planning on a US version i'll just get the international one...

omniphil said:
Will Asus make a separate US version and sell it here, or will this phone be international only? I'm in the US on AT&T and would certainly like LTE capability, but I've been buying overseas phones for a while now and HSPA+ is certainly fast enough for my needs.
If Asus isn't planning on a US version i'll just get the international one...
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Click to collapse
Just get a Mi Max, it's cheaper. My friend picked me up a 4gb/128gb version when he was in China for $313. I don't see a reason to spend top dollar on the Zenfone 3 if it won't support LTE here. I'd love to see Asus support LTE here but it's a shame they always disable the US LTE bands.

ajsmsg78 said:
Just get a Mi Max, it's cheaper. My friend picked me up a 4gb/128gb version when he was in China for $313. I don't see a reason to spend top dollar on the Zenfone 3 if it won't support LTE here. I'd love to see Asus support LTE here but it's a shame they always disable the US LTE bands.
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I want the larger screen of the Zenfone. Thats really the only reason im not picking up a Mi Max...

ajsmsg78 said:
Just get a Mi Max, it's cheaper. My friend picked me up a 4gb/128gb version when he was in China for $313. I don't see a reason to spend top dollar on the Zenfone 3 if it won't support LTE here. I'd love to see Asus support LTE here but it's a shame they always disable the US LTE bands.
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Click to collapse
I heard that the Mi Max only supports some of the T-Mobile bands so you won't get full LTE (only HSPA). Do you know what network your friend uses his on and if he gets full LTE?

Techngro said:
I heard that the Mi Max only supports some of the T-Mobile bands so you won't get full LTE (only HSPA). Do you know what network your friend uses his on and if he gets full LTE?
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None of these phones support any LTE bands in the US. You'll only get HSPA+ or 3G. My thought is why pay 400+ for a phone with no LTE capabilities here. My friend picked up the Mi Max for me, I own it.

Techngro said:
I heard that the Mi Max only supports some of the T-Mobile bands so you won't get full LTE (only HSPA). Do you know what network your friend uses his on and if he gets full LTE?
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you can consider huawei mate 8 for USA LTE support (ATT & T-Mo), it is however a 6 incher 'only' .. my only gripe is the kirin 950 SoC, while on par with other top-tier silicon in terms of performance, it is none the less huawei in house and they are not known for releasing source code, meaning no 3rd party roms and probably no upgrade beyond nougat ..
http://www.anandtech.com/show/9878/the-huawei-mate-8-review

omniphil said:
Will Asus make a separate US version and sell it here, or will this phone be international only? I'm in the US on AT&T and would certainly like LTE capability, but I've been buying overseas phones for a while now and HSPA+ is certainly fast enough for my needs.
If Asus isn't planning on a US version i'll just get the international one...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I purchased my Asus Zenfone 3 ultra (ZU680KL) from EBay (593.00 factory unlocked), thru Never -Msrp, out of Houston Texas, but I believe it's still the global version.
I purchased a Bring Your Own Phone Plan thru Cricket, which is owned by AT&T. So they use their towers. I have not notice any problems with getting 4g/Lte.
Getting very good call reception and internet download speeds thru Cricket. I have a HTC 10 that I gave to my wife. The download speeds are similiar on 4g with the HTC 10 and the Asus. Both phones have many of the same 4g/lte bands. Just a little faster with the HTC 10, which might be due to the HTC having a faster processor. Depending where I am at in my area, I can see the H+ changing to 4g up in the status bar of the Asus phone when driving. Consistent 4g speeds where I live here in WV. I am also not to far from an AT&T tower.
XDA has always helped me with valuable information over the years of many of my phone ownerships, so I hope this information helps.

Slbtrb79 said:
I purchased my Asus Zenfone 3 ultra (ZU680KL) from EBay (593.00 factory unlocked), thru Never -Msrp, out of Houston Texas, but I believe it's still the global version.
I purchased a Bring Your Own Phone Plan thru Cricket, which is owned by AT&T. So they use their towers. I have not notice any problems with getting 4g/Lte.
Getting very good call reception and internet download speeds thru Cricket. I have a HTC 10 that I gave to my wife. The download speeds are similiar on 4g with the HTC 10 and the Asus. Both phones have many of the same 4g/lte bands. Just a little faster with the HTC 10, which might be due to the HTC having a faster processor. Depending where I am at in my area, I can see the H+ changing to 4g up in the status bar of the Asus phone when driving. Consistent 4g speeds where I live here in WV. I am also not to far from an AT&T tower.
XDA has always helped me with valuable information over the years of many of my phone ownerships, so I hope this information helps.
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Click to collapse
Just so people aren't confused... 4G and LTE are 2 different things.
4G = HSPA+ and is around 5-10Mbps.
LTE can be 20-30Mbps and also has much less latency.
Most people are looking for LTE in the USA and these international phones only support 4G (Which is slower than LTE but works good enough for me)

omniphil said:
Just so people aren't confused... 4G and LTE are 2 different things.
4G = HSPA+ and is around 5-10Mbps.
LTE can be 20-30Mbps and also has much less latency.
Most people are looking for LTE in the USA and these international phones only support 4G (Which is slower than LTE but works good enough for me)
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Click to collapse
Thanks for your comments. I accept mostly what you wrote for most companies definition of 4G and LTE. I was going by my carriers definition or interpretation of what they call 4G LTE and just 4G. The confusion is more from the caps on the data speeds various companies have. Because to me there is little difference between saying LTE and 4G LTE.
Cricket is the carrier owned by AT&T. They call their data speeds 4G and 4G LTE. AT&T caps Cricket download speeds at what they say is 4G LTE at 8Mbps and 4Mbps download speed cap for just 4G (Referenced from Crickets's website and from www.gottabemobile.com 6/21/2015 article on this topic).
However, my earlier remarks about my Asus phone was incorrect, due to Asus limitations on their 4G/LTE phones sold to individuals in the US, even though the carrier here might support some of the same 4G/LTE bands. It's an Asus thing and probably some others too. I'm probably only getting just 4G or less. My speed tests are only showing 3Mbps and a little better on download speeds on Cricket Wireless with the Asus Zenfone 3 ultra. But I was only getting on speed tests 4Mbps and a little better download speeds with my previous HTC 10 on Cricket Wireless. I have never even gotten close to Cricket's 8Mbps on my HTC 10.

At this point I'm ok with HSPA+ (It's what i've used for years now in the US with International phones)
I'm waiting for root to surface for this phone and then i'm jumping right in

omniphil said:
Just so people aren't confused... 4G and LTE are 2 different things.
4G = HSPA+ and is around 5-10Mbps.
LTE can be 20-30Mbps and also has much less latency.
Most people are looking for LTE in the USA and these international phones only support 4G (Which is slower than LTE but works good enough for me)
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Click to collapse
Please do not confuse people with false information. HSPA+ is officially considered 3.5G connection type. Long Term Evolution (LTE) is defined as a 4th generation (4G) wireless connection standard. Those are official nominations, you can find through IEEE site, Wikipedia and many other reliable sources. LTE theoretical max speed are nowhere near 20-30Mbps figure you provided - they are *much* higher. There is also LTE-A (advanced), which is also 4G but doubles the LTE speeds, and the actual LTE speeds depend on the hardware and LTE category of the modem.

Apo11on said:
Please do not confuse people with false information. HSPA+ is officially considered 3.5G connection type. Long Term Evolution (LTE) is defined as a 4th generation (4G) wireless connection standard. Those are official nominations, you can find through IEEE site, Wikipedia and many other reliable sources. LTE theoretical max speed are nowhere near 20-30Mbps figure you provided - they are *much* higher. There is also LTE-A (advanced), which is also 4G but doubles the LTE speeds, and the actual LTE speeds depend on the hardware and LTE category of the modem.
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Apple calls HSPA+ 4G, Yes i know its not technically correct, but that's what most people associate it with.
LTE can go much faster then 30Mbps for sure, I used to get 60. But nowadays with all the people using it 20-30 is a reasonable average for what most people actually see. (The point is its much faster than HSPA+)
I only bring this up because folks ask if they can get 4G on these international phones (As not everyone is a phone nerd like us) What they are really asking is if they can get LTE on these phones and most of the time that answer is no.
Basically I want people to understand that we are talking about HSPA+ vs 4G LTE and how that relates to international phones.
Is that good?

omniphil said:
Apple calls HSPA+ 4G, Yes i know its not technically correct, but that's what most people associate it with.
LTE can go much faster then 30Mbps for sure, I used to get 60. But nowadays with all the people using it 20-30 is a reasonable average for what most people actually see. (The point is its much faster than HSPA+)
I only bring this up because folks ask if they can get 4G on these international phones (As not everyone is a phone nerd like us) What they are really asking is if they can get LTE on these phones and most of the time that answer is no.
Basically I want people to understand that we are talking about HSPA+ vs 4G LTE and how that relates to international phones.
Is that good?
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Apple or any other hardware manufacturers, as well as phone carriers can deploy any marketing schemes they like and call the lousy HSPA+ "4G" all they want, but it won't make it true. Neither of them gets to decide, and "most people" don't get to decide either. For the record, I disagree that most people think HSPA+ is 4G - most know better, in my opinion. The international governing body for wireless standards gets to name wireless technologies, protocols and classify by generation.
If you want people to understand that HSPA+ is different from LTE then saying "LTE can be 20-30Mbps" is not the way to go, because that would achieve the exact opposite. Theoretical max HSPA+ speeds achievable by this technology are 168 Mbps down and 22Mbps up, so defining LTE as 20-30Mbps connection makes your LTE no better than mediocre HSPA+ link. Some FDD-LTE and TDD-LTE links, based on the utilized spectrum, currently go up to 450Mbps down and 150Mbps up. Theoretical limits are much higher and LTE-A is twice faster.
While your intentions seem to be good, that still doesn't excuse providing inaccurate information, while also saying you dont want people to be confused. Confused is exactly what people would be, if they believe the info in your post. If you want to answer a question "will I get LTE in US with this phone?" - a simple "No" would be much better answer than inaccurate information you provided to "eliminate confusion". Or you could say something along those lines:
"ZenFone 3 Ultra is a GSM phone, so only AT&T or T-Mobile in US could be compatible, because Verizon and Sprint use CDMA technology. AT&T's LTE network operates on bands 2,4,5,17 (recently forced to support band 12 as part of FCC roaming support requirement) and T-Mobile's LTE network operates on bands 2,4,12 (recently forced to support band 17 as part of FCC roaming support requirement). Asus ZenFone 3 international version on the other hand, support LTE bands 1,3,5,7,8,18,19,20,26,28,38,40,41 - do you see any overlapping bands besides B5? B5 is utilized by AT&T in limited number of US regions and even there you will get extremely spotty LTE coverage, because LTE bands operate in conjunction with each other and there are constant layovers and fallbacks between frequencies, based on towers proximity".

Slbtrb79 said:
I purchased my Asus Zenfone 3 ultra (ZU680KL) from EBay (593.00 factory unlocked), thru Never -Msrp, out of Houston Texas, but I believe it's still the global version.
I purchased a Bring Your Own Phone Plan thru Cricket, which is owned by AT&T. So they use their towers. I have not notice any problems with getting 4g/Lte.
Getting very good call reception and internet download speeds thru Cricket. I have a HTC 10 that I gave to my wife. The download speeds are similiar on 4g with the HTC 10 and the Asus. Both phones have many of the same 4g/lte bands. Just a little faster with the HTC 10, which might be due to the HTC having a faster processor. Depending where I am at in my area, I can see the H+ changing to 4g up in the status bar of the Asus phone when driving. Consistent 4g speeds where I live here in WV. I am also not to far from an AT&T tower.
XDA has always helped me with valuable information over the years of many of my phone ownerships, so I hope this information helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi!
I bought a Huawei Mediapad X2 7" display phablet last November. I used it for a month on Cricket and couldn't get good MMS service... I wouldn't get group texts or pictures... How is your Ultra doing in that regard (on Cricket)? No good MMS is a deal breaker for me... Also, the X2 came with Google and Google Play Store already installed. I am not a techie but asked a LOT of questions on xda and was walked through a successful setup (I learned a lot from other people's questions, too)... I don't root my phones... So I need good out of the box service. I have been looking for a 128GB Ultra just to compare prices to a 64GB Ultra. Have you seen any? I am waiting for the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro to be re-released but I really would love this Ultra, instead (if it works on Cricket the way I need it to)... Thanks for your time!
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

VillaRegina said:
Hi!
I bought a Huawei Mediapad X2 7" display phablet last November. I used it for a month on Cricket and couldn't get good MMS service... I wouldn't get group texts or pictures... How is your Ultra doing in that regard (on Cricket)? No good MMS is a deal breaker for me... Also, the X2 came with Google and Google Play Store already installed. I am not a techie but asked a LOT of questions on xda and was walked through a successful setup (I learned a lot from other people's questions, too)... I don't root my phones... So I need good out of the box service. I have been looking for a 128GB Ultra just to compare prices to a 64GB Ultra. Have you seen any? I am waiting for the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro to be re-released but I really would love this Ultra, instead (if it works on Cricket the way I need it to)... Thanks for your time!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have had no problems with Cricket on my Zenfone Ultra. MMS, SMS, work just fine. No problem with sending group texts and pictures. However, you will not get LTE on the Ultra, in the US. For me, the 64gb on the internal side with a 64 GB SD card, gives me plenty of space. Google and Google play came pre-installed on my Ultra. So far, I have received great service from Cricket on my Asus Zenfone 3 Ultra and my HTC 10. I love the music app, the audio wizard, and the stereo speakers. Takes great pictures. It's like having a 7 inch tablet with 4gb of ram and it's a phone. Due to the size, the music features, the picture features, the huge battery, I use this phone more than my HTC 10. The only down side that I have with this phone, is you can't get LTE here in the US and you can't unlock the bootloader yet. But personally, I was initially looking for a 7 inch tablet with 4gb of ram, stereo speakers, that also took good pictures and has a big battery. I ended up with the Ultra.
If screen size is important to you might look at the Xiaomi Mi-Max, it has 6.4 screen and nice specs. Also Huawei Mate 9 with a 5.9 inch screen with nice specs also.
Hope this helped some...

Slbtrb79 said:
I have had no problems with Cricket on my Zenfone Ultra. MMS, SMS, work just fine. No problem with sending group texts and pictures. However, you will not get LTE on the Ultra, in the US. For me, the 64gb on the internal side with a 64 GB SD card, gives me plenty of space. Google and Google play came pre-installed on my Ultra. So far, I have received great service from Cricket on my Asus Zenfone 3 Ultra and my HTC 10. I love the music app, the audio wizard, and the stereo speakers. Takes great pictures. It's like having a 7 inch tablet with 4gb of ram and it's a phone. Due to the size, the music features, the picture features, the huge battery, I use this phone more than my HTC 10. The only down side that I have with this phone, is you can't get LTE here in the US and you can't unlock the bootloader yet. But personally, I was initially looking for a 7 inch tablet with 4gb of ram, stereo speakers, that also took good pictures and has a big battery. I ended up with the Ultra.
If screen size is important to you might look at the Xiaomi Mi-Max, it has 6.4 screen and nice specs. Also Huawei Mate 9 with a 5.9 inch screen with nice specs also.
Hope this helped some...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much for your time on the detailed answer!!!
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

Apo11on said:
Apple or any other hardware manufacturers, as well as phone carriers can deploy any marketing schemes they like and call the lousy HSPA+ "4G" all they want, but it won't make it true. Neither of them gets to decide, and "most people" don't get to decide either. For the record, I disagree that most people think HSPA+ is 4G - most know better, in my opinion. The international governing body for wireless standards gets to name wireless technologies, protocols and classify by generation.
If you want people to understand that HSPA+ is different from LTE then saying "LTE can be 20-30Mbps" is not the way to go, because that would achieve the exact opposite. Theoretical max HSPA+ speeds achievable by this technology are 168 Mbps down and 22Mbps up, so defining LTE as 20-30Mbps connection makes your LTE no better than mediocre HSPA+ link. Some FDD-LTE and TDD-LTE links, based on the utilized spectrum, currently go up to 450Mbps down and 150Mbps up. Theoretical limits are much higher and LTE-A is twice faster.
While your intentions seem to be good, that still doesn't excuse providing inaccurate information, while also saying you dont want people to be confused. Confused is exactly what people would be, if they believe the info in your post. If you want to answer a question "will I get LTE in US with this phone?" - a simple "No" would be much better answer than inaccurate information you provided to "eliminate confusion". Or you could say something along those lines:
"ZenFone 3 Ultra is a GSM phone, so only AT&T or T-Mobile in US could be compatible, because Verizon and Sprint use CDMA technology. AT&T's LTE network operates on bands 2,4,5,17 (recently forced to support band 12 as part of FCC roaming support requirement) and T-Mobile's LTE network operates on bands 2,4,12 (recently forced to support band 17 as part of FCC roaming support requirement). Asus ZenFone 3 international version on the other hand, support LTE bands 1,3,5,7,8,18,19,20,26,28,38,40,41 - do you see any overlapping bands besides B5? B5 is utilized by AT&T in limited number of US regions and even there you will get extremely spotty LTE coverage, because LTE bands operate in conjunction with each other and there are constant layovers and fallbacks between frequencies, based on towers proximity".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm only a junior member with limited experience with these technologies, But I am just a little confused with these previous comments in regards to these discussions on HSPA+, LTE, and even Wimax for that matter. Believe me, when I say that I still have much to learn on this subject. Just because HSPA+ is different from 4G, I was always under the impression from everything I've read, that they are all still labeled as 4G technologies, as defined by the ITU. With all the above, having wide variations in consumer speeds. Also, whether a certain phone manufacturer supports a particular LTE band is just part of the whole part of the 4G technology. (Information taken from, in part, from Android Authority and Tech Radar)

Slbtrb79 said:
I'm only a junior member with limited experience with these technologies, But I am just a little confused with these previous comments in regards to these discussions on HSPA+, LTE, and even Wimax for that matter. Believe me, when I say that I still have much to learn on this subject. Just because HSPA+ is different from 4G, I was always under the impression from everything I've read, that they are all still labeled as 4G technologies, as defined by the ITU. With all the above, having wide variations in consumer speeds. Also, whether a certain phone manufacturer supports a particular LTE band is just part of the whole part of the 4G technology. (Information taken from, in part, from Android Authority and Tech Radar)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Phrase "HSPA+ is different from 4G" has no meaning. Those are not comparible things "HSPA+" is an abbreviation for wireless protocol name, and "4G" is a generic reference to 4th generation of wireless technologies, which include several protocols. it's like comparing TV weight to picture brightness.
Judging from the phrase "whether a certain phone manufacturer supports a particular LTE band is just part of the whole part of the 4G technology" I'm not sure you understand how things work. Since approximately 4 years ago, ALL major SoCs (system on chip) support Worldwide Global LTE, all 41 bands. Here is an example of Qualcomm's Snapdragon SoCs, scroll down to "Global Mode": https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon/modems/4g-lte . So, all major SoC manufacturers have been "supporting" ALL LTE bands for approximately 4 years now. Mobile device manufacturers, who partner with SoC makers like Qualcomm, or produce their own (i.e. Samsung: Exynos) control what LTE bands are actually enabled using modem's firmware, which is purely a software issue and can be changed at any time with NVRAM hack or firmware update. They decide what bands to enable based on the country the device is targeted for. Operating frequencies in each country are tightly regulated, because otherwise there are security issues, surveillance issues, interference issues (that's why they ask you to shut your phone down on a plane) and LTE frequency bands spectrum is divided to over 100 chunks, and each country/region are only allowed to operate on a specific, limited number of frequency bands. Therefore, any phone manufacturer, who wants to release wireless device with certain LTE bands enabled in a specific country, first must abide by the frequency bands international rules and then before they are allowed to sell and operate their device, their device must be approved by each country's wireless regulations governing body, which will thoroughly test the device, to make sure it meets all the required technical, safety and security standards. For example, that governing body in US is called FCC and in China it's TENAA. To sum up, what LTE bands each phone maker enables for which country, has nothing to do with being "part of the 4G technology".

Slbtrb79 said:
If screen size is important to you might look at the Xiaomi Mi-Max, it has 6.4 screen and nice specs. Also Huawei Mate 9 with a 5.9 inch screen with nice specs also.
Hope this helped some...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Xiaomi Mi Max is a bit of an old news. This Xiaomi phone is the future. Same 6.4" screen size as Mi Max, but device size is comparable to 5.7" phone, not to mention numerous other innovations, such as ceramic body and audio transmissions via ultrasonic vibrations, instead of conventional speaker.

Surprisingly weak cell signal indoors

I'm a Tmobile customer who recently upgraded from Galaxy S5 to Mate 9. My new Mate 9 struggles to get a cell signal in my house, which prohibits sending/receiving texts and making/receiving calls. It mostly says Emergency Calls Only or No Service at the top of the screen. I did not have these issues with my mid-2014 device, so I'm surprised and disappointed to have them today. Could be a deal breaker in keeping the device.
Are there any settings or changes I can make within the device to improve signal strength?

That is surprising, as I've had much better reception compared to my Note 3. No settings changed, just popped in the SIM (after cutting it down to fit). But I should add that my Note 3 was an AT&T version, which did not support t-mobile's Band 12, so it's POSSIBLE that extra band has contributed to my better reception.

airplanegeek said:
I'm a Tmobile customer who recently upgraded from Galaxy S5 to Mate 9. My new Mate 9 struggles to get a cell signal in my house, which prohibits sending/receiving texts and making/receiving calls. It mostly says Emergency Calls Only or No Service at the top of the screen. I did not have these issues with my mid-2014 device, so I'm surprised and disappointed to have them today. Could be a deal breaker in keeping the device.
Are there any settings or changes I can make within the device to improve signal strength?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No wifi calling on T-Mobile doesnt help either.
---------- Post added at 03:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:11 PM ----------
dscline said:
That is surprising, as I've had much better reception compared to my Note 3. No settings changed, just popped in the SIM (after cutting it down to fit). But I should add that my Note 3 was an AT&T version, which did not support t-mobile's Band 12, so it's POSSIBLE that extra band has contributed to my better reception.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I kinda wonder if this phone actually gets band 12. There seems to be no way to see what band ur phones using and i get better reception by a lot at work and my apartment with my pixel xl than my mate 9. How can it be certified on band 12 with tmobile and not have wifi calling on tmobile?

aknotts415 said:
How can it be certified on band 12 with tmobile and not have wifi calling on tmobile?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see why the two would be related. My understanding is WiFi calling is a somewhat proprietary function: WiFi calling on T-mobile is different than WiFi calling on AT&T, etc., so the software to use it is specific to the carrier. Band 12 is just another band. If the phone supports it (and it's supposed to), then it should work.
I live in a somewhat poor t-mobile spot: I typically only got 1 or 2 two at home, and 1 bar, to sometimes no service in the Kroger a block away from me. With the Mate 9, I'm getting 3-4 bars in both places.

dscline said:
I don't see why the two would be related. My understanding is WiFi calling is a somewhat proprietary function: WiFi calling on T-mobile is different than WiFi calling on AT&T, etc., so the software to use it is specific to the carrier. Band 12 is just another band. If the phone supports it (and it's supposed to), then it should work.
I live in a somewhat poor t-mobile spot: I typically only got 1 or 2 two at home, and 1 bar, to sometimes no service in the Kroger a block away from me. With the Mate 9, I'm getting 3-4 bars in both places.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But with band 12 doesnt you're phone have to be certified by T-Mobile to really work on band 12? I thot it did which in turn made me thing, why would it be band 12 certifed and not have T-Mobiles wifi calling certified?

aknotts415 said:
But with band 12 doesnt you're phone have to be certified by T-Mobile to really work on band 12?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not aware of anything "special" about band 12 vs. any other band.

Yeah the exact opposite over here. Really strong signals indoor not to mention where my Nexus 6p and note 4 signals would be dead zero, I'm still able to get LTE. And yeah it does have band 12

I've tried my phone in Japan on Docomo and AU networks, and in the US on T-Mobile, and I haven't had trouble with reception at all. But obviously, this is totally subjective and is based on your location relative towers.

Total opposite for me, slightly better reception that with my previous phones.
Sent from my MHA-L29 using XDA Labs

Appreciate the feedback. I'll need to expedite a decision to either return it or hope for a resolution at some future point. Thanks!

yeap, band 12 (indoor) band sucks on my CHN 6/128 turned EU. I had a US Mate 9 and indoor reception sucked as well. My old LG V20 and Note 7 had better indoor signal.

I have 2 bars 4g where i couldn't have signal on other phones.

OP7P on Verizon

All,
I was wondering how are your experiences with Verizon while using OP7P.
I live in the SF Bay Area, signal has been pretty good out in the open, but as soon as I walk into a concrete building, the signal completely dies, not just weak. Anyone having similiar experience?
Also I have been hearing that this would change for Verizon in 2020? Can someone elaborate and confirm? I have an oppty to switch to ATT but I'd like to stick with Verizon if possible .

Any one?

I had the same problem. Because Verizon uses CDMA, and the OP7 does not, phone calls only work when the phone is connected to LTE. It will not work
on the Verizon 3G network. As you said, Verizon is supposed to be doing away with the CDMA thing soon, but apparently not yet. I had to switch
to AT&T, as they have a strong LTE signal in my area, as opposed to Verizon, which did not.

I've used Verizon for many years. I moved at the beginning of the year and have had poor service until I did the thing I never thought I would do. I switched to ATT and have had no further problems. I got the same cheap plan, but with more data, for the same price I was paying Verizon. The worst of it was with Pandora. I cancelled my subscription and may try them again down the road.

larryatapproved said:
I had the same problem. Because Verizon uses CDMA, and the OP7 does not, phone calls only work when the phone is connected to LTE. It will not work
on the Verizon 3G network. As you said, Verizon is supposed to be doing away with the CDMA thing soon, but apparently not yet. I had to switch
to AT&T, as they have a strong LTE signal in my area, as opposed to Verizon, which did not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No calls when not on LTE is brutal...
I also noticed that when I'm on WiFi and set the Verizon sim as the primary, the status bar will only show signal but not the LTE icon, it comes back as soon as I switch off WiFi.

thetangstr said:
I also noticed that when I'm on WiFi and set the Verizon sim as the primary, the status bar will only show signal but not the LTE icon, it comes back as soon as I switch off WiFi.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's just how Verizon handles signal icons. It will just show what's currently in use. If you have WiFi, it priorities WiFi.
If you want to verify you still have LTE by looking at icons, turn off mobile data and you will see an x where the LTE usually is, even with the WiFi on.

thetangstr said:
Any one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have Verizon and I absolutely love this phone on Verizon. You just need them to provision your account for VOLTE since this phone doesn't support CDMA. I get HD+ calling and fast download speed with LTE

thetangstr said:
No calls when not on LTE is brutal...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is how it's going to be for everyone when Verizon ditches CDMA completely. I think a lot of people who still get voice over 3g in fringe areas and don't get a good LTE signal are going to be ticked off.

biggiesmalls657 said:
I have Verizon and I absolutely love this phone on Verizon. You just need them to provision your account for VOLTE since this phone doesn't support CDMA. I get HD+ calling and fast download speed with LTE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think I already have VOLTE, but not being able to make calls when not on LTE makes no sense...

thetangstr said:
I think I already have VOLTE, but not being able to make calls when not on LTE makes no sense...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should be able to call. Do you have VOLTE at the top in the status bar? What does it say when you dial out?

biggiesmalls657 said:
You should be able to call. Do you have VOLTE at the top in the status bar? What does it say when you dial out?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most of the time I do. When I was in the concrete building, I was connected to the wifi so maybe I thought I had no mobile data but I did.

I figured it out...nothing wrong with Verizon.
It turns out when I reboot, the network selection for mobile data automatically switch to SIM1 but my Verizon sim is on 2.
All good.

The 7Pro is great on Verizon. I'm in the SF Bay Area and have no issues. I had the 6T before this phone.
Like another poster I have two sims in the phone and since TMobile comes up faster I need to manually switch back to Verizon for data after a reboot.