I'm in a position where I'm getting rid of my iphone 3GS since my IT department at work refuses to enable them and currently my company pays my cell phone bill through their corporate AT&T plan.
I've found a great deal where I can turn a bit of profit while getting a Hero in place of my iphone (which for some reason my Exchange team will allow on the network) but I have some pretty show-stopper questions that I hope some of you can answer for me.
Here is a somewhat short list of questions that I just can't seem to find answers to.
- Will an HTC Hero run on AT&T's 3G network?
- Are there major technical problems with the phone I should be aware of?
Well.... those are really my only two questions that are REALLY making me scared to take this leap back into the Android world. I absolutely loved my G1, but it had to go when I moved to AT&T for my phone since it wouldn't run on the 3G network.
Currently no Hero works with AT&T 3G network. European and Asian version 3G is incompatible (hardware, no firmware can fix that) with AT&T's 3G network, while Sprint's verion is incompatible with AT&T at all (Sprint is a CDMA network).
But there is a new GSM version coming soon to Canada's Telus which will work on AT&T's 3G network (require carrier unlocking, I assume)
http://www.telusmobility.com/en/ON/network/devices.shtml
Hi I am looking into getting a Hero. I was wondering what version of the Hero would work with the US 3G network on TMobile or AT&T. I have both services but would prefer to use this on TMobile. And how hard is it to get the phone working on the US carriers?
No 3G on both networks; EDGE only. Take a SIM, put it into the phone, voila.
Edit: I apologize for my bluntness. It's just this question has been asked ten thousand times too many :[
Not quite correct!
The Telus Hero (available in Canada) uses the correct bands for AT&T. You are still SOL on T-Mobile US though!
Regards,
Dave
As I’m sure most of us already know Bell and Telus (formerly CDMA-only carriers in Canada) have launched a new HSPA network. Both the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 3GS now work on the new network.
I understand that HSPA is a GSM based technology. Bell is now issuing SIM cards with new activations. I was wondering if anyone would know if the HTC StarTrek (specifically the Cingular 3125) can be made to work with this network. I am willing to do firmware updates obviously.
Best regards,
The Fish
If you mean 3G/3.5G then yes and then again no. If its like the networks in the UK then the StarTrek will work on the GSM portion of the Bell network, but as I dont think it has a 3G chipset it will not be able to access 3G/3.5G services.
I may of course be wrong but that is my understanding of the situation.
So if this is a stupid question I guess I deserve the caning...
I am from the US but I currently live in China. I am here on a short term work assignment. I have the HTC EVO (not using here in China obviously) as my US phone with Sprint and use an older Samsung with a prepaid SIM and cards here in China.
If I were to buy the GS3 here in China would I be able to use it in the US with Sprint when I return? I have seen some threads referencing AT&T and t-mobil but nothing yet with Sprint.
This would not work. The international variant only includes a GSM network-compatible modem, and Sprint exclusively uses CDMA technology for its cellphones. While the GSM radio in the international SGS3 can connect (with varying degrees of speed/success) to US GSM carriers like T-Mobile and AT&T, it won't be able to "talk" to the Sprint towers at all.
Armando Penblade said:
This would not work. The international variant only includes a GSM network-compatible modem, and Sprint exclusively uses CDMA technology for its cellphones. While the GSM radio in the international SGS3 can connect (with varying degrees of speed/success) to US GSM carriers like T-Mobile and AT&T, it won't be able to "talk" to the Sprint towers at all.
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Well crap, I lose again with Sprint...oh well. Thanks.
I have been reading a lot of different things about doing this with no definitive answer. It looks like, as of recently, it should be as simple as popping in the sprint Sim card and it should work but I want to be sure before hand. Are there any downsides at all about using tmobile Note 8 on Sprint?
Hi there, I'm not sure but Sprint SIM cards are lock. You can try and see, I had Sprint before and try using there SIM card in my unlock tmobile Galaxy S7 Edge running the unlock S7 Edge firmware, it keep reconfiguring over and over. Maybe you might get better than me.
cmdauria said:
I have been reading a lot of different things about doing this with no definitive answer. It looks like, as of recently, it should be as simple as popping in the sprint Sim card and it should work but I want to be sure before hand. Are there any downsides at all about using tmobile Note 8 on Sprint?
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Sprint doesn't allow other carriers phones on their network. Unlocked or not. T-Mobile does though...
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-note-8/help/cdma-unlock-verizon-note-8-sprint-t3732364
First question would be: Does Sprint allow to use their SIM cards within non-Sprint devices? That I can't answer. Because I never used Sprint services.
The second question is: Would the T-Mobile radios work with Sprint? LTE radios would most likely work if Sprint allows you to use their SIM card with that device. When LTE is weak or not available the answer is: No. The active radios within T-Mobile and even AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note 8 are both LTE and GSM (Both 3G and 4G). Both Sprint and Verizon uses LTE and CDMA (each has their own CDMA) radios. You can't use GSM radios with Sprint and Verizon right now. Though that will end up changing as CDMA gets phased out.
To top things off each GSM carrier maybe using different frequencies with some (but not all) of their GSM radios. So changing a cellular device from a GSM carrier to another GSM carrier may have limits with GSM services.
Sprint and Verizon services have problems with international areas (outside of the USA) where LTE is weak or no LTE. The reason is that CDMA is very limit or doesn't exist in most international areas (outside of the USA). The areas that CDMA still works internationally (outside of the USA) will be phased out (mostly in the near future). Only a few places outside of the USA, like China, would CDMA not be phased out so quickly. But CDMA will end up completing phased out all together sometime in future (including in the US).
If you want to be truly Global then go for carriers that have both GSM and LTE, like T-Mobile, AT&T, etc. Then once you unlock the SIM then you can use your carrier's roaming (which don't need SIM unlock) or switch the SIM card with a carrier in that country to get service internationally. Just a side note: T-Mobile does have Unlimited 3G international roaming without any extra cost (this is subject to the type of plan you have with T-Mobile).
The only way this would work for you is if the CDMA radio is built into all Note 8 devices. If so then you just need to flash the correct radio firmware to active the correct carrier radios. But I don't believe this is the case. And this wouldn't solve the Sprint SIM lock issue.
The short answer is no. Read this thread. I thought you could just pop in an activated SIM, but it's not that simple.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-note-8/help/cdma-unlock-verizon-note-8-sprint-t3732364
JaguarXT said:
First question would be: Does Sprint allow to use their SIM cards within non-Sprint devices? That I can't answer. Because I never used Sprint services.
The second question is: Would the T-Mobile radios work with Sprint? LTE radios would most likely work if Sprint allows you to use their SIM card with that device. When LTE is weak or not available the answer is: No. The active radios within T-Mobile and even AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note 8 are both LTE and GSM (Both 3G and 4G). Both Sprint and Verizon uses LTE and CDMA (each has their own CDMA) radios. You can't use GSM radios with Sprint and Verizon right now. Though that will end up changing as CDMA gets phased out.
To top things off each GSM carrier maybe using different frequencies with some (but not all) of their GSM radios. So changing a cellular device from a GSM carrier to another GSM carrier may have limits with GSM services.
Sprint and Verizon services have problems with international areas (outside of the USA) where LTE is weak or no LTE. The reason is that CDMA is very limit or doesn't exist in most international areas (outside of the USA). The areas that CDMA still works internationally (outside of the USA) will be phased out (mostly in the near future). Only a few places outside of the USA, like China, would CDMA not be phased out so quickly. But CDMA will end up completing phased out all together sometime in future (including in the US).
If you want to be truly Global then go for carriers that have both GSM and LTE, like T-Mobile, AT&T, etc. Then once you unlock the SIM then you can use your carrier's roaming (which don't need SIM unlock) or switch the SIM card with a carrier in that country to get service internationally. Just a side note: T-Mobile does have Unlimited 3G international roaming without any extra cost (this is subject to the type of plan you have with T-Mobile).
The only way this would work for you is if the CDMA radio is built into all Note 8 devices. If so then you just need to flash the correct radio firmware to active the correct carrier radios. But I don't believe this is the case. And this wouldn't solve the Sprint SIM lock issue.
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ALL US Note 8s (N950U and N950U1) are identical. Same radios. Same hardware. Same everything. Only difference is the preloaded firmware. I actually think the Canadian Note 8s (N950W are the same, too, sonce they can run the N950U firmware).
So it's not an issue of missing a CDMA radio. It's an issue that Sprint will not accept the IMEI for another carrier branded Note 8 (or S8/+). You can only activate Sprint or Factory Unlocked devices on Sprint.
As Note 8 has both GSM and CDMA capabilities, why shouldn't an unlock T-Mobile work with Sprint?
RossTeagan said:
As Note 8 has both GSM and CDMA capabilities, why shouldn't an unlock T-Mobile work with Sprint?
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Sprint won't accept any devices on their network unlocked or not if they came from any other carrier. Sprint only allows Sprint phones and factory unlocked devices. Its Sprint, they suck.
Gizmoe said:
Sprint doesn't allow other carriers phones on their network. Unlocked or not. T-Mobile does though...
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-note-8/help/cdma-unlock-verizon-note-8-sprint-t3732364
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Gizmoe said:
Sprint won't accept any devices on their network unlocked or not if they came from any other carrier. Sprint only allows Sprint phones and factory unlocked devices. Its Sprint, they suck.
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i just switched my tmobile note 8 to sprint today, lol..
Thread cleaned due to much spam! I remind you to follow XDA Rules and especially to respect all XDA users.
ilikebigjugs88 said:
i just switched my tmobile note 8 to sprint today, lol..
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On Sprints website it still does not list the tmo note 8 as compatible for BYOD. It says only the note 8 special edition is. However it is not unlikely they stopped blocking the other U.S. carrier versions. People have gotten devices to activate in the past, but with minimal network functionality. Is your Note 8 fully utilizing the LTE network?
Either way this thread brings trouble so its now closed
Sprint allows sprint capable devices such as clean sprint,Boost and such and subsidiaries that run on sprint only.
@cp1024 @Gizmoe
The Special Edition devices are the ones sold directly by Samsung as factory-unlocked models. Samsung over the years has used the term inconsistently across their site and marketing materials.
Only Sprint calls them "Special Edition", otherwise they are the U1 models, vs U for carrier branded.
Which means they as of the time this was printed will only accept this model
Maybe some others have managed to pull something off but this is official answer
my post above is how it has always been in the past
And it ends here