Hi,
I've got an HTC Hero from Orange UK. I'm very pleased with the phone so far, but soon I'll be going on holiday in the US. When I go, I was planning to unlock the phone and use an alternative provider while in the US for both voice and data. From what I've read, I'll be limited to GPRS for data rather than 3G, since the Hero100 only supports UMTS1700 (listed as 'Future' US) and UMTS2100 (just about everywhere else) for 3G. I would need UMTS1900 to get 3G access in the US, is that right? Presumably this is a hardware issue with the radio itself?
If I am limited to GPRS, no problem - as long as I know there's no way I can get any kind of 3G while I'm over there. Can anyone recommend a good temporary provider who will sell me the US equivalent of a pay-as-you-go SIM for phone and data? And, might all these questions be irrelevant if I'm going to have loads of problems flashing the radio ROM so that the phone will allow me to use another provider?
Thanks in advance,
Rob
I dont think you would have to anything to the phone besides just unlock it. T-mobile and att I believe both have pay as you go plans and prepaid services you should check their us websites to find out more.
There is no pay-as-you-go data in the US on GSM networks except for crazy $$$/kb fees. Major inconvenience.
There are prepaid tarifs where you pay your monthly fee in advance rather than afterwards; They are called Flexpay (t-mo US) and Pay as you go (AT&T) iirc. Then you are kindly allowed to add data packages on top of your plan. But you can't stop paying for a few months when you are outside of the US or the whole thing gets cancelled...
Related
Sorry if this question has been answered already but i couldnt find a rom for this sort of problem. I found a post on it but it had no solution other than a link to the raphael rom development which i looked through and couldn't find a rom for what I'm trying to do.also will it be limited to no internet or will it have full access? I heard you have to download a program called getpst, I'm just not sure if there is a rom for this sort of thing. Thnx
you'd first have to have a CDMA radio in your Raphael... not a GSM one
secondly:
Consumers Can Now Activate Their Existing CDMA Handsets on
MetroPCS' Network, Offering the Freedom to Enjoy the Nation's Most
Affordable and Flexible Wireless Service
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 26, 2008--MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (NYSE: PCS), the nation's leading provider of unlimited, flat-rate wireless communications service, announces the launch of MetroFlash(TM), allowing consumers to bring their compatible CDMA handsets to be used on MetroPCS' network. Coupled with its low cost, flat-rate unlimited wireless service, MetroPCS is further broadening consumers' freedom to enjoy more cost efficient, flexible wireless options. MetroFlash(TM) will eliminate for many consumers the requirement of having to purchase a new handset when signing up for MetroPCS service.
Offering consumers the ability to join MetroPCS with their existing handset makes switching carriers easier - and more cost efficient - than ever, said Tom Keys, Chief Operating Officer of MetroPCS. Not since number portability have consumers been offered such a convenient option in switching service providers. With the rising cost of gas and food, consumers are looking for ways to reduce expenses and the launch of MetroFlash(TM), along with our flat-rate, unlimited low cost service plans, makes MetroPCS a more affordable wireless option.
Customers using MetroFlash(TM) will receive a free month of service, plus unlimited local, long distance, voicemail and text messaging for $40 a month and pay a $30 fee. The service will be available at all MetroPCS company owned stores and select authorized dealers in all MetroPCS markets, excluding Las Vegas and Shreveport/Bossier City. Consumers can go to Unlimited Wireless Service - MetroPCS or a MetroPCS company owned store to determine if their phone is compatible with MetroFlash(TM).
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thnx for the quick reply and info, I would get it done at a metro location but if i get it done with them I wont have my phone able to access internet, I heard you can find a rom to flash it and it will have full access is, now the fun part is finding this so called metro rom. Thnx though
http://rferreira1.googlepages.com/WAPnMMS.pdf
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=49341
thnx bro hopefully this method works with my att model
Gizmo87 said:
thnx bro hopefully this method works with my att model
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Click to collapse
NO it will NOT
AT&T radios are NOT compatible...
DID you not read my first post?
crap, ok thnx anyway, im just going to keep att
Just to be clear, if your Raphael (branded or otherwise) has a slot for a SIM card, it is a GSM model. If there's no slot for a sim card, then it's a CDMA model. There is absolutely no way to use a GSM model on a CDMA network or CDMA model on a GSM network. If you try flashing a radio or rom from the wrong type of model onto yours, you run the risk of having a very expensive paper weight.
(models in the US)
GSM: Unbranded Touch Pro / AT&T
CDMA: Sprint / Verizon
if you're not sure what technology the network is, either ask here or ask somebody that works for that network (if they don't know, or even stumble when they answer as if they aren't 100% sure, ask somebody else)
just a hint: if you see PCS in the name, it's a CDMA network
2nd hint: if you see WCDMA written anywhere, that's not the same as CDMA and not relevant to this particular subject
Hi,
I plan to buy the vibrant and may move out of US in a few months.
The Tmobile rep tells me that the phone will not work outside the US even after unlocking because it uses some special google towers and the phone is deigned to only work with tmobile!!
I told him that the phone supports the bands required by the country I will move to, and the carriers there have a 3g service but he insisted that it won't work.
I don't see why the phone shouldn't work.
Is there anything else that will stop the phone (specifically 3g internet) from working in India?
Thanks.
My bf bought his Vibrant from Tmo while we were in the US and they tried pushing that crap on us. Thankfully, we knew how GSM/3g works and what bands we needed so we weren't fooled. Your phone should work overseas just fine but make sure you double check on the 3g bands just in case.
Oh thanks. I suspected that there was something fishy in the tmobile reps response
Special Google Towers?
Yeah T-Mobile WILL lie to you.
They told us that if we cancel our data plan our phone won't work...
it does.
WTF !
Are you sure they told you that ?!
I ordered Vibrant 3 days ago from ebay and now after reading your post I'm worried that it won't work with my Service provider !!
This is weird !
I had HTC HD2 before from T-Mobile and internet was working perfectly with my service provider !
I think they just don't want you to use it without there plan so that's why they're telling people that !!!
wolf, the only way that phone wouldn't work is if you're carrying it from a GSM carrier to a CDMA carrier or something like that because GSMs have SIM cards while CDMA phones don't use the same technology.
The vibrant should connect with any carrier that have these frequencies:
GSM: 850, 900, 1800, 1900
3g: 1700 (AWS*), 1900, 2100
Personally, the only place you should worry about the phone not completely working is in Japan and that's because although they do have 1700 3g, it's not the same as AWS. From my research, I believe that most 3g carriers rely on either 900 or 2100, so I guess as long as you have a phone that can do 3g with just 2100, you should be good in the majority of places. (BTW, if I said something that's completely untrue, then feel free to correct me).
The main source I used for coming to my conclusion was wikipedia:
Search UTMS and then scroll all the way to the bottom of the article and click the link "List of Deployed UTMS networks" under See Also.
The only problems I could think of that you could have would possibly be the Navigation and the Market. I know in the past the Navigation was specific to the US, but not sure if that has changed.
speoples20 said:
The only problems I could think of that you could have would possibly be the Navigation and the Market. I know in the past the Navigation was specific to the US, but not sure if that has changed.
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About navigation and market, is there a way to get those working outside of the US w/o having to turn your phone into an i9000? My bf's phone is still running Tmobile stock but we were thinking of flashing ROMs sometime in the future.
i have been using the t-mobile vibrant bought in the us at my location in lagos Nigeria and everything works just fine. 3g, navigation and the market. and i have more people buying to use in other parts of nigeria without any hitch.
Okay im not a big poster but this just pisses me off. TMO reps are morons they are not trained in phones. They are just regular people trying to make money off commission. I know this cuz i use to work with them. I would laugh that i knew more about phones then the damn managers.
But anyways yea your phone should work. They lie about unlock codes and phones getting unlocked because they make no commission on selling phones only on selling contracts plans and data plans. I use to unlock so many phones outside of tmo for a small fee (i am a student my time is valuable only ten bucks or 5 bucks) because tmo reps would just lie to these poor people.
Do not go to tmo store for anything unless u cant get it online stay far far away.
Update: I got the mobile and it's working fine
T-Mobile is just fooling us !
damelanalga said:
Okay im not a big poster but this just pisses me off. TMO reps are morons they are not trained in phones. They are just regular people trying to make money off commission. I know this cuz i use to work with them. I would laugh that i knew more about phones then the damn managers.
But anyways yea your phone should work. They lie about unlock codes and phones getting unlocked because they make no commission on selling phones only on selling contracts plans and data plans. I use to unlock so many phones outside of tmo for a small fee (i am a student my time is valuable only ten bucks or 5 bucks) because tmo reps would just lie to these poor people.
Do not go to tmo store for anything unless u cant get it online stay far far away.
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Click to collapse
+1
They tried pulling the same crap with us before we left the US and we went to multiple stores. All of them said that the phone wouldn't work outside of the US. They actually tried to get us on a plan and refused to unlock even when I said that we'd be leaving the US within the week when we bought it off contract. I'm honestly reconsidering going to Tmobile when I return to the US later on. Simple Mobile runs on Tmo's network anyhow and after this experience with their store clerks, I'd almost rather go with them.
belushi7 said:
i have been using the t-mobile vibrant bought in the us at my location in lagos Nigeria and everything works just fine. 3g, navigation and the market. and i have more people buying to use in other parts of nigeria without any hitch.
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Click to collapse
It's good to know that Nigeria has the special Google towers too!
I'm a T mobile rep. Yes the phone works outside the country. In fact the Vibrant if unlocked has been said to work on ATTs 3g in some areas. Most reps don't know much about the phones past the specifications. Most people in here know more about phones than the general earphone sales rep. Feel free to send me a PM for any general Tmobile questions and I'll doo my best to help you guys out.
remarquian said:
It's good to know that Nigeria has the special Google towers too!
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Thats funny!!! I almost fell out of my seat laughing. lol
They are lying again.
I took my vibrant to Indonesia and Taiwan, put their in a local sim card and works flawlessly
Of course my phone is unlocked with the code tmo provided.
internet promlem with UNLOCKED Tmo Vibrant
So i bought on eBay unlocked Tmo Vibrant. And i use it in Ukraine.
Everything is OK.
BUT!
It is impossible to surf internet in EDGE mode.
If WiFi is ON - ererything is good. Web works.
But!
In EDGE mode Web brawser (inbuilt or Dolphin - it's nothing) can not find any page. It looks like NO internet conection.
But!
All other applications (Market, Gmail, Maps and all other) work properly either WiFi or EDGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
does anybody know how to decide a problem?
I am curious as to which prepaid GSM carriers will work with this phone? I wonder this because I am hoping to use this phone as a start for developing and use my other android phone as my usual phone. So I am looking for an unlimited prepaid GSM carrier. Anyone have any information on it? I will greatly appreciate it.
What do you mean by unlimited? I use my sgii on a gophone account, there is unlimited talk/text/data for $50 but the data package is not compatible with smart phones. You would have to add one of their data plans if wanted to use data. I was looking at possibly H2o, they have a $60 unlimited talk/text/data, from what i'm told the data does seem work with an iphone, i have not tested with my sgii yet. Those are the two I'm aware of, use Google, there's a bunch more pre-paid gsm carrier out there.
The only confirmed working carrier I know of is Straight Talk, and:
1) You MUST get your SIM out of one of their $200 Nokias
2) You must NOT allow that Nokia to be activated with a different SIM - it'll deactivate yours
I can't tell you much more, as the above are things I recall from word-of-mouth that I haven't done myself. The SIMs in lower-end ST phones and all Tracfones are actually device-locked. (Kind of like a SIMlock in a device, but the other way around - and unlike SIMlocks, there's no way around a device-locked SIM.)
H2O wireless.. My friend has it and it works fine... Runs on att's network and their sim will work in any att phone with no unlock needed
I appreciate all the information you all gave me. now to determine if I should stick to my Go Phone plan or not.
I've been making a few searches in hopes of finding a solution to this, but came out empty handed. I'm using a Photon 4G (stuck on Electrify 2.3.5) on GSM mode in Argentina. I'm unable to receive data no matter what settings i tinker with. I also tried setting up APNs to no avail.
Anyone has ideas on why this may be happening? Doesn't the Photon support 3G data over GSM worldwide?
Thanks
Anyone ?
Try GSM roms
Sent from my MB855 using XDA
I think you officially have to call Sprint, ask them to remove your phone's SIM lock so you can use other SIM cards overseas, politely sit through their sermon about the dangers of using foreign SIM cards, repeat your request, and call back if necessary to get a more cooperative customer service representative.
From what I've read, all Photons are SIM-locked by default, but Sprint doesn't really fight if you ask them to unlock it for you. However, they MIGHT refuse to remove the SIM lock unless you either purchased the phone without a contract, purchased it used without an ESN-block, or purchased it with a contract 30+ days ago and have already paid your first bill post-purchase. I believe the FCC or FTC made it a law, but left them enough of a loophole so that you couldn't buy a subsidized Sprint phone on contract with a prepaid credit card, then leave the country and cancel the card.
I'm guessing that the inability to use data is because Sprint's SIM has data disabled while roaming by default, so they can make you sit through ANOTHER sermon listening to horror stories about Americans who used their phones in Canada and got hit with $1,000+ bills for a few hours of data use.
You can't totally blame sprint for the default Data block while roaming on their SIM... Android phones use lots of data in the background that most Americans never even notice (because we generally have unlimited data). Using the same phone with charges like 10c/kilobyte can get insanely expensive within just a few minutes.
Or, you could check out the GSM unlock thread somewhere around here. If you're already back in Argentina, it's probably easier. ;-)
Be VERY careful about reflashing a "GSM ROM", and MAKE SURE you've seen confirmation from at least one other user that it has been successfully flashed to a PHOTON -- not an Atrix, Atrix2, or Electrify. Flashing "alien" ROMs is playing with fire, and you can EASILY brick (soft or otherwise) your phone by blindly experimenting.
bitbang3r said:
I think you officially have to call Sprint, ask them to remove your phone's SIM lock so you can use other SIM cards overseas, politely sit through their sermon about the dangers of using foreign SIM cards, repeat your request, and call back if necessary to get a more cooperative customer service representative.
From what I've read, all Photons are SIM-locked by default, but Sprint doesn't really fight if you ask them to unlock it for you. However, they MIGHT refuse to remove the SIM lock unless you either purchased the phone without a contract, purchased it used without an ESN-block, or purchased it with a contract 30+ days ago and have already paid your first bill post-purchase. I believe the FCC or FTC made it a law, but left them enough of a loophole so that you couldn't buy a subsidized Sprint phone on contract with a prepaid credit card, then leave the country and cancel the card.
I'm guessing that the inability to use data is because Sprint's SIM has data disabled while roaming by default, so they can make you sit through ANOTHER sermon listening to horror stories about Americans who used their phones in Canada and got hit with $1,000+ bills for a few hours of data use.
You can't totally blame sprint for the default Data block while roaming on their SIM... Android phones use lots of data in the background that most Americans never even notice (because we generally have unlimited data). Using the same phone with charges like 10c/kilobyte can get insanely expensive within just a few minutes.
Or, you could check out the GSM unlock thread somewhere around here. If you're already back in Argentina, it's probably easier. ;-)
Be VERY careful about reflashing a "GSM ROM", and MAKE SURE you've seen confirmation from at least one other user that it has been successfully flashed to a PHOTON -- not an Atrix, Atrix2, or Electrify. Flashing "alien" ROMs is playing with fire, and you can EASILY brick (soft or otherwise) your phone by blindly experimenting.
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Click to collapse
That's not the correct statement. I owned Photon and recently travel to Asia 2 times. The Photon work fine when I pop the prepaid SIM card in. The Photon came with Global GSM unlock. It's only lock the GSM on US Carriers. It's best to contact the provider of the GSM carrier he is using and ask to see if there are certain settings that need to be done.
Can you make voice call and SMS ? ( I see that you are on a Electrify 2.3.5.. don't know if that is an issue)
I just checked Argentina network. They do have 3G supporting 850 and 1900 frequency band. I advise to take the phone to the provider and ask them for help to set up the 3G network parameters if you do have voice and sms.
Try this link and look for the network provider that you are using in Argentina: They showed most of the settings for 2G/3G: http://nxwiki.blogspot.com/2011/08/movistar-gprs-mms-wap-settings-apn.html
roadster92 said:
That's not the correct statement. I owned Photon and recently travel to Asia 2 times. The Photon work fine when I pop the prepaid SIM card in. The Photon came with Global GSM unlock. It's only lock the GSM on US Carriers. It's best to contact the provider of the GSM carrier he is using and ask to see if there are certain settings that need to be done.
Can you make voice call and SMS ? ( I see that you are on a Electrify 2.3.5.. don't know if that is an issue)
I just checked Argentina network. They do have 3G supporting 850 and 1900 frequency band. I advise to take the phone to the provider and ask them for help to set up the 3G network parameters if you do have voice and sms.
Try this link and look for the network provider that you are using in Argentina: They showed most of the settings for 2G/3G: http://nxwiki.blogspot.com/2011/08/movistar-gprs-mms-wap-settings-apn.html
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Thanks for your response. Yes, other than not receiving data, the phone works pretty much flawlessly: SMS and voice work just fine (wifi is a bit moody since it won't connect unless you go to the wi-fi settings and let it look at all your available networks, but I blame this issue on the ROM I'm sitting on).
I'll try APN settings again and see how it fairs. Thanks a bunch for your input guys.
Oh, and BTW, I bought my Photon through Ebay (my girlfriend brought it from New York where she was doing her MA), so I'm not expecting any kind of support from Sprint. Do they actually provide customer service to not-on contract phones?
Thanks again!
firtermish said:
Thanks for your response. Yes, other than not receiving data, the phone works pretty much flawlessly: SMS and voice work just fine (wifi is a bit moody since it won't connect unless you go to the wi-fi settings and let it look at all your available networks, but I blame this issue on the ROM I'm sitting on).
I'll try APN settings again and see how it fairs. Thanks a bunch for your input guys.
Oh, and BTW, I bought my Photon through Ebay (my girlfriend brought it from New York where she was doing her MA), so I'm not expecting any kind of support from Sprint. Do they actually provide customer service to not-on contract phones?
Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even if you call Sprint. I do not think they will be able to help you. The phone is unlock and work with voice call. It's the network provision that's not allow you to connect with Argentina carriers. The best way is contact the Argentina carrier that you are using and ask them to provide or help to provision that for you. I was having difficulty connect to 3g in Vietnam when I was there (I was doing APN on my own and did not work) I have to contact the Vietnam carrier and they show me how to connect to 3g by using text message send to their server to initiate the automatic provisioning. I recommend that you do the same.
Success!
My stupid fault! I was entering outdated settings on the APN section, which is why it wasn't working before. I have now tried several settings and finally made 3G work! Thanks a million to everyone who contributed, especially roadster92.
For future reference (Claro 3G Argentina users), the configuration I used was the following one:
Connection Name: Claro 3G AR
Authentication: CHAP and PAP
Access Point (APN): gprs.claro.com.ar
UserName: hsdpa
Password: hsdpa
Cheers.
I live in the USA and will be spending 6 days in Edmonton in August. My Verizon plan doesn't include any international roaming/data benefits, and I don't want to call Verizon and risk them forcing me to "upgrade" my ancient plan to a current plan (i.e. more expensive, less benefits) in order to get roaming. I only need it for a week anyway!
The other thing I was thinking was just to turn my Rezound radio off and buy a pre-paid phone from a local Wal-Mart once I arrive, and only use my Rez on Wi-Fi. Someone suggested I buy a pre-paid SIM with a small data allowance and pop it in my Rezound. Will that work without a Global ROM?
I've never needed to deal with this situation before, what should I do? I want to avoid modifying my plan if at all possible. I think buying a temporary pre-paid phone is the best option...
Thanks!
md303 said:
I live in the USA and will be spending 6 days in Edmonton in August. My Verizon plan doesn't include any international roaming/data benefits, and I don't want to call Verizon and risk them forcing me to "upgrade" my ancient plan to a current plan (i.e. more expensive, less benefits) in order to get roaming. I only need it for a week anyway!
The other thing I was thinking was just to turn my Rezound radio off and buy a pre-paid phone from a local Wal-Mart once I arrive, and only use my Rez on Wi-Fi. Someone suggested I buy a pre-paid SIM with a small data allowance and pop it in my Rezound. Will that work without a Global ROM?
I've never needed to deal with this situation before, what should I do? I want to avoid modifying my plan if at all possible. I think buying a temporary pre-paid phone is the best option...
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes but you can buy just the sim card for alot cheaper than buying a phone with sim in it...i only ever really used the rezound here in the USA with a gsm network with no issues...
REV3NT3CH said:
yes but you can buy just the sim card for alot cheaper than buying a phone with sim in it...i only ever really used the rezound here in the USA with a gsm network with no issues...
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Click to collapse
Ok, so I guess the main question then: I'm running CM10.1, does that ROM work in Canada or do I need a "Global" patch of some kind?
Actually it's a moot point - the company I'm working with up there will provide me with an iPhone for the week! :good:
I recently visited Canada with my Rezound (CM11) and regular US plan. The following are some potentially useful notes:
Verizon users can use SMS (to US numbers) while in Canada at no additional charge. Soon after crossing the border, Verizon automatically sent me a SMS confirming this.
Before crossing, I turned off mobile data and kept it off until I got back.
MMS messages use data, so there would be an additional charge. Disabling data also blocks notifications that a MMS message is available.
I forgot if I had to select a different network setting (CDMA, GSM, etc). However, I had no signal issues once I had the right setting.
I use Google Voice. When I had access to WiFi, I could check voicemail and from my laptop I could place calls (to US or Canada numbers) for free.