Hi, I'm in California and I have an Motorola Atrix with AT&T and I just unlocked my phone because I'm about to switch to T-mobile...
However, my friend told me that AT&T and T-Mobile has different 4G networks. He said the AT&T Atrix can not use 3G or 4G speed on a T-Mobile network, It can only go up to Edge speed.... Is that true? Does anyone know about this?
Hope some people can help me here ...
Thank you
tomcklam said:
Hi, I'm in California and I have an Motorola Atrix with AT&T and I just unlocked my phone because I'm about to switch to T-mobile...
However, my friend told me that AT&T and T-Mobile has different 4G networks. He said the AT&T Atrix can not use 3G or 4G speed on a T-Mobile network, It can only go up to Edge speed.... Is that true? Does anyone know about this?
Hope some people can help me here ...
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From everything I have read that is correct, but also know that it won't be much longer till you are back as an AT&T customer since they are acquiring T-Mobile.
tomcklam said:
Hi, I'm in California and I have an Motorola Atrix with AT&T and I just unlocked my phone because I'm about to switch to T-mobile...
However, my friend told me that AT&T and T-Mobile has different 4G networks. He said the AT&T Atrix can not use 3G or 4G speed on a T-Mobile network, It can only go up to Edge speed.... Is that true? Does anyone know about this?
Hope some people can help me here ...
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its true. While both AT&T and T-Mobile use HSPA+ for their "4G" speeds, they run on different bands. If you want 3G/4G, use a T-Mobile phone. Otherwise, enjoy EDGE. Opera Mini with images set to low will be a big help.
T-Mobile leases cellular space from AT&T which is why unlocked AT&T phones can use T-Mobile service. Not sure if it is the phone's software issue that is causing the 4G/3Gnot working. It's possible that T-mobile implemented their so called 4G first but it's still AT&T equipment.....I work for AT&T. Also 4G, is just higher speed 3G, 4G LTE won't be rolling out until next year.
Thank you for the quick reply... I need to get a T-Mobile phone then.
ernestdefoe said:
From everything I have read that is correct, but also know that it won't be much longer till you are back as an AT&T customer since they are acquiring T-Mobile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, but sucks that they still charge minutes when I call a T-Mobile number. I'm switching it for my girlfriend, so I can get Unlimited mobile to mobile minutes... I might get a sensation when I switch to T-Mobile
Phoneguy589 said:
T-Mobile leases cellular space from AT&T which is why unlocked AT&T phones can use T-Mobile service. Not sure if it is the phone's software issue that is causing the 4G/3Gnot working. It's possible that T-mobile implemented their so called 4G first but it's still AT&T equipment.....I work for AT&T. Also 4G, is just higher speed 3G, 4G LTE won't be rolling out until next year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good job on the misinformation front.
And also not being helpful, I'm going to assume your in sales and don't actually know anything.
Now on to the OP's question.
T-Mobile uses the same type of technology as AT&T however they operate on different bands. As such most devices that are sold on AT&T will be able work on T-Mobile for phone and edge but don't get 3g or hspa+ due to the radio in the device only supporting some of the bands. Which is why as a general rule AT&T phones such as the iphone, will work on T-Mobile if unlocked but can't use 3g because it doesn't have the ability to operate in the correct MHZ range. Its the same going from T-Mobile to AT&T. My HD2 was awesome, other then the slow data. *Not that my atrix or inspire are much better.
There are exceptions to the rule though. You'll have to check to see which bands the Atrix is capable of using. I know some of the Samsung devices had all the GSM bands so they worked fine on all networks.
the answer is NO the atrix will not work on tmobile USA 3G or 4G network. there, done!
tomcklam said:
Thank you for the quick reply... I need to get a T-Mobile phone then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Problem is that if/when the AT&T/T-mobile merger goes through, AT&T will likely flip Tmobile's 3g towers to 4g. All tmobile 3G phones...sorry no more 3g unless you buy a new phone. yay....
linky
AT&T said Monday that it planned to convert T-Mobile's 3G towers to 4G service and move T-Mobile 3G subscribers to AT&T 3G phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
gnahc79 said:
Problem is that if/when the AT&T/T-mobile merger goes through, AT&T will likely flip Tmobile's 3g towers to 4g. All tmobile 3G phones...sorry no more 3g unless you buy a new phone. yay....
linky
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They won't just flip a switch and everyone has to buy new phones. They will be phased out as people finish contracts and begin new ones. If they don't, they'll be buying T-Mobile customers all new phones or paying fatcat lawyers to defend them from all the lawsuits.
CaelanT said:
They won't just flip a switch and everyone has to buy new phones. They will be phased out as people finish contracts and begin new ones. If they don't, they'll be buying T-Mobile customers all new phones or paying fatcat lawyers to defend them from all the lawsuits.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, sorry I used the term 'flip', never meant to say it would happen instantly . The article I linked stated the switch would take several years. That's not written in stone though, AT&T could move up the timeline if they are losing too many customers to Verizon and Sprint.
This is only an issue if you plan on keeping your tmobile 3g phone for YEARS, which is not likely for anyone that frequents xda .
I wen't into the T-Mobile store today to add the $10 2GB Unlimited plan to my Service and was excited to use it when I got home. Long story short I discovered because I have the AT&T model I cant use T-Mobiles 3g or their Infamous 4G.
Is there anything I can do other than switching my phone (I was thinking an HTC Sensation). I saw saw somewhere that the Quadcom chip supports T-Mobiles frequencies but you would have to mod the radio which I obviously cant do. Is there anything that would let me enjoy 4G service on our beloved Atrix?
bump 10char
No, unfortunately you'll need a different phone that supports T-Mobile's 4G network.
So does the AT&T Atrix 4G work on Telstra's new 4G network? I've got it running on Telstra and have rung them to ask but it seems they're only selling the HTC 4G phone and don't want BYO phone/sim going onto 4G???
I was wondering if there is a way to use another carrier to get 4G for my tablet? I want 4G for my tablet but Sprint is not in my area. I would have to use US Celluar or Verizon. I checked Verizon and it would be $35ish a month. How do I change set it up for another carrier? Hoping I don't have to go as far as rooting it. Thanks!
love_my_htc said:
I was wondering if there is a way to use another carrier to get 4G for my tablet? I want 4G for my tablet but Sprint is not in my area. I would have to use US Celluar or Verizon. I checked Verizon and it would be $35ish a month. How do I change set it up for another carrier? Hoping I don't have to go as far as rooting it. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately you can't, even with rooting. That's because 4G isn't a wireless protocol, but rather a standard that defines minimum speeds for protocols that wish to call themselves 4G (or something like that). Different carriers achieve 4G through different communications protocols. Verizon and AT&T use LTE. T-Mobile uses HSPA+. Sprint uses WiMAX. Currently Sprint is the only carrier to use WiMAX, and the only other WiMAX provider is Clearwire. But since Sprint uses Clearwire for its WiMAX, if you had Clearwire available in your are you'd have Sprint 4G, too. (Also, Sprint is abandoning WiMAX in favor of LTE in the coming years, so WiMAX is pretty much dead).
Your best bet is to find a carrier that offers 4G service in your area and buy a wireless hotspot and a plan from them. The advantage is that you can also use that plan for other devices such as laptops and WiFi capable phones.
Thanks for the reply.. That sounds like a good idea!!
Hi, I have an LG V10 that I purchased from TMOBILE. I switched to AT&T, and brought my T-Mobile device with me. Everything works fine, but I cannot get 4G LTE service at all. I have tried 2 APN settings, and that does not help. I live in a large metropolitan area, and I know that 4G is available here with AT&T. Does anybody have any idea why I can only get 4G and not 4G LTE?
Thanks!
It's possible that AT&T didn't provision your SIM to get LTE. What APN settings did you try?