Hello, I'm planning on buying a i9300 and was wondering if there are any differences in the phones depending on the region it was originally intended for if I'm not currently planning on rooting it? I'll be using it on PTel (T-Mobile MVNO) and was wondering if the phone being intended for either the European, Latin American or Middle Eastern market would affect anything or if one would be better suited for the US than another. (Well, other than the fact that it'll be slow going if I'm not in a refarmed area.)
Thanks!
T-mobile in which country?
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
US T-Mobile
I'm aware that the i9300 doesn't have the 1700 band so it'll be slow if I'm in a refarmed area, but I was wondering if there were hardware/software differences that might make one region's phone a better choice over another's.
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Hey Guys,
I am situated in Germany and in my opinion, the ATT Versions of the S2 is the most beautiful one. My carrier ist o2.
Is it possible to buy a S2 ATT via the US Ebay and use the phone without any restrictions in Germany?
I guess I need to root it first, then unlock it and then I am good to go? Are these thins easily and safely to achieve? Is it that simple? What about the network, is the american version compatible with the german network? Can I use hsdpa?
Any other restrictions?
Thank you in advance.
the usual problems with US phones in europe... no 3g, but if your only there short term, it may be worth picking up, otherwise just get the euro version with the correct bands.
also i havent checked but there may be a quad band umts unlocked
AT&T version only has tri-band (850/1900/2100) HSPA+ radio. So if your carrier O2 uses 900 band for 3G service, your phone will only work in 2G mode.
International version of GS2 has quad-band HSPA+ and it works everywhere.
Do these two phones have identical hardware but different firmware, so that flashing for example the CM9 mod would make them identical, or do their hardware differs from each other, considering different band support and lack of LTE on T-Mobile?
Thank you.
For the most part hardware seems yo be same... you may have to switch the modems though. Expect a common Cm9 base and then a zip flash for each service provider.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Hopefully there will be some good collaboration between the ATT/Tmo (and possibly some parts from Sprint/Verizon) devs since the hardware is so similar.
It opens up the possibilities for a lot more ROMs!
Actually my question was more about the possibility to use the devices across the networks using custom mods (e.g. to use the I747 on the T-Mobile network).
Thank you.
mikhailmv said:
Actually my question was more about the possibility to use the devices across the networks using custom mods (e.g. to use the I747 on the T-Mobile network).
Thank you.
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You can do this without mods but you won't have access to the 3g band on TMo just like TMo won't have access to the LTE 4g ATT Band...flashing a diff modem/radio won't give you the missing bands unless the hardware actually supports them and its just locked out...which currently isnt known.
djkinetic said:
You can do this without mods but you won't have access to the 3g band on TMo just like TMo won't have access to the LTE 4g ATT Band...flashing a diff modem/radio won't give you the missing bands unless the hardware actually supports them and its just locked out...which currently isnt known.
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That is what my question was about. So the answer is unknown.
Thank you.
mikhailmv said:
That is what my question was about. So the answer is unknown.
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a very valid question… the AT&T Galaxy S III is $550 out of contract; the T-Mobile version, $630.
If you're paying out of pocket, $80 less for what amounts to the same device (arguably, the AT&T one is better since it has an LTE radio) is nothing to sneeze at.
I am having the same question as well.
The situation here is the same to what I have as Rogers/Bell/Telus vs Wind/Mobilicity
I'd like the flexibility to use the phone across the network since the new carriers charge way cheaper than the big 3....
I suppose the hardware between the two model are identical. All support the same band 850 900 1700 2100 (AWS/LTE). Only the AWS version has the LTE radio disabled and HSPA 42 enabled???
It should work, the phone is locked to att thou. You will have to have it unlocked. But the skyrocket and the hercules were interchangeable between networks. But the international will not work on lte or Hspa.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
Micronads said:
It should work, the phone is locked to att thou. You will have to have it unlocked. But the skyrocket and the hercules were interchangeable between networks. But the international will not work on lte or Hspa.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
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So you are saying that that radio modules of these two phones are identical. Meaning that T989 supports LTE, and I747 supports the 1700 band (they just have to be unlocked).
I'm gettin mine unlocked and using it on straight talk t mobile. I need to get that hspa 42 workin. It's just software. From what I gather, once t mobile rolls out their LTE they may just release a firmware update enabling LTE on the t mobile galaxy sIII's. This phone is a seven band monster world phone. To such an extent that carriers are turning features off.
---------- Post added at 09:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:43 PM ----------
mikhailmv said:
So you are saying that that radio modules of these two phones are identical. Meaning that T989 supports LTE, and I747 supports the 1700 band (they just have to be unlocked).
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All the radio modules on this phone are integrated in the S4 processor. And the processor is identical. One would have to conclude, that yes, that is the case.
From a strictly electrical background the modem is software running on transistors which can handle being pushed to the frequencies T-mobile requires, so I would think that it would be doable with the right software. When a transistor has the ability to handle the current and frequency the rest would be a matter of software, I assume.
As for LTE I have no knowledge as to the hardware or if there its something missing in non LTEs.
noahattic said:
I am having the same question as well.
The situation here is the same to what I have as Rogers/Bell/Telus vs Wind/Mobilicity
I'd like the flexibility to use the phone across the network since the new carriers charge way cheaper than the big 3....
I suppose the hardware between the two model are identical. All support the same band 850 900 1700 2100 (AWS/LTE). Only the AWS version has the LTE radio disabled and HSPA 42 enabled???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have unlocked (Sim Unlocked) my SGSIII I747 from Bell and it works with Rogers and all... however i do not have a micro sim from Wind or Mobilcity to test it... however i wiill go to a few stores to test it out... if it works... which i assume it should.... but there are so many factors that it might not....
However, if someone like tomin.... i cant rememebr his id can provide an interchangable flashable modem for the two phones i747 could be used on aws 1700 using the radio from t999.
See the chart on Wikipedia
Samsung Galaxy S III Model variants
I've looked at the specs sheet from samsung.com and it's the same thing.
Weve been arguing in the other thread about how t999 has msm8260 instead of a msm8960Sent from my cm_tenderloin using Tapatalk 2
Unlocked as in correect combination of software loaded on the phone to correspond with the carrier, not simply unlocking the phone. More like unleashing its potential.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
It is interesting as its normally a possibility with Galaxy devices. This is a bit different since they have used slightly different models. We won't know until we get flashable radios and someone is brave enough to try to flash it on their device. I know with the Skyrocket I was able to flash a T-Mobile radio and get a 3G signal on wind (same type of network but in canada). The only limit was that you couldn't take a t-mobile version, flash at&t's radio and get LTE.
y2whisper said:
It is interesting as its normally a possibility with Galaxy devices. This is a bit different since they have used slightly different models. We won't know until we get flashable radios and someone is brave enough to try to flash it on their device. I know with the Skyrocket I was able to flash a T-Mobile radio and get a 3G signal on wind (same type of network but in canada). The only limit was that you couldn't take a t-mobile version, flash at&t's radio and get LTE.
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It would be great if we ca use the same technique to make i747 work with Wind & Mobilcity and make it just like T999
Any Luck>>>
it's good finally there's not that big of a difference in hardware and looks vs the Galaxy s2. too many variants makes it difficult to buy any accessories
Hey,
A friend that's down from the UK wanted to buy a phone here in the US, but I was wondering: will the international version (or the tmobile version) work fine there? His carrier is specifically Orange. I couldn't find specific information on what frequencies they use, so I thought it'd be better to ask. Thanks
If it's International it will work
kennypu said:
Hey,
A friend that's down from the UK wanted to buy a phone here in the US, but I was wondering: will the international version (or the tmobile version) work fine there? His carrier is specifically Orange. I couldn't find specific information on what frequencies they use, so I thought it'd be better to ask. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your title says "can I use the international version in the UK?", but your question seems to ask "can I use the international version in the US?"
The answer to both questions is yes.
I have the international version (i9100), and live in the US and have been using it on AT&T for quite some time.
It can also work on T-Mobile USA's network, but will only get Edge data speeds on that network due to T-Mobile USA using the AWS band for high speed mobile data. (the AWS band requires a band the i9100 doesn't receive)
Edit to add: I just re-read the line that says "A friend that's down from the UK wanted to buy a phone here in the US, but I was wondering: will the international version (or the tmobile version) work fine there?"... Does this mean he wants to buy a T-Mobile USA phone and try to take it back to Europe? I don't think I'd recommend that for the reason I cited above for why the i9100 doesn't work for high speed data on T-Mobile USA's network. T-Mobile USA's Galaxy S II variant is the SGH-T989, which is a totally different phone, that works on different frequencies. So I guess; can you ask your question a bit more clearly?
ctomgee said:
Your title says "can I use the international version in the UK?", but your question seems to ask "can I use the international version in the US?"
The answer to both questions is yes.
I have the international version (i9100), and live in the US and have been using it on AT&T for quite some time.
It can also work on T-Mobile USA's network, but will only get Edge data speeds on that network due to T-Mobile USA using the AWS band for high speed mobile data. (the AWS band requires a band the i9100 doesn't receive)
Edit to add: I just re-read the line that says "A friend that's down from the UK wanted to buy a phone here in the US, but I was wondering: will the international version (or the tmobile version) work fine there?"... Does this mean he wants to buy a T-Mobile USA phone and try to take it back to Europe? I don't think I'd recommend that for the reason I cited above for why the i9100 doesn't work for high speed data on T-Mobile USA's network. T-Mobile USA's Galaxy S II variant is the SGH-T989, which is a totally different phone, that works on different frequencies. So I guess; can you ask your question a bit more clearly?
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Click to collapse
sorry for the confusion, but yes your edit is correct: a friend wants to buy a phone here, and take it back to the UK for use.
kennypu said:
sorry for the confusion, but yes your edit is correct: a friend wants to buy a phone here, and take it back to the UK for use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm. Again, I wouldn't recommend it. From what I know, GSM carriers in the US tend to favor different frequencies (850/1900 on AT&T, 1700/2100 on T-mobile) than GSM carriers in Europe. (GSM 900/1800)
Some phones have enough band cross-over that they can be bought and used on the network he wants, but without doing extensive research into whatever model phone he is interested in, and also what band frequencies his carrier specifically uses, it would be a guessing game.
For example, I did about 2 weeks worth of heavy research before I bought an unlocked I9100 to use in the US on AT&T's network.
I've seen plenty of people buy the same phone to use on T-mobile USA, only to find out they can only get Edge data speed, and wonder why.
ctomgee said:
Hmm. Again, I wouldn't recommend it. From what I know, GSM carriers in the US tend to favor different frequencies (850/1900 on AT&T, 1700/2100 on T-mobile) than GSM carriers in Europe. (GSM 900/1800)
Some phones have enough band cross-over that they can be bought and used on the network he wants, but without doing extensive research into whatever model phone he is interested in, and also what band frequencies his carrier specifically uses, it would be a guessing game.
For example, I did about 2 weeks worth of heavy research before I bought an unlocked I9100 to use in the US on AT&T's network.
I've seen plenty of people buy the same phone to use on T-mobile USA, only to find out they can only get Edge data speed, and wonder why.
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Click to collapse
ironically, I did exactly did what you mentioned (tmo + international version). From what I gathered, It looks like europe does support GT-i9100, just the P varient, which seem to have the same exact hardware + NFC. So I think I can safely assume it will work, but I would rather get an answer from someone with more knowledge.
kennypu said:
ironically, I did exactly did what you mentioned (tmo + international version). From what I gathered, It looks like europe does support GT-i9100, just the P varient, which seem to have the same exact hardware + NFC. So I think I can safely assume it will work, but I would rather get an answer from someone with more knowledge.
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Click to collapse
Um... I don't think you get it.
The I9100 is sold pretty much everywhere BUT the US. It's sold in the UK, in fact. Mine came from the UK.
The only difference between the I9100 and the I9100P is the I9100P has NFC hardware built into it, and the I9100 does not. Otherwise, the I9100 and I9100P operate on the same frequencies.
The US variants of the Galaxy S II are completely different hardware.
The AT&T variant is the SGH-I777.
The T-Mobile USA variant is the SGH-T989.
The Sprint variant is the SPH-D710.
The US Cellular variant is the SCH-R760.
(those last two are CDMA variants, and may not even work in Europe)
You can see nearly all the variants on the wikipedia page.
so it's safe to assume it will work, got it. thank you very much.
kennypu said:
so it's safe to assume it will work, got it. thank you very much.
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Well, if he buys an i9100, yes.
If he buys any of the US variants, not so much.
Hi, I just came to canada and need to buy a smartphone. I don't want to engage in a contract as I will be leaving for Australia in 4 months time and then from there to Pakistan
I am confused about different flavours of Samsung devices and concerned if they will work at full capability in Australia (pakistan doesn't even have 3g yet!) , Like this S3 I747
http://www.virginmobile.ca/en/phone...model=galaxysIII&colour=Blue&contractTerm=SP8
or these two minis
http://www.fido.ca/web/page/portal/Fido/devices?PhoneSKU=GS3MINIBLU#specs
http://www.rogers.com/web/link/wire...Id_Detailed=GS3MINIBLU&N=52+11+4294948709+277
Any input would be appreciated.
Also, is there a way to get the phone unlocked at a cheaper price ? I mean is there a software one can unlock with? I am sorry but this whole locked phone thing, it's pretty alien to me
If you're planning on country-hopping, buy an unlocked international model straight out if possible (ie. The I9300/I9305, not the I747). Canada, Australia and Pakistan will most likely all have different spectrum frequencies, so buying a Canadian model probably won't work on Australian or Pakistan mobile networks.
Australia in particular has slightly different devices (eg. I9305T, N7105T), probably to adjust to their frequency bands.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk
I'm interested in the S9+, but I live in the United States and I'm afraid the locked bootloader of G965U will leave me with a very expensive dinosaur in a few years when Samsung official updates cease. Mainly for that reason (also because I like to play around with custom ROMs and would like the option of 128GB internal storage), I'm considering purchasing either the G9650 or the G965F variants. I've read that the G9650 has little to no developer activity, and I like the terms/price offered by clove.co.uk/samsung-galaxy-s9-plus, so I would probably lean towards G965F.
What I'm having trouble determining is whether either G965F or G9650 will definitely work with all of my carrier's (AT&T) 3G and 4G bands. From forums.att.com/t5/Phone-Device-Upgrades/What-are-AT-amp-T-s-4G-LTE-bands/td-p/4067288 and gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s9+-8967.php#g965f it seems like the 4G bands AT&T uses should theoretically be supported, but I would prefer anecdotal evidence to theory. Has anyone confirmed that G965F and/or G9650 work at full speed with AT&T's network (specifically 4G)?
Yep, it'll work. Canadians typically roam on AT&T while visiting 'murica because we no longer have a cdma carrier like Verizon/Sprint. I'm using G965F fine on Canadian networks.
But here's a site for you too.
https://www.frequencycheck.com/carr...axy-s9-plus-samsung-star-2/at-t-united-states
JT-on said:
Yep, it'll work. Canadians typically roam on AT&T while visiting 'murica because we no longer have a cdma carrier like Verizon/Sprint. I'm using G965F fine on Canadian networks.
But here's a site for you too.
https://www.frequencycheck.com/carr...axy-s9-plus-samsung-star-2/at-t-united-states
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What kind of download/upload speeds do you typically see? I'm a little concerned about the lack of B30 support as I'm in the NYC tri-state area and the network can be pretty congested.
CresCoJeff said:
What kind of download/upload speeds do you typically see? I'm a little concerned about the lack of B30 support as I'm in the NYC tri-state area and the network can be pretty congested.
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I haven't noticed any speed issues, but I haven't been to your area so I can't really compare.
You can check out https://www.cellmapper.net/ and see what AT&T bands are most commonly deployed in your area(s) and make judgment call