Well, since I can't seem to find any decent information about this, I figured I'd ask around a bit here. Does anyone know if I can use my phone in Japan? I'm going to be over there for the next four years and I have -no- idea what sort of network they use. Can I purchase a prepay SIM? If so, what companies do prepay? If not, what about plans, and what companies? And if you're really feeling adventurous, pricing on the above. Thanks for any information you guys can provide, I just need to know whether to sell my phone or hang onto it.
No it is not possible. There are no GSM networks in JP afaik. However there are a lot of advanced phone in JP for sure.
lovebeta said:
No it is not possible. There are no GSM networks in JP afaik. However there are a lot of advanced phone in JP for sure.
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You could check here:
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_jp.shtml
According to GSM World, NTT Docomo and Softbank have GSM roaming available. I'll be there next week, so I'll let you know!
jderas64 said:
You could check here:
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_jp.shtml
According to GSM World, NTT Docomo and Softbank have GSM roaming available. I'll be there next week, so I'll let you know!
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I could be wrong of course since I've never been to Japan. However I think the one your pointed out are 3G/UMTS/WCDMA networks. It is not downward compatible with GSM phones!
Yeah, I did some more searching around and from what I can tell it's all 3G. Sort of a shame, I'd rather take the hit and use my Excalibur on a prepay SIM rather than use what they offer. Yes, their phones are advanced, and all have videophone capability, high speed data, and can probably even whip up a banana split if you ask them to, but none of them have the sheer power of WM as far as I can tell. I think Softbank offers a Hermes derivative (X01HT?) though, maybe I'll pick up one of those.
No GSM roaming in Japan, however both SoftBank and DoCoMo offer the Hermes, called the X01HT and the hTc Z, respectively. You can't get them on prepaid, though. Prepaid service in Japan is very limited in terms of what types of handsets, etc. When I went back with my 802SE, I was able to use the WCDMA net for voice calls using my T-Mobile SIM, but data were limited to GPRS speeds, and video-call was out of the question.
~Cheers~
P.S. There IS another network there that you would be shocked to know about...
iDEN. They have Nextels in Japan. Why? I don't know.
Yeah I decided a day or two ago that I was going with the Hermes when I get over there.. it looks like Softbank has a $35 USD unlimited data plan as long as it's paired with a voice plan (which go as low as $8). I wonder if it's possible to use Skype for WM on it to call back to the States for minimal cost..? Seems like the phone itself is only $166 for Softbank.. I hear it's considerably higher for DoCoMo but I couldn't find a price for it.
As for iDEN, you couldn't pay me to use that system.
Wow - looks like everyone is about to come out with their version of the TP2. The question for me now is - who to sign up with? What are the pros & cons of CDMA vs GSM versions? I've read about bad customer support with Sprint. Who's got the better (stable, coverage, speed) network? Any incentive to go unlocked?
Thank you!
I'll be getting one w/ tmobile usa because of the plan prices, great support, and GSM any where in the world!!
im going with Verizon,, im a sales man, and i need a reliable network.. if i dont get any signal i will lose clients. so im going with the best network in the US. you want the best you have to pay for it.
Lw00d said:
im going with Verizon,, im a sales man, and i need a reliable network.. if i dont get any signal i will lose clients. so im going with the best network in the US. you want the best you have to pay for it.
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Personally I never lose reception in the U.S but I guess it all depends, so that is a good reason to go with Verizon, but I am gonna get it for T-mobile cause of an existing contract, otehr wise I think I would want to get it for [email protected]
If you want a weakened and crippled phone with horrible customer service then Verizon is definitly the way to go.
If you want a Touch Pro2 that works worldwide, that can be unlocked to any network, then go with AT&T or T-Mobile. Personally, I would go with AT&T as they have a larger 3G coverage throughout the US.
atomixpaintball said:
If you want a weakened and crippled phone with horrible customer service then Verizon is definitly the way to go.
If you want a Touch Pro2 that works worldwide, that can be unlocked to any network, then go with AT&T or T-Mobile. Personally, I would go with AT&T as they have a larger 3G coverage throughout the US.
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I tend to agree, I am an ex- verizon guy and had to deal with the slow phone deliveries, dumb down hardware issues(Thank God for XDA) as well as the CDMA not in use with the majority of the rest of the world.
If you need world wide connectivity and the best US 3G, Att is your best bet, but to be honest who deploys first tends to win. I guess the race is on.
Price, world-wide connectivity, un-crippled phone features, and customer support all point to Sprint as the best choice for someone about to choose a carrier for the first time and wanting the TP2.
The reports you've read about Sprint's CS are BS. I've been with them for 3 years and have had many opportunities to work with customer support and have walked away from the experience satisfied and better off every time. They clearly have been and continue to work hard to turn around a bad customer service department, and it's paying off.
Also, in all that time I've not had a single dropped call, save for one area between me and my office that is a "dead zone" that no carrier apparently covers (I car pool and we all use different carriers. We all drop at the same place).
I vote for Sprint. Better data network than ATT and T-Mo combined plus i read that Sprint's version is going to be dual mode (CDMA/GSM 900/1800?).
So you get good CDMA coverage in the States and when abroad, pop in a SIM and use a local GSM network. Works for me that way.
First of all, the Sprint and Verizon versions ARE global. They are CDMA and GSM. Get it straight people.
I have been with Verizon since before they were Verizon, and I have had absolutely ZERO issues with customer service, billing, phone replacement, coverage, dropped calls, etc. That is also having lived in 2 different regions of the country in that time.
I agree, they're sometimes slow to release phones, and hopefully the TP2 crippling isn't reminiscent of the TP1, but we'll have to wait and see. It all comes down to the best network in your area. In mine, Verizon is hands down the best, followed by AT&T second, a tin can with a string 3rd, and Sprint 4th.
Sprint. CDMA
zeo2k said:
Sprint. CDMA
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Yes, Sprint is CDMA, and the Touch Pro2 for Sprint and Verizon will be dual mode (CDMA/GSM).
im an existing tmo customer (very happy with their service) and am craving to get tp2, but willing to switch to at&t since my contract with tmo has expired and i might get a better price at at&t as a new customer
sprint .. eh .. not sure, maybe
would be great if someone could do an in depth side-by-side comparison of these companies, like prices, features, extras ..
for example, i found out that at at&t and sprint you get to listen to pandora for free, but not on tmo, also engadget figured that at&t has better 3G than others, stuff like that
in general, question stands - tmo, att or sprint?
well, the CDMA phones cannot use voice and Data at the same time. so that's a big deal.
coverage and network speed vary largely depending on area. and nobody knows what the phone will cost yet through any of the carriers.
good, something new, kinda rules out sprint
hihik said:
im an existing tmo customer (very happy with their service) and am craving to get tp2, but willing to switch to at&t since my contract with tmo has expired and i might get a better price at at&t as a new customer
sprint .. eh .. not sure, maybe
would be great if someone could do an in depth side-by-side comparison of these companies, like prices, features, extras ..
for example, i found out that at at&t and sprint you get to listen to pandora for free, but not on tmo, also engadget figured that at&t has better 3G than others, stuff like that
in general, question stands - tmo, att or sprint?
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tmo hands down.... check billshrink.com to compare all four carriers (its not endorsed by any carriers by the way)
Hope this isn't a thread hijack.. what's the scoop on ROM support for CDMA versions of HTC phones? (I see the posts about TP2 being CDMA+GSM)
I've been here flashing ROMs for 8125/8525/8925, but always had a GSM version... and have really NOT noticed ROMs for the CDMA flavors of those phones..
Sprint appears to offer me the best price for a family plan with 2 data phones + messaging (~$130 vs. $170/month if I've got my info correctly), so I'm thinking heavily about dropping ATT after ~8 years... but wanted to be sure I wouldn't lose access to all the fantastic ROMs from XDA.
Lw00d said:
im going with Verizon,, im a sales man, and i need a reliable network.. if i dont get any signal i will lose clients. so im going with the best network in the US. you want the best you have to pay for it.
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i second this!! no substitute for getting service everywhere
ckeegan said:
Yes, Sprint is CDMA, and the Touch Pro2 for Sprint and Verizon will be dual mode (CDMA/GSM).
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but isnt GSM mode disabled? I thought that it was disabled and there was no way to enable it... but then again im not completely sure.. but will it even have a sim card slot?
ckeegan said:
Yes, Sprint is CDMA, and the Touch Pro2 for Sprint and Verizon will be dual mode (CDMA/GSM).
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sorry duplicate post
Any news on release dates for the different carriers?
Hi all..
I have found and read the instructions as it relates to flashign a phone to cricket... I am an old GSM guy here, not too familiar with CDMA things... But Cricket is runnign a special this weekend where it is only $25 a month for unlimited talk & txt.. I think this would be great for my son as a cheap cell phone.. Here are my questions:
Would Cricket need to know that I flashed a phone from another carrier?
Do I need ot buy one of their phones in the first place?
Anyone who has done this in the past, I would value your input.... I am just a little lost here on this.. thanks
In CDMA technologies, the user account gets compared to the ESN of the phone that you are trying to use. Lets say that you programmed your phone (MIN, MDN, flashed PRL, etc). The tower will see all the settings from your account and it will look at the ESN as well, if all this information matches to what they have on the records, you will have no problem in using this phone with Cricket.
Why am I saying this? Because, you will have to let them know about the ESN of your new device. They need to add it to their database and under your account as well for you to be able to use it. I know that MetroPCS charges you ~$50 to do this, I am not certain about Cricket though. You may want to call them up and ask if you can have your Vogue flashed over to their system. I have read countless threads of people having flashed their Vogues to Cricket, so I guess it is possible.
Good luck!
Thanks for the reply...
Here is the issue (or question).. I live in a new "triband only" cricket market (Chicago/Milwaukee area).. I have read that, to work, the phone needs to use the 1700AWS frequency... I know in the "old" cricket areas you don;t need this... Will the Vogue work here? Sorry for all the questions.. I just don;t want to buy the phone and then not be able to use it...
According to the specs, the Vogue is only dual band (800 and 1900 MHz). You can see them here. If that is the case, then you might not be able to use it. Just check with them to be on the safe side. You can also look for people on the Cricket network on other forums and see if someone is using this device in the Chicago area. Good luck!
not sure about your city/are specifically but in Austin TX i was able to take a HTC Vogue (Sprint Touch) and fully flash it over. Phone, SMS, MMS, Data, Tethering, and I even found a guide for GPS (have not tried yet).
All works fine. They only issue I really have is that the DATA seems kinda crap at times. It says its at full EVDO/3G but sometimes i have to perform a manual disconnect/reconnect to jumpstart data again.
When I flash to a "non cricket" rom though I lose Tethering ability. Trying to find a guide on the settings myself so I can go back to NSFans 6.5 ROM.
Sorry for the bad news. Unfortunately there are no HTC phones available at this time that you can flash and have work in the Chicago area. That area is a AWS 1700 MHZ market and there are no CDMA HTC devices that support that technology. I would recommend that you purchase a cricket branded phone. If you are looking for a Windows phone take a look at Metro's line up. They have a Samsung that is tri band and WM powered. Also crickets new phone that is PDA like will be out tomorrow at cricKet Corp stores.
So I think this is a kind of unique question. I did some research and couldn't find a specific answer to my question.
First off, I'm new here but I've been lurking for years since I rooted my old HTC Evo 4G in 2012, and when I rooted my Samsung Intercept in '11 I think. I'm glad I finally joined, hope I can be of some help.
Okay, now to the question (in it's most basic form): can I take my Sprint Micro-SIM and put it in another carrier's cheap flip-phone?
Why I want to do this: I recently bought a kayak and capsized in it, ruining my Samsung (Google) Nexus S 4G. Luckily I had the G2 already on the way, expected for the next day.
Now I need a phone for when I'm out kayaking, and I don't want to risk my brand new G2. Ideally I would be able to just switch SIMs on the phones. This would be easy enough if I had a carrier who regularly used SIM cards. Sprint only has SIMs in their phones that support GSM and 4G. So that rules out getting a cheap flip-phone to swap SIMs with.
I know that as far as smart phones are concerned, it would have to be unlocked. Can I get a cheap flip-phone from another carrier that is unlocked? If so, would I be able to put my G2 SIM in it? i read something about how Sprint uses UUIC(?) SIMs that are paired to the phone's MEID, would that pose a problem?
Thanks so much in advance, hope this isn't too dumb of a question!
Short answer is no. Sprint phones require an MEID to authenticate on the network for voice and 3G (CDMA). The SIM or UICC portion is for LTE (4G) data only.
Looking on the Sprint website, they have some basic phones (even rugged ones) that will suit your outdoor type needs.
LordLugard said:
Short answer is no. Sprint phones require an MEID to authenticate on the network for voice and 3G (CDMA). The SIM or UICC portion is for LTE (4G) data only.
Looking on the Sprint website, they have some basic phones (even rugged ones) that will suit your outdoor type needs.
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Okay thanks