TouchPro2 UMTS Bands - Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile General

I am in Canada and one of our carriers Telus just released the TouchPro 2
telus is a CDMA carrier, however, released the device as a world phone, quad band GSM and UMTS 2100 3G.
I am new to the GSM world and would like to understand better.
Telus and another carrier, bell mobility are building a 3G+ network that they plan to fire up later this year, the CDMA network will stay for a while and HSPA+ will be an overlay network with no GSM support.
Telus and bell plan to use UMTS 850/1900 bands.
When a company like HTC makes a phone, are the UMTS radio's hardware or software?
Is it possible for a OEM working with a carrier to hide UMTS 850/1900 bands or install 850/1900 bands in a new ROM update, say Windows 6.5 ROM?
It does not make sense to me for OEM's to make multiple versions of same phone, I understand each carrier has cosmetic outer requests, I am thinking of the core inside build.
It would be nice to have both networks in case the initial network build out for HSPA+ has issues.
Help!!

UMTS Radio is hadrware.

GSM/WCDMA(or UMTS, if you will) basebands are all hardware as the last poster noted. However, at the request of a carrier, one of the radios in a dual mode CDMA/GSM device can be disabled(as is the case with the dual mode CDMA/GSM version of the Touch Pro2 headed to Sprint here in the US). It is also [theoretically] possible to re-enable the GSM radio in one of the dual mode versions of the Touch Pro2.
On a side note, I wish the CDMA carriers here in the US would transition to GSM technology. I know Verizon will be conducting LTE trials late this year and early next year so that's a plus. It would be nice to transition to LTE, as well, or at least HSPA+....
EDIT: Actually, many OEMs make multiple versions of the same model device. The Touch Pro2 has numerous variants for each carrier which will sell it.

Well, in this case it's a different build from other Pro2's as it has cdma and therefore a different processor.
As for what it is truly capable of I don't know. Carriers have blocked out hardware functionality through software in the past (i.e. certain famous cases of phones with GPS having to wait a long time before a ROM that would let them take advantage of the GPS).
So maybe it's possible. I don't know if it is in this specific case, someone more familiar with the specific hardware and stuff will probably have to weigh in for a definite conclusion.
Hope so though...

UMTS Bands
Wow,
Thank You for the prompt replies.
I think the Telus TouchPro 2 is the same build as Sprint with Telus customization.
I understand that the hardware radio must be present for UMTS 850/1900 to work.
I am not too concerned about the GSM radio(s), just the UMTS radio(s).
According to the spec, it only has 2100 UMTS band
If Telus and likely Sprint have disabled the radio, is it possible to find out if indead the radio would support UMTS 850/1900 and could a cooked ROM enable those above bands?

seems I responded more or less at the same time as jaekidd
anyways...
according to the msm7600 spec sheet it can have the following umts combinations:
2100
1900+850
2100+800
2100+1700+800
2100+1900+850
Now I personally have no idea how one could check to see what options the installed hardware has and whether they are blocking something.
no idea if a new ROM could unlock those frequencies should they be present or how easy it would be to make a ROM to unlock them (they might need a ROM for a device with those features unlocked on that chipset from which to rip the necessary files/drivers for all I know)
And for the record, I think it might be more appropriate to say that the Sprint version is the Telus version with Sprint custommization (after all, the Telus version has come out first), rather than the other way around
and for the record the msm7200 specs sheet says it is capable of the same combinations but personally I can only remember dual band hspa in HTC's phones (the msm7200a sheet doesn't mention the combinations, just the individual bands)

solsearch said:
seems I responded more or less at the same time as jaekidd
anyways...
according to the msm7600 spec sheet it can have the following umts combinations:
2100
1900+850
2100+800
2100+1700+800
2100+1900+850
Now I personally have no idea how one could check to see what options the installed hardware has and whether they are blocking something.
no idea if a new ROM could unlock those frequencies should they be present or how easy it would be to make a ROM to unlock them (they might need a ROM for a device with those features unlocked on that chipset from which to rip the necessary files/drivers for all I know)
And for the record, I think it might be more appropriate to say that the Sprint version is the Telus version with Sprint custommization (after all, the Telus version has come out first), rather than the other way around
and for the record the msm7200 specs sheet says it is capable of the same combinations but personally I can only remember dual band hspa in HTC's phones (the msm7200a sheet doesn't mention the combinations, just the individual bands)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HTC FUZE (AT&T's Touch Pro) has 850, 1900, and 2100 and I assume AT&T's Touch Pro 2 will, too.

Didn't know that, just the question remians of when AT&T will get theirs out to market.

Related

Unlocked TELUS PRO2 does not work on FIDO 3G network?

I bought HTC PRO2 (RHOD500) from Telus. I just noticed that it does not work on fido 3G network. GSM is fine.
If the Hard-SPL for world phone is released, can I use 3G fido network at that time?
Thanks
You can pay to get it sim unlocked now and it will work. Search for tmobile unlock on ebay. I am on Telus and it works perfect.
leanne said:
You can pay to get it sim unlocked now and it will work. Search for tmobile unlock on ebay. I am on Telus and it works perfect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I knew that, and my phone has been unlocked. I can make phone call without any problem.
However, I can not use it with fido 3G network.
It does not work at all
Hey,
I don’t think its the phone . I have seen this issue many times in the past All your data settings are still set up for TELUS and the CDMA network, It’s not as simple as just unlocking the SIM card to get the data to work you have to go in an re-program the phone. I would suggest finding the Data setting on a Windows mobile device Fido has and just copying those into you Touch Pro 2. (you will most likely need to do this by hand)
Can’t promise it will work as I know some Carriers have certain fields added and removed to fit their needs which messes up the phone when you unlock it to use on other networks.
Wait!!
does this mean the RHOD500 has GSM and CDMA??
--- Does this mean?
1. Buy Telus TP2
2. Unlock
3. Switch to Fido/Rogers
4. Flash 6.1 GSM rom
5. Use 3g?
I think the issue here is that the Telus TP2 has had the 850/1900MHz UMTS bands disabled for some retarded reason. (Seems especially retarded seeing as how they are rolling out a UMTS network running on those bands in a couple of months).
There is speculation that the bands physically exist on the Telus TP2 but they have been software disabled. The other possibility is that the hardware is not physically present to utilize the 850/1900MHz bands that Fido/Rogers use for their 3G data and that the Telus TP2 will never work on their 3G networks (as well as its own upcoming one) but I think that would be a seriously regretful move on Telus' part.
The spec sheet for the MSM7600 indicates that the phone may or may not be capable of using the 850/1900MHz bands, but according to HTC and Telus' specifications it definitely is able to use the 2100MHz bands (which makes zero sense in Canada since nobody will be using those bands for a long time).
Rick#2 said:
I think the issue here is that the Telus TP2 has had the 850/1900MHz UMTS bands disabled for some retarded reason. (Seems especially retarded seeing as how they are rolling out a UMTS network running on those bands in a couple of months).
There is speculation that the bands physically exist on the Telus TP2 but they have been software disabled. The other possibility is that the hardware is not physically present to utilize the 850/1900MHz bands that Fido/Rogers use for their 3G data and that the Telus TP2 will never work on their 3G networks (as well as its own upcoming one) but I think that would be a seriously regretful move on Telus' part.
The spec sheet for the MSM7600 indicates that the phone may or may not be capable of using the 850/1900MHz bands, but according to HTC and Telus' specifications it definitely is able to use the 2100MHz bands (which makes zero sense in Canada since nobody will be using those bands for a long time).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This isn't extremely helpful, but
http://web.archive.org/web/20071025232258/www.cdmatech.com/download_library/pdf/msm7600_chipset.pdf
according to that (if I'm reading right) there has to be at least 1 other UMTS band, no configuration is ONLY 2100MHz (the chipset that does only that doesnt do the 1900MHz PCS band for CDMA). But really, I'm pretty much guessing.
Hi I am using the unlocked Telus version on Fido. It's true that you can't use 3G because the phone does not support the required bands. But I still use EDGE. It's slower but better than nothing. Create a new connection and name it Fido. APN is : internet.fido.ca
Username: fido
PW: fido
Hope this helps.
https://www.telusmobility.com/en/QC/htc_touchpro2_t7379/index.shtml
Go to this site, click on the Details button and you'll see that the TP2 supports all of the above mentioned Bands. The bands are all software locked and once Telus initializes the new network (along with WinMo 6.5) they will offer the firmware upgrade to open ALL the GSM bands. It'll just be the question of unlocking the simlock on the device!
wraith79 said:
https://www.telusmobility.com/en/QC/htc_touchpro2_t7379/index.shtml
Go to this site, click on the Details button and you'll see that the TP2 supports all of the above mentioned Bands. The bands are all software locked and once Telus initializes the new network (along with WinMo 6.5) they will offer the firmware upgrade to open ALL the GSM bands. It'll just be the question of unlocking the simlock on the device!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that maybe you are confusing GSM bands with the UMTS/HSPA bands.
There's a big difference between the GSM/Edge bands and WCDMA/UMTS.
I have been following the subject and there`s no concrete evidence that the 850/1900 WCDMA/UMTS bands are only software.
Where the hell did you get your firmware upgrade information? I've only seen this info given as pure speculation!
If the TouchPro 1 is any indication, the phone might be missing some key components to make it work. In the case of the TP1 it was the amplifier that was missing so it couldn't work even chipset and everything could support it.
(see: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=420865&page=40)
So while it's possible, until someone does a teardown of the phone and we see all the required component it's simply not possible to say that 3G on a GSM network is possible.
The ONLY indication I have seen that it might support 850/1900 HSPA network is the fact that telus stated that the Tour and Storm will not work on the HSPA network. They failed to mention the TP2 so maybe we can read between the lines:
http://mobilesyrup.com/2009/08/16/t...be-compatible-with-the-canadian-hspa-network/
Axeslocked said:
Wait!!
does this mean the RHOD500 has GSM and CDMA??
--- Does this mean?
1. Buy Telus TP2
2. Unlock
3. Switch to Fido/Rogers
4. Flash 6.1 GSM rom
5. Use 3g?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh and please never flash a GSM rom on a CDMA / World phone!
labbbby said:
Oh and please never flash a GSM rom on a CDMA / World phone!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol.. I second that
UMTS Bands
labbbby said:
I think that maybe you are confusing GSM bands with the UMTS/HSPA bands.
There's a big difference between the GSM/Edge bands and WCDMA/UMTS.
I have been following the subject and there`s no concrete evidence that the 850/1900 WCDMA/UMTS bands are only software.
Where the hell did you get your firmware upgrade information? I've only seen this info given as pure speculation!
If the TouchPro 1 is any indication, the phone might be missing some key components to make it work. In the case of the TP1 it was the amplifier that was missing so it couldn't work even chipset and everything could support it.
(see: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=420865&page=40)
So while it's possible, until someone does a teardown of the phone and we see all the required component it's simply not possible to say that 3G on a GSM network is possible.
The ONLY indication I have seen that it might support 850/1900 HSPA network is the fact that telus stated that the Tour and Storm will not work on the HSPA network. They failed to mention the TP2 so maybe we can read between the lines:
http://mobilesyrup.com/2009/08/16/t...be-compatible-with-the-canadian-hspa-network/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been following this debate on multiple forums.
Based on some information from RileyFreeman, I do think Telus will enable the TouchPro2 for new HSPA network.
Granted, today, you can unlock and use on Rogers, Fido or ATT networks using EDGE, it would be a real poor move for Telus to not have an upgrade path to HSPA.
This is Telus's non Blackberry flagship business device, today, Telus has Enterprise customers testing the HSPA network (likely either PC cards or USB modems). Once HTC releases Windows Mobile 6.5, this would be an ideal time to upgrade the radio's and unlock the 850/1900 UMTS bands.
I can see the 850/1900 bands today, not 100% if they are actually there, also wondering if Telus is also waiting for ATT to release TP2 so ATT can test ROM, Sprint nor Verizon would not have any need to do any regression testing on ROM that supports UMTS bands. Tell tale sign will be if ATT TP2 has same chipset as Telus TP2.
I am crossing my fingers that TP2 will support Telus Canadian SIM.
I agree with you points. By seing the bands you mean in windows mobile band selction settings? If so these are always there.
I highly doubt ATT will use the same chipset as Telus since they use the MSM7600 to support both GSM and CDMA. ATT as no need for CDMA.
Also to support my claim:
ATT is RHOD300 device.
I think Telus is RHOD500 and Sprint is RHOD400 (can't find this info but I know 400/500 are both world phone, so it might be the opposit or something)
Different RHODXXX indicates differents innards.
Bottom line I want a TP2 with 3G on Fido so Im crossing my finders too!
Edit:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/atandts-htc-touch-pro2-hits-the-fcc/
So that's Rhodium 100 for T-Mobile, 400/500 for Sprint and Verizon (or vice-versa) and 300 for AT&T
Noob mistake on my part I think the Rhodium XXX is FCC ...so why did I think Telus was in there =\
Sprint is RHOD400, Verizon and Telus both are RHOD500.

Can I make my Touch Pro2 work with 3G in USA?

Hello
I have HTC Touch Pro2 international version, so it doesn't work with 3G in USA.
Is there any way to make it work?
P.S. I have AT&T SIM card.
Thanks
This question has been asked and answered several times already, but the short answer is no. ATT uses different bands for 3G than in Europe and Asia so the international version won't get 3G speeds. Unfortunately you are stuck with Edge speeds.
Thanks for replying
I noticed that old PPCs (HTC, Xperia, ...) support all HSDPA frequencies even international versions, but the new ones don't.
Why is that?
HNH992 said:
Thanks for replying
I noticed that old PPCs (HTC, Xperia, ...) support all HSDPA frequencies even international versions, but the new ones don't.
Why is that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It really just depends on the specific phone. The US versions tend to support both US and International 3G versions, but usually not the other way around unfortunately. Things really got wacky when T-Mobile USA decided to rollout their 3G on an entirely different frequency (1700/2100) than ATT (850/1900), whereas the rest of the world uses straight 2100. (Note TMO USA uses one frequency for up and the other for down, so an international phone with just 2100 won't get full 3G on TMO USA either).
Usually manufacturers have slightly different versions of the phone for different bands (like the Xperia X1 has two different revs for different parts of the world).
If a manufacturer wanted to make an UBER-GSM phone, they would have to put a Quad-Band GSM chip and also support 850/1700/1900/2100 (Quad-band 3G), which I don't believe currently exists (yet) and may never...

Telus TP2 Radio(s)

Exactly what cellular radios does this phone [Telus TP2] have?
My carrier [Telus] has recently completed their 3G overlay, and I'm still showing "EV".
Should I be talking to them about fixing this, or...?
It was (is?) my understanding that this phone was fully 3G capable.
Can someone help me with this?
As far as I can tell, my phone should support the Telus overlay of HSPA on their CDMA network, however I'm showing "EV" an my network type on the notification bar.
I visited a Telus store, and talked to a rep, who just babbled to me about how my SIM was "registered" as a CDMA phone, and therefore I couldn't use HSPA.
>_>
Thoughts?
EDIT: The rep also fed me this convoluted bullsh*t about how when I'm roaming, I'll be able to be on HSPA networks, so I'll get better bandwidth roaming than on my home network...
Wow no one knows the answer to this?
I've searched, and there's no answer, per se, just descriptions of Telus' technology and the antennae in the TP2, which seems to indicate that the TP2 should be able to get on the Telus HSPA network...
I have a SIM-unlocked Telus Touch Pro2 I bought off Craigslist, figuring it'd be good to go when the HSPA network rolled out (Only four months later!). As I understand it, the telus model can make and receive calls on quad-band GSM frequencies, but only use EDGE speeds for data. Has to do with the firmware for the chipset inside the phone. The only HSPA 3G band the phone can use is 2100 Mhz, which is the bad used in Europe, not Canada. It's a major piss-off, especially when a month ago the stores made this out to be the top-of-the-line phone, perfect for ever and ever.
It would seem that should Telus decide to plug in some firmware upgrades, they could activate the new 3G bands, but why bother? We've already signed away our souls to the company.
Who knows, maybe they'll fix it when they release Windows 6.5 for our rig. Because that's on the top of the to-do list, right?
Well there are new radios that we could flash...would that change anything?
Now I may be misinformed but I think that the Telus version is a CMDA phone with GSM capabilites on some frequencies. I do not think it will work on HSPA in Canada as they use different frequencies (850 and 1900). This is why so many people were waiting for the ATT version to come out as it uses those frequencies.
Remember GSM does not equal 3G.
What I would like to know is whether the distinction between 3G and GSM is on the hardware side, firmware side, or software side. Telus would have you assume it's all the hardware's fault, but I'm not sure on that one.
From everything I have read its the chip in the phone that isnt programmed/capable of doing the frequencies required. It may actually be a second chip but I cant confirm that. Other posts have stated that there wont be a software fix to "unlock the frequencies" needed.
GSM is a cellular line and 3G is a data connection.
I just purchased an At&t Tilt 2 unlocked for use on Telus 3G+ network. The Telus Touch Pro 2 is a CDMA , Quadband GSRM and UMTS/HSDPA 2100. The Telus TP2 will only work with EVDO data on the Telus network. If you unlock it for use with Rogers it will work on GSRM with Edge data. That is why I have ordered the At&t Tilt 2. Unfortunately Telus won't honour my unlimited data plan and say it is only for EVDO and that I have to change to one of their current plans to have HSDPA. Like all of the networks, they get your money one way or the other. I'm pleased that with the Tilt 2 I am free to switch providers here in Canada and still get 3G as well as when I travel in Europe.

Enabling HSPA: 850/1900 on the Global Version (GSM/CDMA)

Does any body know if it is possible and if so how to enable the HSPA: 850/1900 band on a Global (GSM/CDMA) Version of the TP2.
It already has the HSPA: 2100 enabled... so maybe someone RF inclined could shed some light on this question.
Thanks
I dont believe it has the hardware to do it. It is not a software tweak.
That is why so many people waited for the ATT version to come out. There is an Australian version that works on one of the bands but not both.
Sorry to say that I think you are wrong about the Hardware reason...
Apparently the Pro2 has the chip installed, but it's locked down some how. That info has been floating around from an inside source at Telus. they say it actually has 850/1900/2100 UTMS bands but just got "locked" by Telus.
Also sites like Engaget has long posted some HTC FCC info proving that; http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/20/htc-passes-cdma-gsm-hybrid-touch-pro2-through-the-fcc/
Also The TP2 uses Qualcomm's MSM7600. The specs for that processor allow two major sets of radio interfaces, only one of which supports CDMA 800 and 1900. That major set has two variants that support HSPA: 2100+800 or 2100+1900+850.
So the question is; is there anyone with the proper knowledge that can tell what is onboard the TELUS TP2 and if it has infact the variant that supports the North American frequencies, how do we enable it?
Thanks for posting with FACTS and not Thoughts as this is the only way we will get a valid answer to this question.
Hmm this is definitely an interesting idea. I'd love to have the front facing camera of the Global Version, but I still need 850/1900 UMTS
850/1900 WCDMA on Global version
Gentlemen:
While the chipset has the various frequency capabilities, it is the tuning of the antannae that determines which frequencies are recieveable , ie, turned on, in the various versions. The AT&T version has a different tuning of the antannae than the global versions.
While theoretically possible, the anatanne is part of the main board and must be physically removed and replaced. I have not been able to find a universal antannae that could be resoldered to the board, if one was brave enough to give it a try.
there is software changes to the chipset controller required as well.
I think it is pretty impractical and likely impossible to do outside of have a new board installed with the properly tuned antannae to make it work. I have researched this for some time now, in an attempt to be able to use the EU versions here in NA. I travel internationally a lot, to Asia and EU, and need the 2100 band, so that has been my motivation.
There may be someone else out there who has different information, but this is what I have learned in digging through the available data for the past 3-4 years of various HTC devices and their variants.
Hope this helps,
MWS

When LTE dominates, will importing phones still be possible?

Importing phones is obviously possible now because tons of carriers all over the world share AT&T's GSM and UMTS/HSPA bands.
When LTE starts to become the dominant source for cell-phone signals (especially when Voice-over-LTE appears), will AT&T still share bands with the rest of the world like it does now?
In other words, will AT&T still have the advantage over Vzw and T-Mobile that early adopters of phones will be able to import them and use them months before they show up in the US? Or will the proliferation of LTE cause AT&T to suffer from the same problem from which Verizon suffers: You will ONLY be able to use phones designed specifically for the AT&T network?
I ask because right now I have AT&T and Verizon, and I have unlimited data on both. I'm going to be canceling one of them within the next week or so. Right now I actually prefer AT&T's service, and I love the fact that I can import phones that are not available in the US. But if the "importing phones" advantage of AT&T disappears, perhaps Verizon becomes the more desirable carrier for me.
You haven't read much about LTE, I guess. By conforming to the LTE standards, a multi-band LTE phone will be able to be as much of a "world phone" as a multi-band GSM phone. While there are some differences in frequency spectrums around the planet, there are many in common.
The allocated frequencies are 700 and 1700 MHz in North America; 800, 1800, 2600 MHz in Europe; 1800 and 2600 MHz in Asia; and 1800 MHz in Australia.
So, a quad-band LTE phone with frequencies of 700/1700/1800/2600 would get you coverage almost anywhere.
The end result is this: If the manufacturers want to make an LTE "world phone" just like they have in the past with GSM, they certainly can (within the laws of physics, if the antenna technologies will allow it). The same economics apply for the manufacturers, and possibly better - since there are a smaller set of frequencies with greater chance of coverage - and a greater market potential for a single design.
I suspect that with modern fractal antenna technology, this won't be a huge issue.
In North America, are the 700 and 1700 different carriers, or is it better for a phone to support both like the current att 850/1900?
¿GotJazz? said:
You haven't read much about LTE, I guess. By conforming to the LTE standards, a multi-band LTE phone will be able to be as much of a "world phone" as a multi-band GSM phone. While there are some differences in frequency spectrums around the planet, there are many in common.
The allocated frequencies are 700 and 1700 MHz in North America; 800, 1800, 2600 MHz in Europe; 1800 and 2600 MHz in Asia; and 1800 MHz in Australia.
So, a quad-band LTE phone with frequencies of 700/1700/1800/2600 would get you coverage almost anywhere.
The end result is this: If the manufacturers want to make an LTE "world phone" just like they have in the past with GSM, they certainly can (within the laws of physics, if the antenna technologies will allow it). The same economics apply for the manufacturers, and possibly better - since there are a smaller set of frequencies with greater chance of coverage - and a greater market potential for a single design.
I suspect that with modern fractal antenna technology, this won't be a huge issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. That was actually pretty helpful. But for instance, it is my understanding that AT&T runs in the low-700s, and Vzw runs in the high-700s. And Vzw has tentatively stated that its LTE phones will not be compatible with AT&T's. So I guess when you say they could make a multi-band LTE phone, it would need to cover "all of" 700 MHz for it to have both AT&T and Vzw compatibility.
In any event, does this favor AT&T or Vzw for future phones? My guess would be for at least the next several years, if not decade or more, all LTE phones will have 3G radios in them as well. And those 3G radios, just like today, are going to be GSM. So I guess you could start seeing phones world phones that are both quad-band GSM and quad-band LTE, and theoretically these would work on AT&T, but not Vzw.
Am I on the right path here? Do you agree that it seems likely at least until GSM/3G completely die (if ever), most/all LTE phones will continue to have 3G radios, and this would suggest that if anything, importing international phones will still be possible on AT&T but not Vzw?
chrikenn said:
Thanks. That was actually pretty helpful. But for instance, it is my understanding that AT&T runs in the low-700s, and Vzw runs in the high-700s. And Vzw has tentatively stated that its LTE phones will not be compatible with AT&T's. So I guess when you say they could make a multi-band LTE phone, it would need to cover "all of" 700 MHz for it to have both AT&T and Vzw compatibility.
In any event, does this favor AT&T or Vzw for future phones? My guess would be for at least the next several years, if not decade or more, all LTE phones will have 3G radios in them as well. And those 3G radios, just like today, are going to be GSM. So I guess you could start seeing phones world phones that are both quad-band GSM and quad-band LTE, and theoretically these would work on AT&T, but not Vzw.
Am I on the right path here? Do you agree that it seems likely at least until GSM/3G completely die (if ever), most/all LTE phones will continue to have 3G radios, and this would suggest that if anything, importing international phones will still be possible on AT&T but not Vzw?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Almost every LTE deployment other than VZW runs alongside an existing 3GPP (GSM) network and most all chipsets will natively support the combination. Therefore, I doubt you will see many devices without the UMTS radios. No one is turning their 3G networks off any time soon. Verizon will be one of very few sources for LTE devices WITHOUT any other GSM radios.
As for LTE frequencies, there are A LOT of them. What chipsets will support which radio combinations is still a subject of much debate. Don't expect full interop out of the box.
You can always import regardless
the only risk you face is all the different LTE radio bands that you might or might not get with certain phones
chrikenn said:
Importing phones is obviously possible now because tons of carriers all over the world share AT&T's GSM and UMTS/HSPA bands.
When LTE starts to become the dominant source for cell-phone signals (especially when Voice-over-LTE appears), will AT&T still share bands with the rest of the world like it does now?
In other words, will AT&T still have the advantage over Vzw and T-Mobile that early adopters of phones will be able to import them and use them months before they show up in the US? Or will the proliferation of LTE cause AT&T to suffer from the same problem from which Verizon suffers: You will ONLY be able to use phones designed specifically for the AT&T network?
I ask because right now I have AT&T and Verizon, and I have unlimited data on both. I'm going to be canceling one of them within the next week or so. Right now I actually prefer AT&T's service, and I love the fact that I can import phones that are not available in the US. But if the "importing phones" advantage of AT&T disappears, perhaps Verizon becomes the more desirable carrier for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does the Galaxy Nexus LTE version also support the Penta-Band GSM bands for international travel?
Verizon version = GSM + LTE?
Sorry I'm a noob at Verizon's ways.
player911 said:
Does the Galaxy Nexus LTE version also support the Penta-Band GSM bands for international travel?
Verizon version = GSM + LTE?
Sorry I'm a noob at Verizon's ways.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't think so. Verizon version = CDMA + LTE. So it will only work in the US, on Verizon.
chrikenn said:
Don't think so. Verizon version = CDMA + LTE. So it will only work in the US, on Verizon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I always thought that Verizon always had bands for international travel also? I mean not really a big deal. Verizon is the clear winner for coverage nationally and since my work is paying for it, its even sweeter.
Right now I just have a blackberry
player911 said:
I always thought that Verizon always had bands for international travel also? I mean not really a big deal. Verizon is the clear winner for coverage nationally and since my work is paying for it, its even sweeter.
Right now I just have a blackberry
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's possible that the Verizon version has GSM/UMTS radios, it's also possible that it has those but are disabled somehow. We really don't know all that much about the LTE version of this phone, we don't even know the exact dimensions of it and what battery it comes with. So we'll just have to wait until it passes through the FCC or is released.
Chirality said:
It's possible that the Verizon version has GSM/UMTS radios, it's also possible that it has those but are disabled somehow. We really don't know all that much about the LTE version of this phone, we don't even know the exact dimensions of it and what battery it comes with. So we'll just have to wait until it passes through the FCC or is released.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 for storming Google HQ
G2x - 2.3.7 CM7
Transformer - 3.2 Revolver OC/UV
Chirality said:
It's possible that the Verizon version has GSM/UMTS radios, it's also possible that it has those but are disabled somehow. We really don't know all that much about the LTE version of this phone, we don't even know the exact dimensions of it and what battery it comes with. So we'll just have to wait until it passes through the FCC or is released.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do recall seeing a negatory on the world phone status in Verizon's inventory system. And I suppose there is still the option for dormant or disabled radios but I ain't holding my breath.

Categories

Resources