I have the standard TP2 unlocked UK version, that is a GSM phone but I understand that TP2 has dual system capability, GSM and CDMA. I use it a lot in India where CDMA is more popular and has better coverage. Can I somehow use a CDMA SIM and service by unlocking something?
There are two main versions of the TP2, the CDMA/GSM hybrid variations that Verizon, Sprint, etc carry and the GSM models that ATT, T-Mobile carry. The unbranded version is also a GSM phone. The GSM models, including the unbranded do not have CDMA radios. CDMA cell tech does not use SIM cards. The SIM cards in the hybrid versions give United States TP2 users the ability to use their phone across the globe.
a2002cmacg said:
There are two main versions of the TP2, the CDMA/GSM hybrid variations that Verizon, Sprint, etc carry and the GSM models that ATT, T-Mobile carry. The unbranded version is also a GSM phone. The GSM models, including the unbranded do not have CDMA radios. CDMA cell tech does not use SIM cards. The SIM cards in the hybrid versions give United States TP2 users the ability to use their phone across the globe.
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so the bottom line, is NO, you cannot use your GSM phone as a CDMA one.
Related
Will this phone have dual CDMA and GSM support?
I've read it will. Click the link below.
http://www.phonenews.com/sprint-htc-touch-pro2-images-surface-7908/
If so, I wonder if we purchased a Sprint one, could we unlock it and use it on a GSM Carrier like AT&T. This is a hypothetical question.
If it supports GSM, does this mean it would HAVE to support SIM cards?
rmk1825 said:
Will this phone have dual CDMA and GSM support?
I've read it will. Click the link below.
http://www.phonenews.com/sprint-htc-touch-pro2-images-surface-7908/
If so, I wonder if we purchased a Sprint one, could we unlock it and use it on a GSM Carrier like AT&T. This is a hypothetical question.
If it supports GSM, does this mean it would HAVE to support SIM cards?
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Click to collapse
No, because the GSM radio only supports international frequencies (not 1900). The purpose is for you to roam or use GSM networks overseas not in the U.S.
Example, i want to go visit my sister in the U.K. I land at Heathrow, buy a prepaid SIM from say O2 and pop it in the TP2. If i'm back in the States, i use Sprint's CDMA network.
Many of the ROMs here are listed as GSM or WWE. However, elsewhere it is stated that this won't work on Sprint. I have a tp2 from sprint, and it is a quadband phone, and accepts sim cards and operates on CDMA. So will this work with WWE ROMs or will it not? Is CDMA precluded to just verizon roms?
WWE is just world wide english, the launguage of the rom. GSM vs CDMA is what you need to pay attention to.
Just from memory, but a quick google would show more...
GSM: AT&T, TMobile
CDMA: Verizon, Sprint
Obviously there are more carriers, but that should get ya going.
Right, but my TF2 is a quad band phone which appears to work on GSM and CDMA. I don't understand why it is one versus another and not both. Or does CDMA now mean sim cards?
Why it is one versus the other and not both? Because this world is not created equal.
Quadbands/2G are not the same as 3G networks. GSM and CDMA have been mutually exclusive and are not interchangeable. Before 3G, when I travelled to US/Can, I could only roam to GSM supported networks (which had very limited coverage at the time), e.g., Fido in Canada. The situation is worse if visiting to Japan - no roaming if you are on 2G network exclusively to this day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_mobile_phone_standards
Hi,
I'm going to the states soon and wonder if I can just walk into a store and buy a prepaid SIM card that will work with my GSM TP2.
Or do I need "special" CDMA cards?
All I want is to have a number for emergencies, etc..
Thanks in advance!
Markstar said:
Hi,
I'm going to the states soon and wonder if I can just walk into a store and buy a prepaid SIM card that will work with my GSM TP2.
Or do I need "special" CDMA cards?
All I want is to have a number for emergencies, etc..
Thanks in advance!
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If you have a GSM Rhodium, then you'll need to get a SIM from a GSM carrier here. AT&T and T-Mobile are the top two GSM carriers here. CDMA carriers do not offer SIM cards to anyone except for their own customers going overseas as far as I know. As long as your device is SIM unlocked, then yes, you can just put any SIM card in it, and it will work.
3G coverage will be based on your device model. European Rhodium models will not get US 3G service. AT&T 3G services work on the 850 & 1900 UMTS bands. T-Mobile 3G is on the 1700 & 2100 UMTS bands. The device needs both to work properly on one carrier's 3G service.
im really lost in the terminology behind all of the different phone standards... umts/hspa/gsm/evdo/1xrtt/lte/wimax/etc etc etc...
Verizon (and Sprint) are CDMA dominant networks. But Verizon LTE requires a SIM-card:
(1) Will a Verizon LTE phone accept a GSM SIM and work at optimal speed? e.g. Vodafone SIM in UK
(2) Conversely, can't the "Global/GSM" Galaxy Nexus take the Verizon LTE SIM and work on Verizon's network?
(3) Is the Verizon LTE's version of Galaxy Nexus a hybrid CDMA-GSM phone (like Sprint's Photon) ... i.e. if I get it unlocked, I could also use it with most international services?
The unlocked global GN is 750$. But if Verizon's contract price is 300+200 [term. fee]... AND it works internationally... clearly its the way to go
1 - No.
2 - No.
3 - No.
You're confusing SIMs for radios. Each phone has a different radio that can connect to EITHER GSM (UK model) or CDMA (USA model). The GNex cannot connect to both.
The GSM version will work in the US with a T-Mobile or AT&T SIM card on a GSM network. You can also take it on international trips (changing SIMs or roaming), as most of the world uses GSM.
The CDMA (Verizon LTE) version will work on Verizon only.
Is the internal radio and SOC identical across all US carriers? (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint)
I am looking to unlock a Sprint GS3 that I can get as an employee and use it on AT&T. (Apple appears to include both CDMA and GSM support in their 4S units) and I am hoping Samsung did the same to get the device out to all the carriers.
Thanks in advance!
Unfortunately, sprint opted to make the sim internal so it can't be swapped. If you see some of the video reviews out right now, it shows the sim slot missing.
Protocols and frequencies
themyst said:
Is the internal radio and SOC identical across all US carriers? (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint)
I am looking to unlock a Sprint GS3 that I can get as an employee and use it on AT&T. (Apple appears to include both CDMA and GSM support in their 4S units) and I am hoping Samsung did the same to get the device out to all the carriers.
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I am not a professional on this but I believe that the SoC(processor, WiFi, Bluetooth, etc) is identical but the radios are different.
All the carriers use unique frequencies to communicate with their towers. Many carriers use separate protocols to communicate as well(HSPA+, CDMA, GSM) Its possible for 2 carriers to use the same protocol but they will always be using different frequencies.
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think its possible to re-program your phone to use a different frequency(i.e. change from 1900MHz to 800MHz)
I do not believe you can "unlock" a sprint phone. The radio simply will not work on any other carrier. Now, if said sprint phone were a "Global Phone", then it has an additional GSM radio in it as well. I don't know if this could be used to connect to another US carrier like AT&T though.