GSM/CDMA/AWS Phone ?

D

Dan Sulyman

New member
I currently have a BlackBerry 8830 World Edition with Telus.

Travel to Hong Kong, Australia and London and would like to purchase an Unlocked Smart Phone with 3G/4G that works with both GSM/CDMA and Wind/Mobilicity (AWS) networks.

Is there such product?

Any help appreciated. Thanks.
 
Nope.

Its either world GSM and AWS or CDMA with GSM.

Best phone right now with both global GSM/UMTS plus AWS would be the Samsung Nexus S. Its not like there is a long list. Plus the phone is unlocked, so you can buy prepaid SIMs along the way and use on the phone. Saves you incurring huge roaming charges. Please note you need the phone with the code number i9020T, not i9020A which the other Canadian carriers have. The A version has the AT&T band while the T version has the T-Mobile/AWS band.

For CDMA/EV-DO with Global GSM/UMTS, you probably won't find it in Canada. That would likely be the Droid 2 Global, Droid Pro or Droid Incredible 2 with Verizon. These phones won't be unlocked however.
 
Appreciated.

I think it boils down to carrying 2 phones when travelling.

Need to upgrade phones with Telus, because the BB World Edition is about to pack it in.

Last week I bought a Samsung Galaxy Fit GT-S5670 Unlocked in London. Inexpensive, with a pay as you go sim card with Orange. Have a sim card for both SYD & HKG. It has WIFI which works well with Gmail and hopefully Skype.

Rogers doesn't work that well in my area on the West Coast. Add the fact that HDPA works on the European 900 & 2100 Bands. So I believe the only service available would be voice.

Thank you.
 
If you can get prepaid data SIMs like those issued for 3G dongles, you can use those in a smartphone, turning them into a mobile internet only device with no voice and text. But you can do literally anything that involves the Internet, lilke Google Maps, do your Facebook and Twitter, browse and so on.

To activate the Internet on a GSM line, you have to find out the APN station of the provider, then set that on the phone, which will always remember that APN name with the carrier.

Settings > wireless > Mobile Networks > Access Point Names.

Note some phones have some APNs stored, others can detect and set it up on their own.
 
The Telus HSPA network works on the 850/1900 bands. You shouldn't have any need for CDMA once you upgrade to their HSPA network unless it is not available where you live.

If you want an Android phone that works on Telus HSPA, Wind/Mobi AWS, and Euro/Asian 3G, I might suggest the T-Mobile Motorola Defy. It has 850/AWS/2100 but not 1900. In most coverage areas, having only the 850 band is perfectly fine for Telus. Note that the Telus Motorola Defy does *not* have AWS bands and might not have Euro 2100 either.

The T-Mobile Defy would also be ideal for Australia if you use the Telstra NextG 850/2100 network. It does not have the 900 MHz 3G band however, so it wouldn't be as good on the carriers which require that band.
 
Appreciate the help.

Dropped into the Mobilicity Shop on Robson today. The rep stated that the Nexus S is their only factory unlocked phone. Also the phone is AWS Tri Mode and GSM Quad Mode. They said the phone would work on the Telus & Bell Network. Same for their new HTC Panache (but not factory unlocked).

How would that work without CDMA? Does it simply work on the HSPA?

Thank you.
 
The Mobilicity Shop on Robson was flat-out wrong. AWS is one band. The Nexus S they have in stock only has the UMTS bands 900, AWS and 2100. None of these bands work on Telus & Bell HSPA. Same with the Panache.
 
Yet another sad case of a rep saying things on topics they don't know much about.

The Nexus S 9020T, which Mobilicity carries works on 900, 1700, and 2100 MHz for 3G. Not the 850 and 1900 you'd need for Telus or Bell. In fact, the 9020T will not work with Telus or Bell at all.

Alas, I don't think anyone has released a pentaband 3G Android phone yet. Some quad-band models are starting to appear, like the Galaxy SII.
 
Thanks guys for saving me all the aggravation!

Maybe Howard can clear up the misinformation at the meeting on the 8th? Mobilicity one of the most cost effective cell plans. Why don't they supply their phones factory unlocked?

Back to my two phone situation/set up.

Which of the Androids from Telus or Bell do you like best?

The resolution on the smaller Samsung (Galaxy Fit GT-S5670) is lacking, but loaded with features. Street price in London is ~$150 CDN unlocked.
 
If your criteria are that you want one Android phone for Telus/Bell, abroad, and Wind/Mobilicity, then I still suggest the T-Mobile USA Motorola Defy as a midrange compromise. Some rumours suggest that we will see T-Mobile USA phones coming up with extra bands for post merger with AT&T, but that has yet to surface.

Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk
 
Guys,

Working thru it.

HSDPA vs HSPA are they compatible?

The spec below are for the HTC Incredible S on the Bell Network.

The UK is HSDPA on 900 & 2100. So would this phone work in the UK on 2100?

Lets assume the phone is unlocked.

One step further, if it 1700 freq would it be compatible with Mobilicity and Wind?

Thanks Kindly.

Connectivity
Compatible with the 4G (HSPA ) network
HSPA 850/1900/2100
GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
Global access
Up to 14.4 Mbps download speed
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Mobile hotspot (connect up to 8 devices)
DLNA (home media streaming)
GPS
Bluetooth 2.1
Micro USB connector
Operating system
Powered by Android™
HTC Sense
 
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