Cell Phone Compatibility
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 689
Likes: 1
From: South suburb of Chicago
Cell Phone Compatibility
Is anyone on this website familiar with foreign cell phones working on our networks? Through my family I am trying to purchase a cell phone in Ireland, but I needed to make sure that it could work on our networks here.
So does anyone know if this phone would work on AT&T's network in Chicago?
So does anyone know if this phone would work on AT&T's network in Chicago?
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,473
Likes: 4
From: Lafayette, IN
It would have to be a TDMA, GSM, or even possibly a 3G phone, and it may have to be "unlocked". Buyer beware here. You could end up with a phone that neither AT&T nor the phone manufacturer will support. Each will blame the other for any problems you have.
If you're not tech-savvy, don't waste your time and money. Cell phones aren't worth much after about two years anyway due to batteries wearing out and the transmission technology passing them by.
$0.02
Jason (using a foreign Nokia N80...)
If you're not tech-savvy, don't waste your time and money. Cell phones aren't worth much after about two years anyway due to batteries wearing out and the transmission technology passing them by.
$0.02
Jason (using a foreign Nokia N80...)
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19,768
Likes: 1,082
From: St Louis
Originally Posted by Patatoe1
Is anyone on this website familiar with foreign cell phones working on our networks? Through my family I am trying to purchase a cell phone in Ireland, but I needed to make sure that it could work on our networks here.
So does anyone know if this phone would work on AT&T's network in Chicago?
So does anyone know if this phone would work on AT&T's network in Chicago?
1) Unlocked
2) Support for both the 850 and 1900 MHz frequency bands. Many foreign market handsets do not include the 850 band since it is not used in Europe or Asia, the primary sources of international handsets imported into the US. If you get one of these, your ATT service will work only in those areas where ATT's service is on the 1900 band. ATT uses both bands in many areas but you may find areas where the service is clustered on one of the bands. For example, most rural ATT towers use the 850 band.
TDMA is a non-issue. It's obsolete and is almost completely gone from ATT's network.
The handset you indicated does not support the 850 band. You will find it will work about as well as a T-Mobile handset that has roaming disabled.... It will work fine in areas that have 1900 towers but won't be able access the network where 850 service is the available service frequency.
Steve
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,180
Likes: 669
From: Scio, OR
Nothing like being totally wrong about something.
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_us.shtml
There is a US list of providers with coverage maps in the US. It does appear that the phone you linked will only work in the 1900 Mhz range.
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_us.shtml
There is a US list of providers with coverage maps in the US. It does appear that the phone you linked will only work in the 1900 Mhz range.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19,768
Likes: 1,082
From: St Louis
T-Mobile has always used GSM.
Cingular/ATT has used GSM for years.
Nextel has never used and never will use GSM, they are IDEN only (Sprint network is 1900 MHz CDMA).
If in doubt, select a quad-band GSM phone that will work on any GSM network worldwide.
Many of the online GSM "coverage" maps are based on FCC license data, not actual fielded cell sites. Use with skepticism.
Steve
Cingular/ATT has used GSM for years.
Nextel has never used and never will use GSM, they are IDEN only (Sprint network is 1900 MHz CDMA).
If in doubt, select a quad-band GSM phone that will work on any GSM network worldwide.
Many of the online GSM "coverage" maps are based on FCC license data, not actual fielded cell sites. Use with skepticism.
Steve
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bigdaddyII
General NON-Automotive Conversation
4
Nov 26, 2007 05:42 AM
Aftrmidnite
General NON-Automotive Conversation
3
Nov 19, 2005 09:59 PM
psychlopath
General NON-Automotive Conversation
4
Sep 22, 2004 10:51 AM
