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Samsung Epic 4G

Hi Guys, dose anyone have any idea if the samsung Epic 4G for sprint supports GSM networks??
as I know it's 4G phone for sprint, works on Wimax networks, and I heard that it's GSM capable as well, is that true?
Thx

I hope that's true... but I think It hasn't a sim slot

Isn't sprint a cdma Telco? Otherwise you'll be hearing ppl like me buying the epic and using it I'm aus. I would love a gsm sgs with kb
Sent from my Apple Newton 2100

I'm pretty sure it's not. Sprint are CDMA (and their "4G" is WiMax). Their phones do not normally have any GSM capabilities.

Epic 4G General Forum

No, it does not have GSM. It's CDMA only and specifically (at least currently) U.S. only.

ConceptVBS said:
No, it does not have GSM. It's CDMA only and specifically (at least currently) U.S. only.
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Actually, the Epic 4G is CDMA/WCDMA capable. WCDMA being a hybrid of different GSM technologies. If you go into the Phone Info Test Mode (*#4636*1111#) > Phone Information, you can see how to change how the phone's radio interacts with different cell towers in the area. While in the US, there's no point in having WCDMA on because there are no WCDMA service providers here. However, when you go overseas... well, you get the picture.
The only reason this phone really isn't strictly GSM capable is because the radio isn't compatible, and there's no room for a SIM card to contain GSM network subscriber data.
"W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), UMTS-FDD, UTRA-FDD, or IMT-2000 CDMA Direct Spread is an air interface standard found in 3G mobile telecommunications networks. It is the basis of Japan's NTT DoCoMo's FOMA service and the most-commonly used member of the UMTS family and sometimes used as a synonym for UMTS.[1] It utilizes the DS-CDMA channel access method and the FDD duplexing method to achieve higher speeds and support more users compared to most time division multiple access (TDMA) schemes used today.
While not an evolutionary upgrade on the airside, it uses the same core network as the 2G GSM networks deployed worldwide, allowing dual-mode operation along with GSM/EDGE; a feat it shares with other members of the UMTS family."
--http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W-CDMA_(UMTS)

T-Mobile USA to 3g on 1900Mhz band

There is an article on GSMarena (sorry, new user and can't post link) that says T-Mobile USA to support IPhone 4S at 3g speeds.
This is definitely good news. I hope it will also work on the Galaxy Note. Can anybody confirm and list your city?

bloodyduster said:
There is an article on GSMarena (sorry, new user and can't post link) that says T-Mobile USA to support IPhone 4S at 3g speeds.
This is definitely good news. I hope it will also work on the Galaxy Note. Can anybody confirm and list your city?
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T-mo 3G is 1700 mhz. AFAIK, the Note doesn't support this. So you're out of luck for 3G on T-mo USA (or any other service that backpacks onto T-mo's network, like SIMple Mobile.)

Jade Eyed Wolf said:
T-mo 3G is 1700 mhz. AFAIK, the Note doesn't support this. So you're out of luck for 3G on T-mo USA (or any other service that backpacks onto T-mo's network, like SIMple Mobile.)
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Actually, the hardware is in the device for Tmo 3g 1700/2100. However, it's not enabled.

bloodyduster said:
There is an article on GSMarena (sorry, new user and can't post link) that says T-Mobile USA to support IPhone 4S at 3g speeds.
This is definitely good news. I hope it will also work on the Galaxy Note. Can anybody confirm and list your city?
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Click to collapse
This is probably due to the likely joint operations that is likely between T-Mobile and AT&T now that AT&T's deal to buy them out looks like it won't happen.

But there are reports of Iphone 4S, which uses 1900Mhz, to run at 3g speeds on T-Mobile. If that is true, wouldn't the GNote also be capable of running at 3g speeds with its 1900 Mhz frequency?

Well if anyone has a 1900mhz phone only and gets 3G with T-Mobile, please report your location.
If I didn't have to register to that site, I would tell them: Screw the iPhone, this is where my Galaxy Note comes in.

cu_ninja said:
Actually, the hardware is in the device for Tmo 3g 1700/2100. However, it's not enabled.
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Yeah I've heard something about that. However, for all intents and purposes, until someone figures out a way to enable that, the Note is still just a quad-band 3/4G device (850/900/1900/2100) as far as I'm concerned.
As for the 4S being able to operate on T-mo's 3G, I'm willing to bet that it has more to do with the Gobi chip inside. I'm pretty sure the 4S chipset supports 1700 AWS.

bloodyduster said:
But there are reports of Iphone 4S, which uses 1900Mhz, to run at 3g speeds on T-Mobile. If that is true, wouldn't the GNote also be capable of running at 3g speeds with its 1900 Mhz frequency?
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Link Please?

The forum won't allow me to post external links until I've reached at least 8 posts.
Just google "gsmarena iphone 4s tmobile 3g" and it should be the first link.

From the different articles I've read (The Verge, Redmond Pie, etc) it seems this is only happening in parts of California and Nevada but they expect it to grow across the country in the coming months.

Is tmobile acessing AT&Ts bands to let this happen?

Here's some info about this....
http://www.appleinsider.com/article..._3g_access_to_some_unlocked_iphone_users.html

n25philly said:
This is probably due to the likely joint operations that is likely between T-Mobile and AT&T now that AT&T's deal to buy them out looks like it won't happen.
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Deal's off.
http://www.theverge.com/2011/12/19/2647291/at-t-kills-t-mobile-merger-plans

i think what he is saying is that since the deal is off, tmobile can utilize those bands. (Part of the deal between tmobile and at&t was that if it didnt go through they would get 4 billion dollars and access to some of their spectrum)

Any update on this?
Anyone with a Note getting 3G at all?

I'm very tempted to pick up a t-mobile sim and grab a prepaid plan and try this on my International Note, this is great news.
Any updates on how far the 1900 MHz 3G has expanded or if us international note users can unlock our radios for 1700 AWS?

seeking said:
i think what he is saying is that since the deal is off, tmobile can utilize those bands. (Part of the deal between tmobile and at&t was that if it didnt go through they would get 4 billion dollars and access to some of their spectrum)
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If I remember correctly, if the deal fell through it was almost 8 Billion dollars in penalties. 3 or 4 billion in cash or stock swaps and the balance in frequency trades and roaming deals.

[T-Mobile] AT&T 3G Roaming Agreement with T-Mobile & Network Refarm

So...it's probably safe to say that everyone in this forum knows about the 7 year roaming deal that AT&T has signed with T-Mobile. Does anyone have any ideas on when that will happen? And the big question...will the iPhone technically be able to be used on 3G with T-Mobile? Yes, it would only work while roaming, but would it not work for some reason? A T-Mobile rep brought up the question and I thought it was a good question. I'd like it to bring in revenues for T-Mobile...but I love my fast speed I get with T-Mobile, and 10 gazillion iPhones would do nothing but harm for that.
**Updated** Please, if anyone can check their Android phone (via *#0011#) and post if it says band II along with the city you're in at the time that it shows it! We need to find out which cities have been refarmed to 1900MHz for 3G/4G.
So, go forth and discuss

List of pentaband UMTS devices:
T-Mobile Galaxy S II (T989)
Nokia N8 and N9
T-Mobile Vibrant (T959)
Galaxy Nexus (HSPA version)
...expanding

It'd be 2G roaming. The carriers' 3G networks are incompatible. While AT&T devices will work on T-Mobile's EDGE data, it shouldn't be common enough to impact our speeds much. The only way this could possibly happen is if both AT&T and T-Mobile started selling exclusively pentaband HSPA devices. Which would be awesome on so many levels.

synaesthetic said:
It'd be 2G roaming. The carriers' 3G networks are incompatible. While AT&T devices will work on T-Mobile's EDGE data, it shouldn't be common enough to impact our speeds much. The only way this could possibly happen is if both AT&T and T-Mobile started selling exclusively pentaband HSPA devices. Which would be awesome on so many levels.
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It's 3G, check Engadget. I'm sure it's 2G as well. And I know of at least one phone that is pentaband UMTS...mine, the Galaxy S II lol

Trevnerdio said:
It's 3G, check Engadget. I'm sure it's 2G as well. And I know of at least one phone that is pentaband UMTS...mine, the Galaxy S II lol
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The OP specifically asked about the iPhone, which is unable to get 3G on T-Mobile's network. So if an AT&T iPhone were to roam on T-Mobile's network, it would not get 3G speeds.
Edit: The Galaxy Nexus is also pentaband, and so are the Nokia N8 and N9. The original Vibrant is also pentaband.

The Skyrocket is also pentaband, so I'll be able to mooch off of 42.2mbps HSPA+ when I get an LTE throttle. LOL

Longcat14 said:
The Skyrocket is also pentaband, so I'll be able to mooch off of 42.2mbps HSPA+ when I get an LTE throttle. LOL
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Yes, but is it DC-HSPA+? If not, no 42.2Mbps for you!

synaesthetic said:
Yes, but is it DC-HSPA+? If not, no 42.2Mbps for you!
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Skyrocket has a more advanced modem.
Well, it's really just the T-Mobile radio with LTE slapped into it, so yes, I do have 42.2Mbps.

has anyone tried the AT&T skyrocket on T-Mobile? Does it support HSPA+ AWS? AFAIK, only LTE works on AWS for this phone.

Thanks everyone for the phones. I've been busy and couldn't really update the thread. The current gen iPhone doesn't have AWS, yes, but since the roaming agreement is UMTS, wouldn't that allow T-Mobile devices that have the ability to roam on 850/1900 bands the ability to connect to their 3G network? So jailbroken iPhones that are activated on T-Mobile could roam over to AT&T 3G, it's just that it isn't likely that AT&T would allow it.
Am I right in my assumption?

I don't think AT&T would allow it, honestly.
Edit: According to GSMArena, the Skyrocket doesn't support 1700/2100 HSPA+. Only 1700/2100 LTE.

synaesthetic said:
I don't think AT&T would allow it, honestly.
Edit: According to GSMArena, the Skyrocket doesn't support 1700/2100 HSPA+. Only 1700/2100 LTE.
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Thanks for the heads up. And when the others in the thread said the Galaxy Nexus, they were referring to the European version, correct?
Edit: it's 700/1700 for LTE and then the normal AT&T bands for WCDMA

synaesthetic said:
I don't think AT&T would allow it, honestly.
Edit: According to GSMArena, the Skyrocket doesn't support 1700/2100 HSPA+. Only 1700/2100 LTE.
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Over at the T-Mobile SGS II forums, when I flashed a T-Mo SGS II modem, I gained access to 1700/2100.
All I need is a T-Mo SIM card to test if it'll connect to 3G, which I don't have.

I have the GSM Galaxy Nexus so naturally I am quite excited for this.
But the question remains... Does anyone have the slightest idea when this service will go live???

Lucasmpinelli said:
I have the GSM Galaxy Nexus so naturally I am quite excited for this.
But the question remains... Does anyone have the slightest idea when this service will go live???
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It's not as simple as touching AT&T, and roaming.
You have to be in an area where there is COMPLETELY no T-Mobile signal, it can't even pick it up when you scan for it. Then, and ONLY then, will the SIM allow you to verify it on AT&T's network for roaming.
With AT&T's larger coverage footprint, you T-Mo users should have some nice coverage while traveling.

Longcat14 said:
Over at the T-Mobile SGS II forums, when I flashed a T-Mo SGS II modem, I gained access to 1700/2100.
All I need is a T-Mo SIM card to test if it'll connect to 3G, which I don't have.
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You can do that?

I2IEAILiiTY said:
You can do that?
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Skyrocket has the same modem as the T-Mo SGS II, except with LTE attached.
It's a different modem number, but other then LTE, it's all the same.
So yes, I can.

Longcat14 said:
It's not as simple as touching AT&T, and roaming.
You have to be in an area where there is COMPLETELY no T-Mobile signal, it can't even pick it up when you scan for it. Then, and ONLY then, will the SIM allow you to verify it on AT&T's network for roaming.
With AT&T's larger coverage footprint, you T-Mo users should have some nice coverage while traveling.
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Where do you get your information? I thought that's how it has always worked prior to this new roaming agreement. I spoke to a T-mobile store rep (not the best source of information) and he told me that iPhones on west coast had 3G access.

Longcat14 said:
Skyrocket has the same modem as the T-Mo SGS II, except with LTE attached.
It's a different modem number, but other then LTE, it's all the same.
So yes, I can.
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Oh, so that's only on the skyrocket...

cephasara said:
Where do you get your information? I thought that's how it has always worked prior to this new roaming agreement. I spoke to a T-mobile store rep (not the best source of information) and he told me that iPhones on west coast had 3G access.
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I've heard that T-Mo is doing some spectrum refarming on the PCS band...in other words, 3G is starting to pop up in certain markets on the 1900MHz band

New Article on T-Mobile Refarming 1900hmz Spectrum

I know this has been rumored before, but here it is straight from the horse's mouth.
http://blog.t-mobile.com/2012/03/13/t-mobile-expands-4g-network-to-new-cities/
Snippet here:
We are also going to make more effective use of the spectrum we already have by refarming a portion of our 1900 MHz PCS spectrum to support HSPA+ services, which frees up additional AWS spectrum for LTE
If I am not mistaken that would also make our Galaxy Notes compatible as well! Which would make me very...

damm
that would be Great!

Tmo USA's 1900mhz band is for 2G. So all they are saying is that they will use some of their 2G spectrum to expand their HSPA+ (1700mhz) and LTE (700mhz) network.

Spartoi said:
Tmo USA's 1900mhz band is for 2G. So all they are saying is that they will use some of their 2G spectrum to expand their HSPA+ (1700mhz) and LTE (700mhz) network.
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Taken from the article...
"Will refarming make your network compatible with the iPhone? And will you stop offering 2G services? A nice side benefit of the refarming effort is that our 4G network will be compatible with a broader range of devices, including the iPhone."

That would be a great way for TMo to steal some customers from AT&T and add to their user base when the AT&T users bring their own device (BYOD), since their plan prices are better.

adelmundo said:
That would be a great way for TMo to steal some customers from AT&T and add to their user base when the AT&T users bring their own device (BYOD), since their plan prices are better.
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Yah, and at least in my area T-Mobile has better reception & faster data speeds. So, I will jump over as soon as this becomes a reality. *fingers crossed*

This alone will bring Tmobile to 3rd. If they also market themselves as a carrier that isn't afraid of being a dumb pipe, they will foster despite not having any hero phones of their own.

Here's a new post over on the T-Mobile forums.
http://support.t-mobile.com/thread/21487?start=30&tstart=0

Why the international tab called 3G?

Correct me if i'm wrong but for my understanding our international tab supports hspa+ 21 which is considered a 4G technology why is it that they called our tab as 3G then ?

mywingtophone said:
Correct me if i'm wrong but for my understanding our international tab supports hspa+ 21 which is considered a 4G technology why is it that they called our tab as 3G then ?
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doesnt hspa+ is 3.5G?
for my understanding 4G is lte or WIMAX2 at this moment

4G is the deep blue sea.

"3G" and "4G" are just marketing terms really. Carriers may market HSPA+ devices as "4G" in order to get more sales from the average/ignorant consumer, but HSPA+ isn't a "true" 4th generation mobile technology in the same way that LTE and WiMAX are. Instead, HSPA+ is more of an evolutionary refinement of UMTS, much like how EDGE is an evolution of the previous (2G) GSM/GPRS technology before true "3G."
Don't get caught up in the marketing gimmicks of the 3's and 4's and G's. Instead, be educated on specifically what technologies are being used, and what pro's and con's each offers. I'm not going to go over that here, but I will say that Google is your friend; use it.
In other words, try not to think of the P6800 in terms of being a "3G" or a "4G" device. Think of it exactly as an HSPA+ 21mbit device. No more, no less.

mywingtophone said:
Correct me if i'm wrong but for my understanding our international tab supports hspa+ 21 which is considered a 4G technology why is it that they called our tab as 3G then ?
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Because (surprisingly), outside of America 4g doesn't really exist yet in any meaningful sense. Everyone knows and uses 3g.

Exactly. Outside the US 4G is what LTE/LTE Advanced is. HSPA/HSPA+ is only an enhanced 3G specification.
My Tab makes phone calls yo! (GT-P6800)