Hey guys.
I'm just about up for an upgrade with O2 from my XDAs (which I adore, even though I use like 10% of its capabilities!!) but the problem is that I'm living in the US now. So, I really want the Exec, as it'll save me lugging a laptop about, but am worried that it'll get uber expensive to run here, due to crazy roaming costs.
I'm thinking about changing my tarrif over to a "Data Only" with 5mb per month, at some 8 Pounds a month, but am I right in saying that as soon as I log on to GPRS in the US that I'll be charged "Roaming" fees and that my 5mb will go untouched? If so, is there anyway to get around this, as I like the look and the functionality of the Exec, but don't really have a desire to fork out $1000 for one! Are there going to be any compatability issues in using a UK handset as a main device in the US? Are O2 going to let me swop from my 200 Minutes plan to an Online plan that costs just 8 Pounds? Are there any requirements to being a "Business User"? I've Emailed O2, but to say that they were unhelpful is a huge understatement and then some!!
Lastly: can I play Java games on it/my XDA? Whenever I go to an onlione store with Java games, all of the handsets I see are Motorola and Nokia, etc, and never an XDA. I'm asuming that it must be able to play them, but does anyone have any comments or tips on the process? Thanks guys.
Why dont you just use a sim card from the US depending on where you go you can just buy a sim card if your phone is unlocked hope that help
Hmm. Okay, I think that that would make sense (tbh, I hadn't thought of that!). Okay, is the Exec unlockable? If so, how does one go about it? IE: is it an easy process?
The Exec should already be unlocked: http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=30330
yes all execs are unlocked. I have a spare one if you are willing to buy.
Hi GadgetGirl: thanks for the tip and link. I'll check it out.
Zillocx: thanks man, but I already have a line on one. Thanks for the offer though.
Teflon,
be sure to consider a T-Mobile USA SIM since T-Mobile uses GSM 1900 only which is the only US band that the Exec supports. Cingular uses GSM 850/1900 in most major US markets so you'd experience inconsistent since the Exec doesn't have GSM 850. T-Mobile USA is also the best US GSM network to use for data. They have unlimited data plans if you sign a contract with them. If I recall correctly, the unlimited plans run between $19.99 and $49.99 (Unlimited Internet Plan) per month.
http://www.t-mobile.com/services/webandinfo.asp (T-Zones Mobile Web Plan, $5.99/month)
http://www.t-mobile.com/plans/default.asp?tab=internet
I use a universal (Jasjar) and I live in the US, so I can tell you that it's definitely worthwhile I can also give you a bit of advice about a service provider...
Your two options for GSM providers are T-Mobile and Cingular. Like Triband said, T-Mobile only uses 1900MHz, so you know you'll get a signal as long as T-Mobile has coverage there. Cingular uses both 850MHz and 1900MHz, so you can run into some issues with Cingular. Generally, however, in the cities and more populated areas Cingular will have 1900MHz coverage while rural areas are more likely to be 850MHz only. Overall Cingular has better coverage then T-Mobile, but unfortunately there are no maps or anything available to consumers that show where they have 1900MHz coverage and where it is only 850MHz. I'm using Cingular with my Jasjar and I've had very few coverage problems.
Prepaid service in the US is considerably more than it would be with a contract, so if you're going to be in the US for a while, or you will be using your phone a lot you might not want to go prepaid (although I'm sure its much less than international roaming). Here Cingular has an advantage because they'll let you sign a month to month contract where you can cancel whenever you want. With T-Mobile you must sign a contract for a full year.
Please let me know if you have any other questions
Brett
Hi BrettS, where did you bought the Jasjar?
cktlcmd said:
Hi BrettS, where did you bought the Jasjar?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got mine from Expansys USA http://www.expansys-usa.com/
Brett
Hey guys,
Well, I just got married, so I'll be living in the US on a permanent basis. I'm towards the East Coast (New Haven, to be exact). My wife is American, and she's with Cingular, so that may be the way to go as calls between us would be free, from what she tells me. I'll do some detailed research into it, although further comments would be appreciated. I'll check out those links too. Now, if I can just get O2 to stop being such asses I'll be a happy man!!
BrettS said:
I got mine from Expansys USA http://www.expansys-usa.com/
Brett
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do they have warranty on it or does I-mate honor the warranty no matter where you bought the unit? I saw that the I-mate Phone store has it too for 1200 USD. Why did you not bought it from them and opted for expansysUSA?
cktlcmd,
I have a Jasjar as well and I also got it from expansys. I use expansys because I purchased the previous two devices (XDA, I-mate PocketPC Phone ) from them. During my purchase of the Pocket PC phone, I original got the Qtek 2020 and I was not happy. They took it back and sent me the I-mate version without any issues. Overall all accessories and devices purchased from them have been a good experience. In all cases they did honor their 15 days policies if the product did not perform as expected.
Teflon, I am using Cingular and they seems to have the best coverage for GSM in the US. I am located in the East Coast.
Related
Just wanted to know what service plans would be good for JasJar in the USA.
I use T-Mobile but of course we americans are lagging behind on mobile technology communications. I find I cannot use half of the features and it doesnt even have EDGE support. So wondering if any of you have T-Mobile in the USA and what service/internet plans are you using? :?:
I find I cannot use half of the features
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a bit of an exageration. The only thing you cannot use is 2100MHz UTMS. Everything else works fine.
You really only have Cingular and T-Mobile from which to pick in the US. Cingular has more coverage, but there are some 850MHz areas where the JasJar will not function as a phone. The TMo $20 unlimited gprs plan is pretty sweet. As others have lamented, the only thing this phone is missing (mostly for those of us on this side of the pond) is a quad-band radio, and EDGE or 1900MHz UTMS.
gadgetgirl said:
The TMo $20 unlimited gprs plan is pretty sweet.
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Click to collapse
I definitely have to second this. I've looked at other plans, Cingular as well as going something "non-sim" before I got the Jasjar, and nothing seemed to come close to the $20 unlimited data with TMo. My minutes and data combined with TMo are less than the unlimited data alone with some others.
It all depends on your needs though. I don't spend a lot of time in areas that aren't covered by TMo, so that issue is moot and price can play a larger factor for me.
USA service plans
ahh I see your point. I just got the $20.00 unlimited data plan. Is there anything special needed to get it started. Does anybody know if Tmo will start coming out with 3G networks?
Re: USA service plans
xda_dev said:
ahh I see your point. I just got the $20.00 unlimited data plan. Is there anything special needed to get it started. Does anybody know if Tmo will start coming out with 3G networks?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, the news on 3G networks in the USA is not very good for us Universal owners. Cingular has already started to implement their 3G service in a few markets in the US and will be expanding their 3G service in 2006. I haven't heard anything about T-Mobile's 3G plans yet. Unfortunately, however, Cingular's 3G network works at 1900MHz and T-Mobile's most likely will as well. This means that even if Cingular or T-Mobile provide 3G service the Universal won't work with it, because the Universal only supports 3G at 2100MHz.
In the US, the 2100MHz band currently belongs to the US Military and there are rumors that that band may be made available to cell phone providers in 2007, but even if that happens, but the time the band is available and the service providers start using it I'm sure that my universal will be obsolete.
I'm using a Universal in the USA right now, but I don't expect to ever be able to use it on a 3G network here.
Brett
EDGE on MDA Pro/JasJar
So you're saying EDGE won't work on the MDA Pro? According to T-Mobile, EDGE is already in place in most of its US network. Also, GPRS to EDGE from the providers standpoint basically involved a software update. Can this be done on the MDA Pro as well?
One final question. Anyone know how I can find out if my MDA Pro has the latest rom and where to get updates. My phone came from Germany (T-Mobile)?
The Universal does not do Edge afaik. The HTC Wizzard does do edge. So the only difference between the two for US users (who cant use 2100MHz UMTS) is the low res screen on the wizzard, and the fact that the wizzard is a whole lot more portable. Oh and the mini SD port!
Here in the UK, none of the networks support edge, which is a bit of a pain for wizzard owners! I would have had a wizzard for the smaller size if edge were available in UK, or if wizzard was 3G !
Nigel
Thanks
If I choose then to sell may MDA Pro, what would you recommend as being the most comparable item that will at least work with EDGE and UMTS @ 1900 in the USA. I am otherwise very satisfied but one reason why I paid a premium price was to have something that would not be obsolete too soon, be able to work with the next generation (3G) and be downward compatible (EDGE, GPRS).
I am happily using T-Mobile in the USA. I bought the jasjar knowing that I would be limited to GPRS on the data side. Its many other advantages make the compromise worth it to me.
I am happily using T-Mobile in the USA. I bought the jasjar knowing that I would be limited to GPRS on the data side. Its many other advantages make the compromise worth it to me.
US Carriers
I too am using my JasJar with T-Mobile in the US and am quite happy with the service. I recognize that I will not be able to use 3G with this device, but I'm OK with that. For me the features of the device far outweigh that single drawback.
whats up all
I dont want to sound like an MDA flamer/hater, but i just wanted to suggest you guys something...
I had an MDA for more than a month, using it on cingular's network. Seeing all this ev-do, 3G expansion going around here in the states, i was just LUSTING at all this great speeds people were getting with ev-do.
So i thought: Man, im a gadget junkie, and i have a top cell phone using OLD 2G SERVICE?
Are you using a LOT of data? If your answer is yes, man, you dont know what you are missing here.
It's been a week i've got a new PPC-6700 from sprint! Its basically an MDA on steroids. And of course it's got 3G! If you use wifi on your MDA you know what to expect. except that with 3G THE WHOLE CITY IS THE HOTSPOT 8) !
let me tell you once you TOUCH this device you will never want to go back.
Yes i know cingular is rolling out 3G but it is doing so very slowly (only 16 markets compared to sprint's 150+) and by the time cingular finishes its rollout sprint will have 3.5G(ev-do rev A) started on most markets!
I got my 6700 for... ZERO DOLLARS AND NO CENTS, all instant rebates, no mail in whatsoever :shock:
Theres one guy on ebay very reputable called "sprintnetwork" that overnights you one if you have good to excellent credit and signs a contract for a new line of service to sprint. All i had to do was call and get approved and the next day i had the phone.
I don't know but this was such an awesome deal... If any of you guys want to surf a broadband speeds, reliably watch orb, use logmein, even skype, all without wifi.... I don't think there is one better way than to do this now. All that without even spending more than $200.
So bye, im a stranger here now, now im a member of the HTC apache forum! hehe :twisted:
Ps.: i said $200 because i had to pay $175 early termination :?
6700 with Sprint PCS..is it true 3G?
Looks like this 6700 is 3G. But if its running on Sprint..its not GSM
and Sprint PCS is very very OLD technology now.
I cannot use it in EU/Asia so stick with the MDA
Thanks
E
ditto what the pp said... being US only is too restrictive for my needs... I'm now looking for a quad band + 3G (not a tri-band + 3G = quad band) phone from Asia. I hear I can then use it in Japan also...
ikkoku said:
ditto what the pp said... being US only is too restrictive for my needs... I'm now looking for a quad band + 3G (not a tri-band + 3G = quad band) phone from Asia. I hear I can then use it in Japan also...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To my best knowledge, the biggest Japanese wireless providers uses a proprietary service... not sure though
yeah....
well, i got t-mobile so i have EDGE witch is a G3 service. Plus, i get to keep my MDA vario so i dotn have that REDICULOUS looking antenna on my phone. Im happy with my mda, so ha
yeah....
well, i got t-mobile so i have EDGE witch is a G3 service. Plus, i get to keep my MDA vario so i dotn have that REDICULOUS looking antenna on my phone. Im happy with my mda, so ha
hey guys, i might be buying an 8525 soon, and i'm just wondering two things:
1- does cingular unlock it for me (my wife uses cingular, and was just gonna get her to call in and unlock it for me), otherwise, what reputable place to you guys advise?
2- once i'm on tmobile, will i have 3G speeds? will the internet work if i have an internet plan?
3- also the guy is asking for 280, he says barely used for a month, what do u think about that?
thanks for all ur help!!
omar
I think you should buy one from Cingular for 199 bucks.. if your wife is eligible for an upgrade it would cost you 217 bucks for a refurbished 8525 <I paid 99 bucks for mine, before they realized it was too cheap>
Cingular will only unlock it if you are going out of the country for an extended period of time, or if you are not currently under contract with them.. I think the initial 2 years of the contract has to have been expired..
The 3G thing, I'm not sure..
hey, i went online and the 8525 is 299 with a 2 yr contract. i dunno if my wife is elgible for an upgrade, i'll call and ask, but even then, i'd prefer to pay less to get it without extending her contract for 2 yrs..
and i'll just tell cingular i'm going out of teh country...
omaralt said:
hey guys, i might be buying an 8525 soon, and i'm just wondering two things:
1- does cingular unlock it for me (my wife uses cingular, and was just gonna get her to call in and unlock it for me), otherwise, what reputable place to you guys advise?
2- once i'm on tmobile, will i have 3G speeds? will the internet work if i have an internet plan?
3- also the guy is asking for 280, he says barely used for a month, what do u think about that?
thanks for all ur help!!
omar
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. If you buy it, you can follow the instructions on this site to unlock it, here.
2. T-Mobile is currently upgrading their network to support 3G speeds. If you have an internet plan... OF COURSE THE INTERNET WILL WORK!
3. $280 is a really good price, I'd take it. Madcap mentioned $199, but that's only if you get a new plan with ATT or renew your current one (which you will be doing neither).
Good luck!
Yeah, true, I had to add a new line.. and now I just looked they dont even have refurbished 8525's anymore.. when they were selling for 99 bucks everyone must have bought them.. lol..
Taurus, ur 8125 and 8525 really get stolen?
Madcap180 said:
Taurus, ur 8125 and 8525 really get stolen?
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Click to collapse
Yeah, they sure did. I'm pretty bummed about it.
you'll only get EDGE speed, not 3G and even when Tmobile releases its 3G service, the 8525 doesn't have the right radio or whatever to get that (tmobile's 3g will use 1700)
blackout203 said:
you'll only get EDGE speed, not 3G and even when Tmobile releases its 3G service, the 8525 doesn't have the right radio or whatever to get that (tmobile's 3g will use 1700)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
correct
i was just going to post that
How the heck did they BOTH get stolen? You get broken into or something? wow.. Are you getting them replaced?
Unlocking the 8125 and 8525 is trivial, as others have mentioned. You don't need to contact AT&T to do it, and likely anyone you talk to in their customer service department will have no idea what you're talking about....
I have an older 8125 that I unlocked and am using it with TMobile now. I'm still using the Cingular ROM on it, too, and everything works on it. I just had to go into all of the telephone options and click on "Get Settings" for every option to retrieve the proper settings for TMobile. However, I didn't provision it with a data plan, I just use WiFi with it.
You can probably live without 3G, as I'm sure you've discovered by now that internet browsing really sucks on these things, and email doesn't require much bandwidth.
im really excited that 3G finally is coming to T-Mobile.
but at the same time, im curious and anxious if my 8525 will run on T-Mob's..
reading the posts above, 8525 will never get the 1700 Mhz signal, but I read around that T-Mob also bought the 2100 Mhz spectrum, and doesnt 8525 has the radio to jump on to that bandwith too right?
i thought i asked you guys who might know a few more things than i do..
jimek03 said:
im really excited that 3G finally is coming to T-Mobile.but at the same time, im curious and anxious if my 8525 will run on T-Mob's..reading the posts above, 8525 will never get the 1700 Mhz signal, but I read around that T-Mob also bought the 2100 Mhz spectrum, and doesnt 8525 has the radio to jump on to that bandwith too right?i thought i asked you guys who might know a few more things than i do..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
unfortunately, it doesn't look like it will work without 1700: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=2476498
awww crap..
but why is that though?
i mean, why do they need 1700 Mhz AND 2100 Mhz freq to operate..?
I'm going to spain on holiday for a couple weeks. (I know luxery )
But I do want internet when I'm there.
I want to buy a Huawei E160 USB-UMTS dongle.
And then I need a (UMTS) SIM card and an internet subscription.
Do you know company's who have prepaid cards?
I've searched, but only found old threads.
One thread of 2 years ago speeks about Movistar.es
That costed 21 euro for 4 weeks unlimited internet.
I'm also looking for that.
Is that still possible, or are there better alternatives?
Hope you can help me.
Thanx in advance!
hey! I'm from Barcelona (Spain) and have done some searching. It looks like the best option is buying a yoigo prepaid card. costs 3 euros every day you connect to the internet and you're allowed to download 100mb, then your speed is reduced to 64 kbps.
I was just looking for the same thing in the US, I'm going to cali in vacation and will be taking a nexus one to use it as gps, find hotels etc. do you know what options I have?
Just out of curiosity, where in spain are you going?
PS: here's a link http://www.yoigo.com/tarifas/internet_para_llevar.php
At&t used to for $20.00 a month.. untill the iphone came along and screwed everything up.
But i see that in europe you have to make a contract no matter if you want a phone from them or not.
In america, a plan and a contract are different things,
If you go to a cell phone company provider with your own phone, you do not need to sign a contract for 2 years to use thier service plans.
I am also going to spain (galicia) this summer, and i was going to call about that.
(And im sure you know, that At&t and T-mobile are the only GSM provider in the US)
TurboX2 said:
At&t used to for $20.00 a month.. untill the iphone came along and screwed everything up.
But i see that in europe you have to make a contract no matter if you want a phone from them or not.
In america, a plan and a contract are different things,
If you go to a cell phone company provider with your own phone, you do not need to sign a contract for 2 years to use thier service plans.
I am also going to spain (galicia) this summer, and i was going to call about that.
(And im sure you know, that At&t and T-mobile are the only GSM provider in the US)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need to make a contract in spain to get a prepaid card. Only thing you need to do is give them your ID for security purposes
josealb said:
You don't need to make a contract in spain to get a prepaid card. Only thing you need to do is give them your ID for security purposes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that is right, it is not worth paying an 18 month contract if you are only staying here a couple of weeks, Personally I would recommend Vodafone cause they have better internet quelaity connection (at least in southern spain), and they offer prepaid sim cards and usb modems without a contract (although movistar, yoigo and orange offer them as well). The question would be, what part of spain are you traveling to and wich company has the better internet reception on that area... if you are traveling to rural areas, I would stick to the 2 major companies (Vodafone and Movistar). Hope it helps.
I'm going to Salou, about 150km south of Barcelona.
Thanx for your answers.
I hope yoigo has coverage over there.
And are there any other alternatives?
Hi,
I'm from Reus, a city near Salou (about 8km). The UMTS coverage in salou is good for all the service providers in spain.
My mobile ISP is Simyo with good prices, the only inconvenience is that don't have physical shops to buy prepaid modems/sim. My voice provider is Yoigo and they have good prices too.
My advice is that you go to a ThePhoneHouse shop, there are Vodafone, Orange and Yoigo, and they will tell you which solution was better.
You can find thephonehouse in tarragona (10km from salou) and Reus in
http://www.phonehouse.es/app/searchStore.do
Ok, I hope so that the coverage will be good.
And how are Vodafone and Orange? Are they more expensive and/or better?
ronh said:
Ok, I hope so that the coverage will be good.
And how are Vodafone and Orange? Are they more expensive and/or better?
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Click to collapse
Vodafone will almost always give you the best coverage, at a higher price. Orange is cheaper and with a little les coverage, Simyo borrows the network from Orange so its coverage will be the same at best.
I didn't know Vodafone offered prepaid cards, if they do I'd recommend you vodafone
PS: Offtopic, Salou is cool, I've been there in vacation often but it's full of tourists, I would recommend you to move a little bit if you wanna see more of Spain than beaches, maybe driving up to Barcelona
title sums it up really. im going to america for about 4 months and wondered if my UK HTC HD2 will work over there. im currently on t-mobile in the UK, but the phone is unlocked. im going to be travelling around a bit, but a bulk of my time will be in new york/new jersey area.
if not any advice on a handset that does work? id like to keep people updated with my trip so twitter/facbook access is important.
any advice on what network and what plan to go for? to be honest the first 3 months i will probably pick a pay as you go sim, as i will be working and will have access to twitter/facebook and a phone provided. it is the last month that i will be travelling around and is when data access will be important.
matthewharmon102 said:
title sums it up really. im going to america for about 4 months and wondered if my UK HTC HD2 will work over there. im currently on t-mobile in the UK, but the phone is unlocked. im going to be travelling around a bit, but a bulk of my time will be in new york/new jersey area.
if not any advice on a handset that does work? id like to keep people updated with my trip so twitter/facbook access is important.
any advice on what network and what plan to go for? to be honest the first 3 months i will probably pick a pay as you go sim, as i will be working and will have access to twitter/facebook and a phone provided. it is the last month that i will be travelling around and is when data access will be important.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
I am a UK vodafone Hd2 user.
I travel with work to the US, including NY, 1 week every month and get a reasonable service. The main issue is that Edge is the best service you will get.
I do not swap SIM's but use roaming, 1 week is not too bad with data and call roaming packages but expensive for full time.
All other functions work fine including GPS
waspsl said:
Hi,
The main issue is that Edge is the best service you will get.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mean you cannot 3G in US? Is it because UK phones don't operate on the 3G bands in US, or because your operator does not have 3G roaming in US?
thanks for the advice. im with t-mobile so il have to look at their roaming packages. im mainly based in new jersey/pennsylavania areas, can anyone reccommend a network with a good reception? im going to call t-mobile a bit nearer the time and see what they can do, maybe they can transfer me to a US plan? the main thing i wanted to know is am i better of buying a phone when i am out there, buying one in the UK that is unlocked and says USA compatable (quad band i think?) or should i stick to my HD2?