Hi, I upgraded from an xda2 to a xda exec and wish to use umts for data. I phoned o2 up and they sent me out a new sim which they said is 3g/umts enabled. When the sim arrived it looked like my old one. I think I remember reading somewhere on here a while ago that the 3g enabled ones have 3g written on it, this one didnt. I tried it anyway to see if it was just a change in printing etc, and it still just picks up gprs. I dont live in an area covered by o2 3g so I travelled to an area that is (as shown on their coverage map) and still no 3g. What I was wondering is if there is anyway to identify a 3g sim as im wondering if somwhere between tech support and despatch they got mixed up and sent me a normal sim.
Thanks
Just to confirm, I have an O2 3G sim card, and do get the UTMS service when in the right area. The Sim card does say 3G on it in a kind of way... the card number has xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx 3GS2 as the card number and the copper side has GEMPLUS etched in it.
Hope this helps.
Was playing around last night with bits I had not looked at on my universal before, Sim Manager in programs, actually tells you if its a 3g sim and how many phonebook\text messages etc the sim can hold.
regards
Related
So my new Exec turned up today, along with a new SIM card, marked 3G.
Do I need to use this card?
My current SIM works fine in it, but Im wondering if I need to put in the new one, call Cust Services and have it enabled, or can I get the 3G service on my existing SIM?
Depends , the 3G card will allow faster internet connection- if in service area
if in stand gprs area , you get a G at top of screen
if in 3G area you get a U
Does that mean I have to use and register the 3G SIM? As far as I was aware, the SIM doesnt actually provide any functionality - its the service class your contract has?
@CPGOD
3G and GSM SIMs are different. Only with a 3G SIM can you use UMTS (3G services). Please check with O2, they may be transferring your number to the new SIM from the old - which would be a good thing if you want fast data download (max speed around 384kbps)
not true, my voda sim of over two years is now 3G enabled...
@twaddle, you're right it is possible to have a SIM that is GSM and UMTS. Did a bit of research and found SIM cards can function in GSM and UMTS modes. This has not been true for "3" network, however.
I'm not really sure the old SIM can be used to received 3G, I've just upgraded and got my old number transfer to the 3G sim, it works after a few hours. If the old one worked then why would they bother giving out the new sim?
I've just got an Exec as a free upgrade to my beloved XDA II so I phoned O2 to ask about their 3G service.
In short, if you get an Exec from O2 you should also be given a new 3G SIM for free. If you haven't, call them to say you haven't and they'll send one. No reconfiguring of the Exec is necessary (they say). I'm guessing this doesn't apply if you're a pre-pay client, but who knows?
G
(I suppose I'll have to change my name to 3Goldry soon...)
I don't think a new SIM is required for 3G access... I had a Vodafone Pay&Go SIM well before I got my V1640, and it works on UMTS.
Yes you do require a sim that is compatable, although it is possible your existing one will support the UTMS, if not simply call in to the O2 shop and they will give you the SIM for free, activate it and away you go....
Huge bills - stupidly expensive access charges, but a super quick connection - oh - and did I mention the battery life, UTMS kicks the cr*p out of your battery, I have seen mine decrease even when connected to the car charger - Mike
some theory
3g requires a thicker sim card. You eill not be able to use 3g band with a standard gsm sim. hence no video calling, etc.
its a fact, ie - its a standart.
igs said:
some theory
3g requires a thicker sim card. You eill not be able to use 3g band with a standard gsm sim. hence no video calling, etc.
its a fact, ie - its a standart.
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Click to collapse
3G is a thicker SIM? I've not noticed any difference with my T-Mobile SIMs..?
O2 have different SIMS for 3G and GSM. The 3G SIM has some extra information on it which means that a GSM SIM in a 3G phone will not allow 3G data.
I went into an O2 shop and they charged me £10 for a new 3G SIM which they then registered to my account and threw away the old one.
rgds
£10 for a new SIM? That's a joke! I might just go back to Vodafone then in that case...
I just had this with Orange.
I bought a SIM from a market stall for £5 thinking that it would be cheaper than going to Orange for it.
I put it in my Uni, got it all registered and everything was fine until I asked 450 why I wasn't getting a 3G icon.
I had to go to the Orange shop, pay another £5 for a SIM (USIM, 3G SIM) and then ... The fun started.
I put £20 on the USIM when I bought it, it was pre-activated. I took it home, phoned 450, got them to change the number from my old SIM to the new one. I asked if the £20 would be credited accross and he said "yes, within 24 hours".
I waited and it didn't appear. I phoned 450 and the nice gentleman in India told me there was sweet FA he could do to help, go see the Orange shop.
I went to the shop and they told me that ev erything had been done wrong, that they shouldn't even sell USIMs without a new 3G phone to go with it.
I got my £20 back though and am now fully 3G (when in coverage).
The USIM isn't any thicker than the 2G SIM, but it is a different color.
So you're saying that the orange SIM card was meant to be free? Or were you not meant to get it at all?
I think the virgin 'normal' free sims can be enabled to be 3g simply by sending a message to 80310 with the word “Video” but o2 use special seperate 3g sims. From what I understand there is extra capacity on the newer 3g sims but for current 3g services we don't need them hence why virgin's can be enabled.
I have o2 sim and am planning to be off on my travels so am in the process of setting up my universal (xda exec) to use a virgin sim in this as you can roam in Japan only on a 3g sim.
Let us bare in mind that these most extreme cases are pay as you go deals where its "not subsidised"....
If anyone puts some marketing sense into it it will be clearer to understand what all the comotion is about.
Eventually all charges for sims etc on paygo will be waved.... for the moment its a matter of choice.
BR
There's no such thing as a 3G SIM.
Yes there are different SIMs available (with more on-board memory) but at the end of the day they all have to fit into the same SIM shaped hole in your phone.
The handset and features on your account determine whether or not you can access 3G.
actually there is a specific SIM for 3G. It is same shape and size but does not work in older 2G phones..... However, 2G SIMs all work in most 3G Phones
moghisi101 said:
actually there is a specific SIM for 3G. It is same shape and size but does not work in older 2G phones..... However, 2G SIMs all work in most 3G Phones
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Not entirelly right m8...give it a try if you have one and you will see I have my o2 rg sim and works fine on other 2g phones...that also goes for another PAYGO 3g vodafone card that i got hanging around...obviously when it comes to three uk its a diferent story since they do not offer a gsm service and rely on 02 lines where there is no coverage from them and this costs them money.
BR
Hi, I have a unlocked Wizard & my T-Mobile contract has just expired, I was just wondering if a 3G sim (3) would work in it as there are some cheap deals on that network? I wouldn't use it for video calls so thats not a problem.
im 99% sure they DONT! however maybe someone there can prove me wrong
I'm using a Cingular 3G SIM in my 8125 with no problems at all.
sk0t said:
I'm using a Cingular 3G SIM in my 8125 with no problems at all.
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a cingular 3G sim and a "3" UK usim are not the same, one runs at 3 volts (sim) and the other at 5 Volts (usim)
Aha! More than I knew! I knew it! Thanks for correcting me..
i was having problems going on line when i first got my wizard, tried everthing even customer suport couldnt figure it out. well i finaly went to store to exchange my unit and one of the reps asked to look at the sim. sure enough thats what it was i didnt have a 3g sim. all is welll now
bigdooky said:
i was having problems going on line when i first got my wizard, tried everthing even customer suport couldnt figure it out. well i finaly went to store to exchange my unit and one of the reps asked to look at the sim. sure enough thats what it was i didnt have a 3g sim. all is welll now
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Click to collapse
what our american brothers call a "3g" sim and what the network provider called "3" use are slightly different things.... a american 3g sim is simply a normal 128k provisioned with extra services I.e. data and video calling (this is the same way all the gsm uk networks work too) however with "3" being the first 3g only network in the world they choosed to use the next generation of sim card called a usim which don't work in lots of non 3g phones including the wizard. try googling the word "usim" to see wot I mean
Under 3's terms and conditions you are not allowed to use their sim in a 2.5g phone. If you do use one and it works, they will eventually block it and send you a new sim with a gentle reminder that you are in breach of Ts and Cs.
Cheers Chaps, 3 it isn't then!
My O2 UK 3G UMTS sim works perfectly in my Wizard.You just can`t really get the benefits from it (Faster GPRS/EDGE etc....).
Has anyone had any luck getting O2 3G UMTS coverage in UK - I work in central london but simply never get the little U icon! It is not the Uni because when I use a Vodafone sim it pops straight to 3G. Similarly, with the O2 sim in Germany the 3G coverage and speed is awesome. Do I have to register for a special O2 account or something??? Or is the O2 3G network coverage just not all its cracked up to be??
Have a look at your SIM card. It should have 3G written in the bottom left corner by the notch. I had to go to O2 and get a new card, the number was transferred there and then, took about an hour to be activated. They wanted me to pay £20 for it but just refuse to pay, they need your custom more than you need them.
Damn,
I had the same problem, just sent o2 a message, hope to get a new simcard now !!
Thanks
It is amazing what they leave you to find out for yourselves isn't it. Many thanks. Calling on O2 without delay.
Has anyone managed to get there artemis working with a 3g sim card? ie.e the 3 network in the uk? www.three.co.uk? sometimes known as hutchinson 3g?
i spoke to a mobile phone shop in southall (middlesex) and they said its possble but £50!!!!
patterns said:
Has anyone managed to get there artemis working with a 3g sim card? ie.e the 3 network in the uk? www.three.co.uk? sometimes known as hutchinson 3g?
i spoke to a mobile phone shop in southall (middlesex) and they said its possble but £50!!!!
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Click to collapse
Not tried it, but UK O2 Orbits are not network locked, you can put any SIM in - although with it not being a 3G device, there seems little point in putting a Three SIM in as it will just drop back to whichever GSM network Three piggybacks on (O2 I think). I'v just bought a three sim for £1.25 on ebay, so I'll load it up and see what the coverage is like near me - I only get intermittent t-mobile in my place...
it used to be possible but then 3 started to locking their sims so they only worked in 3g phones
aha!
im not so fussed about the 3g coverage its more being able to use that sim card in the phone, whethe rit roams off of o2 or etc. i got my phoen unlocked (originally t-mobile compact 3) and its the only simcard that doessnt work - thats why im suspicios of this shop[ who says they can doo it for £50
please keep me updated as to how your simcard goes, and if anyone knows a way of doing this im all ears!