I have someone willing to trade me a Hd2 for my nexus one. I was wondering if I can get the Hd2 to work on ATT . I heard some people getting the unlock codes directly from tmo ole and some people using flashing roms.
is there a tutorial anywhere? I just want to make sure this isn't a laborious task to do.
You need to ask the guy to unlock it from TMobile for you, otherwise it's going to be a huuuge pain for you to do it via TMobile (not to say you couldn't pay to have it done from one of the other services)
gissentml said:
I have someone willing to trade me a Hd2 for my nexus one. I was wondering if I can get the Hd2 to work on ATT . I heard some people getting the unlock codes directly from tmo ole and some people using flashing roms.
is there a tutorial anywhere? I just want to make sure this isn't a laborious task to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where are you from?
I'll trade mine.
to answer your question, you have to make sure that it is unlocked by inserting your Att sim card during the trade.
It will definitely work, as well as the data (i.e. internet, weather etc. etc..) im just not sure about setting it up during the first run.
The TmoUS HD2 has only 1 network settings(including Data, SMS, MMS settings) in default rom which Tmo US ofcourse. and if it is unbranded (i.e. T8585, you get a whole lot of different networks i.e. At&t etc. etc.)
also, it'll be easier if you get an unbranded HD2, As the Tmo US HD2 is kind of pain for users at the moment.
i am using an unbranded HD2 it works like a charm with At&t.
din0_22 said:
Where are you from?
I'll trade mine.
to answer your question, you have to make sure that it is unlocked by inserting your Att sim card during the trade.
It will definitely work, as well as the data (i.e. internet, weather etc. etc..) im just not sure about setting it up during the first run.
The TmoUS HD2 has only 1 network settings(including Data, SMS, MMS settings) in default rom which Tmo US ofcourse. and if it is unbranded (i.e. T8585, you get a whole lot of different networks i.e. At&t etc. etc.)
also, it'll be easier if you get an unbranded HD2, As the Tmo US HD2 is kind of pain for users at the moment.
i am using an unbranded HD2 it works like a charm with At&t.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Data as well? 3g? If so i'm interested in picking one of these up... waiting on the Desire but just might take this insted!
The one you want is the Telstra version-9193, I believe. The T8585 won't work on AT&T 3G but on edge. Even on edge, its pretty fast-or at least mine is. Not many are having luck with tmo unlocking. The 9193 is also rare and expensive in the US.
witch1 said:
The one you want is the Telstra version-9193, I believe. The T8585 won't work on AT&T 3G but on edge. Even on edge, its pretty fast-or at least mine is. Not many are having luck with tmo unlocking. The 9193 is also rare and expensive in the US.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just curious what kind of speeds you getting on EDGE have you done any speed testing? I'd love to import the desire but what's keeping me from doing it is being stuck on EDGE and not being able to access 3G speeds...not wanting to pay $30 a month for data thats EDGE only lol!
Thanks for your help...
Related
First off - I Private Messaged a couple of people about this, but realized that I should have just posted this in the forum. So, my apologies for anyone seeing this a second time.
I've been getting all sort of conflicting information about the Hero 130 (The Telus one) and which UMTS bands it supports.
Most of the information I see at places like PDADB says that it's UMTS enabled for 850/1900 only, which are the North American bands. FCC reports and the Telus user manual show testing for WCDMA (UMTS) 850/1900 only.
However, HTC's Canada Hero website (http://www.htc.com/ca/product/herotelus/specification.html) says "Dual Mode UMTS" and lists frequencies for US (850/1900), EU/Asia (900/2100) and Telstra (850/2100). Two HTC support techs from their website also confirm that the Hero 130 supports UMTS for US EU/Asia and Telstra, but it feels like they are just regurgitating information from the extremely vague website.
The device is a quad-band worldwide device. These are the bands the device is capable of using:
Europe/Asia
UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (900/2100MHz for EU/Asia)
North America
850/1900
Telestra
850/2100
GSM/GPRS/EDGE (Quad-band 850/900/1800/1900Mhz)
If the bands you are needing are any of these then the device should work.
Kay
HTC Technical Support
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Has anyone with a HERO130 actually gone overseas and seen if you get UMTS/3G to work overseas - or has seen anything that conclusively and definitively proves if it does or does not work?
Thanks!
I'm wondering the same thing. I'd like to get the Telus one and use it here on AT&T 3g in the states... anyone know if that is possible?
The Telus version of the HTC Hero (aka HERO130 or A6265) definitely supports ATT's 3G bands. It's been confirmed via the FCC documentation as well that 850/2100 is supported. T-Mobile's 1700MHz is not supported.
My question is specifically in regards to the European/Asian (900/1900MHz) bands. HTC's confirmed that it does support by phone, but I'm still a little dubious. However, I'm ordering one and am going to give it a test!
Stay Tuned!
itpromike said:
I'm wondering the same thing. I'd like to get the Telus one and use it here on AT&T 3g in the states... anyone know if that is possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. It is possible. I've got the Telus Hero, unlocked and running on the Rogers network. HSDPA/3G works fine on Rogers. North American radio bands for 3G are supported with this hardware.
BlueHawk said:
Yes. It is possible. I've got the Telus Hero, unlocked and running on the Rogers network. HSDPA/3G works fine on Rogers. North American radio bands for 3G are supported with this hardware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome! How difficult is the unlocking process?
I just thought about something. I'm used to the iPhone where you have to root your phone to unlock it for other carriers. Is the way it work with the HTC Hero and the like is that you just pay full price for the phone ($499) and it comes unlocked already? No tinkering needed?
itpromike said:
Awesome! How difficult is the unlocking process?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The unlocking process is not painful at all, but it costs you $20-25. When you insert a non-Telus sim into the device and power it up, it will tell you that you are using the wrong sim and ask you to enter the unlock code. The unlock code is specific to the IMEI of you phone, so they can't be shared. They can be purchased on eBay for slightly more than $20.
Note that you cannot unlock your phone by flashing a custom ROM. So unless you figured out the magic formula for generating these unlocking code (different for each device and different for each carrier), you have to pay for it one way or another.
tsekh501 said:
The unlocking process is not painful at all, but it costs you $20-25. When you insert a non-Telus sim into the device and power it up, it will tell you that you are using the wrong sim and ask you to enter the unlock code. The unlock code is specific to the IMEI of you phone, so they can't be shared. They can be purchased on eBay for slightly more than $20.
Note that you cannot unlock your phone by flashing a custom ROM. So unless you figured out the magic formula for generating these unlocking code (different for each device and different for each carrier), you have to pay for it one way or another.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I buy the full priced ($499) phone from Telus, then I have to buy the unlock code from Ebay? Hmm... I feel leery about buying something like this from Ebay. Is there an official channel I can buy an unlock code from?
itpromike said:
So I buy the full priced ($499) phone from Telus, then I have to buy the unlock code from Ebay? Hmm... I feel leery about buying something like this from Ebay. Is there an official channel I can buy an unlock code from?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I paid mine for the full price too, but this doesn't make the phone automatically unlocked. Telus enters an exclusive contract with HTC to be the sole carrier of this phone in Canada (at least for now), and they have every right to make sure that an average-joe, who knows nothing about unlocking, who wants this phone have to go to them, with or without contract. Exclusive dealings are extremely common in cell phone industry, and they are not free for the carrier.
I doubt Telus would unlock the phone for you. In the US, T-Mobile will unlock their phones for you a few months into the 2-year contract, may be Telus will do the same, if you signed a contract with them that is.
I just went to eBay and notice that there are now many sellers selling Telus Hero unlock code, and some are selling for as low as $13. I bought mine from a seller called cellfservices, it is not the cheapest but it worked (and it took them about an hour after the sales to send me the code).
mobileincanada.ca seems to be one that is very popular for unlocking, $20cdn, and they usually send unlock code very fast (within 5 minutes)
all right people.
I am here to bust the myth.
Telus hero does not have asian HSPA band.
I have two heros: GSM and Telus.
Tested location: Taiwan.
Telus hero with Taiwan sim card = GPRS only, no 3G connection.
GSM hero = 3G connection.
Telus hero does not have dual model 3G, period.
So which do I get for AT&T
Ok so I'd like one of these WITH 3G connection on AT&T so which one would I get to make this happen? I'm leaning toward the Telus model from what I've been reading but if anyone can confirm or deny this, that would be great. Also once I have it and it's been unlocked, then what do I tell AT&T? Just order a second line with a data plan? Won't they ask me what type of phone is this for or how should I do this?
itpromike said:
Ok so I'd like one of these WITH 3G connection on AT&T so which one would I get to make this happen? I'm leaning toward the Telus model from what I've been reading but if anyone can confirm or deny this, that would be great. Also once I have it and it's been unlocked, then what do I tell AT&T? Just order a second line with a data plan? Won't they ask me what type of phone is this for or how should I do this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Telus Hero is the only current Hero model that will work with 3G/HSDPA in North America. The European Hero will only use Edge for Data - it doesn't support the North American radio bands. The Sprint model only supports CDMA.
Do you need a second line? Are you planning to run two cell phones? If not, just switch your current AT&T SIM into the Hero and get a data plan for that SIM/line.
I do plan on running a second line yes. I have an iPhone 3GS as my main phone and I am planning on using the Hero to play around with as my second phone. The hero is a decent phone and fun to flash and play around with etc... but I couldn't ever really use it as my main phone. I definitely couldn't give up my iPhone 3GS for an Android phone just yet there are still some refinements that Android as a mobile OS needs to undergo and still some refinements that HTC needs to bring to the SenseUI as well. I rely too heavily my phone and it doing what I need it to do as fast as possible. I did have the Sprint Hero for a month before I took it back, I just didn't like it... it was slow, laggy, and some of the things I wanted to do with the phone that I was just so used to doing on my iPhone either couldn't be done OR had to be done in a way that didn't make very much logical or design sense. I had a lot of those 'why can't I just press this to make it do that?' moments or 'why the heck would they put this menu under here?' moments. Anyhow with that being said, Hero and Android are still fun platforms to play with and flash and try different settings and home screens and different ROMS etc so I'm going to get another one but this time on AT&T so I can use voice and data at the same time (one of the things I hated about having the Hero on spring was the inability to use data and voice at the same time as well as how slow sprints data was compared to AT&T)... but I wouldn't want a phone that I flashed and played around with so much to be a phone I relied on for mission critical work.
So what's the best way of going about this? What type of line should I order from AT&T? What should I ask for when i call or go into the store to get another line? Any suggestions?
I just got my Telus Hero last week, and coming from a 3G iphone, this blows it away. Not sure about the 3GS as it is a faster processor..... Also better than the Tilt 2. Love it. Just waiting on Eclair to get Google Navigation and other goodies...
Broken said:
I just got my Telus Hero last week, and coming from a 3G iphone, this blows it away. Not sure about the 3GS as it is a faster processor..... Also better than the Tilt 2. Love it. Just waiting on Eclair to get Google Navigation and other goodies...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah the iPhone 3G (I have both a 3G and 3Gs) and the Hero are pretty comparable. Browsing the web (which I do a lot) is faster on the 3G but the loading of applications etc... are pretty much the same. This is stock to stock so no modding on either phone. The scrolling on the 3G is much smoother than a stock Hero. I know that there are ROMS that make the device faster which is the only reason I'm even rethinking about getting one. The 3GS however is just no contest. But I've pretty much had all the fun I can out of the iPhone; not talking about the the apps as there are so many apps to choose from and a lot of them are awesome and fun to use, but with modding the phone itself and playing around with the OS etc I've done all I can do with the iPhone and want something new to play with...
itpromike said:
So what's the best way of going about this? What type of line should I order from AT&T? What should I ask for when i call or go into the store to get another line? Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just tell them you have an existing phone so you want a new SIM and to purchase a plan for a smartphone (data and voice plan) - they can advise you on deals and packages then. The carrier should never care about the phone - it's not like they make money on it - they usually subsidize the manufacturer for a unit anyway, in a profit sharing deal. The only thing the carrier is really interested in is the data and voice carriage charges.
i would just tell them you want to add a line for regular phone with unlimited data. that way you dont have to pay extra for the smart phone data. unless of course its cheaper and you can just for like ten dollars make your smart phone data plan you have now a family unlimited
BlueHawk said:
Just tell them you have an existing phone so you want a new SIM and to purchase a plan for a smartphone (data and voice plan) - they can advise you on deals and packages then. The carrier should never care about the phone - it's not like they make money on it - they usually subsidize the manufacturer for a unit anyway, in a profit sharing deal. The only thing the carrier is really interested in is the data and voice carriage charges.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would not be the best option. If you are going to add a line, figure out which phone they are giving away for free they you can get the biggest profit by flipping on eBay. Most likely the Solstice.
This way you can get away with the cheaper non-smart phone data plan and get about $200 back by selling the "free" phone they give you.
Can anyone confirm if the telus hero ships with the updated faster firmware? Thanks.
Can someone tell me how to unlock the Tmobile US version of the HD2? I would like to use it on At&t in the US.
Thanks!!
This phone has been released?
No, but I was able to buy an early version off craigslist
hanya said:
No, but I was able to buy an early version off craigslist
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very Interesting
It's an awesome device, too bad mine didn't come with the microSD card that has all the T-mobile games and goodies..
also, the camera doesn't seem to work..not sure why. i was told that the device i have was a test unit that tmo used to test the rom w/their network..etc.
hanya said:
Can someone tell me how to unlock the Tmobile US version of the HD2? I would like to use it on At&t in the US.
Thanks!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used leo.unlock-now.com to unlock my device that was locked to T-Mobile UK and they have T-Mobile US on the website. It's quick too. took less than 30mins for my code to arrive.
hanya said:
No, but I was able to buy an early version off craigslist
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You understand that it won't get 3G on at&t?
Some unboxing pictures of T-Mobile US HD2:
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2010/03/09/t-mobile-htc-hd2-unboxing/
hanya said:
No, but I was able to buy an early version off craigslist
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you sure that's the US version? not the Euro one? How much ROM it got?
no 3G on AT&T question
MidnightDraven said:
You understand that it won't get 3G on at&t?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can someone explain to me, or point me to a thread, why a US T-Mo phone would not be compatible with AT&T's 3G? I am thinking about buying a HD2 and taking it to AT&T because I have no T-Mo coverage at work. But tethering and data rates are critical to me.
Thanks
Because TMo decided to be clever and chose a spectrum for their 3G service completely apart from everyone else (save for Wind Mobile in Canada.)
You'd get EDGE at best.
akhnaten said:
Can someone explain to me, or point me to a thread, why a US T-Mo phone would not be compatible with AT&T's 3G? I am thinking about buying a HD2 and taking it to AT&T because I have no T-Mo coverage at work. But tethering and data rates are critical to me.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-mo uses different bands than at&t for 3g. You would only get edge speeds on at&t with a t-mo us hd2. If you get the australian telstra HD2, you can get 3g with at&t.
hanya said:
Can someone tell me how to unlock the Tmobile US version of the HD2? I would like to use it on At&t in the US.
Thanks!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't understand how you were able to buy a TMO version of the HD2 from craigslist when the phone hasn't even been released to the stores. More than likely you bought a foreign HD2 that has been unlocked for use on any GSM carrier.
Like other threads have stated, TMO and ATT 3G use different frequencies. IF it is a TMO HD2 you won't be able to use ATT 3G and vice versa. Also, this phone being a foreign HD2 (more than likely), you won't be able to use 3G on TMO. Though, maybe on ATT.
Anyway, I digress, in order to unlock the phone for use across GSM carriers, you have to obtain the unlock code either from HTC or TMO (or ATT) and need a "foreign" SIM card to input the unlock code. The unlock is based on the IMEI of your particular phone and thus is unique to each phone.
zarathustrax said:
T-mo uses different bands than at&t for 3g. You would only get edge speeds on at&t with a t-mo us hd2. If you get the australian telstra HD2, you can get 3g with at&t.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sweet, I will check out that route.
Thanks
when hd2 release from tmobile I will get one without contract.I have 5.99 data plan so far.my question is the hd2 can use that data plan what I have??!
paullu said:
when hd2 release from tmobile I will get one without contract.I have 5.99 data plan so far.my question is the hd2 can use that data plan what I have??!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course, HD2 is just another wm6x phone.
akhnaten said:
Can someone explain to me, or point me to a thread, why a US T-Mo phone would not be compatible with AT&T's 3G? I am thinking about buying a HD2 and taking it to AT&T because I have no T-Mo coverage at work. But tethering and data rates are critical to me.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
at&t uses different 3g frequency
HD2
TMONEWS.COM is saying it will release the 24th of this month.
I have been a t-mo customer for like 8 years so I called them last night and after some beating around the bush the rep verified the 24th (they are not supposed to leak anything on this phone until it drops) He also said it will be $449 buying outright or $180 for existing customer and a 2 yr extension.
Once I got this guy talking (which took a while) he really began spilling the beans so I am pretty pleased with the info I received.
I'll be standing at the T-Mo door at 9am on the 24th to get this beast.
Even the T-Mo rep compared it to several other models (Nexus one and others) and he said it's a beast and gonna give the iphone some stiff competition.
skim56732 said:
I don't understand how you were able to buy a TMO version of the HD2 from craigslist when the phone hasn't even been released to the stores. More than likely you bought a foreign HD2 that has been unlocked for use on any GSM carrier.
Like other threads have stated, TMO and ATT 3G use different frequencies. IF it is a TMO HD2 you won't be able to use ATT 3G and vice versa. Also, this phone being a foreign HD2 (more than likely), you won't be able to use 3G on TMO. Though, maybe on ATT.
Anyway, I digress, in order to unlock the phone for use across GSM carriers, you have to obtain the unlock code either from HTC or TMO (or ATT) and need a "foreign" SIM card to input the unlock code. The unlock is based on the IMEI of your particular phone and thus is unique to each phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What does that mean?
I was planning on buying from tmobile, but now I need to get a foreign SIM card too?
Pics or this didn't happen.
I am moving back to the US from Europe, and I am so happy with my HD2 that I'd like to have the exact same thing in the US.
I can't live without 3G, though, so I think I have to replace my current European-band HD2. And I can't live without Cookie's home page tabs either, plus I prefer ATT to t-mobile.
Can I (or should I) buy an unlocked HD2 for use on US bands?
Is buying a Telstra HD2 an option? Is it unlocked?
If I went with US Tmobile, can I install Cookie's stuff?
Can Cookie's tabs be installed on a locked phone? Any applications that I couldn't install on a locked phone?
I searched the fora, but didn't come up with a clear answer to this - however I read many posts about there being no good way to unlock a US HD2, and I don't want to get stuck with any unexpected limitations on my use of the device.
The chepest rout will be getting it from T-Mobile. If you can find it in stock with T-Mobile, you can buy it for $450 with no contract directly from T-Mobile or as cheap as free on contract from some places. T-Mobile's network is really improving, I came from Verizon and in my area I am really happy with the coverage and HSDPA internet is really nice. I myself have the T-Mobile HD2 and it is running Energy 6.5.X Series ROM which includes Cookies. If you buy it from T-Mobile no contract.they will unlock it right away for free as well. If you still want to go with AT&T, you will really want to buy the Telstra version as the T-Mobile version will not get 3G on AT&T an the Telstra version is several Hundred $ more than a contract free T-Mobile.
iphoneresister said:
I am moving back to the US from Europe, and I am so happy with my HD2 that I'd like to have the exact same thing in the US.
I can't live without 3G, though, so I think I have to replace my current European-band HD2. And I can't live without Cookie's home page tabs either, plus I prefer ATT to t-mobile.
Can I (or should I) buy an unlocked HD2 for use on US bands?
Is buying a Telstra HD2 an option? Is it unlocked?
If I went with US Tmobile, can I install Cookie's stuff?
Can Cookie's tabs be installed on a locked phone? Any applications that I couldn't install on a locked phone?
I searched the fora, but didn't come up with a clear answer to this - however I read many posts about there being no good way to unlock a US HD2, and I don't want to get stuck with any unexpected limitations on my use of the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The US T-Mobile HD2 can be unlocked just as the euro HD2. You can do the same stuff on the US HD2 as any HD2. Plus, the US T_mo version has twice as much ROM memory.
I have the TMOUS HD2, and the only app I haven't been able to install (and isn't all that important to me) is Advanced Config. Co0kie's, CHTE, BsB, Change Screen, Waze, all installed just fine with no unlocking necessary
The Telstra T9193 is unlocked, you can put in your AT&T sim and go. (Well, you'll probably want to flash to a different ROM, or at least run the carrier settings app to configure data for AT&T)
If you buy the T-Mo US HD2, it will only work in 3G on T-Mo's network.
I love my T9193 on AT&T. You will need to make sure you are in an 850MHz area, and not a 1900MHz area before purchasing, as the T9193 is 850/2100.
There are some retailers selling the T9193 in the US, but it's cheaper to get it from a reseller in Australia.
Thanks for all your replies!
Hey all I'm looking for some help on a quick matter. I just sol my HD2 to someone in Canada. Hes using Rogers telecom but primarily just wants to use it as a Android phone on that network. I flashed it to a Energy Rom and the 2.12 radio. Will I need to do anything else on my end to make sure it works when he opens the box? Any creative suggestions are appreciated and yes I did do a search didn't find out anything outside of 40 pages of what I am not trying to figure out.
Is it SIM unlocked? It will not work on Rogers, or any other network for that matter if it hasn't been SIM unlocked. Other then that, he will need to setup the APN settings that Rogers uses, but all in all it should work.
Yup
I installed Cotulla HSPL2 to unlock it. I believe that should be sufficient its just a matter of him putting in the correct APN numbers now I think?
wrong, hspl does not unlock the network.
you need to buy a code online or ask t mo if you have a contract.
also, does your buyer know there will be no 3g?
?
Me under contract? Probably, but my account has me listed on a different phone the HD2 isn't on there anymore.
Now you say wrong but no details on how to correct the problem. Can you be a little more forthcoming on where I should go fix this.
Nevermind I contacted TMO and they are unrooting the phone for free and will send me the code in the few days.
*shiver* unrooting...anyways, yeah you have to SIM unlock it, and HardSPL most definately doesn't do that. And also, the 3G bands that Rogers uses are different from that of T-Mobile, so he will not get 3G data, only EDGE and GPRS.
Thats what he wanted I figured he did the research about it working on Rogers.
BTW why shiver about unrooting? It seems like it opens it up to more stuff?
Because the HD2 isn't "rooted" in the first place. Both Android and the iPhone have dumbed down the masses so that jailbreak and root are commonplace terms that people apply to EVERYTHING in the smartphone sector, and it aggravates me.
ashasaur said:
jailbreak and root are commonplace terms that people apply to EVERYTHING in the smartphone sector, and it aggravates me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hehe with that and the bastardisation of the word "fail",society is collapsing as we watch!
Hey guys so I switched from iPhone to HTC HD2. And i got a little bit confused at one point. How do I use this phone with other carriers other than t-mobile? I have AT&T. After Doing some research I figured that I have two choices one is sim unlock which im not doing cause I gotta pay. And the second choice is radio flash? So Im confused right here. I have US t-mobile HD2, i put 2.08HSPL and have wp7 rom on it. Can I still do radio flash? If so how can I do this? And if ill do it, i will be able to use 3g data? Im sorry if im asking about some obvious things but im tottaly new to HTCs. Thank you.
Welcome to the HD2 world. I don't know specifically about the US models but in Europe, you need to sim unlock to use a locked phone on a different carrier.
Using different radio versions allows you to test and find one that offers the best balance of battery life and signal quality for your location and usage pattern.
With regards to data speed, those would be dependent on your carrier as unlocking gives you access to all the HD2s capabilities.
If I'm wrong in any of these someone will chime in soon. Have you tried using the search and looking the the very details FAQ threads? Have fun!
Sent from my HTC HD2 via XDA app
Currently no free sim unlock. Buy a code online or get from t mobile.
Changing radio has no effect on network lock.
Regarding data speeds, it depends what network you are on. Example a tmous phone on at &t wont get 3g, cos the hardware bands don't match.
Flashing a radio will not allow you to use another carrier. You gotta pay for that privilege.