Database Users

Possible to use Epic 4G on other networks?

I'm a Cellular South user who's reallllly lusting after the Epic 4G -- sadly it looks like it's going to be the only Galaxy S slider released. Once the phone is released and rooted, would it be possible for the phone to work on non-Sprint carriers? I've currently got a HTC Hero, and I know for the longest time our ROMs were based off of the Sprint RUU.
Just curious if this is plausible, very likely, or not a chance in hell.
Thanks,
DrHogie

Sure it will be possible just like the Hero was. 4G won't be possible, but the phone will be able to at least make calls until you figure out any of the other stuff needed for data and market.

How compatible do you think this phone would be with MetroPCS? Also, I heard that LTE could be added with a firmware update on this phone, or at least phones like it. Is that true? If so, do you think it might work on other future 4G networks, like that of Verizon or Metro? Sorry for all the potentially silly questions, I've never shopped for a CDMA phone before.

LTE uses a SIM card I believe so without the hardware built into the pone, you couldn't use it on that kind of network.

I read a blog with an interview of a Sprint higher up saying that they could potentially change the technology of 4g quickly and cheaply in places that currently have 4g. However, I don't know if that means another set of GSM 3G vs CDMA 3G like we have now. Maybe it would be a CDMA LTE that doesn't use a SIM?
Hopefully they just leave well enough alone. I know the technology will be different at Verizon (LTE) and T-MO(HSPA+), but differences usually foster growth for the best to keep up. I guess that would also eliminate a roaming data possiblity.
Who knows...lots of questions.

LTE isn't CDMZA based, it is its own beast.
This is where I read about the SIM card http://gizmodo.com/5590530/leaked-documents-and-lte-sim-show-verizon-4g-launch-is-imminent
Wikipedia is more info if you search LTE about the technology.

at&t buying tmobile benefits for some

Do you think hd2 owners who have at&t will get to use tmobiles wavelength and finally get more than edge network from this happening??
For reference if new to this subject at&t and tmobile both have an EDGE network on the same wavelength so on an unlocked tmobile hd2 one can use the slow 2g internet connection of at&t, but the 3g networks run off of different bands so an at&t # can't connect to any 3g whatsoever, with at&t's purchase of tmobile wouldn't at&t have to utilize tmobiles 3g wavelength in order to still provide 3g and 3.5g to everyone with tmobile phones that aren't compatible with at&t's current network? If so then I'm personally benefitting from this and finally getting a decent mobile data speed on my tmobile phone with my at&t network
Please don't bash at&t here, I know they suck, I've used their service for quite some time now, I'm just looking for opinions and facts on this matter
and I know euro hd2's already pick up at&t 3g, I'm talking about tmous hardware

From what I have read it seems that in a year or so if this deal is accepted by the FCC at&t will reuse and refit tmobiles network towers/equipment to use there 4g LTE network and give it a boost while removing T-Mobile service altogether causing us T-Mobile 3g/4g users to get new phones that work on AT&T's data network so in your case I highly doubt it there really isn't a benefit for AT&T or T-mobile other then T-Mobile users will be able to have different range of phones (mostly iPhone) I really hope the FCC denies this deal not only does it kills another service provider option limiting us to 3 major companies and forces people escaping the high price of service from sprint, Verizon, and At&t (I've been on them all and left because of price and QOS) but also makes AT&T top dog just because they bought out another company

Yea I read about this yesterday. Highly pissed off. I can't stand at&t. Crappy phone signal, high prices, and crappy customer service. I hope this deal does not go through. Just like when sprint was supposed to buy tmobile. Hopefully it's just a rumor.

XsceneXhippieX said:
Do you think hd2 owners who have at&t will get to use tmobiles wavelength and finally get more than edge network from this happening??
For reference if new to this subject at&t and tmobile both have an EDGE network on the same wavelength so on an unlocked tmobile hd2 one can use the slow 2g internet connection of at&t, but the 3g networks run off of different bands so an at&t # can't connect to any 3g whatsoever, with at&t's purchase of tmobile wouldn't at&t have to utilize tmobiles 3g wavelength in order to still provide 3g and 3.5g to everyone with tmobile phones that aren't compatible with at&t's current network? If so then I'm personally benefitting from this and finally getting a decent mobile data speed on my tmobile phone with my at&t network
Please don't bash at&t here, I know they suck, I've used their service for quite some time now, I'm just looking for opinions and facts on this matter
and I know euro hd2's already pick up at&t 3g, I'm talking about tmous hardware
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually I have read that its the exact opposite......AT&T has planned to upgrade all of Tmobiles service towers to the 4G LTE, leaving all T-Mobile Branded 3g phones unable to access

robstillholdin said:
Actually I have read that its the exact opposite......AT&T has planned to upgrade all of Tmobiles service towers to the 4G LTE, leaving all T-Mobile Branded 3g phones unable to access
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, about 5 minutes after i posted this i saw the article stating that at&t is decommissioning tmobile's 3/3.5g towers to use them for their LTE, too bad at&t is already selling "4g" phones (ie the atrix and the inspire 4g) with no capability of utilizing TRUE 4g via LTE later on... anyone else think at&t will re-release said phones as LTE devices for $50 more than the hspa versions? i cant wait to switch to verizon personally, but im waiting for a htc pyramid compatible with verizons 4g network to switch

I received a letter from tmobile if I wanted to attend a meeting/conference for San Jose, Ca becuase my current phone service will be upgraded.... not removed....

Is this confirmed yet? If so, I am going to be HIGHLY pissed off. I HATE AT&T with a passion and refuse to use their service.
Is it possible to unlock my HD2 and my fiancee's Galaxy S Vibrant to use on Sprint or Verizon?

Specialk47150 said:
Is this confirmed yet? If so, I am going to be HIGHLY pissed off. I HATE AT&T with a passion and refuse to use their service.
Is it possible to unlock my HD2 and my fiancee's Galaxy S Vibrant to use on Sprint or Verizon?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, only for gsm networks, which is now going through an approval process to become a single gsm network, not confirmed until the fcc gives the word though so keep your fingers crossed!
Sent from cyanogen mod 7

Specialk47150 said:
Is this confirmed yet? If so, I am going to be HIGHLY pissed off. I HATE AT&T with a passion and refuse to use their service.
Is it possible to unlock my HD2 and my fiancee's Galaxy S Vibrant to use on Sprint or Verizon?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No Tmobile and AT&T use sim cards and use totally different frequencies

If the deal passes I highly doubt that the T-mobile name will continue for long. Especially since both carriers operate on the voicestream network. This will combine T-mobile's few towers with ATT's many towers. But as someone mentioned earlier niether of these two have real 4G. It ticks me off when I see comercials calling it 4G. Only verizon is rolling out true 4G in LTE.
And in case you haven't heard. T-mobile was going down hill. They were losing money. There were talks of Sprint buying them at first. So it may be a good thing with ATT buying them up.

With AT&T buying out T-Mobile what does this mean to our beloved HD2

I read that T-Mobile users will have to switch out to an AT&T smartphone device (at no cost or so they say) in order to stay on the 3G network because of the frequency difference. With that said it will be the end of our HD2 at least on 3G, even if it's a year out this phone still has over a year left of use in it.

do we need another thread about this buyout?

Not true. Nothing will happen for atleast a year. Plus.......from what I have read...they bought T-Mobile to add the 2 networks together. At&t has run out of room and want to unload some of they're weight onto tmobiles spectrum.
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA Premium App

why would they stop broadcasting on our 3g frequency?
they paid the FCC ridiculously for the right to that frequency and by adding the two different frequencies together and by designing phones with radios to access both frequencies, AT&T be able to compete with Verizon in terms of network coverage speed etc. This merger could be good for us as long as they don't price gouge us.
It doesnt make any sense unless at&t plans to sell the tmobile frequency to another cell company to force customers to switch to at&t phones...I dont see how or why that would ever happen makes much more sense to combine networks to increase speed and coverage and provide better service bc that is what will get and keep customers
If AT&T jacks up rates and tries to play the TMobile customers who went to TMobile in the first place bc Tmobile was the only wireless competition who went after Verizon and AT&T by offering better prices then AT&T can kiss its TMobile customers goodbye. I hate this merger from a consumer perspective but if they dont get greedy it might be ok...I dunno lack of competition is almost always bad for consumers

TopOfNewYork said:
why would they stop broadcasting on our 3g frequency?
they paid the FCC ridiculously for the right to that frequency and by adding the two different frequencies together and by designing phones with radios to access both frequencies, AT&T be able to compete with Verizon in terms of network coverage speed etc. This merger could be good for us as long as they don't price gouge us.
It doesnt make any sense unless at&t plans to sell the tmobile frequency to another cell company to force customers to switch to at&t phones...I dont see how or why that would ever happen makes much more sense to combine networks to increase speed and coverage and provide better service bc that is what will get and keep customers
If AT&T jacks up rates and tries to play the TMobile customers who went to TMobile in the first place bc Tmobile was the only wireless competition who went after Verizon and AT&T by offering better prices then AT&T can kiss its TMobile customers goodbye. I hate this merger from a consumer perspective but if they dont get greedy it might be ok...I dunno lack of competition is almost always bad for consumers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AT&T has announced it is NOT going to us T-Mo's frequencies. They are going to upgrade the T-Mo towers to their 4G LTE tech, rendering our 3G phones useless. This is supposed to take a year or two though.

so whoever has the tmobiles "4G" aka HSPA+ devices, will be able to use that "4G LTE" network that they gonna add which should make G2 MT4G capable of the real 4G speeds?

No HSPA + uses GSM crap and whatnot whilst LTE is like next gen GSM. So no, if you have an HSPA+ phone it won't work on LTE.

Kailkti said:
No HSPA + uses GSM crap and whatnot whilst LTE is like next gen GSM. So no, if you have an HSPA+ phone it won't work on LTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well that blows.. guess ill have to wait to see waht they come up with. no matter how much i hate att i really need a gsm device....

Well as said. LTE is like a next gen or evolution of GSM. So alot of carriers are moving to it, if not all. At&t, Verizon, Sprint, Europe is going there. Maybe asia. So maybe LTE will be the new GSM.
Only downside is for people who live in third/second world countries.
Although you won't expect a big wave of LTE devices to hit anytime soon however, and make GSM obsolete.

Kailkti said:
Well as said. LTE is like a next gen or evolution of GSM. So alot of carriers are moving to it, if not all. At&t, Verizon, Sprint, Europe is going there. Maybe asia. So maybe LTE will be the new GSM.
Only downside is for people who live in third/second world countries.
Although you won't expect a big wave of LTE devices to hit anytime soon however, and make GSM obsolete.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well yea thats true but withing next like 2 years they should start popping out fast

nothing is changing any time soon.... They are honoring all contracts that are entered before the merger happens. MEANING if you have an hd2 you have nothing to worry about. I for one will not still be using it in two years from now. There will be WAY better phones by then.

what a niche of people are worried about is if the $10 web2go or $5.99 tzones UNLIMITED DATA WITH TETHERING NO CAPS will still work..

[Q] Verizon service/plans when it comes to phablets

I have a phone that I bought from Verizon and I have kept the unlimited data. I know all about my phone but next to nothing about my service.
My question is specifically about phablets (for example, this) which is basically a big ass phone, or a tablet with cell service, however you want to word it. I'd use it exclusively with bluetooth instead of holding the thing up to my head, don't worry.
I travel internationally and see them A LOT in other countries (they cannot help me though since I need one to use in the US). I am under the impression that VZ will not activate anything I did not buy from them. I don't know how solid this is but every VZ employee I have asked has confirmed this so far. I know in the past that it used to be as simple as switching out the SIM card but doubt this is still the case.
I'm sure there are some hardware specs (frequencies?) that I need to look at that would determine the LTE/4G/3G whatever compatibility, but I don't know the terminology. Also I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking at when it comes to CDMA vs GSM, only that blokes in England use GSM. Can you help me out?
Also, I am hesitant to leave VZ because of the unlimited data and the service coverage. I live in mildly populated CT, USA and would welcome a prepaid plan if data/service is comparable but don't even know where to begin looking.
Thank you in advance - I really don't have anyone else to ask about this stuff.

I'll try to make it simple for you. There are really two types of cell networks (not counting LTE, since all carriers are using that now here in the US): GSM and CDMA.
CDMA is what Verizon, Sprint, US Cellular, MetroPCS, Cricket, and maybe other smaller carriers use. It is based on a serial number called a ESN on older phones or MEID on newer phones (since the late 2000s). That serial number is burned into the programming of the phone on the ROM and cannot be changed very easily and is illegal to do so supposedly. There are two types of CDMA technology in use today, 1xRTT and EVDO (older analog was phased out a few years ago). 1xRTT or 1x as it's abbreviated, is a "2G" technology that allows for packet switched voice and SMS traffic, as well as very very slow data speeds (think 56k dialup). EVDO is strictly for data (the voice part was never added because they didn't want to pony up the cost of it) and is used in Rev 0 and Rev A EVDO. Most Verizon/Sprint 3G is Rev. A EVDO. It hits a max of 3.1Mbps down and if you get a call or text message, it drops to 1x and the 3g is suspended, unless you have a radio that can do both at once (HTC Thunderbolt). You activate by serial number and a bad ESN means they didn't pay their bill or it was an insurance claim on a lost phone and they are blacklisted.
GSM is a technology essentially where it uses a little plastic and electronic card called a SIM card. T-Mobile and AT&T are the two major carriers with this technology. There are several revisions of this technology in use today, GRPS, Edge, and various UTMS and HSPA versions. GRPS is analogous to 1xRTT in terms of speed, and Edge is in between and gives up to 250kb/s down, technically a 3g technology, although not feeling like it. UTMS, HSPA, and WCDMA all refer to a similar type of technology which is what is used by the 3G level of service of AT&T and T-Mobile (fake 4G on T-Mobile). It goes from just faster than Edge to DC-HSPA 42Mbps down speeds and allows for simultaneous voice/data (Edge and GRPS are either data or voice, not both). Your phone number is tied to the SIM card and this technology offers an advantage of if your main phone craps out, you can store your contacts on the SIM and just put it in another phone and still have service.
Roaming and tower authentication are completely different in GSM vs. CDMA. CDMA uses what's called a PRL (Preferred Roaming List) to determine which towers to authenticate to essentially, and sets priority. Some people will "hack" the PRL by changing it so for example if they have Sprint and their tower has the crappy 3g speeds, they roam on Verizon since they have unlimited roaming and get Verizon's better 3g speeds. GSM roaming is set per tower or location on the SIM card, and is a pretty static value dependent on the carrier. Roaming is only if they allow it depending on your plan and location (like T-Mobile prepaid will not roam on AT&T, but postpaid "Uncarrier" plans will).
So what you have is probably a tablet based on the data that gets EVDO service and probably 1xRTT and maybe LTE. If you have it on a phone plan and not a tablet plan, it's probably a Note 2 or something which is just really a phone from what it sounds like if you use Bluetooth. CDMA carriers will only use their devices and lock down ESNs to what they sell, so you can't buy a device from Sprint and put it on Verizon. The exception to that is sometimes prepaid carriers will let you "flash" the phone to their service but don't guarantee the results and don't support it. Examples include Cricket, MetroPCS, Page Plus, and I think Virgin Mobile or Boost *might*, but don't quote me.
LTE is a newer technology which isn't technically 4G yet since we haven't seen speeds here in the US on current LTE revisions of over 100Mbps, but they do have the ability with the right equipment. It uses SIM cards so you will see newer Verizon/Sprint devices actually use SIM cards for service (which is superior as noted above), and have an ESN so it can fall back to 1x or EV. The plan is to eventually roll out LTE to all towers and if you have a LTE device, you use LTE for voice and data (VoLTE), but all carriers don't have LTE on all towers so they fall back to HSPA/Edge or 1x for voice for now. They probably have dual radios like the HTC Thunderbolt and use both at the same time but LTE is still a maturing technology and has a lot of potential.
I hope this helps.
Edit: I forgot to add, for the smaller prepaid plans, you have to look at who they are based off of. Most of them just use a parent network from one of the 4 big carriers (Cricket being the exception, they have their own towers and roam on Sprint if you leave native coverage). I know Page Plus uses prepaid Verizon towers, but for the most part you won't get unlimited uncapped data on Verizon unless you keep your old $30 grandfathered plan. If you switch to a limited data plan, say bye bye. Honestly if you don't want to pay Verizon prices (I don't blame you), and you have the availability for it for coverage, T-Mobile or Sprint have good options. T-Mobile's network where they have 3g/4g is way way good. They just deployed equipment on their towers that's above everyone else with new NSN antennas and the LTE revision is LTE-A I think (check what Milan posted on Howard Forums for sure), but it's high dollar equipment that isn't cheap. Also they are upgrading the backhaul on their towers and most people are pulling between 10-20Mbps on DC-HSPA and 15-30Mbps on LTE. Milan got about 25 Mbps in NYC on T-Mobile LTE so they are a really good way to go and you can get an unlimited plan for $70 a month prepaid. Also, you can get a 5GB/100 min/unlimited SMS plan for $30 from Wal-Mart/tmobile.com.

Droid Mini and AT&T experiment

I live in western Raleigh, NC. I use a Nexus 5 with AT&T. A few years ago I used a Droid Mini on Verizon (XT1030 http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_droid_mini-5603.php) I quit Verizon, and tried my Droid Mini on AT&T. Couldnt get the data to work on the Droid Mini with AT&T, so I bought the Nexus 5. A few days ago I figured I would try the Droid Mini again on AT&T, just to see what would happen...
I ran down to the AT&T store near my home and asked for a nano sim-card, which AT&T happily gave me for free. I put the AT&T nano-sim card into the Verizon Droid Mini, and guess what? Not only did the voice calling work, the data also worked. When I tried this a few years ago, the data refused to work. At my home, my Verizon Droid Mini is giving me H++ speeds on the AT&T network. In certain parts of Raleigh, with my Verizon Droid Mini, I am getting full-blown 4G LTE signal on the AT&T network, with 4G LTE speeds. I tested the speeds of my Verizon Droid Mini on the AT&T network when I received LTE, and yep, I was getting between 20-35 mbps.
The Verizon Droid Mini is meant to be a CDMA phone. Obviously it can pick up GSM signals, but what I want to know is, how can the Verizon Droid Mini get a 4G LTE signal from AT&T?

greymarch said:
I live in western Raleigh, NC. I use a Nexus 5 with AT&T. A few years ago I used a Droid Mini on Verizon (XT1030 http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_droid_mini-5603.php) I quit Verizon, and tried my Droid Mini on AT&T. Couldnt get the data to work on the Droid Mini with AT&T, so I bought the Nexus 5. A few days ago I figured I would try the Droid Mini again on AT&T, just to see what would happen...
I ran down to the AT&T store near my home and asked for a nano sim-card, which AT&T happily gave me for free. I put the AT&T nano-sim card into the Verizon Droid Mini, and guess what? Not only did the voice calling work, the data also worked. When I tried this a few years ago, the data refused to work. At my home, my Verizon Droid Mini is giving me H++ speeds on the AT&T network. In certain parts of Raleigh, with my Verizon Droid Mini, I am getting full-blown 4G LTE signal on the AT&T network, with 4G LTE speeds. I tested the speeds of my Verizon Droid Mini on the AT&T network when I received LTE, and yep, I was getting between 20-35 mbps.
The Verizon Droid Mini is meant to be a CDMA phone. Obviously it can pick up GSM signals, but what I want to know is, how can the Verizon Droid Mini get a 4G LTE signal from AT&T?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
because it has the lte bands for it, i was using my droid maxx in mexico with telcel, which uses the same bands as at&t, and it worked like a charm on LTE with top speeds always

Jaocagomez said:
because it has the lte bands for it, i was using my droid maxx in mexico with telcel, which uses the same bands as at&t, and it worked like a charm on LTE with top speeds always
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess I should have given a few more details...
In western Raleigh, I only get H+ top speeds. In southern and central Raleigh I get the LTE. Could AT&T have band 4 in Southern/Central Raleigh and not in western Raleigh?

Sprint and Verizon use a sort of hybrid technology with respect to their 4G LTE networks, that's why their devices require a SIM card. Verizon devices since the summer of 2013 are pretty much always GSM unlocked even here in the US for domestic operation - they come that way because of some requirements that Verizon was responsible for honoring during the frequency allocation auction by the FCC a few years ago.
Basically that means every Verizon device (that is a 4G LTE one which means pretty much everything they've been selling for 2 years roughly) is ready to go by inserting a SIM card (activated for whatever other carrier you use, of course) and running with it. You may be required to fix or alter or add the proper APN for the other carrier - the info is supposed to be on the SIM card and usually is read without issues but sometimes it's not and has to be manually put in which takes a minute or two, not a big hassle.
I'm suspecting the AT&T SIM card you tried originally didn't have the proper APN data (older SIM cards tend to not be read so well in newer devices) and it just wasn't able to work the data connection - the phone call aspects will pretty much always work and you'll know that by the fact that it connects to the carrier you've chosen but that's just for phone calls, not the data.
Sprint locks their devices not only with a SIM lock but also a domestic lock of sorts: they don't like people using the devices they sell (contract or not) here in the US so they will block the use of SIM cards for providers here in the US even if you get the SIM unlock code from them more often than not. This isn't a 100% sure thing but it does tend to be reported quite often.
Workarounds for the Sprint issues usually relate to finding something like a radio file/firmware from a Sprint device used someplace else in the world and then flashing it on a domestic device for use here in the US, or another method is patching some system files to allow the radio to work properly without such artificial limitations put in place by Sprint's somewhat draconian methods.
Anyway, with a Sprint device here in the US, the LTE bands that Sprint does use are completely different from those that AT&T and T-Mobile tend to use: Sprint likes bands 25, 26, and 41 while AT&T likes 2, 4, and 17 while T-Mobile favors 2, 4, and 12. Verizon likes 2, 4, and 13 - see how this works out?
There's overlapping coverage from AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon on the 2 and 4 bands hence devices sold by these companies being able to mingle, so to speak, on the GSM operations - Verizon phones of course still require CDMA for their primary usage so if you get a Verizon device with a busted SIM card slot or whatever it won't be of any use on AT&T or T-Mobile.
But that's it, more or less. The Droid series of devices since the Droid Ultra (MAXX and Mini came later) have been GSM unlocked from the go, including the Droid TURBO as well and most everything else Verizon sells. I've heard a few reports that newer devices (like the Droid TURBO perhaps) may have another level of blocking of some kind but, so far every device I've owned from Verizon since the Droid Ultra was released has been GSM unlocked and works fine with my T-Mobile service with nothing more than manually adding some APN info in 1 min or less.
Hope this helps...
greymarch said:
I guess I should have given a few more details...
In western Raleigh, I only get H+ top speeds. In southern and central Raleigh I get the LTE. Could AT&T have band 4 in Southern/Central Raleigh and not in western Raleigh?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course it's possible, you should check out AT&T coverage maps and cross-reference the locations to get more info, or just call AT&T and ask them for specifics, it can't hurt.