Will an Unlocked 3G iPhone work on other 3G networks?

[citron230]

This is something I have been thinking about. I am not planning on unlocking an iPhone, but I was wondering? If you can unlock a 3G iPhone, could you use another carriers 3G network, and would all of the features run exactly the same.
I have had phones in the past, years back that I unlocked, but never could get all of the features to run exactly the way they were meant to.

 

[PoitNarf]

As long as a 3G iPhone supports the same protocols and frequencies used by another carrier it should be compatible.

 

[edesignuk]

Provided the other "3G" networks are of the same base standard it should work.

Verizon's 3G and AT&T's 3G are totally different from what I understand. But AT&T and T-Mobile are the same.

 

[shinchook]

You have to make sure the protocols are the same... Also you will be risking the possibility of a bricked iphone as well... Don't know if it is worth it.

 

[fishkorp]

But AT&T and T-Mobile are the same.

That is incorrect. In the US, T-Mobile's new 3G network uses a frequency different from pretty much every other carrier. Their GSM networks play nice, their 3G, not so much.

 

[frosse]

How do I know that they're the same?

 

[edesignuk]

That is incorrect. In the US, T-Mobile's new 3G network uses a frequency different from pretty much every other carrier. Their GSM networks play nice, their 3G, not so much.

My mistake then, I'm not in the US, from what I had read they used the same standards.

 

[ruinfx]

not in the US.

 

[zephead]

Unless Apple's making country-specific phones (probably not gonna happen with all the countries scheduled to get the iPhone), Apple's gonna have to make the 3G iPhone with tri-band UMTS (850/1900/2100 MHz) or more (900, 1700 MHz, possibly).

AT&T uses 850/1900 MHz for their 3G, and from what I understand, most European operators use 1900/2100 MHz. T-Mo's going with 1700/2100. I think Japan and/or Australia uses 900MHz, but I'm not entirely sure about that.

 

[kleo]

Ya man it works on ALL of them; I mean we are talking about an APPLE product here!!!

 

[frosse]

Would I be able to import a 3G iphone from the US, unlock it and use it with my carrier?

My carrier in Europe (Telenor) uses the following frequency bands for UMTS/HSDPA according to their site:
W-CDMA 850/1900/2100


Which ones do AT&T use for UMTS/HSDPA?


Are there other things affecting whether or not I will be able to use the phone here in europe?

Or will the new iphone simply have a lot more bands due to international release?


Edit: I totally missed zepheads post:

Unless Apple's making country-specific phones (probably not gonna happen with all the countries scheduled to get the iPhone), Apple's gonna have to make the 3G iPhone with tri-band UMTS (850/1900/2100 MHz) or more (900, 1700 MHz, possibly).

AT&T uses 850/1900 MHz for their 3G, and from what I understand, most European operators use 1900/2100 MHz. T-Mo's going with 1700/2100. I think Japan and/or Australia uses 900MHz, but I'm not entirely sure about that.

 

[ruinfx]

Unless Apple's making country-specific phones (probably not gonna happen with all the countries scheduled to get the iPhone), Apple's gonna have to make the 3G iPhone with tri-band UMTS (850/1900/2100 MHz) or more (900, 1700 MHz, possibly).

AT&T uses 850/1900 MHz for their 3G, and from what I understand, most European operators use 1900/2100 MHz. T-Mo's going with 1700/2100. I think Japan and/or Australia uses 900MHz, but I'm not entirely sure about that.

its important to note that the 2100 band that t-mobile will be using is not the same as the 2100 that is used in europe. also i think i remember australia using 850.

Would I be able to import a 3G iphone from the US, unlock it and use it with my carrier?

My carrier in Europe (Telenor) uses the following frequency bands for UMTS/HSDPA according to their site:
W-CDMA 850/1900/2100


Which ones do AT&T use for UMTS/HSDPA?


Are there other things affecting whether or not I will be able to use the phone here in europe?

Or will the new iphone simply have a lot more bands due to international release?


Edit: I totally missed zepheads post:

if the model sold in the US has triband 3G (850/1900/2100) then you could unlock it and use it on a european network. on the other hand if it is a US only model with (850/1900) then no. we will have to wait and see what apple does.

 

[Van Wildonher]

I don't think Apple is going to release different phones for different countries.