Data Plan T-mobile, advice please

[monyetbesar]

I am considering buying a Nokia e61i phone. My interest is in having unlimited data or as close to unlimited data, SMS etc. while travelling internationally. I spend about 2 weeks travelling int'l every month. Would also like ot know if we get a discount on foreign hotspots (t-mobile usa customers)?

Was wanting the family plan, AT&T seems to have much better phones? But wanting wifi 3g etc.. has me buying a phone and considering two seperate plans. one family memeber AT&T (always in USA) and I go with T-mobile.

Any help sorting out this option is appreciated.

[Matt]

TM Hotspot roaming info is here:

https://selfcare.hotspot.t-mobile.com/roaming_info.do

[monyetbesar]

I have printed and taken note of the pages. I am trying to decide if a family plan is required or as I am the only one travelling int'l if seperate plans may also be of good value. Thinking the unlimited int'l messaging sounds nice.

Thanks again for the help!!!

[SteveW]

Originally Posted by monyetbesar

... My interest is in having unlimited data or as close to unlimited data, SMS etc. while travelling internationally. I spend about 2 weeks travelling int'l every month. Would also like ot know if we get a discount on foreign hotspots (t-mobile usa customers)?

Was wanting the family plan, AT&T seems to have much better phones? But wanting wifi 3g etc.. has me buying a phone and considering two seperate plans. ...

Isn't it the case that the 3G frequencies used in the US are different from those used in Europe? If so, even your quad-band 3G phone bought here may not be 3G over there. Someone here must know this off the top of their heads (hf1khal, Zaphod, dmapr, Charlyee this means you ). Oh and one more thing. T-Mobile doesn't have any 3G phones in the US.

SW

[monyetbesar]

I am thinking of purchasing the Nokia e61i , overseas, just a thought. The main thing is to stay connected with my world (family in US) while I travel for two weeks every month. Mostly concerned about message ability, can always get an Orange card or similar for the phone calls.

I really appreciate the site, help and trying to unlock the mystery.

Cheers to all

Charlie

[Charlyee]

Originally Posted by SteveW

Isn't it the case that the 3G frequencies used in the US are different from those used in Europe? If so, even your quad-band 3G phone bought here may not be 3G over there. Someone here must know this off the top of their heads (hf1khal, Zaphod, dmapr, Charlyee this means you ). Oh and one more thing. T-Mobile doesn't have any 3G phones in the US.

SW

Lol, Steve, you are doing just fine by yourself as usual and absolutely do not need any help.

As long as you mentioned my name though, I will ofcourse put my 2 cents in.

Btw, I love your new sig., it is so you.

Originally Posted by monyetbesar

I am thinking of purchasing the Nokia e61i , overseas, just a thought. The main thing is to stay connected with my world (family in US) while I travel for two weeks every month. Mostly concerned about message ability, can always get an Orange card or similar for the phone calls.

I really appreciate the site, help and trying to unlock the mystery.

Cheers to all

Charlie

Hello and WELCOME to WA Charlie. I see you are my namesake even though the spelling is different.

As Steve mentioned, T-Mobile does not have 3G rolled out in the US yet and they seem to keep postponing the roll out. Cingular/ATT does have 3G in the US but it has not been completed in all coverage areas.

As to the E61i, it is an excellent choice in my opinion, and I have been eyeing it for sometime. It does not specifically name the US 3G bands but Nokiausa mentions it as coming to the US, so I am assuming it does or at least the Cingular/ATT 3G bands.

As to the 3G bands, here is what I know:

1. US Cingular/ATT - 850/1900
2. US T-Moblie - 1700
3. Rest of the world - 2100.

There are a number of good devices available, that have 850/1900/2100 3G, in conjunction with quad band GSM of 850/900/1800/1900.

Here are a couple more of my favorite Smartphones:

Ultimate 8150

QTEK 3600

Does any of this help?

[SteveW]

Originally Posted by Charlyee

Lol, Steve, you are doing just fine by yourself as usual and absolutely do not need any help. As long as you mentioned my name though, I will of course put my 2 cents in.

Btw, I love your new sig., it is so you.

Thanks, and thanks for supplying the facts I only dimly remembered and was too lazy to look up. And I'll be the judge of when I need help.



SW

[nKrypteD1]

Originally Posted by Charlyee

Lol, Steve, you are doing just fine by yourself as usual and absolutely do not need any help.

As long as you mentioned my name though, I will ofcourse put my 2 cents in.

Btw, I love your new sig., it is so you. Hello and WELCOME to WA Charlie. I see you are my namesake even though the spelling is different.

As Steve mentioned, T-Mobile does not have 3G rolled out in the US yet and they seem to keep postponing the roll out. Cingular/ATT does have 3G in the US but it has not been completed in all coverage areas.

As to the E61i, it is an excellent choice in my opinion, and I have been eyeing it for sometime. It does not specifically name the US 3G bands but Nokiausa mentions it as coming to the US, so I am assuming it does or at least the Cingular/ATT 3G bands.

As to the 3G bands, here is what I know:

1. US Cingular/ATT - 850/1900
2. US T-Moblie - 1700
3. Rest of the world - 2100.

There are a number of good devices available, that have 850/1900/2100 3G, in conjunction with quad band GSM of 850/900/1800/1900.

Here are a couple more of my favorite Smartphones:

Ultimate 8150

QTEK 3600

Does any of this help?

Charlyee you forgot the 8525/Hermes/TyTN, it's world W-CDMA capable, however, doesn't have T-Mobiles 1700 mhz spectrum in the list
GSM 850 / GSM 900 / GSM 1800 / GSM 1900
WCDMA 850 / WCDMA 1900 / WCDMA 2100

I'm not sure what to advise the op in regards to international roaming though, AT&T's international roaming charges are steep, and I think there have got to be better options.

[Charlyee]

Wirelessly posted (SAMSUNG-SGH-I607/I607FG1 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows CE; Smartphone; 320x240) UP.Link/6.3.1.17.0)

Thanks Shawn, I didn't mean to imply that those two were the only worlld 3G phones. Together with the E61i, they happen to be my favorites

Thanks for mentioning the TYTN, that"s a goose device

[Charlyee]

Wirelessly posted (SAMSUNG-SGH-I607/I607FG1 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows CE; Smartphone; 320x240) UP.Link/6.3.1.17.0)

Originally Posted by Charlyee

Wirelessly posted (SAMSUNG-SGH-I607/I607FG1 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows CE; Smartphone; 320x240) UP.Link/6.3.1.17.0)

Thanks Shawn, I didn't mean to imply that those two were the only worlld 3G phones. Together with the E61i, they happen to be my favorites

Thanks for mentioning the TYTN, that"s a goose device

Oops I meant to say GOOD device, not goose.

Thanks for pointing it out hme83, and no I don't know what a "goose device" is

[nKrypteD1]

Originally Posted by Charlyee

Wirelessly posted (SAMSUNG-SGH-I607/I607FG1 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows CE; Smartphone; 320x240) UP.Link/6.3.1.17.0)



Oops I meant to say GOOD device, not goose.

Thanks for pointing it out hme83, and no I don't know what a "goose device" is

Yeah once you figure it out you need to explain it to us Charlyee. Either way, most of the high end phones will support the 3g standard for around the globe (currently) I have yet to see a phone that supports T-mobile's 1700 band.

[monyetbesar]

What a neat group of people, as a new person to the community, you all are pretty darn neat.

I figure the phone is sorted, the Nokia e61i, though I'm wondering.. if I sign up for T-mobile, the phone selection seems weak at present. I have read rumors about T-mobile introducing the blackberry 8820 with wifi, I know no
3g, but may also do the ticket as I am signing a contract regardless, save a few bucks?

The real issue that I just can't see to muddle through is the following

Which darn service to sign up for.

My wants: be able to use international messaging, not too sure useful wifi abroad, At present I buy phone cards or use skype from the hotels to keep in touch with family.

Would like to be able to message phone to phone, check web sites etc? but mostly communicate with wife's phone via text at low cost. T-mobile blackberry international unlimited? though with e61i? can?

T-mobile coverage in my home town (Spokane) seems to be so so .

Wife stays in USA, mostly Spokane, so any plan is ok as long as can text back n forth to me etc. Family plan? vs her having Cingular and me on t-mobile? though may not be good price value?

I have researched and am now saturated with the options, I am hoping someone has walked this path already? at least thought it through.

I hope I can contribute to the site in the future, you all are way ahead of me at this point, loved the site links, new upcoming phones, and just learning from reading your input on this topic and others at WA. I am reading your input with great interest. I sure enjoy the other topic threads too.

Thanks

Charlie

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

Originally Posted by SteveW

Isn't it the case that the 3G frequencies used in the US are different from those used in Europe? If so, even your quad-band 3G phone bought here may not be 3G over there. Someone here must know this off the top of their heads (hf1khal, Zaphod, dmapr, Charlyee this means you ). Oh and one more thing. T-Mobile doesn't have any 3G phones in the US.

SW

3G

Cingular - 850/1900
T-Mobile - 1700/2100 (U.S. tweaked)
internationally - 1700/2100 (European tweaked)

for some reason the frequencies over here are the same ove rhere but they are tuned differently or something..........thus European 3G 1700/2100 phone will only work on European 3G 1700/2100 networks...........U.S. 3G 1700/2100 phones will only work on U.S. 3G 1700/2100 networks...........its annoying and confusing but its the sad truth......

so basically this has to be the frequency specs for your phones:

GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
UMTS/HSPA/HSDPA (U.S.) 1700/2100
UMTS/HSPA/HSDPA (Europe) 1700/2100

i doubt you can work that many frequencies into one phone....you would need the 1900 for T-mobile native coverage........and roaming.......as well as 850 for roaming.........1700 and 2100 for 3G here in the U.S. and a separate chipset for the European frequencies cuz like i said they are tuned differently.......thats the European 1700 and 2100 plus the 900 and 1800 for when there isn't European 3G