O2 coverage.........

[Madfish]

Thanks for all the replies - yep it is the delightful little xda thingy I'm after - phone tarts rool okay - and as for the geeky answers - some of you folk are waaaaay too scary............

Dianne

[JasonP]

Originally Posted by Bantam

As an ex-employee of a mobile service provider, I can give you the definitive (and correct) answer.

3G (UMTS) Handsets usually support the following frequencies and carriers;
800Mhz (International GSM)
900Mhz (Vodafone / O2 in General)
1800Mhz (Orange / T-Mobile)
1900Mhz (USA / International GSM)
These four are collectively known as 'Quad Band' and are the primary carriers for the system known as GSM.

Don't think there are any handsets that support all 4 GSM bands and 3G, though it probably only matters if you're going to places like Ecuador, as they have 850 only networks.

Jason

[Bantam]

Originally Posted by JasonP

Don't think there are any handsets that support all 4 GSM bands and 3G, though it probably only matters if you're going to places like Ecuador, as they have 850 only networks.

Jason

I thought my W850i was, but it's tri-band and 3G. However, the new 3G data cards definitely are QuadBand and 3G;

Networks
3G UMTS
GSM850
GSM900
GSM1800
GSM1900

It did used to be that South America was the only place to get GSM850 coverage. Problem is that some of the stateside carriers are starting to install GSM850 base stations so quad band is becoming ever more required.

I still use Nextel when I'm in the states as GSM coverage is still really patchy, plus I like push to talk!

Sorry for the thread diversion!

[Janos]

Pretty much 21% across the whole of the UK I think. Probably a bit less over London.

Janos

[wreckweasel]

Buy HTC

They're not subsidised, but then you could always get a SIM only deal and reduce your monthly rental

[Bantam]

Originally Posted by JasonP

Don't think there are any handsets that support all 4 GSM bands and 3G, though it probably only matters if you're going to places like Ecuador, as they have 850 only networks.

Jason

Sorry to be a pedant, but I'm sure I wasn't mistaken.

Most of the new Nokia 3G Handsets (N80 for example) are GSM/EGSM/WCDMA

(i.e. 850,900,1800,1900 + 3G);

"

• Quadband EDGE/GSM 850/900/1800/1900 + WCDMA 1900 or 2100 MHz with simultaneous voice and packet data (PS max speed UL/DL= 384/384kbps, CS max speed 64kpbs)
• EGPRS (Class B, Multislot class 11): Maximum download 236.8 kbps; upload 177.6 kbps
• Data transfer (from compatible S40 phones and S60 phones