iPhone germany on Tmobile USA?

[blueflame]

ok, so i know that no one actually has them yet. I am just trying to figure this out, and have not seen it even asked yet.

if you get a iphone from germany, that runs on tmobile, can you use a USA tmobile chip in it and have it work?
A

 

[synth3tik]

T-Mobile Germany is different from the US T-Mobile. It will work in the US, as your paying international rates. Just like taking your AT&T iPhone ti Germany.

 

[JGDrummer]

T-Mobile Germany is different from the US T-Mobile. It will work in the US, as your paying international rates. Just like taking your AT&T iPhone ti Germany.

I believe he is not actually talking about "roaming" to different country. He wants to buy an iPhone from Germany and put his US T-Mobile SIM card into it.


I contacted T-Mobile about this and the gentleman I spoke to told me that T-Mobile Germany and T-Mobile USA run on the same frequencies which means that it should work. The frequencies are 900 and 1800.

 

[rjohnstone]

I believe he is not actually talking about "roaming" to different country. He wants to buy an iPhone from Germany and put his US T-Mobile SIM card into it.


I contacted T-Mobile about this and the gentleman I spoke to told me that T-Mobile Germany and T-Mobile USA run on the same frequencies which means that it should work. The frequencies are 900 and 1800.

The T-Mobile rep was referring to voice service... they are compatible.

Their GSM/GPRS (Voice and EDGE) service is on the 1900 Mhz band.

T-Mobile USA uses a different frequency than T-Mobile Germany for 3G (UMTS) service.

T-Mobile USA is using the 1700/2100 Mhz bands for 3G (UMTS)
T-Mobile Germany uses 1900/2100 Mhz for 3G (UMTS)

AT&T uses 850/1900Mhz bands for 3G (UMTS)

The 3G iPhone uses Tri-Band UMTS 850/1900/2100 Mhz

 

[gkarris]

It will work. How much are the phones? Wouldn't you have to break your T-Mobile Germany contract? Will they let you transfer the Germany contract to the USA (I would think so - same company).

The phone will work on EDGE instead.

 

[Diveflo]

Depends on your contract, you can get it for 1€ to 249,95€. The most expensive contract is 89€/month (=8gig 1€), the cheapest is 29€/month.

 

[JGDrummer]

The T-Mobile rep was referring to voice service... they are compatible.

Their GSM/GPRS (Voice and EDGE) service is on the 1900 Mhz band.

T-Mobile USA uses a different frequency than T-Mobile Germany for 3G (UMTS) service.

T-Mobile USA is using the 1700/2100 Mhz bands for 3G (UMTS)
T-Mobile Germany uses 1900/2100 Mhz for 3G (UMTS)

AT&T uses 850/1900Mhz bands for 3G (UMTS)

The 3G iPhone uses Tri-Band UMTS 850/1900/2100 Mhz

Sorry, my mistake for not specifying.

I, myself, was talking about the 2g iPhone.

I believe all the same frequencies on 2G, here and Germany, are the same.

Can you clarify?

 

[ConstantinApple]

iPhone frequency ... hardware or firmware limitation?

So I'm wondering, is the frequency a phone works on something that is limited by the devices hardware, or the devices firmware?

Constantin

 

[Nermal]

Wow, what an old thread

It's hardware.

 

[js1092]

Same question with 3GS

Hi,

I have the same issue, a German 3GS with standard TMobile Account and want to travel to New York for two weeks. I would love to have any Provider with a kind of prepaid card with reasonable fees so I can use my iPhone in New York the two weeks with UMTS. I appreciate any alternative to the 2 Euro Roaming per 1MB from TMobile Germany.

Juergen

 

[mkrishnan]

I have the same issue, a German 3GS with standard TMobile Account and want to travel to New York for two weeks. I would love to have any Provider with a kind of prepaid card with reasonable fees so I can use my iPhone in New York the two weeks with UMTS. I appreciate any alternative to the 2 Euro Roaming per 1MB from TMobile Germany.

AFAIK, AT&T is the only option for UMTS in NY. None of the iPhones support the necessary frequencies for T-Mobile USA's 3G network. You would have to unlock your phone using Blackra1n or the like, and buy the appropriate SIM card. If you can live with EDGE for two weeks, then you have some additional options.