Will the iPhone 3GS be compatible with 900mhz Networks?

[Plexus]

Currently I have an iPhone 3G which supports Telstra's 850mhz network down here in Australia but doesnt support 900mhz. Will the new incarnation of the iPhone support this network channel?

 

[PoitNarf]

http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html

Cellular and wireless

* UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)
* GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

 

[NewMacbookPlz]

Every iPhone since the EDGE phone has supported the 900mhz band for EDGE/GSM, just not for HSDPA

 

[Plexus]

I probably should rephrase then, Can the iPhone 3GS support HSPDA 900mhz?

 

[PoitNarf]

I probably should rephrase then, Can the iPhone 3GS support HSPDA 900mhz?

I already answered your question. Both the 3G and 3GS support the same exact cellular network bands:

3GS Tech Specs
3G Tech Specs

 

[boer]

I probably should rephrase then, Can the iPhone 3GS support HSPDA 900mhz?

Send some feedback to Apple. It is ridiculous HSPA 900 MHz is not supported in a premium smartphone.

 

[wetrix]

What is so special about 900 MHz? I'm genuinely interested. What's wrong with 850 MHz?

 

[boer]

What is so special about 900 MHz? I'm genuinely interested. What's wrong with 850 MHz?

850 MHz is useless when your operator only supports 900 MHz. At least premium Nokia smartphones tend to support this frequency for 3G.

A quick search on the tubes places 900 MHz UMTS networks at least in Australia, Finland, Spain, Sweden and UK.

 

[wetrix]

850 MHz is useless when your operator only supports 900 MHz. At least premium Nokia smartphones tend to support this frequency for 3G.

A quick search on the tubes places 900 MHz UMTS networks at least in Australia, Finland, Spain, Sweden and UK.

Is there a reason that these countries don't use 850 MHz? Is it just differing international regulations etc?

 

[boer]

Is there a reason that these countries don't use 850 MHz? Is it just differing international regulations etc?

To my understanding 850 MHz is pretty much limited to US and everyone else is leaning towards using 900 Mhz. There is advantage in using 900 MHz because GSM uses this frequency as well so I guess it is more simple (cheaper) to build compatible radios.

Edited to clarify: GSM uses 900/1800 MHz in Europe and therefore 900 MHz UMTS is widely used in Europe.

 

[åidån]

In NZ Voda have 900MHz all over the country, however, I can only access 850MHz HSDPA in Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland. Whilst thats about 2/3 of the population covered, it's merely 10% of the country.

It pretty much sucks to use the net on an iPhone in NZ, the speeds out of those three main centers is ridiculous, I'm not even sure those of you in America with EDGE only iPhones could appreciate just how slow we get it. The iPhone supporting 900MHz HSDPA would be an absolute god-send.

 

[Phil A.]

850 MHz is useless when your operator only supports 900 MHz. At least premium Nokia smartphones tend to support this frequency for 3G.

A quick search on the tubes places 900 MHz UMTS networks at least in Australia, Finland, Spain, Sweden and UK.

AFAIK, all UK operators use 1800Mhz or 2100Mhz for 3G networks - 900Mhz is limited to 2G / Edge

There was some talk in 2007 about opening up the 900Mhz band for 3G and holding another auction but it caused a bit of an uproar with O2 and Vodafone (who use that frequency for their 2G services) threatening legal action so I don't know what happened about it

 

[rasskass]

UK 02 iphone 3gs on telstra

hi guys i need your help, i have UK o2 iphone 3gs which is 900mhz, im in australia for a few months and wanted to get a telstra sim, my understanding is they have an 850mhz network, so would my iphone work well on this network? your help would be highly apreciated.

thank you