GSM

[Мастер]

So, why does my mobile phone work in Borneo, but not in the US? There are at least two GSM providers there.

[Lance]

In the US there is "domestic" GSM and "international" GSM. Different bands. You need a "dual band" GSM phone to work both in the US and the rest of the world.

[Мастер]

In the US there is "domestic" GSM and "international" GSM. Different bands. You need a "dual band" GSM phone to work both in the US and the rest of the world.

It's an iPhone, which they sell all over the US. Or maybe the iPhones sold in other countries aren't the same as those sold in the US?

[MM_Dandy]

Is there any sort of error message presented?

[Lance]

It's an iPhone, which they sell all over the US. Or maybe the iPhones sold in other countries aren't the same as those sold in the US?

Even iPhones sold in the US are different, depending on the carrier. For example, Sprint iPhones aren't even GSM. They are CDMA.

So yeah, they're different.

[Мастер]

Is there any sort of error message presented?

No, just failure to get a signal. I would occasionally get a Mexican cell tower, even when Mexico was maybe a 45 minute drive away. But no US towers.

Even iPhones sold in the US are different, depending on the carrier. For example, Sprint iPhones aren't even GSM. They are CDMA.

So yeah, they're different.

I'll have to see if I can find the tech specs. My Nokia quad-band dumb phone, with a cheap-ass prepaid service, picked up AT&T no problem.

[Lance]

My Nokia quad-band dumb phone, with a cheap-ass prepaid service, picked up AT&T no problem.

Exactly.

[Мастер]

My Nokia quad-band dumb phone, with a cheap-ass prepaid service, picked up AT&T no problem.

Exactly.

I had assumed the iPhones were quad-band, as my previous US-sourced one (now lost) had no problem working wherever I took it (except Japan, which is not GSM). But maybe this is a faulty assumption.

[Lance]

But maybe this is a faulty assumption.

Q.E.D.

[Мастер]

But maybe this is a faulty assumption.

Q.E.D.

I don't know that it's demonstrandum yet. The other possibility is that there is no roaming agreement.

[Lance]

Have you tried picking up a prepaid SIM and swapping it?

[Мастер]

Have you tried picking up a prepaid SIM and swapping it?

Didn't try that. The Nokia phone I had uses a regular-type SIM, the iPhone uses a "micro" SIM. I should have found someone with an iPhone and tried the swap.

The phones here are all unlocked, so that's not an issue.

So I guess we could have

a) Technical inability of the phone. But a couple of on-line references say all GSM iPhones are quad-band. Can't find specific material from either Apple or my network provider (who sold me the phone), at least not yet.

b) Lack of a roaming agreement. But it's AT&T and T-Mobile, these are very major carriers, probably among the first with whom one would conclude a roaming agreement, I would think.

c) Some setting needs to be changed. And yet the phone works in Malaysia, Hong Kong, and picks up Mexican towers from across the border by a good distance. Maybe there is a setting for the band used?

Bugger.

ETA - can't find any setting that looks like it might be US- or band-specific. b) seems implausible. a) contradicts what I'm finding at a lot of sources, and yet, the phone does not work . . .

[Мастер]

Here are Apple technical specs. It lists a GSM version and a CDMA version, but the GSM version is quad band :(

http://www.apple.com/iphone/iphone-4/specs.html

[Lance]

Well, I do know for sure that not all GSM phones sold in the US will work internationally. But I can't say for sure that the reverse is true.

Can you stop by an Apple Store, or Best Buy?

[Мастер]

Well, I do know for sure that not all GSM phones sold in the US will work internationally. But I can't say for sure that the reverse is true.

I know that some phones sold outside the US do not work there - in fact, I have one such phone.

Can you stop by an Apple Store, or Best Buy?

Don't think we have Best Buy here, but if you mean the US, will they sell an unlocked phone?

ETA - when I say I have one such phone, I am not referring to the iPhone which has been the main topic of discussion in this thread.

[Lance]

Don't think we have Best Buy here, but if you mean the US, will they sell an unlocked phone?

Oh, I thought you were in the US at the moment, and having the problem. No, I meant to have them check it out and see what's wrong.

ETA - when I say I have one such phone, I am not referring to the iPhone which has been the main topic of discussion in this thread.

If you ever get it figured out I'd be curious to know what you find.

[Мастер]

Oh, I thought you were in the US at the moment, and having the problem. No, I meant to have them check it out and see what's wrong.

Back since early Wednesday morning (which would be early Tuesday afternoon for you). But I should do that next time.

f you ever get it figured out I'd be curious to know what you find.

Co-worker has an iPhone 4s (mine is a 4), and it worked just fine. He bought his in the US, though, so it may not be comparable.