Unlocking an XT Phone

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E3xtc

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#95112 28-Dec-2011 08:21

Hello; I was looking at a Sony Ericcson Xperia Active phone however the dude said it was not able to be used on any different networks (ie only Telecom). Not having any idea about phones, I took what he said as correct. However I have since read about unlocking phones - is this possible so that I can then use it with any network here in NZ?

Thanks in advance from a numbskull with no idea about phones :)

Cheers and hope you all had/are having a great Christmas period!

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#562052 28-Dec-2011 08:31

It's not locked, it would be more a matter of frequencies..
I run a telecom HTC Sensation on vodafone... if I'm out of major cities, I get no 3g... a non-issue for me, but something you need to be aware of.

old3eyes

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#562053 28-Dec-2011 08:32

Telecom does not lock fones. He may mean that it is designed for 850 and 2100 meg bands which is what XT uses but the fone will work fine on Voda and 2D in the city areas but maybe not so good in the country areas where it will fall back to GSM/2G..

Regards,

Old3eyes

E3xtc

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#562057 28-Dec-2011 08:56

Oh okay - I just don't want to sink a bunch of cash into a phone and then not have it work.
Was looking on a few sites overseas (in the US I think) and they were selling "unlocked" versions of the phones; which made me wonder.

What are the main issues of falling back to 2G/GSM network?

blakamin

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#562061 28-Dec-2011 09:02

crappy data speeds...

E3xtc

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#562063 28-Dec-2011 09:05

and one last question - due to this falling back to 2G/GSM outside the main centres; is it likely or something to be concerned about that there is a potential that the 2G/GSM coverage will be dropped (ie is it old??) and therefore leaving me with a phone that can't be used unless I am in the main centres?

Might be a silly question - but again - phones aren't my thing :)

Thanks again for all your help everyone!

Cheers

blakamin

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#562064 28-Dec-2011 09:07

That's a question only vodafone can answer...

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E3xtc

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#562067 28-Dec-2011 09:10

haha - cool. thanks for your help. Time to consider :)

johnr

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#562070 28-Dec-2011 09:17

E3xtc: and one last question - due to this falling back to 2G/GSM outside the main centres; is it likely or something to be concerned about that there is a potential that the 2G/GSM coverage will be dropped (ie is it old??) and therefore leaving me with a phone that can't be used unless I am in the main centres?

Might be a silly question - but again - phones aren't my thing :)

Thanks again for all your help everyone!

Cheers

Vodafone NZ have 3G 2100mhz coverage outside of main centres.This can be seen on the Vodafone NZ coverage map.

Red is 3G 2100mhz

Orage is 3G extended 900mhz

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/coverage/

John

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#562071 28-Dec-2011 09:17

E3xtc: Oh okay - I just don't want to sink a bunch of cash into a phone and then not have it work.
Was looking on a few sites overseas (in the US I think) and they were selling "unlocked" versions of the phones; which made me wonder.

What are the main issues of falling back to 2G/GSM network?

The issue is the fact you're on a GSM network.

This means poor data speeds and no coverage in the growing number of areas that only have 3G coverage, whether that be 900MHz and/or 2100MHz.

blakamin

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#562073 28-Dec-2011 09:23

johnr:
E3xtc: and one last question - due to this falling back to 2G/GSM outside the main centres; is it likely or something to be concerned about that there is a potential that the 2G/GSM coverage will be dropped (ie is it old??) and therefore leaving me with a phone that can't be used unless I am in the main centres?

Might be a silly question - but again - phones aren't my thing :)

Thanks again for all your help everyone!

Cheers

Vodafone NZ have 3G 2100mhz coverage outside of main centres.This can be seen on the Vodafone NZ coverage map.

Red is 3G 2100mhz

Orage is 3G extended 900mhz

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/coverage/

John

Yeah, I probably shouldn't have just said main centres, sorry..

That map is pretty damn accurate from my experience too!

old3eyes

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#562169 28-Dec-2011 15:54

E3xtc: and one last question - due to this falling back to 2G/GSM outside the main centres; is it likely or something to be concerned about that there is a potential that the 2G/GSM coverage will be dropped (ie is it old??) and therefore leaving me with a phone that can't be used unless I am in the main centres?

Might be a silly question - but again - phones aren't my thing :)

Thanks again for all your help everyone!

Cheers

I seem remember John R saying Vodafone would support GSM until 2020.. Don't know about 2D..

Regards,

Old3eyes

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johnr

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#562172 28-Dec-2011 16:05

GSM is still getting deployed today! Waitakere Township and Kumeu got GSM/GPRS 900mhz

old3eyes

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#562206 28-Dec-2011 18:47

johnr: GSM is still getting deployed today! Waitakere Township and Kumeu got GSM/GPRS 900mhz

My next question John is why?? Surely the world is moving to 3G and overseas to LTE so deploying new GSM sites seems a backwards step..

Regards,

Old3eyes

ajw

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#562226 28-Dec-2011 19:45

Aren't they still trying to develop a final standard for Voice over LTE.

johnr

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#562229 28-Dec-2011 19:51

old3eyes:
johnr: GSM is still getting deployed today! Waitakere Township and Kumeu got GSM/GPRS 900mhz

My next question John is why?? Surely the world is moving to 3G and overseas to LTE so deploying new GSM sites seems a backwards step..

Moving toward yes 100% adopted no

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