This is probably a very non-geek question, I have a phone on the voda network, not branded. Can I just pop in a Telecom sim and set it up for their network? Its a SE so setup is very straightforward I think. Thanks, Pat
Different chipsets and physical design (e.g. the actual sim card slot (and not just a ruim slot)). There has been a dual-chipset 'World-phone' in testing for quite some time with Telecom (must be bordering on 18 months now?), which as far as I know is a Flip phone with VGA camera that can switch between GSM and CDMA (but not run both concurrently). Also, such a phone is likely to be SIM locked to Telecoms roaming SIM cards, and would likely be unable to be used with local sims in New Zealand (eg Vodafone) or cheap prepay sims overseas.
One talks about these world phones, and how they have been sold in the US on Verizon and Sprint networks including the Samsung SCH-A790 and Motorola A840.
The other talking about Telstra Aus letting customers use one phone to switch between networks. Motorola talked about again. Calls being automaticly directed....
I am not sure about any Sprint models, but there is an explanation for the other telcos: Verizon Wireless is CDMA, but 49% of it is controlled by Vodafone PLC. Of course they offer a phone with global roaming between CDMA/GSM. The problem is to put your hands on one of these. Apparently in the USA is really hard to get these.
As for Telstra, remember that they operate two networks, GSM and CDMA, and they have all the interest in having roaming enabled overseas, even more now that they are moving to GSM/UMTS only.
Are there dual phones? Yes there are. But even if you source one of these you won't be able to connect to Telecom's network, since they only connect approved/tested handsets.
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