My experience using TP2 outside the US

[chirawat]

Wow for the HSPA. Feeling the jealousy now too

Glad my post is useful to you guys

[evertec]

Originally Posted by p-slim

for those using hspa, i thought hspa could attain speeds that were extremely high like 10mbps or faster, is this true if you decided to upgrade your sim card?

Most HSPA implemented today is a max of 7.2 mbps. In the case of Sprint, I think you have to buy a prepaid or other sim card to get the HSPA running... really you'd want to if you're going to stay more than a week or so anyway, as the Sprint data roaming and voice rates overseas are pretty pricey.

[chong67]

I am confused. I tought Sprint TP2 can only do up to EDGE speed. Thats 500 kbps max?

In Malaysia, I use Digi and they are only in GPRS, whatever that is and they are not 3G and I dont know if Sprint phone can handle 3G.

It is slow, but faster than dial up. Should I get a prepaid provider here that are doing 3G and 4G and try?

[triffeh]

Sprint is locked to edge on GSM only in North America, in my understanding it's an antifeature designed to keep people from unlocking it and using it on, say, AT&T or T-Mobile. Since international carriers don't compete with Sprint, they didn't put that limitation in for international GSM networks.

I don't doubt there may eventually be a way to connect to 3g+ in the States on GSM, but it'll take time and effort from someone.

[SporkLover]

Originally Posted by p-slim

for those using hspa, i thought hspa could attain speeds that were extremely high like 10mbps or faster, is this true if you decided to upgrade your sim card?

I never activated my Sprint SIM card. $2 + calls didn't appeal to me.

HSPA has very high peak speeds, but average throughput, especially on a mobile device, will bring it back down.

I'm on the German O2 network, and that is where I am getting my 2-3Mbs speeds. At the slowest I've had at least a 1.5Mbs connection.

[dalastone]

thanks for the info about using the tp2 abroad. i do have perhaps a dumb question but i am wondering, those "prepaid sim cards" will work by just putting it in the phone, or do you have to do some sort of "unlocking" of the phone to use them? I am heading to Fiji and was wondering if i have to contact sprint first or i could just buy a prepaid card when i get there.

[chirawat]

Originally Posted by dalastone

thanks for the info about using the tp2 abroad. i do have perhaps a dumb question but i am wondering, those "prepaid sim cards" will work by just putting it in the phone, or do you have to do some sort of "unlocking" of the phone to use them? I am heading to Fiji and was wondering if i have to contact sprint first or i could just buy a prepaid card when i get there.

Outside the US you don't have to do anything. Just buy the prepaid SIM and put it in your TP2. Calling will work right away, data connection need some set up which varies by country as I mentioned in my first post. Hope this helps.

[chong67]

Do a search on prepaid sim overseas. Go to tech forum in that country and ask.

Then you put in a SIM card, everything is all auto configured as far as configuration goes. At least for the Sprint TP2.

Voice and SMS work right away. I remember only my Outlook mobile email and wmwifirouter need to get to the proper connection from the drop down list.

[sherm420]

thanks! good info. i was wondering about int setup as im going to china in a few weeks.

anyone have experience with internet/data with china mobile?

[dalastone]

thanks for the tips guys! sprint wants 3.49/min or 2.29/min (ouch) with their worldwide option. when i had looked into prepaid cards in fiji, the sites mentioned needing to have a world phone thats "sim unlocked". glad to hear tp2 will work, i most likely wont need data, just voice calling.