My experience using TP2 outside the US
 

So I am in Thailand visiting family this month. I am fairly technical (works in IT) but don't really know much about CDMA/GSM - having been a Sprint (CDMA) user for the last 10 years. Just thought I'll share my experience with everyone with the TP2 being worldphone and all...

- First I called Sprint before the trip, they activate my phone in the Worldwide program which means I can keep the Sprint SIM in my phone and either pay $1.99 per min or pay extra $5 a month and get the rate down to $1.69 per min (ouch!). Good for emergency I guess... I used this to call my family in the US during a stopover in Japan and it worked fine. The instruction on what prefix to give to the number came in email after I called Sprint.

- Once I get to Thailand, I bought a local prepaid SIM and replace the one in my TP2 with it. The price for the SIM with activation was approx. US$2 and I also prepaid about $30 extra... With the local SIM in the phone, now my phone doesn't answer to the US number anymore, but the call price is now about 3 cents/minute for local call, and 12 cents/minute to call the US. Be aware that in the US the number will sometimes show up and sometimes show 'Unknown caller'. The first time I called my family member in the US, the person didn't pick up thinking it's some telemarketer.

- Note that prefix for calling international will be different depends on the country/service you are using. Here in Thailand, with one network you can just use plus (+) sign by long-pressing the number 0 then the US number you want to call (example: +13125551212) while with another network you need to put in '004' prefix (example: 00413125551212). I chose to go with the 004 one due to cheaper rate, and just save the numbers like that to my US contacts as 'Home2' numbers.

- Data: again depends on country/service provider. Luckily I can read Thai and was able to set mine up after a few hours Googling local forums (the jetlag did come in handy...). Customer reps in Thailand did try to be helpful but they wren't able to help me with an unfamiliar phone and it's settings. I did sign up for 6,000 minutes of EDGE (bleh - 3G is still limited here) for 199 Thai Baht per month (about US$5). This is a monthly option to my prepaid plan but the rep said all I need to do is to call them and cancel the option before I leave the country. Finally I used the EDGE instruction from one of the forums, set up a new connection under Sprint and set it as the one to use for all data connection, and lives happily ever after... The EDGE minutes are counted when the phone make data call, even though it shows connection being maintain at all time just like in the US. I have been watching my phone using about 300 minutes a day for the last few days (from the provider's account maint/check your balance screen). While it's slow, I can live with it this month, especially for 5 bucks.

- GPS is working fine after I ran QuickGPS once I figure the data connection setup. Before that it was much slower getting fix but still works.

- At least for Thailand and Japan airport, the charger works as-is, no need to get any adapter.

Hope this helps someone or at least y'all find it an entertaining read... Sawasdee from Thailand!

Irrelevant add-on - GSM version of TP2 is selling here for approx. US$800. Pretty amazing that people are buying it considering that my friends working in manager roles in companies like IBM and MSFT are getting paid about 30% to 40% what a comparable role would be paid in the US... I won't be complaining that much about my TP2 price any more... ($199 with contract extension and $100 mail-in rebate just arrived ;-).

iPhone is about the same price and everyone (brother/sister/their spouses/aunt/uncle/etc) are using it.

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US (Thailand mostly)
 

Good info. I'm going to India for few weeks hopefully phone works.

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US (Thailand mostly)
 

I am now in Malaysia. I was in Singapore and Japan on transit.

When I arrived in Narita, I turn on my Sprint TP2 and I got a txt msg and it got instruction on how to call USA and it is $2 a min. It pick up the time correctly.

When I arrived in Singapore, I went to the currency exhange counter and got me a Starhub $15 prepaid SIM card and the incoming/outgoing call, txt msg and internet work. I got it to work on my wmwifirouter too.

I am in Malaysia now, everything works as the same as in Singapore. I use Digi prepaid. Rate is RM.012 per minute after you hit RM1. Unlimited internet is RM5 per day on you cellphone which I tether using Wmwifirouter and it works.

Keep in mind for wmwifirouter and email to work, you may have to pick the correct connection setting. For Digi, they have 4 settings for SMS, MMS, Internet and forgot the other one. I think for Sprint it just says "Internet".

I disable the thing where it auto put a "1" when you dial a 10 digit # as they use 10 # number here too.

For GPS lock, it takes a few minutes to lock on to it. And the GPS signal goes in and out. Is it because of spotty GPS coverage in this part of the world?

Yah, since TP2 can only handle EDGE, hence this is what I am getting also. I went to speedtest to test and download is avg 220 kbps and upload is 100+ kbps.

Got any questions, just ask me.

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US (Thailand mostly)
 

Thats good news!!
I was wondering if anyone used thier Sprint TP2
to place calls from the London Area? If so, How
are the call quality And data speeds?

Thanks!

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US (Thailand mostly)
 

This is false, the TP2 can handle HSPA just fine, it is not just locked into EDGE. This week I did a bandwidth speed test on HSPA in Germany and I had 3.5Mb down and 2Mb up. Supported video chatting when tethered.

Wirelessly posted (AdrianH85(TP2): Opera/9.5(Microsoft Windows; PPC; Opera Mobi/16643; U; en) HTC_Touch_Pro2)

wow im so jealous!!

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US (Thailand mostly)
 

You're telling me! I thought I was doing great getting the speeds I was getting on EVDO in the states..... this just blew my mind!

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US (Thailand mostly)
 

Thanks, very informative. Should prove to be useful for my trip to Asia early next year!

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US (Thailand mostly)
 

To corroborate others regarding HSPA, I am also using HSPA in Germany. I'm using a prepaid service called Tchibo (uses O2's network). They have a flat rate $20 a month for HSPA data, and 15c a minute to other mobiles. Or, you can get a 100min pack for $10, and unlimited tchibo-tchibo for $5, which is what I added. The funny thing is that it's way faster than my hotel wifi internet... during peak usage I can't get more than 500kbps with my hotel wifi, but tethered to my tp2 I get at least 1Mbps, sometimes over 2. Also, GPS works great... get a lock in 30 seconds or less in either google maps or IGO.

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US (Thailand mostly)
 

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?

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US (Thailand mostly)
 

Wow for the HSPA. Feeling the jealousy now too :-)

Glad my post is useful to you guys

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US (Thailand mostly)
 

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.

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US
 

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?

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US
 

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.

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US (Thailand mostly)
 

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.

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US
 

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.

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US
 

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.

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US
 

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.

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US
 

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?

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US
 

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.

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US
 

For me, I didnt ask for data but it came with it That was good enough.

I read in Afghanistan, that is how some can get on the internet thru GPRS thru the tethering.

Get your tethering working in the States, then it should work overseas.

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US
 

I had a good experience with my TP2 while I am in Malaysia and Singapore.

Before you go anywhere, do some research on the best prepaid SIM card plan.

Look for something with GPRS, meaning it can do data. Dont forget 1kb per 10 cents is not much.

I tether using my TP2 and I am able to surf on my laptop.

You have to do some tweaking on your TP2 because sometime the default might not choose the right setting.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US
 

Thanks for the info, from time to time I head over tot he UK and wondered how I would go about using my phone.

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US
 

Hey guys, I'm heading to Argentina soon and wanting to use the data connection with a prepaid SIM card that I can buy over there.

I went to London several months ago and was able to mess with the Data Connection settings in order to finally get the data working (thru a t-mobile prepaid sim). I can't really remember what I changed so if anyone has any ideas for either Argentina or Int'l countries in general that would be sweet.

Do i need to add a new connection or just edit the Sprint #777 connection? I don't remember adding any data connection number (such as #777) while I was in London....

Thanks for any help!

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US
 

Hey all. Great thread. Appreciate it. I'm making a trip to Japan in a couple of weeks and this is exactly what I was looking for. Anyone have a recommendation for a good pre-praid SIM that I can pick up in Japan at the airport (Narita)? I'll be flying into Tokyo-Narita and then taking the train to Tokyo Station and then on to Nagoya. Also, one thing I'm not clear on is if I add the international plan to my phone (I'm on Sprint), can I still drop in a pre-paid SIM and use it? Or will I be charged the Sprint international rate?

EDIT: Ok, I went back and re-read the first post and answered my question. I can add the international plan by calling Sprint and then still drop in a pre-paid SIM and use whatever minutes I pre-pay for.

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US
 

You are right about the last bit. We really need a sticky with all the international stuff in one place. Remember to get the Sprint data plan for international (Cheap $2.5/day) then you can use Skype mobile. I am not sure, but I think Japan is non GSM or is that Korea.

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US (Thailand mostly)
 

Ya it worked great over there. It is a hassle to buy a SIM card though. Because of the terrorist attacks, they now require a passport photo, a billing address, and some other info before the SIM is activated. If you're staying in Mumbai, get Vodafone. If in Delhi or other cities in the north, I hear Airtel is the company to use.

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US
 

I just got back from India I was there for about two month traveling all over. I had my tp2 in GSM mode. Using BSNL (not the best company) prepaid card and I activated my GPRS I got Edge speed enough to download my emails, in big cities I saw my taskbar change to 3g from E. No issues with the phone everything went well.

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US
 

Thanks for the report. I'll be going to Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines, and Indonesia in July, and usually I just buy a cheap phone at a pawn shop in whatever country Im in and a prepaid SIM. Nice to know I dont need to get another phone :)

Thanks OP!

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US
 

On a completely irrelevant whim, what kind of awesome jobs do you guys have that let you travel like this? Assuming it is all work-related, of course.

Re: My experience using TP2 outside the US
 

Mine is personal. I take 4-6 weeks off every 18 months or so and get the f*** out of dodge :) 13 countries and counting. Ive never been one to consider anything within the US borders to be "vacation". But thats just me :)