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iphone question.

Steve~

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Mar 3, 2011
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I have a friend with an iphone who is wondering if he can use it with a carrier other than Rogers or Bell. Is this possible?
 

danibbler

Active member
Feb 2, 2002
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If it is unlocked and the other carriers have compatible networks he should be able to. I know that you cannot use it on the Wind network because I asked them.
 

Anynym

Just a bit to the right
Dec 28, 2005
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He may not be able to use all the features of the iPhone on other carriers, even if some features are usable. Or, he might not be able to get a satisfactory billing package (phone minutes, SMS text, 3G data, etc). Depending on the carrier, he may be just fine and find a great plan. It all depends on what carrier he wants to use, and whether that carrier uses compatible technology (GSM, for iPhones in Canada).
 

Tangwhich

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Jan 26, 2004
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(GSM, for iPhones in Canada).
Has to be a compatible 3G network. GSM is old technology that only rogers/fido use. Bell and Telus do not support GSM. Although I appreciate a lot of people (myself included) still call networks using a SIM card GSM.
The iphone is GSM compatible but that part of the phone does not work with bell or telus.
 

Steve~

Banned
Mar 3, 2011
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Thanks. I found out they don't work with Mobilicity, Wind or Public mobile. My friend is using it on Fido.

Thanks guys.
 

JustSex

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Dec 21, 2010
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Has to be a compatible 3G network. GSM is old technology that only rogers/fido use. Bell and Telus do not support GSM. Although I appreciate a lot of people (myself included) still call networks using a SIM card GSM.
The iphone is GSM compatible but that part of the phone does not work with bell or telus.
GSM is not old technology - it is the world standard system. CDMA is an old technology that has been constantly patched to get upgraded. I know 5 years ago GSM was expanding every year more than the total users of CDMA.

Anyways Bell Canada pushed to get their systems upgraded in time for the Olympics and to get in on the iPhone cash cow. The same iPhone model (with the exception of provider locks) is used for Bell & Rogers backbone networks.

More info: http://www.tipb.com/2009/11/04/bell-mobility-canada-gsmhspa-network-live-brings-iphone/
 

Tangwhich

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Jan 26, 2004
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GSM is not old technology - it is the world standard system. CDMA is an old technology that has been constantly patched to get upgraded. I know 5 years ago GSM was expanding every year more than the total users of CDMA.

Anyways Bell Canada pushed to get their systems upgraded in time for the Olympics and to get in on the iPhone cash cow. The same iPhone model (with the exception of provider locks) is used for Bell & Rogers backbone networks.

More info: http://www.tipb.com/2009/11/04/bell-mobility-canada-gsmhspa-network-live-brings-iphone/
World standard, yes, but it's still old technology. That's why Bell and Telus don't support it. They didn't want to invest in something that's slowly being replaced by 3G
 

JustSex

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Dec 21, 2010
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World standard, yes, but it's still old technology. That's why Bell and Telus don't support it. They didn't want to invest in something that's slowly being replaced by 3G
Read the article - Bell does support it now. Rogers was CDMA before completely upgrading their system to GSM in 2000. (According to you - they actually downgraded the technology of their system). Rogers supported CDMA for their older phones (at least for the period I was working for them) but I'm not sure now.

You might want to read the article before posting your opinions: http://www.tipb.com/2009/11/04/bell-...brings-iphone/

For those unfamiliar to both technologies: CDMA was the BELL System standard in NA before many major carriers started switching to GSM. GSM is accepted worldwide and your 4 band unlocked GSM phone will work anywhere in the world.

A key benefit is that GSM identifies the phone and the user as separate identities. The user service plan and ID is located with speed dial numbers on a removable SIMM card. I can take my SIMM and move it to a new unlocked phone at will (CDMA cannot do this). If you travel, take your GSM smart phone (you need to get it unlocked - easy), buy a local SIMM card and switch it with your Canadian SIMM. Now you have full functionality of your smart phone in the local country.
 

Tangwhich

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Jan 26, 2004
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Justsex:

I don't exactly consider tipb.com a trusted source. I've never heard of them infact. As I stated earlier, many people including myself call networks that use a SIM card GSM when infact they MIGHT not be. This is what has happened with this article. Bell and Telus do NOT support GSM phones, period. If you don't believe me, go ask (or do a search) on howardforums.com. Those people really know what they are talking about.
 

djk

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Apr 8, 2002
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the hobby needs more capitalism
Bell doesn't use GSM. They use HSPA, which is a 3G (third generation service) that is based off GSM. Similar to how EVDO is a 3G service based with CDMA technologies.
 

whobee

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Sep 10, 2002
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T.O
Bell carries phones which are GSM and HSPA compatible and they have an HSPA network.
 

whobee

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Yes, but that's for compatibility in other countries. The GSM portion does not work on their network in Canada.
Correct, the CDMA phones which they used to carry were not compatible in many places.
 

s0yntgreen

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Mar 21, 2011
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Vancouver
"Yes, but that's for compatibility in other countries. The GSM portion does not work on their network in Canada. "

i generally think that if the sim card works in any other phone itll work in an unlocked IPHONE
 

Tangwhich

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Jan 26, 2004
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"Yes, but that's for compatibility in other countries. The GSM portion does not work on their network in Canada. "

i generally think that if the sim card works in any other phone itll work in an unlocked IPHONE
Quite possibly true, but it doesn't change the fact that bell and telus don't support GSM.
 
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