Just Remember,
EDGE is better then nothing....


or worse yet,
GPRS which provides data rates of 56-114 kbit/s !!!

Make sure you set up a Access Point Name (APN)
to enable DATA (internet access) usage on your iPhone.

• If your new iPhone will not do internet DATA or tethering,
  just edit your Access Point Name (APN) settings.
  - If your provider is "T-Mobile" in the USA, set the APN to internet2.voicestream.com
  
  
• NOT wap.voicestream.com or epc.tmobile.com
  
• The APN settings can be changed in REAL TIME, no re-boot required.
  
• If you set your APN manualy as seen above, it will NOT SURVIVE LONG.
  You should download a APN "profile" via the web based tool at unlockit.co.nz, to get the "internet2.voicestream.com.mobileconfig" file.
  
• If your T-Mobile APN profile supports it,
  add "guest" to the password and username and tethering may even work !
  - You may still need to get ($29) PDAnet to make it work over EDGE ...
  
  But remember, Tethering will NOT work over EDGE !
  

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  OK, from here on down, even I am a bit confused.
  Any corrections would be appreciated.

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  Frequency band charts for VOICE and DATA
  

  Most UMTS phones also operate on GSM as well,
  supporting EDGE to ensure data coverage where HSPA still lacks coverage.
  
  Note however, that while a phone may have overlapping GSM & UMTS frequency support,
  being tri-band/quad-band in GSM/GPRS/EDGE does not imply the same support for UMTS,
  as was the case with many early 2100 MHz. only UMTS devices.
  
  

  VOICE GSM
  Device	Frequency (MHz)
  	850	900	1800	1900
  iPhone 2G	x	x	x	x
  iPhone 3G	x	x	x	x
  iPhone 3Gs	x	x	x	x
  iPad 3G	x	x	x	x
  iPhone 4G	x	x	x	x

  
  

  DATA UTMS (HSPA = HSUPA/HSDPA)
  Device	Frequency (MHz)
  	850	900	1700	1900	2100
  iPhone 2G	EDGE
  iPhone 3G	x			x	x
  iPhone 3Gs	x			x	x
  iPad 3G	x			x	x
  iPhone 4G	x	x	x	x	x

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  VERY IMPORTANT NOTEs:
  - Apples iPhone technical specifications page.
  - T-Mobile and AT&T use different frequencies for their 3G (DATA) traffic.
  
  • What this means is that if you unlock your device to use a T-Mobile SIM,
    you will NOT be able to use T-Mobile's super fast 3G network....
    
  • You will be stuck using the MUCH slower EDGE or worse yet GPRS !
    • AT&T's 3G network runs at 850/1900 MHz.
    • T-Mobile 3G network runs at 1700 MHz.
    • Some users in Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand need 900 MHz.
    See the problem yet ?

  ---

  Bits and Bytes:

  1. KiloBITs are denoted as kbps (or kbit)
     and KiloBYTEs are denoted as kBps
     
  2. MegaBITs are denoted as Mbps
     and MegaBYTEs are denoted as MBps
     
  3. A good rule of thumb, 10 BITs equal to one BYTE,
     and don't forget Kilo = 1,000 and Mega = 1,000,000
     
  4. For reference, a old fashioned Analog Modem gets about 56 kbps (kbit/s).

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  The Bottom Line:
  
  So what does this all mean ?

  1. Most if not all GSM cell phones can do VOICE anywhere becaise they are "QUAD BAND".
  2. Most if not all GSM cell phones are "TRI BAND" for DATA.
     - So it may be fast here in the USA, but you are gonna be doing EDGE elsewhere !
  3. So all considered, the OLD CRAPPY 1st generation iPhone is currently just as good of a "World Phone" as its newer siblings !!!
  4. So let's rub some salt into your wounds.
     - Lets say you have a brand new 4G that is "QUAD BAND" for both VOICE and DATA,
     you are still gonna be screwed by Apples BANDWIDTH (64 kbps) restriction when NOT using WiFi!!!!
     
     

  The moral of the story is, KEEP THAT OLD 2G iPhone !!!
  - Or get either the Nokia N8 or the Apple 4G, both of which are Penta (DATA not VOICE) Band phones.

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  Back to the Top

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  © Gary Sullivan Maintainer of this page. The URL of this page is: http://www.hackerskitchen.com/iPhone/apn/index.html Constructive Comments, Suggestions and Requests are welcome.

  ™