iphone with another service

if i used the iphone with another service besides att would i still get the 3g capabilities... i would think so since it is software...??


thanks

If the other service provider has a 3G network running, probably. Otherwise, no. It's all about the Network.

...and in the US, you only really have one other choice: T-Mobile. Verizon and Sprint use CDMA, which is inherently incompatible with the iPhone.

thanks again guys for the quick and great answering...

just confused though on how the 3g network actually works... Is it simply a software option that is available to people or simply a component of the service???

3G is part of the network and the phone has to have the required hardware and software to be able to access the 3G network. In the case of the iPhone and AT&T this hardware/software is based on the UMTS standard (IIRC) which is incompatible with CDMA as mentioned above.

I'm not sure T-Mobile has 3G yet, although I suspect it is coming.

baggss said:

I'm not sure T-Mobile has 3G yet, although I suspect it is coming.

Click to expand...

T-Mobile USA has 3G service but it is very limited. Only in a few select cities right now.

all wireless networks in the US are using some form of 3G. 3G is just the Third Generation of Wireless technology, it does not matter if it is TDMA or CDMA, 3G is 3G

The only difference is whether the network is based on TDMA (att, t-mobile) or CDMA (sprint, verizon).

Each phone has to have the compatible network technology to use that network. thats why you can not use a TDMA based phone on a CDMA based network. the hardware and software different

Sprint has 3g also, but for t-mobile you got the EDGE which is kinda wack on the iphone , not as fast as 3g, only when im at my pad it works the bomb courtesy of wi-fi..but EDGE SUX

If the other network service provider have the facility to providing 3G than yes you will be able to get that one. Suppose if you use your USA iPhone in UK and Vodafone is providing 3G than you will be able to enjoy that at there as well.

To enjoy 3G your handset should be compatible of 3G functions, software and hardware.

priti00 said:

If the other network service provider have the facility to providing 3G than yes you will be able to get that one.

Click to expand...

Not necessarily.

The only other network in the US that can support the iPhone 3G is T-Mobile. They offer 3G but it is a different frequency than what ATT uses and the iPhone can't pick up that signal. It's a hardware limitation that's preventing T-Mobile's 3G network from being used.