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Cellular forums Home > Archive > Cell Phones in Great Britain > March 2006 > explain 02 3g network vs 3
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explain 02 3g network vs 3
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| LouisB 2006-03-26, 5:48 am |
| OK, I am a bit confused.
Yesterday I was in the O2 shop and I saw a Samsung Z510 which is a 3G phone.
Checking on the O2 site I can get this for 19.99 plus 19 per month on O2 50.
I thought that there is somehow a separate 3G network but in conversation
with the call-centre salesperson all I have to do is put my current SIM into
the phone and I will get all the 3G features. Is that so or was the call
centre person wrong?
Also, the salesperson said all the voice/sms calls go via GSM and the
data/video calling etc goes via 3G. Do they have to do something to my SIM
to make this work? Or is it set at the network and has nothing to do with
the SIM only the capabilities of the phone?
Just wanted to make sure that what I am being told is accurate.
LouisB
------
"I'm a half-wit. I sold the other half on e-Bay"
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| Richard Faulkner 2006-03-26, 5:48 pm |
| In message <FPsVf.131541$zk4.62100@fe3.news.blueyonder.co.uk>, LouisB
< louisREMOVEberkREMOV
E2002@hotmail.REMOVEcom> writes
>OK, I am a bit confused.
>
>Yesterday I was in the O2 shop and I saw a Samsung Z510 which is a 3G phone.
>Checking on the O2 site I can get this for 19.99 plus 19 per month on O2 50.
>
>I thought that there is somehow a separate 3G network
No. All the operators can offer 3G. The confusion arises because one of
the newer operators is called "3" and, AFAIK, they only operate on the
3G network. Clear as mud? <g>
> but in conversation
>with the call-centre salesperson all I have to do is put my current SIM into
>the phone and I will get all the 3G features. Is that so or was the call
>centre person wrong?
Maybe, but i think you have to have a 3G sim card to take advantage of
the 3G features.
>
>Also, the salesperson said all the voice/sms calls go via GSM and the
>data/video calling etc goes via 3G. Do they have to do something to my SIM
>to make this work? Or is it set at the network and has nothing to do with
>the SIM only the capabilities of the phone?
>
>Just wanted to make sure that what I am being told is accurate.
>
Maybe, partly?
Someone else will be along with a definitive answer.
--
Richard Faulkner
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| Toby Maxwell 2006-03-26, 5:48 pm |
| On Sun, 26 Mar 2006 09:05:41 GMT, "LouisB"
< louisREMOVEberkREMOV
E2002@hotmail.REMOVEcom> wrote:
>Also, the salesperson said all the voice/sms calls go via GSM and the
>data/video calling etc goes via 3G. Do they have to do something to my SIM
>to make this work? Or is it set at the network and has nothing to do with
>the SIM only the capabilities of the phone?
I needed to get a new sim from Vodafone to get 3G working- maybe cos
the sim I had was 5 years old :)
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| Taylor 2006-03-26, 5:48 pm |
| "Richard Faulkner" <richard@estate.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:bEBW5LDSRmJEFwh
w@estate.demon.co.uk...
> In message <FPsVf.131541$zk4.62100@fe3.news.blueyonder.co.uk>, LouisB
> < louisREMOVEberkREMOV
E2002@hotmail.REMOVEcom> writes
>
> No. All the operators can offer 3G. The confusion arises because one of
> the newer operators is called "3" and, AFAIK, they only operate on the 3G
> network. Clear as mud? <g>
>
>
> Maybe, but i think you have to have a 3G sim card to take advantage of the
> 3G features.
>
>
> Maybe, partly?
>
> Someone else will be along with a definitive answer.
The SIM is a different type which, coupled with an appropriate 3G phone,
allows access to the relevant 3G network.
The phone has to support the difference (from 2G 'normal' phones...) in
radio signal to the base station; and the SIM card must support the services
required, plus the extras you get.
You can use any 3G phone on any 3G network, and it should work. But some do
need unlocked to allow any network 3G SIM card to be used in it. The reason
for this is that networks must lock phones (3G or not) to avoid people
buying them in bulk and selling them for profit, thus the networks losing
out.
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| Dave C 2006-03-26, 5:48 pm |
| LouisB wrote:
> OK, I am a bit confused.
>
> Yesterday I was in the O2 shop and I saw a Samsung Z510 which is a 3G phone.
> Checking on the O2 site I can get this for 19.99 plus 19 per month on O2 50.
>
> I thought that there is somehow a separate 3G network but in conversation
> with the call-centre salesperson all I have to do is put my current SIM into
> the phone and I will get all the 3G features. Is that so or was the call
> centre person wrong?
>
> Also, the salesperson said all the voice/sms calls go via GSM and the
> data/video calling etc goes via 3G. Do they have to do something to my SIM
> to make this work? Or is it set at the network and has nothing to do with
> the SIM only the capabilities of the phone?
>
> Just wanted to make sure that what I am being told is accurate.
>
> LouisB
>
> ------
> "I'm a half-wit. I sold the other half on e-Bay"
>
>
O2 3g needs a 3g sim to work properly. The phone should come with one of
these. When it arrives, phone them up and they will transfer your
present details onto the new sim.
--
Dave C
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| Simon Ough 2006-03-26, 5:49 pm |
| "LouisB" < louisREMOVEberkREMOV
E2002@hotmail.REMOVEcom> wrote in message
news:FPsVf.131541$zk4.62100@fe3.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
> Also, the salesperson said all the voice/sms calls go via GSM and the
> data/video calling etc goes via 3G. Do they have to do something to my SIM
> to make this work? Or is it set at the network and has nothing to do with
> the SIM only the capabilities of the phone?
No. That's utter bullshit. If you are in a 3G area, *ALL* your traffic will
go over the 3G network (voice/data/SMS etc).
Simon
| |
| Simon C 2006-03-27, 5:48 pm |
| "LouisB" < louisREMOVEberkREMOV
E2002@hotmail.REMOVEcom> wrote in message
news:FPsVf.131541$zk4.62100@fe3.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
> I thought that there is somehow a separate 3G network but in conversation
> with the call-centre salesperson all I have to do is put my current SIM
> into the phone and I will get all the 3G features. Is that so or was the
> call centre person wrong?
Well a 3G network is different from a GSM network in terms of the technology
and infrastructure, but they are designed to be able to be integrated
together and they do share some of the same equipment. All of the UK 2G
providers (O2, Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone) have 3G networks in addition to
their 2G networks, and 3G phones can switch seamlessly between the two
technologies as the coverage allows. The 3G network coverage for each of
them is substantially lower than their 2G coverage, but growing all the
time. A fifth 3G operator, (rather confusingly) called '3', do not have a
2G network of their own, but they have a deal with O2 and use their 2G
network for backup coverage - they cannot seamlessly switch however as the
O2 2G and '3' 3G networks aren't sufficiently integrated, leading to call
drop-outs when moving from 3G coverage to 2G coverage.
To use the 3G networks properly, 3G handsets should have one of the special
'Universal SIMs' (USIM), which are essentially upgraded versions of SIMs,
however some networks don't seem to bother with them since you can get most
of the functionality fine with just a normal SIM. They look the same in
terms of looking at them and all 3G handsets are backwards compatible with
SIMs. I'm not sure if O2 need you to have a USIM or not, but it would be
fairly easy for you to get a USIM to replace your SIM as they just setup a
new USIM to work with your mobile number and you just pop it in your new
phone.
> Also, the salesperson said all the voice/sms calls go via GSM and the
> data/video calling etc goes via 3G.
Although the process will be transparent to you, that is technically
incorrect - the 3G network is capable of carrying all traffic, including
voice and sms. When you are in 3G coverage, your phone uses that for
everything. If you are in a voice call and move out of 3G coverage your
call should be seamlessly switched to the 2G network (unless you are with
'3', who cannot do this).
What the salesperson may have been trying to say was that you can use
voice/sms whatever type of coverage you have (because the phone can use
GSM), however you can only use video calling when in 3G coverage. You can
of course have data on both 2G and 3G, however it is substantially faster on
3G.
HTH.
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| LouisB 2006-03-27, 5:49 pm |
|
Thanks for all the responses. That has answered all my questions.
LouisB
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> To use the 3G networks properly, 3G handsets should have one of the
> special
> 'Universal SIMs' (USIM), which are essentially upgraded versions of SIMs,
> however some networks don't seem to bother with them since you can get
> most of the functionality fine with just a normal SIM. They look the same
> in terms of looking at them and all 3G handsets are backwards compatible
> with SIMs. I'm not sure if O2 need you to have a USIM or not, but it
> would be fairly easy for you to get a USIM to replace your SIM as they
> just setup a new USIM to work with your mobile number and you just pop it
> in your new phone.
>
To use a 3g phone in a 3g coverage area you need a USIM. A normal SIM may or
may not work in a 3g phone but will only offer 2G services
(Voice/WAP/Circuit Switched data/GPRS).
| |
| Simon C 2006-03-28, 5:48 pm |
| "Steve" <steve@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:kyYVf.285387$YJ4.88532@fe2.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
>
> To use a 3g phone in a 3g coverage area you need a USIM. A normal SIM may
> or may not work in a 3g phone but will only offer 2G services
> (Voice/WAP/Circuit Switched data/GPRS).
Actually technology-wise normal SIMs will allow you to access most 3G
services anyway (even Video Calls). USIMs just offer a few extra bits like
more contact information, and authentication features for things like
banking. It really depends on the particular network operator as to whether
they insist you use a USIM or not with your 3G phone, so it is a good idea
to get a USIM anyway so you can be sure of being able to use 3G abroad, even
if your home network doesn't insist on it.
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| Bet no One 2006-03-29, 5:48 pm |
|
"Simon C" <SimonC@nospamthanks.com> wrote in message
news:4429162c$1_1@gl
kas0286.greenlnk.net...
> "Steve" <steve@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:kyYVf.285387$YJ4.88532@fe2.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
>
> Actually technology-wise normal SIMs will allow you to access most 3G
> services anyway (even Video Calls). USIMs just offer a few extra bits
> like more contact information, and authentication features for things like
> banking. It really depends on the particular network operator as to
> whether they insist you use a USIM or not with your 3G phone, so it is a
> good idea to get a USIM anyway so you can be sure of being able to use 3G
> abroad, even if your home network doesn't insist on it.
I partially agree with the last poster, however, you do not need a USIM and
it will not make any difference to your 3G service if you use a SIM abroad.
The services you get will be set by your home network operator depending on
your tarrif and their policies.
There is very little difference between a SIM and a USIM except a minor
change in the protocol between the phone and the SIM which aligns the USIM
to the same protocol used by banking and loyalty cards. This change
happened at the same time as 3G was launched for convenience, not because it
was technically needed. The SIM design is now frozen, so new features are
only added to the USIM specifications.
Bet
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