AT&T Nexus One in Europe - Nexus One Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi,
My brother is planning to travel across Europe and wanted to take my Nexus One along with him and there fore I had few questions
1) Can he use Nexus One GPS without a SIM Card in Europe ?
2) Does Nexus One GPS use 3G data ?
3) Do European countries offer "To Go" 3G SIM cards ?
Any alternate recommendations are welcome.
Thanks

I suspect that there is a bug that makes GPS use data when roaming even if the phone is set to not allow data when roaming. If A-GPS is turned off this should no longer be of much worry, but do pay attention to it. The reason for me suspecting this is because of a bill I got after being to Norway where small frequent packets of data was added to my bill, even though nothing else worked: no widget updates, no surfing worked, and no google maps worked (as intended and expected).
Several countries offer pay as you go SIM-cards, and I would be surprised if any of them did not include 3G. I just visited the UK and got a free SIM which I topped up with a £5 for one month "unlimited" data-plan (they have a weird concept of unlimited on the other side of the pond).
Most countries should have a decent data-plan in the £10-range, or a ceiling on data cost per day (seems that £1/day is the norm in several countries).
Do note that you might have issues in some countries obtaining a SIM-card due to registration-requirements, e.g. requiring either proof of ID or at least a residential address. YMMV. If your brother is a people-person have him ally with some of the locals to get a pay as you go-SIM through them

Related

Internet access in Spain

I'm hoping that someone here can give me some advice on getting temporary high speed internet access in Spain. I've never been to Europe, so I'm not sure how it works over there.
I am going to be staying in an apartment in Torredembarra, Spain for about 2 months. I have been told that there is currently no internet connectivity in the apartment unit and no guarantee that free wifi access is available within range. I will be living and working from there, and my livelihood depends upon high-speed internet access, so I need to figure this out before I go.
Would it be better to find a pay-as-you-go cell plan that includes 3G data, or to look into having DSL/Cable/etc installed at the apartment for 2 months? Here is some additional info that I'm factoring in:
I will need to make and receive phone calls from/to the states while there, as well as having a local cell phone. I'm thinking about using Skype In/Out for calls to the states. I'm even considering getting TMobile HotSpot @ Home service to make calls from any wifi hotspot. But regardless, I will be getting a local pay-as-you-go cell plan. Any other ideas?
My notebook has bluetooth, wifi, and gprs/edge built in (sony viao), but no 3G. Would it be better to get a 3G card for it, or connect via bluetooth to a 3G mobile phone? Can I make calls at the same time as data is being used?
I'm not interested in spending all day at a cafe or bar with free wifi. I need to be able to work from the apartment, or I just won't be very productive.
If it is available, I hope to purchase an unlocked HTC Kaiser while over there. If that isn't available, then any suggestions on what to get?
I need to be able to use SSH from where ever I am to manage servers remotely. So a windows mobile device with data is preferred.
Because of all this, I'm thinking that I should not worry about the DSL/cable thing and just get a 3G cell phone/plan. Since I need a phone anyway, why get a phone and land service? Or would it be cheaper to get a cheap cell plan and land service? Any feedback on this?
If I was to get a mobile data plan, can I get 3G data plans on a pay-as-you-go basis, or do you have to sign up for a contract?
What mobile phone provider would be best for this situation? What handset?
Can I get DSL/cable installed in a residence for only a couple months? How long does it take to get installed once ordered? How much does it cost per month?
What kind of costs would be involved, assuming I am using a fair amount of data? I'm prepared to spend some money on this, but of course I'd rather be as economical as possible while still having a good solution.
Please offer your advice! If you know of another forum that would be more appropriate for this type of question, please let me know. I couldn't figure out where to post this.
Thanks!
In case it helps, I have a USA T-Mobile MDA (Wizard) with gprs/edge support but no 3G support.

T Mobile policy on HSDPA

This question has already been asked previously, but it was so long ago that the response is out of date.
Does anyone know T Mobiles official policy on HSDPA browsing. Is it available to regular webnwalk customers? Do you need to upgrade to Webnwalk plus or max to browse at those speeds? Are speeds capped on regular webnwalk?
Does anyone have any idea? Because I would rather save myself the extra £5 every month.
You do not get access to HSDPA with regular WNW, you must upgrade to Plus or Max. The only way you may be able to browse at HSDPA speeds with regular WNW is if you were one of the first batch of customers to sign up when they released their' 'unlimited' services (as opposed to the old 40mb service), although a sweep removed this from the majority of accounts.
I was told by two seperate T Mobile Employees that I should get HSDPA on regular WNW and restriction of the standard service was only on content not speed.
However I was told by a third employee that I would need to stay on WebnWalk plus for HSDPA. Yet I cannot see these terms referenced on their website at all.
Think I have a case if I downgrade?
Mmm...
Well i started a new Contract with tmobile (already have an exisiting one, but impatient waiting for the Diamond!) and I used to have the Web and Walk plus added to my account.
However, ive noticed that I get HSDPA on my new phone using the standard web n walk £7.50 package.
This is also what I found out when looking at the tmobile website:
http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/services/mobile-internet/on-your-phone/
Scroll to the bottom and then click on
Web n Walk Legal Stuff.
For the £7.50 a month Web n Walk Package
"Fair use policy applies: Subject to coverage. Compatible handset required. Roaming charges apply. Not applicable to connection via CSD. *To ensure a high quality of service for all our customers a 1GB (of data both sent and received in the UK) per month fair use policy applies. If you exceed 1GB per month, we may tell you to reduce your future use. If you again exceed 1GB per month, we may tell you that we are going to apply network protection controls, resulting in a reduced network speed for 14 days. If you exceed 1GB per month for a third time , we may tell you that we are going to apply further network protection controls, resulting in a reduced network speed until you upgrade your price plan to include a larger data allowance. We do not permit use of this service to provide modem access for a computer or for peer to peer file sharing, internet phone calls or instant messaging. Roaming charges apply."
and for the Plus package
"If your pay monthly plan already includes web'nwalk, Mobile Broadband Plus will be £5.00 extra a month and if you don't, it will be £12.50 extra a month. Mobile Broadband Plus will stay on your account until you ask us to remove it. You'll need a compatible laptop, compatible phone and mobile broadband coverage. Remember that you can't use your plan to make internet phone calls. If you use your plan outside of the UK, we'll add roaming charges to your pay monthly account, please see t-mobile.co.uk//broadband for more details. This plan comes with a fair use policy of 3GB a month. We'll monitor how much you send and receive each calendar month so that we can protect our network for all our Mobile Broadband customers. If you use more than your fair use policy amount, we won't charge you any more, but we may restrict how you can use your plan, depending on how often you go over your amount and by how much."
and for the Max Package
"Mobile Broadband Max is £22.50 extra a month and is for use in the UK only. You'll need a compatible laptop, a compatible phone and mobile broadband coverage. If you use your plan outside of the UK, we'll add roaming charges to your pay monthly account. This plan comes with a fair use policy of 10GB a month. We'll monitor how much you send and receive each calendar month so that we can protect our network for all our Mobile Broadband customers. If you use more than your fair use policy amount, we won't charge you any more, but we may restrict how you can use your plan, depending on how often you go over your amount and by how much."
Now i dont see anywhere suggesting that the speed increases with the more you spend, but the Data Allowance and restrictions eg Using Instant Messaging and VOIP are added on with the more you pay.
Hope this is of some use
Unfortunately incosistent information is an issue with T-Mob. Gets on my nerves! I've been with T-Mob for 4 years now so not much experience with the other operaters so I don't know if you get the same issues there.
You are restricted on content with regular WNW, but also on the speed. This was the case a few months ago at least, with further restrictions on P2P e.t.c. being implimented I don't think they would have reversed this policy.
You won't really have a case if you downgrade unfortunately, you'll just be told to move back to Plus or Max.
Hmm.. I know someone else with a Diamond on T Mobile who has regular web n walk (he joined two weeks ago via expansys deal). He gets the big H and little H on his screen in the central London area. Does this not mean hes getting HSDPA?
Sounds like he is getting it. Strange, as I deifnately read that they were no longer including it. Plus I have a friend with an N95 on regular WNW, who doens't get it.
As mentioned I will double check!
Web and Walk definitely includes HSDPA browsing, I've sold the product ever since it was launched. Web and Walk plus just allows you to use your phone/pda as a modem and increases fair useage policy to 3gb. Web and walk max allows 10gb and allows VOIP which other plans do not. They rarely restrict your speed unless you really take the p*ss on your usage. One customer used 8gb on the standard web and walk package and they didn't even notify him, let alone reduce his speed ! They can however tell if you start to use your phone as a modem or use VOIP, they will then eventually ask you to change your package accordingly.
hope this helps
Mickey
Mickey4U said:
Web and Walk definitely includes HSDPA browsing, I've sold the product ever since it was launched. Web and Walk plus just allows you to use your phone/pda as a modem and increases fair useage policy to 3gb. Web and walk max allows 10gb and allows VOIP which other plans do not. They rarely restrict your speed unless you really take the p*ss on your usage. One customer used 8gb on the standard web and walk package and they didn't even notify him, let alone reduce his speed ! They can however tell if you start to use your phone as a modem or use VOIP, they will then eventually ask you to change your package accordingly.
hope this helps
Mickey
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.
Is there any documentation you could scan in or a link on the T Mobile website that confirms all this. I hate getting different answers from different employees whenever I call T..
I have always been told (by Tmob shop staff and tele customer services) that HSDPA is included on WNW and I have always had access to HSDPA on WNW without paying for WNW plus or Max.
I agree that T Mob can sometimes be a little inconsistent. But their customer service phone staff and shop staff have always been willing to help. That could be because I am on a reasonably hefty tariff and was one of the first to have an Ameo (ouch!) but I don't think so
PS I don't work for TMob!
In the terms and conditions of web and walk:
http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/services/mobile-internet/on-your-phone/
There is nothing that differentiates on what speed you connect with, only how you connect. It actually costs t-mobile less to carry data across a HSDPA or UMTS network than across a GSM network (i.e GPRS), so they are happy to let you connect at any speed. The only reason that web and walk plus and max exist is so t-mobile can make extra cash from people connecting to their high speed networks with their laptops via their phone or PDA as a modem. Otherwise their mobile broadband products (dongles) at £15 per month just wouldn't sell. Max exists just to stop people using VOIP instead of normal calling plans for free and gives them a share of the revenue when people use VOIP to call abroad.
hope that makes sense
Mickey
oh and by the way, T-mobile are in the final stages of sharing their 3g and HSDPA networks with three (who have by far the largest HSDPA coverag in the UK) so t-mobile's HSDPA will get much better in the next couple of months.
Mickey
Yes HSDPA is standard with T-Mobile - and is HSUPA now as of a couple weeks ago if you have a compatible handset which the Diamond is. And it is whippet fast I can tell you!
On the £7.50 option you can actually still use your phone as a modem but if that was detected they have the right to ask you to stop or move up a level. I've occasionally used it as a modem after I moved down from the £12.50 tariff and never had any issues with them over it. If you stay within your usage of 1gb I hardly see as it makes any difference to them.

Will the WiFi Calling hack allow me to use a LOCKED N1 overseas for free?

Hey all. Quick question today. I'm taking my first overseas trip this weekend and I'd rather not be without the ever-handy N1. I don't want to run up costs or have to deal with temp phones/sim cards, so I'm going to go with our amazing Dev Team's Wifi Calling method.
I've researched and seemed to have found that even if overseas, WIFI calling will not charge me for roaming if the calls are made back to the US, and I'll confirm that with TMO, but can anyone let me know if they've had success using the process overseas? Is the phone usable once I'm in Asia or Europe if it's still carrier locked to TMO, or will I see some sort of lock out screen?
Thanks for all of your help!
I can't believe that almost a year after the phone is out, some people still don't bother reading before asking...
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CARRIER-LOCKED N1 !!!
Now, if you're asking whether the WiFi calling app detects the current network and locks you out in some way - that would completely defeat the purpose of WiFi calling, which is made from places with no reception, so I don't believe it's the case.
haha yeah, no nexus one phones exist that are locked in any way. all sold on planet earth were sold unlocked and carriers just sold them that way.
Good idea using the official wifi calling overseas.
I ignored wifi calling because of the two reasons below, but your idea makes it worth a try.
1) uses your minutes
2) supposedly only for $25 data plan users.
Try to set a proxy (located overseas,working) on your router to test, it may be possible with dd-wrt. Not sure.
The "WiFi calling" application if that is the one you are installing like a phone in a blue speech baloon?
I have used that when out of country before with a Blackberry to avoid those hideous charges while traveling.
That was made for T-Mobile and would not work unless you are a T-Mobile subscriber per my understanding. Not just regular sip client or anything like that.

The "Holy Grail" - Tab with International Phone + 3g Data

I have a T-Mo tab/T-Mo contracted service (for another year) running OC Hermes (which totally rocks!).
Problem is, I want to use my Tab as my phone (light phone use, but I need it to ring and answer it when I need it, hence I have to lose T-Mo/modem switch. I need 3G data - who doesn't? Use is in Domestic US with Europe for a month out of the year - seems simple enough.
I have a depricated VZ Winmo 6.5 device with my "real" number, and found a 3rd party SIM (Tru) that will let you port your number, and provide "reasonable" cost US Domestic and European Voice and Data roaming, so I can get voice/data service and keep my number.
Now I just need to figure out which Tab to buy:
Can the AT&T Tab be customized to work with voice and 3G data simultaneously without modem/switching, and if so, on which SIM/Network(s) in the US other than AT&T?
If I were to replace my T-Mo Unit, should I buy the AT&T or the European Tab?
Will either get this done? Thanks all in advance for any help.
- Cathy
would also like to know the answer to this...
T-mobile tab with t-mobile sim:
Voice, sms, mms, and EDGE data **or** 3g data only.
Flash any rom besides stock to get the dialer capability. Use the Rotohammer modem switch to go between these options. If you are on the 3g mode the phone won't ring, your caller will get the same thing as if they called you when your phone was turned off. You have to delete a system folder to enable web browsing.
At&t tab with at&t sim:
Voice, sms, mms, 3g data, no switch necessary.
Flash any rom besides stock to get the dialer capability. No system files to tinker with.
#####At&t tab with at&t sim is the easiest, best option for a complete phone and data experience.
Thank you @Rangercaptain!
@Rangercapain, you are a gentleman and a scholar!
I thought AT&T did both now, but the info on the boards conflicts, some because it is dated before you fine folks figured this all out, and some because newer users haven't flashed a custom ROM, but I wanted to be sure before sinking another $350 into a dead-end with the telephony.
I was contemplating the SGSII but at $700 US and without Alter's incredible ROM for everything else, it wasn't going to work, and I really don't want two devices.
I realize T-Mo is on the funky 1700 band here so I knew non-T-Mo SIMs were likely only going to get me 2G, but I wasn't sure about AT&T.
If I go with the AT&T Tab, do you know if the 3rd party SIMs like SimpleMobile or Tru Mobile will also do both 3G and voice? AT&T rapes you like everyone else US domestic on Euro Roaming Data ($15/mb is insanity), and I was foolishly hopiing for a SIM that I could use here and in Europe without re-mortaging the house!
Can I determine this definitively by confirming the GSM bands specified by the SIM reseller?
Thank you thank you thank you
My at&t voice, unlimited text, and 2 gigs of data is $35 per month. Like you said, don't use the pay as you go, because that is crazy. Have you seen the Walmart phone/data pay as you go - Straight Talk I think. I will check it out and post back here.
SimpleMobile is exactly the same as T-mobile, so not good with at&t tab or euro tab. I haven't heard of TruMobile. Just google "trumobile frequencies". You want to see 1900/900 or 1900/850.
Straight Talk is a no-go. They sell phones, not sim cards.
rangercaptain said:
T-mobile tab with t-mobile sim:
At&t tab with at&t sim:
Voice, sms, mms, 3g data, no switch necessary.
Flash any rom besides stock to get the dialer capability. No system files to tinker with.
#####At&t tab with at&t sim is the easiest, best option for a complete phone and data experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
does it have a minimum data plan requirement? have an ATT iphone4 with the $15 200MB data plan. can i just put my iphone simcard on the GalTab? will i get the dreaded text messages from BIG BROTHER? or will it suffice? or will i be asked to upgrade to a higher data plan?
TIA
jeraldyne
tanjeraldyne said:
does it have a minimum data plan requirement? have an ATT iphone4 with the $15 200MB data plan. can i just put my iphone simcard on the GalTab? will i get the dreaded text messages from BIG BROTHER? or will it suffice? or will i be asked to upgrade to a higher data plan?
TIA
jeraldyne
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can put that sim in your tab, and you won't get the dreaded message. They are after unlimited iphone plans. But you will BURN through 200mb in about 20 minutes. Study your at&t bill, then add 1gig for $15, or 2gigs for $25 (my plan).
Tru Mobile is at&t compatable, but the data works out to $350 per gigabyte.
Global SIMs
@Rangercaptain -
You are right about the data cost, but overseas, that is a "bargain" compared to roaming rates even on AT&T. They have a fixed data rate for "business" customers that is pretty competitive ($30/month 500mb in the US, $60 if you are in the UK or AUS, and they are adding 20 more countries in 2012). I may try them for a little while (till I return in late September) since I can always go to AT&T later (there is no contract) if I want to.
Did AT&T let you get a SIM for the tab that does both voice and data without any gripes? Maybe I can just go AT&T, port my number over, and get a MaxRoam for overseas.
I have been researching this like crazy, and at .80 Euro/MB they are about the cheapest I could find for "global" roaming, but they are one of those pay-go cos that eat your balance if you don't use it.
We are in 11 countries (a cruise) and there is no feasible way to buy a SIM in every port, or all I will have seen at the end of this odyssey will have been a ton of Vodaphone stores .
Thank you so much again!
I bought the tab at a retail store and told them I didn't want any contract. A few days later I added a 2 gig per month data and voice plan to a family plan. I told them it was for an android phone I had at home. They gave me the sim and I went out, and put it in the tab, and whammo! So sweet, 3g and voice.
When you are overseas there are so many pay as you go options, but yes, it could involve a lot of phone shops. No way to buy vodafone or orange sim and pay the roaming? And I'm guessing the cruise ship and hotels will have wifi for free. There are methods to make voice calls when you are on awifi connection, called skype.

[Q] Using in Europe

We are heading to Switzerland, Austria and Prague next week. Last time I was in Europe (Spain) a couple years ago I had an S4 on Sprint. It was rooted and I got a SIM card and it worked fine and I'm sure was cheaper, but it was a hassle setting it up (couldn't change API settings until I was in WiFi, so I couldn't activate data until I was at the first hotel; I couldn't tell how much data I had left and voice because it was in Spanish - a couple times I had someone at the hotel listen to the message but other times I just bought more than I needed because I wasn't sure and didn't want to run out of data). I don't know how easy it is to use a new SIM in the S6, so I'm thinking I'll just use the Verizon global roaming to make it easier. I primarily use it for maps (and I'll use offline maps) and information (Google for info, nearby restaurants, etc.) so pretty much data and really not voice.
I've never used global roaming - does anyone have advice about using the Verizon S6 in Europe?
Functionality it works fine in pretty much every country with Verizon's global roaming plans. It can get expensive though, as you only get 100mb data on those plans.

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