Comments on: 3G iPhone May Not Work on T-Mobile 3G Network

By: Riyad Kalla

Riyad Kalla — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:05:12 +0000

Absolutely right Brian — Anyone needing EDGE will get that working just fine on either network on the iPhone.

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:44:35 +0000

EDGE works on T-Mobile but 3G won’t as 3G runs at 1700 MHz on T-Mobile and 1900 MHz on AT&T. EDGE runs on the same MHz on both.

By: Riyad Kalla

Riyad Kalla — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:42:43 +0000

Kam,

Yes you can jailbreak (so you can install custom apps) and unlock (so you can run on T-mobile) the 3GS, our iPhone 3.0 T-Mobile guide will actually walk you through it.

To address your question about data on the phone, yes you can get internet on the phone using WiFi instead of EDGE/3G from T-Mobile (since they are incompatible). GPS I believe will continue to work regardless as it uses a separate antenna for the GPS signal.

I think most everything on the phone will work, but all the data-driven services (email, browsing, iTunes download, IM’ing) will only work when you are in a WiFi area. If that’s OK with you, you should be fine.

By: KamDaMan

KamDaMan — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:24:55 +0000

Hi I am new here and have spent the past several days researching iPhones, T-Mobile, AT&T and pretty much you name it lol. I am thinking about buying an iPhone (the best I can get – which I believe right now is the 3GS) but I currently have a MotoRAZR V3 phone with a T-Mobile SIM card and service. The plan I have right now includes only minutes and text messaging. I wanted to know a few things: first, does the information about pertaining to the iPhone 3G also apply to the 3GS (such as GPS, Internet, etc.)? I pretty much want to know if it is currently possible to crack/ hack/ jailbreak & unlock an iPhone 3GS – AND HOW TO DO THIS – and if so once done, do I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO PAY T-Mobile for internet service for my iPhone, or is there another way to get FREE internet access on the iPhone 3GS (i.e. wi-fi, etc.). Will the GPS still work on my iPhone 3GS once all this is done? And what about activation? Once I buy the iPhone from, say Apple (or wherever) will I have to activate it somehow, and if so how do I do this? Do I need an AT&T SIM card to do it & what kind? And can I just use my old T-Mobile SIM card? Or can I proceed straight to jailbreaking and unlocking with redsn0w, Ultrasn0w, purplera1n and all that jazz? Lastly, can someone PLEASE write in plain simple steps the order in which to activate, jailbreak and unlock the iPhone 3GS. Do I activate first (do I even NEED to activate?), then jailbreak (and do I use redsno0w, Ultrasn0w or purplera1n to do this?) and finally unlock. I know it is a lot of questions, but it would be ENORMOUSLY appreciated, you have no idea, there is just so much info out there, so can someone please help me out, it would take like only a few mins of your time and it would save me like DAYS of research, calling, etc. Thanks a BILLION!!

-Kam

By: Tony

Tony — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:34:52 +0000

@JC

Yes there is a way to do that. I have done it and it works surprisingly well over edge. You need to first Jailbreak your phone and then download an app through CYDIA called PDANET. It basically turns your phone into a wifi router. Just bare in mind that battery power immediately becomes a concern because it does suck down the power pretty quick with both edge and your wireless antenna going. There are instructions on how to create whats known as an adhoc network on your computer to make this all work. On the Mac it’s ridiculously easy, on the PC there are a few extra steps but definitly worth it.

By: jc

jc — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:55:31 +0000

very slightly off topic, but has anyone managed to tether a 3G iphone on T-mobile? i understand you’d probably only be getting Edge speeds on the laptop, but that’s better than nothing when there’s no other usable signal around…

By: Riyad Kalla

Riyad Kalla — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:59:15 +0000

Laura,

I think there is some confusion about the definition of “work” — to clarify:

The 3G iPhone cannot connect to the 3G T-Mobile network, but it will fall back to using the EDGE T-Mobile data network — so the phone “works”, but at EDGE speeds.

If you want 3G data speeds on T-Mobile, you’ll need to pick up one of the T-mobile data phones like the G1 or myTouch 3G.

By: Sina

Sina — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 22:03:26 +0000

It wont work due to different frequencies.

By: Christopher Price

Christopher Price — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 03:45:13 +0000

iPhone 3G will work on their network just fine. But, it won’t work at 3G speeds. Read the above for a technical explanation.

You will also need to edit settings on the iPhone, in order to establish a data connection with T-Mobile’s servers. Google is your friend there.

By: Laura

Laura — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 03:41:43 +0000

I was told by the TMobile salesperson as well as TMo customer care that my unlocked iPhone will in fact work on their 3G network. So far, it hasn’t, but I’ve only had it about half a day. I was told it needed time to “communicate with the network”. Are they just yankin my chain?

By: Christopher Price

Christopher Price — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:38:34 +0000

The only benefit would be GPS service, which would function. So, if you want your iPhone to have turn-by-turn directions, or GPS coordinance functionality… you would need an iPhone 3G.

Also, iPhone 3G supports MMS and Stereo Bluetooth. Technically, the original iPhone does as well… but Apple refuses to enable this functionality on the original iPhone.

The iPhone 3GS has a faster processor, OpenGL 2.0 ES Graphics, and a built-in compass.

By: jc

jc — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 07:50:53 +0000

so is there any reason at all to get an iPhone 3G over a 2G if i’m going to use on T-Mobile? what feature/benefits would there be?

By: Chris Hunkele

Chris Hunkele — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:24:37 +0000

Good news skyy, Ultrasn0w released this morning, which soft unlocks the 3G’s for tmobile
You can get all the details at ultrasn0w.com (the o in snow is actually a zero)

By: Skyy

Skyy — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:48:44 +0000

I’ve had a iphone 3g for about 4 months now and I love it only down is the edge network I’m forced to use but to tell u the truth it’s not that bad tmobile has a fairly decent edge speed … Plus everyone I know with a 3g compatible tmobile use edge to surf the net anyway complaining thatthe 3g kills there battery the iPhone is the best phone in the world easily …. Maybe 3g for tmobile users one day but def not a reason to not get your hands on one …. I’m sellin mine as soon as dev team tells me I can unlock a 3gs …. Witch I’m sure will be a even better experiance ….
Skyy
Mac pro
Macbook pro
iPhone 3g

By: Nickd

Nickd — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:39:57 +0000

Thank you, everyone for the most useful info I have found after searching the web for answers for the past two days! I agree with ClayE, and this thread was the final blow, google phone here I come! I really wanted the iphone, but I refuse to have mediocre service to get it, and that is all AT&T offers, at extortionist prices. It is not worth cracking if all the features aren’t functioning. Plus the google phone supports a free apps system that is a little more user fair. It may be a second rate phone, but I have so many better ways to sell my soul to the devil than to buy the iphone in its current state.

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:15:13 +0000

Actually neither Apple or AT&T ever said there is a contract between them that states AT&T being exclusive. But we are pretty sure there is one. But also, neither has said that if they did have a contract what the terms are. It is just rumored that they had a 5 year contract, but technically no one ones. Maybe Apple could go with T-mobile but maybe they can’t. We just don’t know. It’s all hush hush about it.

By: max

max — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:59:45 +0000

I just got my first Sciphone I68+. The only reason I wanted such phone is to be able to have it display the caller ID in large font as I wear a reading glasses.
Unfortunately, the font for caller id is too smal.
Do any one know if there is a way to change the font to a larger one or is there is an application out there that I can install it to make the font lareger ?
Thanks in advance.

By: Evan

Evan — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:13:47 +0000

Hi, can anyone tell me:
1) Would a phone with specs of HSPDA 2100 work on US Tmobile 3G network?
2) What’s the diference having both HSPDA 2100/1700 vs. just HSPDA 2100, since Tmobile is 1700/2100?
3) What’s UMTS 1700/2100 vs HSPDA 2100/1700? And would a phone w/ UMTS specs work on HSPDA network?
Thank you so much.

By: Sina

Sina — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:20:52 +0000

ATT’s contract with apple expired 2-3 months ago. No other service provider jumped on-board, and so ATT renewed. Shame on you T-Mobile!

By: ERIC GISORE

ERIC GISORE — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:36:03 +0000

how can i get iphone G3 in T.mobile service.

By: Riyad Kalla

Riyad Kalla — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:28:52 +0000

Max,

You can use the T-Mobile edge network here in the US, but not the T-Mobile 3G network. As far as the middle east, no idea.

By: max

max — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 03:43:55 +0000

Can some one clarify this to me as I am new to the iphone subject.
If I buy a jailbroken 3G iPhone, can I use it in the T-mobile network as well as in Africa (midle East) where they operate on 1800 Mhz.
I want to make sure that I can surf the net in US and Midle East.
Thanks

By: josh

josh — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:40:50 +0000

I can confirm that Iphone 3g will work if unlocked on the T-Mobile network but will only be able to access the Edge data network. The T-Mobile 3g data network is not compatible with the Iphone unfortunately.

By: Christopher Price

Christopher Price — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 17:53:21 +0000

Just to clear up Sina’s idea of using 2100 MHz HSPA for the downlink, and 850/1900 MHz EDGE for the uplink, sorry, that won’t work.

No 3GSM core network allows a mobile device to be connected to both GSM and UMTS networks at the same time. The chipset almost assuredly wouldn’t allow that either. It can’t happen.