DNW
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Well, it won't work on Verizon, and it won't work fully on AT+T. So... in the U.S. that limits the choice a bit.
Well...I did include that in my disclaimer.
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Well, it won't work on Verizon, and it won't work fully on AT+T. So... in the U.S. that limits the choice a bit.
Well...I did include that in my disclaimer.
Off the top of my head:
It's GSM which means T-Mo or AT&T (in the US anyway). It doesn't support AT&T 3G.2. Not carrier dependent (to a limited extent)
I'm with AT&T right now. If the 3G situation were reversed and this thing supported their frequencies, there's no way I'd switch to T-Mobile and be stuck with Edge.3. Not contract dependent
This is perhaps the biggest plus. Android's multiple versions and various incompatibilities across versions is major suck.4. You get a phone [supposedly] designed the way Google intended for Android to operate
Sure, but in the end it just ends up being just another Android device and not really worthy of all the hoopla and buzz generated about Google "entering the game".5. Latter hardware than the Droid
I was always a big proponent of the hard keyboard. Not that long ago I declared that my next phone absolutely must have one. I have very large hands (I'm 6'2" and my hands are big even for my proportions) and touch screens always sucked. Been using an iPhone 2G the last couple of months (freebie loaner) and it honestly hasn't been too bad. The large screen of the HD2 would be even better and it's made me reconsider.That said, it won't have a keyboard, which is a major disappointment for me (try to text/email on a touchscreen while on a bumpy bus/train ride!).
I don't much care for Apple and their policies but other than the non-user-replaceable battery, the iPhone is actually quite a good device IMO. I admit, however, that this is 90% due to the applications available rather than anything specific to the device. It's actually subpar as a phone and there's nothing particularly special about it.
1. Technically, it's carrier independent because you're not contractually obligated to anyone for a year or two. I think the technology is there, and AT&T will allow it to work on their network if they know [and they will] what's best for them.
It will work with EDGE, but the phone itself does not recognize AT+T's 3G frequency. AT+T Would have to pay T-Mob money for access to their 3G spectrum. I promise you that will never happen.
1. Technically, it's carrier independent because you're not contractually obligated to anyone for a year or two. I think the technology is there, and AT&T will allow it to work on their network if they know [and they will] what's best for them.
Well...firmware update is always an option.
Well...firmware update is always an option.
You can't firmware update a frequency if it's not in the hardware. Only way possible is if it's there and just locked off for some reason. I think Apple pulled this BS before with a router or something.
Firmware updates will not unlock something that does not exist. You would have to solder in a new 3G chip that recognizes 850/1900mhz. (and you would likely completely destroy your phone attempting it)
But what if it did exist, but couldn't work because some lawyer said it needed to wait for an okay from AT&T?
Then I'd be happy. Not holding my breath though. I've thought about this in the past but tonight's exchange has brought it to the forefront of my mind again - what's the benefit of an unlocked handset in the US? Well for a smartphone anyway. Something like this phone for example which is nowhere near its mobile potential without the speedier data connection. If you're just using it for calls/texting then the 3G vs Edge thing doesn't matter but since the mobile internet would be much slower on AT&T what's the point of buying a $530 device vs a $200 one and paying the $175 ETF down the line if you decide you want to leave your contract? Of course, this is before Verizon's ridiculous $350 ETF which has the FCC investigating them. It's not like you can buy this and take it to Verizon or Sprint. The biggest plus I can see for unlocked GSM phones is for frequent international travelers who want to pop in a foreign SIM at their destination.
Then it would be a fantasy world, and you could probably fly if you jumped off a tall enough building.
But Google makes it real.