vB Easy Archive - Let me get this straight (EDGE/3G and Cingular)...

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Let me get this straight (EDGE/3G and Cingular)...
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Posted by: dominick

OK, Cingular sent out a press release that their 3G network went live today. And we know that EDGE has been out. Here are my questions about 3G and EDGE and pricing - forgive me if they're rudimentary:

1) Do I just need WiFi phone/ppc to get the 3G speeds i.e. the K-Jam? Or will I need a cingular phone that has proprietary access to its 3G?

2) Let's say I do get a non-cingular Wifi phone (that gets 3G speeds) and that 3G is not proprietary - can I simply pop in my SIM and still use my $20 unlimited MediaNet?

It's my understanding that EDGE doesn't cost extra on top of GPRS, so why should this new 3G if you have the phone to support it?

3) When are more wifi smartphones coming out?!?!?!? (OK, just a rant,no need to answer...). Oh and cheaper ones at that...

thanks in advance

Posted by: CeluGeek

1) WiFi will only give you access wherever there is a WiFi access point, such as your own wireless home network or a hotspot in a public place, like some hotels and cafes. Cingular's 3G service will give you access wherever Cingular has deployed their 3G network.

2) Most likely, but again, you will only get high-speed data access in one of the situations I explained in #1. 3G access does not cost extra, so far. The $60 or so data package is for laptop PC cards, not for phones.

3) There is the HTC Universal, but I don't know who will carry it. Probably I-mate and/or QTek will release versions of this phone. That's the only one I know so far.

Posted by: dominick

Thanks - that helps (I was confusing 3G and wifi... duh...).

So... if there's a phone out there (unlocked) that can access cingular's 3G network, then I 'might' be able to use my SIM and get Unlimited data?

I admit it - I want superfast data on my smartphone, at supercheap prices. What - am I alone on this one? ;-/

Posted by: CeluGeek

Quote:

Originally Posted by dominick

Thanks - that helps (I was confusing 3G and wifi... duh...).

So... if there's a phone out there (unlocked) that can access cingular's 3G network, then I 'might' be able to use my SIM and get Unlimited data?

I admit it - I want superfast data on my smartphone, at supercheap prices. What - am I alone on this one? ;-/

To this date, the answer is still Yes.

Posted by: Omega2008

EDGE is not 3G its really 2.5G and it doens't cost more. All you need is a MEida Net plan. However when you get a 3G device with UMTS/HSPDA you will have to get a data plan for UMTS. This is my understanding of it and of course I could be wrong.