Any experiences with Truphone?

[NC_curious]

Ok.. Tru looks very attractive...
Now, does anybody have any information about porting out of TRU?
As for topup denominations of 15,30,... are those in Euros, or in dollars?

Thanks in advance..

[HF305]

If you designate the USA as your home country, everything is in US dollars. My SIM kit was mailed from a Chicago office.

Porting out should be like most other prepaid where you just tell the new carrier the phone number and PIN code you selected at activation.

[cacophony555]

TRU has never had 3G access on AT&T, despite rumors to the contrary. My old TRU SIM never had it and the new one I activated just last week does not, either. It is EDGE only. No big deal, and I can live with 17c/MB as I would so rarely need to use it.

With AT&T MVNOs in the 30c/MB+ range (if they offer pay-go at all) I think TRU is a decent deal, despite lack of access to AT&T 3G.

What are you basing this on? The articles I read claimed TMO only had 1900 band 3G in certain areas, so you're anecdotal experience (in Iowa?) can't exactly disprove it:

"First and foremost, the area we’re specifically talking about is Nevada as that is where this individual unlocked iPhone owner lives. However, Nevada, parts of Northern California and the Pacific Northwest are also seeing some pockets of 1900MHz spectrum refarming for HSPA+. "

[Pabster]

What are you basing this on? The articles I read claimed TMO only had 1900 band 3G in certain areas, so you're anecdotal experience (in Iowa?) can't exactly disprove it:

"First and foremost, the area we’re specifically talking about is Nevada as that is where this individual unlocked iPhone owner lives. However, Nevada, parts of Northern California and the Pacific Northwest are also seeing some pockets of 1900MHz spectrum refarming for HSPA+. "

I'm basing it on my personal experience over the past 2 or so years, traveling all over the country (USA). There may well be an isolated region or location which would allow access but I haven't seen it nor heard any one confirm it. T-Mobile provides 3G over 1700MHz in almost ALL regions, only a [very, very, very few] pockets have refarmed 3G on 1900.

[cacophony555]

I'm basing it on my personal experience over the past 2 or so years, traveling all over the country (USA). There may well be an isolated region or location which would allow access but I haven't seen it nor heard any one confirm it. T-Mobile provides 3G over 1700MHz in almost ALL regions, only a [very, very, very few] pockets have refarmed 3G on 1900.

There are various reports confirming it, and going forward it will only get better:

"In a statement to 9to5Mac, T-Mobile said that it currently has more than one million unlocked iPhones on its network and that it will continue to add value for them as it modernizes its network. "Beginning this year, we will introduce HSPA+ service in our 1900 MHz PCS spectrum," T-Mobile said. "When we do, our 4G network will be compatible with a broader range of devices, including the iPhone."

[Pabster]

There are various reports confirming it, and going forward it will only get better:

"In a statement to 9to5Mac, T-Mobile said that it currently has more than one million unlocked iPhones on its network and that it will continue to add value for them as it modernizes its network. "Beginning this year, we will introduce HSPA+ service in our 1900 MHz PCS spectrum," T-Mobile said. "When we do, our 4G network will be compatible with a broader range of devices, including the iPhone."

To be clear, you are talking about T-Mobile's frequency here. I was primarily talking about TRU not being able to use 3G data. I'm well aware that T-Mobile has plans to move HSPA+ to 1900 in some areas, how widespread that ever becomes remains to be seen. I also do not consider HSPA+ to be 4G but that is yet another discussion.

[cacophony555]

To be clear, you are talking about T-Mobile's frequency here. I was primarily talking about TRU not being able to use 3G data. I'm well aware that T-Mobile has plans to move HSPA+ to 1900 in some areas, how widespread that ever becomes remains to be seen. I also do not consider HSPA+ to be 4G but that is yet another discussion.

Not sure I follow... Dmarkson had told me the following "Tru has a 2G and 3G roaming agreement with Tmo so yes, if Tmo is running 3G on 1900 you would be able to use it. This was not always the case, when I first got Tru it would not register on Tmo 3G. It has worked since late last summer for me. "

[Pabster]

Not sure I follow... Dmarkson had told me the following "Tru has a 2G and 3G roaming agreement with Tmo so yes, if Tmo is running 3G on 1900 you would be able to use it. This was not always the case, when I first got Tru it would not register on Tmo 3G. It has worked since late last summer for me. "

Originally I was discussing the lack of 3G on AT&T, then it was noted the same for T-Mobile. I don't think the frequency 3G is being piped on (1700 or 1900) has anything to do with it. They either have an agreement, or they don't. I just popped my latest TRU SIM in a pentaband N9 and no 3G on AT&T or T-Mobile here, EDGE only. Perhaps we need a few more TRU users from varied locations but I have only seen spartan claims of 3G access and zero to little confirmation of it. I think we'll see more users and reports after the GoPhone changes go in to effect.

[cacophony555]

Originally I was discussing the lack of 3G on AT&T, then it was noted the same for T-Mobile. I don't think the frequency 3G is being piped on (1700 or 1900) has anything to do with it. They either have an agreement, or they don't. I just popped my latest TRU SIM in a pentaband N9 and no 3G on AT&T or T-Mobile here, EDGE only. Perhaps we need a few more TRU users from varied locations but I have only seen spartan claims of 3G access and zero to little confirmation of it. I think we'll see more users and reports after the GoPhone changes go in to effect.

Well I'll definitely report back with my experience. I have a newly unlocked iPhone 3GS and just ordered the Tru Sim kit. I also live in the SF Bay Area, which (hopefully) is one of Tmo 1900 areas.

[Pabster]

Well I'll definitely report back with my experience. I have a newly unlocked iPhone 3GS and just ordered the Tru Sim kit. I also live in the SF Bay Area, which (hopefully) is one of Tmo 1900 areas.

Please do, I would like to start compiling more data from folks using TRU. I know there are a few...

[Bob859]

I just activated my Tru SIM today, and to my disappointment I can't get it to work for data on any phone that I have tried it in. It works for voice on both T-Mobile or AT&T, but not data. I have tried the SIM in several unlocked AT&T and T-Mobile phones.

[HF305]

Did you go into the phone menu and set the APN to "truphone.com" (without the quotes)? It usually needs to be manually set in order for the phone to be able to sign on and access data.

[Bob859]

Did you go into the phone menu and set the APN to "truphone.com" (without the quotes)? It usually needs to be manually set in order for the phone to be able to sign on and access data.

Yep, I did. Then I called customer service and they told me that Tru data connections will work on T-Mobile, not AT&T, but I haven't been able to get it to work on T-Mobile either. Since it won't work on AT&T, then I won't have a data connection when I go to areas where AT&T is the only GSM carrier.

[HF305]

I just tried it with the old iPhone, data (EDGE) definitely worked on both networks. Maybe I'm grandfathered somehow? If you're using a 3G phone, see if you can force it into 2G mode.

[Bob859]

I just tried it with the old iPhone, data (EDGE) definitely worked on both networks. Maybe I'm grandfathered somehow? If you're using a 3G phone, see if you can force it into 2G mode.

I tried it on 3 different 3G phones. It only worked on 2G.......never accessed 3G.