which keitai? / Using docomo android phone with t-mobile usa?

[Mikaishsilleh]

Okay, bad title, but here's a question for you guys. I'm thinking about gettin an unlocked Docomo android phone from their 2011-2012 winter line. To be more exact, I narrowed it down to either the Fujitsu F-05d Arrows X LTE (I want the blue black one, and dont intend to get it because of the LTE :3) or the Fujitsu F-03d Arrows Kiss popteen version (I like those hearts haha)

the phones are supposed to work on these bands:

ARROWS kiss F-03D/F-03D Girls'：
-2G Network : GSM EDGE GPRS - 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
- 3G Network : WCDMA HSDPA - 800, 850, 1700, 2100 MHz
(^according to www(dot)kyoex(dot)com/docomo-fujitsu-f-03d-arrows-kiss/)

ARROWS X LTE F-05D：
-2G Network : GSM GPRS EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
-3G Network : UMTS HSDPA 800, 850, 1700, 2100 MHz
-4G Network : LTE 2000 Mhz

(^according to www(dot)kyoex(dot)com/docomo-fujitsu-f-05d-arrows-x-lte-phone/)

Will these work on t-mobile Usa with the bands they currenty use? After reading this thread I got a little concerned and wanted to make sure I could use these phones on t-mobile before I bought one of them

www(dot)howardforums(dot)com/showthread.php/1764939-DOCOMO-TMOBILE-(USA)-No-Smile-Face-why (sorry for the (dot) things >.>;; )

If I just have to do a few simple things like set the APN or something, I could figure that out no problem, but if the phones wont function properly on the bands that t-mobile uses then I'll be out of luck D:

Thanks for your help and answers!

also, just wondering anyone's opinions on which of the two phones I should get? I mean, based on how well they function compared to each other, because I read somewhere the f-05d can be slow unless you turn off the docomo palette UI, and things like that.

[patrixl]

Are you planning on using them on 3G, or just 2G? They in all probability won't work on 3G, so you'll get EDGE speeds. Check to make sure their GSM frequencies match T-Mobile's (Arrows Kiss is quad-band GSM so has the most compatibility).

Note that although the Arrows Kiss supports the numerical frequencies (2100 and 1700), it doesn't support AWS (UMTS Band IV) which is what T-Mobile uses, a special way of using 2100 PLUS 1700 (not independently) together, one for for upload and one for download. This has led to confusion before, where people would argue their phone should work on T-Mobile because the frequencies are supported even though the AWS technology itself was not.

So in essence, unless you want to be stuck with 2G.... Better look elsewhere or choose a new carrier (AT&T)

[Mikaishsilleh]

Are you planning on using them on 3G, or just 2G? They in all probability won't work on 3G, so you'll get EDGE speeds. Check to make sure their GSM frequencies match T-Mobile's (Arrows Kiss is quad-band GSM so has the most compatibility).

Note that although the Arrows Kiss supports the numerical frequencies (2100 and 1700), it doesn't support AWS (UMTS Band IV) which is what T-Mobile uses, a special way of using 2100 PLUS 1700 (not independently) together, one for for upload and one for download. This has led to confusion before, where people would argue their phone should work on T-Mobile because the frequencies are supported even though the AWS technology itself was not.

So in essence, unless you want to be stuck with 2G.... Better look elsewhere or choose a new carrier (AT&T)

I want to be able to use then on 3g, but i also dont want to have to go to att and pay the 50 a month for the everything unlimited.. cause all i need is the unlimited text and data >< plus, 50 is a little steep for me

anyways, i thought t-mobile was refarming their 1900mhz frequency? or was that hspa and not gsm?

plus it seems like even if i went with at&t i would still only be able to get 2g anyways... right?

Frequencies used on the AT&T Network
Frequency Protocol Class
850 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE 2G
1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE 2G
850 MHz UMTS/HSPA 3G
1900 MHz UMTS/HSPA 3G
700 MHz LTE 4G
1700/2100 MHz(AWS) LTE 4G

Radio frequency spectrum bands accessible by T-Mobile USA customers using compatible devices
Frequency Band Protocol Class
1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE 2G
850 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSPA 2G/3G
1900 MHz UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+ 3G/4G
1700/2100 MHz UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+ 3G/4G
1700/2100 MHz LTE 4G

[inkynotebook]

T-mobile 3g doesn't work. I have a SH-01B on tmobile and the service stopped working all together.

I'm waiting a SH-01D and I'm moving both over to AT&T because according to the forums, AT&T works perfectly on Docomo brand phones, even the 3g (on the SH-01D)

To be honest, shell out the 50 a month for AT&T or you could end up paying for service that just flat out doesn't work or cuts out often.

[Mikaishsilleh]

T-mobile 3g doesn't work. I have a SH-01B on tmobile and the service stopped working all together.

I'm waiting a SH-01D and I'm moving both over to AT&T because according to the forums, AT&T works perfectly on Docomo brand phones, even the 3g (on the SH-01D)

To be honest, shell out the 50 a month for AT&T or you could end up paying for service that just flat out doesn't work or cuts out often.

Yea, I've decided I should just go for that, and since I'm going prepaid, paying the 50 on att means I get unlimited data and minutes as well, in stead of only 100 on t-mobile. if i paid 50 on t-mobile for the minutes, I'd have a smaller data cap.

Thanks for the first hand info!

[byebyekitty]

Be aware that AT&T prepaid $50 monthly plan for unlimited data does NOT apply to smartphones. You will get unlimited call and text but NO data. Your smartphone won't connect to the internet (when no wifi) unless you purchase their data package.

[defjux]

Be aware that AT&T prepaid $50 monthly plan for unlimited data does NOT apply to smartphones. You will get unlimited call and text but NO data. Your smartphone won't connect to the internet (when no wifi) unless you purchase their data package.

This is absolutely correct with the exception of BlackBerry phones. You will be able to use data (no BIS though, no push email or BBM) with the prepaid at&t $50 plan. Only browsing will work with this plan. Still, byebyekitty is right!

[Mikaishsilleh]

yea, i aw after i posted that it was for feature phones only unless i paid for more data ;^;

[aw614]

Be aware that AT&T prepaid $50 monthly plan for unlimited data does NOT apply to smartphones. You will get unlimited call and text but NO data. Your smartphone won't connect to the internet (when no wifi) unless you purchase their data package.

but would att be able to detect docomo android and place restrictions on them? It might show up as unknown device

[byebyekitty]

but would att be able to detect docomo android and place restrictions on them? It might show up as unknown device

For AT&T's smartphone prepaid plan and data package, I did not see any difference on my iPhone and Docomo Android.

[grantith]

You could try StraightTalk. It's $45 for unlimited everything (data usually capped around 2 gigs but it varies), and it runs on AT&T network.

[Mikaishsilleh]

I'm using straight talk instead of actually using ATT and it works perfectly ^^