WP7 Carriers and Carrier 3G specifications

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Stig

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All I am looking at trying to get a WP7 and it seems the biggest issue is availability of handsets. So I have been to Vodacom (my current carrier and don't think i am going to move) and it seems the only handset they have is the HTC Trophy. MTN and Cell C I can't find any information about WP7 on their sites. Does anyone have information about which carrier stocks/sells which phones?

Now if all else fails I am looking at getting an Omnia 7 via a online retailer and then just getting something like an iPhone on contract to sell to pay for the Omnia. Now the biggest thing I am worried about is the phone being able to work on the Vodacom network. The information supplied on the details for the phone is the following
Carrier: AT&T (GSM based), T-Mobile, and Other GSM carriers* * Please check compatibility with your service provider Technology: 3G EURO Standard 900/1900/2100 mhz UMTS, Quad Band 850/900/1800/1900
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Does Vodacom support those ranges on its network? Searching for technical specification on the vodacom 3g network the best i could find was this

Vodacom is a GSM 900 & W-CDMA/3G network in South Africa
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Source. However the site looks like it was last updated in 2004.

I have been searching but can't seem to find anything definitive. Any help on either topic would be greatly appreciated.
 
I have the T-Mobile HD7 and I can confirm that it works properly (3G etc).
It supports the following bands:
* 850 MHz
* 900 MHz
* 1800 MHz
* 1900 MHz
* UMTS: Band I (2100)
* UMTS: Band IV (1700/2100)

The Omnia 7 is similar, the only problem is if you go to the states, AT&T and T-Mobile use different frequencies for their 3G connection.
 
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The Samsung Omnia 7 is a freaking fantastic phone, I love mine. It works perfectly fine on MTN for me, bar two issues:

1) MMS doesn't work. You can't configure this in WP7 and Samsung's Network tool they released doesn't work for SA operators. HTC's Network Setup tool works fine for MTN however.
2) You can't set the phone to only use 2G on the the Omnia, it's basically data connection or nothing. Peculiarity seems to be limited to the Omnia only, as the HTC Mozart and other WP7 phones have the option to toggle this.

Hope this helps. WP7 is only going to get better and better this year, once Mango comes out it will pretty much be feature parity with other platforms.
 
Asha'man X said:
The Samsung Omnia 7 is a freaking fantastic phone, I love mine. It works perfectly fine on MTN for me, bar two issues:

1) MMS doesn't work. You can't configure this in WP7 and Samsung's Network tool they released doesn't work for SA operators. HTC's Network Setup tool works fine for MTN however.
2) You can't set the phone to only use 2G on the the Omnia, it's basically data connection or nothing. Peculiarity seems to be limited to the Omnia only, as the HTC Mozart and other WP7 phones have the option to toggle this.

Hope this helps. WP7 is only going to get better and better this year, once Mango comes out it will pretty much be feature parity with other platforms.
Click to expand...

Wow, those are some pretty weird issues. It's a pity as I use those two quite often (switching sims and saving some battery life).
Looking forward to Mango, just hope they get some better brand awareness.
 
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Thanks for all of the comments they are very useful.

Asha'man X said:
The Samsung Omnia 7 is a freaking fantastic phone, I love mine. It works perfectly fine on MTN for me, bar two issues:

1) MMS doesn't work. You can't configure this in WP7 and Samsung's Network tool they released doesn't work for SA operators. HTC's Network Setup tool works fine for MTN however.
2) You can't set the phone to only use 2G on the the Omnia, it's basically data connection or nothing. Peculiarity seems to be limited to the Omnia only, as the HTC Mozart and other WP7 phones have the option to toggle this.

Hope this helps. WP7 is only going to get better and better this year, once Mango comes out it will pretty much be feature parity with other platforms.
Click to expand...

First issue i can get over I pretty much send things as mails now instead of mms.
The second issue is quite interesting. Just clarifying with the second issue, What falls under 2G? Is that EDGE because that could be a bit of a pain? Just trying to think if it would be a show stopper for me. Currently i don't think so.
 
MTN got the Mozart. They don't advertise it and won't mention it, but you can get it from them. I got mine in March from MTN on the Anytime 350.
 
MielieSpoor said:
MTN got the Mozart. They don't advertise it and won't mention it, but you can get it from them. I got mine in March from MTN on the Anytime 350.
Click to expand...

What is wrong with them? That's probably one of the nicest looking smartphones around and they hide it like its some ugly old thing.
I hope MS manages to sort out this retail thing. If anything is stopping sales it's the poor carrier retailers.
 
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Asha'man X said:
The Samsung Omnia 7 is a freaking fantastic phone, I love mine. It works perfectly fine on MTN for me, bar two issues:

1) MMS doesn't work. You can't configure this in WP7 and Samsung's Network tool they released doesn't work for SA operators. HTC's Network Setup tool works fine for MTN however.
2) You can't set the phone to only use 2G on the the Omnia, it's basically data connection or nothing. Peculiarity seems to be limited to the Omnia only, as the HTC Mozart and other WP7 phones have the option to toggle this.

Hope this helps. WP7 is only going to get better and better this year, once Mango comes out it will pretty much be feature parity with other platforms.
Click to expand...

How is the Youtube app, are they using the Microsoft one which is crap, or do Samsung have their own Youtube app on the phone. I got a HTC Mozart and the Youtube app from HTC is very good.
 
Thanks to all for the feedback. I ordered my Omnia 7 yesterday. Now it is just waiting for the delivery to happen. (Early June according to take 2)
 
Stig said:
Thanks to all for the feedback. I ordered my Omnia 7 yesterday. Now it is just waiting for the delivery to happen. (Early June according to take 2)
Click to expand...
Nice! Welcome to the club :D
 
I went there again a few days later and spoke to another sales lady who also did not know much but was willing to give me what I wanted and confirmed 3 in stock. She was surprised though as to why I didn't take the galaxy s which is "such a good price"
 
sameer78 said:
I went there again a few days later and spoke to another sales lady who also did not know much but was willing to give me what I wanted and confirmed 3 in stock. She was surprised though as to why I didn't take the galaxy s which is "such a good price"
Click to expand...

This problem of Network franschise employees and lack of interest is a common one. The lack of understanding and support around Win Mob devices has been are around since "Pa fell off his horse" so is the problem of promoting the OS. This stems from customers that do not understand their home/office Windows PC to start with, now confronted with the mobile version of the home/office PC.

I have had this type of experience since my start at using Win Mob devices like Qtek etc. but I have persevered and only use this type of Mobile OS, currently useing Samsung i8000 Omnia Pro 2 and will not use any other OS.
 
Proseal said:
This problem of Network franschise employees and lack of interest is a common one. The lack of understanding and support around Win Mob devices has been are around since "Pa fell off his horse" so is the problem of promoting the OS. This stems from customers that do not understand their home/office Windows PC to start with, now confronted with the mobile version of the home/office PC.

I have had this type of experience since my start at using Win Mob devices like Qtek etc. but I have persevered and only use this type of Mobile OS, currently useing Samsung i8000 Omnia Pro 2 and will not use any other OS.
Click to expand...

You NEED to use Windows Phone 7 :)
I can honestly understand trying to sell other devices as opposed to Windows Mobile but not instead of Windows Phone. It just shows how useless they are at their job.
 
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Just an update here. I got my Omnia 7 on Monday. Got to say it is very perdy. I found there was a bit of getting used to it but I am really enjoying it. Very happy i waited for it. I just need to get a phone on my contract to sell and i should hopefully come out about even buying it online.

SA marketplace and official developer unlocks - I can't wait!
 
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