When you are buying a new mobile phone or considering changing networks be sure the phone is equipped to send and receive on the following frequencies for the selected carrier.
The mistake most made is having a phone with a built in frequency of UMTS 900/2100mhz and expecting it to work properly outside of the Metro areas using a Telstra sim that requires a built in frequency of UTMS 850/2100mhz
and Visa Virsa for an Optus sim..
Anyway, the situation in Australia:
Optus GSM900 GSM1800 UMTS900 UMTS2100 Best Handset to buy: GSM900+1800, UMTS900+2100
Telstra GSM900 GSM1800 UMTS850 UMTS2100 Best Handset to buy: GSM900+1800, UMTS850+2100 Note: the only frequency you should ever need on Telstra is UMTS850 as their NextG network is Australia wide.
Three GSM900 (Telstra Roaming) GSM1800 (Telstra Roaming) UMTS850 (Telstra Roaming) UMTS2100 Best Handset to buy: GSM900+1800, UMTS2100+850 Note: need a UMTS2100 handset as otherwise you'll be constantly roaming.
Vodafone GSM900 GSM1800 UMTS900 UMTS2100 Best Handset to buy: GSM900+1800, UMTS900+2100
Keep in mind the UMTS900 rollout by both Vodafone and Optus are in progress.
In metro areas any phone will work on any carriers network as they all use the UMTS2100mhz frequency and all phones have UMTS 2100mhz .
It is only when you get out in the country where Telstra and it's virtual networks use UMTS850mhz and Optus and it's VN's use UMTS900mhz that it is important to have the right phone for the network you want to use..
Good post Bob, especially the 2nd paragraph: The mistake most made is having a phone with a built in frequency of UMTS 900/2100mhz and expecting it to work properly outside of the Metro areas using a Telstra sim that requires a built in frequency of UTMS 850/2100mhz
An unlocked Telstra phone may not work at it's best with an Optus sim and vice-versa.
Good information Bob, I work with carriers regularly and understand the frequency differences, but you have put it very well for people who do not have the same level of exposure.
Talking to the two main carriers over the last couple of weeks the major changes that are coming is a simplification of the Optus pricing plans in the short term, to $40, $60, and $80 all unlimited voice and text, with varying data allocations. I can not get anything out of Telstra, but I do know the plans are changing.
Both networks will roll out 700mhz on January first next year, but as yet I do not know what it will be carrying. However testing indicates that it has much better country range, and that it benefits enormously from a good antenna (as do 850 & 900).
