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Using an iPhone on a 2G network?

  • 29-04-2012 6:20pm
    #1
    Mr. Loverman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,001 ✭✭✭


    Hi all

    My GF is thinking of getting an iPhone and using it with the network operator China Mobile.

    China Mobile's TD-SCDMA 3G network is incompatible with the iPhone.

    Does this mean the only way to access the internet will be via WIFI?

    I'm a bit clueless on this stuff so any advice appreciated.

    Cheers

    Shabba


Comments

  • #2
    coylemj
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,489 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    If the iPhone is incompatible with the phone network then the Apple device you need is an iPod Touch, commonly known as an iTouch, it's much cheaper than an iPhone and can access the net via Wi-Fi.

    In that case probably best to buy a pay as you go phone from a local phone shop and use the iTouch to access e-mail, news etc. where there's free Wi-Fi.


  • #3
    Mr. Loverman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,001 ✭✭✭Mr. Loverman


    Well the iPhone can still make phone calls on the 2G network -- it just can't use 3G.


  • #4
    Kensington
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,683 ✭✭✭Kensington


    It should still be able to get online using 2G GPRS or EDGE, but it will be very slow, hovering around 56k dialup speeds.


  • #5
    cookie1977
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,794 ✭✭✭cookie1977


    Edge could be as fast as 1mbps actually. Particularly if the network has done some software upgardes to Evolved Edge. But China mobile only utilises GPRS and 3G so GPRS will be very slow (maxing out at 56k as Kensington says) if not unusable on an iPhone


  • #6
    coylemj
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,489 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    Mr. Loverman wrote: »
    Well the iPhone can still make phone calls on the 2G network -- it just can't use 3G.

    In Ireland, a 32GB iTouch costs €304, a 32GB iPhone 4S costs €711. Why on earth would you spend €400 for functionality you can't use?

    Even the older iPhone4 costs over €500 in Ireland, waste of money if all you're using it for is voice calls.


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  • #7
    Mr. Loverman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,001 ✭✭✭Mr. Loverman


    coylemj wrote: »
    waste of money if all you're using it for is voice calls.

    It wouldn't just be used for voice calls. People have already replied saying internet would work on it (although would be slow).

    Thanks for the replies everyone.


  • #8
    coylemj
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,489 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    Have you considered the security implications of a female holding an iPhone in her hand for long periods of time waiting for an internet page to load - in a country where the phone is probably worth more than a month's wages?


  • #9
    Mr. Loverman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,001 ✭✭✭Mr. Loverman


    coylemj wrote: »
    Have you considered the security implications of a female holding an iPhone in her hand for long periods of time waiting for an internet page to load - in a country where the phone is probably worth more than a month's wages?

    China is significantly safer than Ireland when it comes to petty crime. Everyone has their iPhone and iPad out all the time... no problems.

    China doesn't have the skanger culture we have in Ireland.


  • #10
    Mellor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,592 ✭✭✭✭Mellor


    coylemj wrote: »
    In Ireland, a 32GB iTouch costs €304, a 32GB iPhone 4S costs €711. Why on earth would you spend €400 for functionality you can't use?

    Even the older iPhone4 costs over €500 in Ireland, waste of money if all you're using it for is voice calls.

    You can't send texts or calls from the ipod touch outside of a wifizone. So what you are suggesting isn't simialr functionally at all.

    The iphone has other connection options other than 3G. It will really depend on the local network and it could be anything from terrible speed to adequate. Best advice I'd say is try a friends iphone to go into an apple shop and check the connection speed with the wifi turned off


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