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Question: taking the Nexus S overseas

T

T.Gegelia

Newbie
I live in Italy but I am currently in the USA and I want to get a nexus S. I have never owned an Android phone and therefore I have no idea how one works.

What I want to know is, would I be able to update my phone although Vodafone Italy does not currently have the Nexus S on sale?

So do I need Vodafone to release the update OTA or is there another way of updating my phone (without rooting it)?

Are there any other problems that may arise?

I am new here so I don't know if I posted this in the right place or not.
 
I would avoid the Nexus S if I were you. It's made for T-mobile which has a different 3G frequency than most carriers in the rest of the world. So you'll only be able to get edge back home, not 3G.

Plus the Nexus S is not that great. No microSD card, no gorilla glass. I just don't see what the hype is all about. The Nexus One is a better phone imho.

I'm usually one to get very excited by new phones, but the Nexus S really underwhelms me, and I'm on t-mobile to boot!
 
T-Mobile has a different frequency compared to US providers, but it has the same frequency as Europeans providers, so I can use it in Italy.

I want an android device that will get updates constantly and I believe that nexus S will be good for a while and I am not buying it because of the hype but because it seems like a good place to start with the android experience.

my phone supports a micro sd card, but I never use it. I don't need it, 16gb is enough. Gorilla glass is overhyped.
 
Seems like you know your answer already then, if you're convinced you don't need more than 16gb, and don't need gorilla glass.

I'd question your assertion that Italy uses the same 3G frequencies as T-mobile. See this thread for more info: US iPhone 3G Only Designed for AT&T? - MacRumors Forums

It seems T-mobile somehow uses a proprietary US based 3G spectrum that is not the same as Europe or anywhere else. You may be in for a bit of a sad shock if you take the Nexus S home.
 
Nope, Nexus S specs show it supports 2100hz, all European providers use 2100.


But my original question stands, does Vodafone release the updates ota or does google? Can you update the phone through wi-fi or something.
 
Check again: Nexus S Only edge access No 3G - Nexus One/Nexus S Forum - Google Phone Forum T-mobile uses 1700 / 2100, whereas Europe uses 900 / 2100.

You seem convinced that T-mobile 3G will work in Italy. Everything I've read suggests it will not. Also it does not have HSPA+ which would be compatible. Another fail on Nexus S part.

Good luck on whatever you do. You seem to have your mind made up.

EDIT: more info here: http://www.itworld.com/mobile-amp-wireless/130143/whats-point-unlocked-nexus-s This guy writes for an IT world blog, presumable he would have an even better idea than most on the Nexus S and global 3G frequencies.
 
The Nexus S has 900/1700/2100 mhz frequencies so it is definitely compatible with European carriers. As for updates, they will come straight from Google so there shouldn't be a problem. I have a Nexus One and for the first week, I didn't have a SIM card in my phone. Since I bought it after the first update was available, the minute I connected my phone to my wifi router, I got a notification that an update was available. Though the Nexus S has T-Mobile frequencies and can be subsidized through them, it is not necessarily made for them, rather T-Mobile is just Google's US partner. All one needs is access to the internet in order to receive updates.

http://www.google.com/phone/detail/nexus-s
 
The updates come directly from Google. As long as your Nexus S can connect to the internet, either via Wi-Fi or a Data plan (which it is compatible with most European 3G frequencies, 900/2100MHz), you'll be able to get the updates.
 
I am from Italy but live in the usa.
I go back and forth a lot and i confirm:

3g of tmo will work all over Europe (on 2100 frequency but there is no difference)
Google sends updates so you will receive.

Goditi il nexus s! Enjoy!
 
AndroidSPCS said:
I would avoid the Nexus S if I were you. It's made for T-mobile which has a different 3G frequency than most carriers in the rest of the world. So you'll only be able to get edge back home, not 3G.

Plus the Nexus S is not that great. No microSD card, no gorilla glass. I just don't see what the hype is all about. The Nexus One is a better phone imho.

I'm usually one to get very excited by new phones, but the Nexus S really underwhelms me, and I'm on t-mobile to boot!
Click to expand...

Why would you give baseless information? I am in Italy right now with my USA nexus s and it works over 3G just fine, plus the OTA update came through just fine.
 
falconeight

Do you switch out the sim when overseas, or use your US carrier? My son visits family and friends in Russia. He currently uses an "unlocked" Razr with T-mobile. He slips in a prepaid SIM card when in Russia.

He is asking for a Nexus S for his B-day so we are doing a bit of research.

Thank you...
 
Mvik34 said:
falconeight

Do you switch out the sim when overseas, or use your US carrier? My son visits family and friends in Russia. He currently uses an "unlocked" Razr with T-mobile. He slips in a prepaid SIM card when in Russia.

He is asking for a Nexus S for his B-day so we are doing a bit of research.

Thank you...
Click to expand...

Unless you have an international data plan with your US carrier, you'll definitely want to swap out your SIM with a prepaid SIM so that you won't be internationally roaming with astronomical data rates.
 
Mvik34 said:
falconeight

Do you switch out the sim when overseas, or use your US carrier? My son visits family and friends in Russia. He currently uses an "unlocked" Razr with T-mobile. He slips in a prepaid SIM card when in Russia.

He is asking for a Nexus S for his B-day so we are doing a bit of research.

Thank you...
Click to expand...

I travel often, and I usually keep 2 phones, 1 for roaming and my Nexus S I use for switching in a local sim when and if necessary. So to answer your question you can switch freely. I live in Italy, I own an american nexus S (Italian nexus s costs 530 euros and its exactly the same version!?) and I have had no problems at all. Confirming falconeights comment, I also received the update
 
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