Help Will the CDMA/LTE Galaxy Nexus work on T-Mobile Network?

[nanoplasm]

My apologies if this question has been asked before. Plus the fact I am new here. ^_^;;

I am interested in getting a Galaxy Nexus as my international phone.

My US carrier is T-Mobile, and I need the phone to work in Japan.

After reading all the various sites, it seems I am SOL.

The CDMA/LTE version will work in Japan on DoCoMo 4G network, but not on the T-mobile GSM network here in the US. And the GSM version of Galaxy Nexus will work with T-Mobile, but not work in Japan because there is no GSM/HSPA+ network there.

Is that an accurate conclusion?

 

[trophynuts]

Welcome to AF.



How do you know the CDMA/LTE version will work on DoCoMo 4G? Since its not out yet.

 

[NecoD]

Welcome to AF.



How do you know the CDMA/LTE version will work on DoCoMo 4G? Since its not out yet.

I was curious about that myself.

 

[mrvirginia]

the answer to your original question, "Will the CDMA/LTE Galaxy Nexus work on T-Mobile Network?" is no. T-Mob is also GSM.

 

[Fabolous]

Definitely get the international version. If not Docomo. another provider will have a GSM network in Japan.

Only very few CDMA networks exist in the world, and only VZW runs LTE on 700MHz (AFAIK), so that model GN is carrier exclusive to VZW.

BTW, I looked up here, and it looks like they deploy HSDPA anyways...

Present Technologies | Technologies | NTT DOCOMO Global

 

[trophynuts]

Like Fab said your more than likely to find another GSM provider in JP.

I've used my World edition Blackberry in Germany/South Korea/Japan and each time it runs off of the GSM side. South Korea has some CDMA towers but the GSM is much better coverage wise.

 

[kyler13]

The GN will probably work in Japan on CDMA, but not LTE. DoCoMo's LTE service operates in the 2GHz frequency range, KDDI's in the 800MHz range. Verizon is in the 700MHz range.

Edit: And btw, we thought having CDMA and HSPA pentaband was bad for worldwide compatibility? How about having to wait for the first dodecahedraband phone...

The LTE standard can be used with many different frequency bands. In North America, 700 and 1700 MHz are planned to be used; 800, 1800, 2600 MHz in Europe; 1800 and 2600 MHz in Asia; and 1800 MHz and 2300 MHz in Australia.[14][15][16][17] As a result, phones from one country may not work in other countries. Users will need a multi-band capable phone for roaming internationally.

 

[nanoplasm]

Definitely get the international version. If not Docomo. another provider will have a GSM network in Japan.

Only very few CDMA networks exist in the world, and only VZW runs LTE on 700MHz (AFAIK), so that model GN is carrier exclusive to VZW.

BTW, I looked up here, and it looks like they deploy HSDPA anyways...

Present Technologies | Technologies | NTT DOCOMO Global

Like Fab said your more than likely to find another GSM provider in JP.

I've used my World edition Blackberry in Germany/South Korea/Japan and each time it runs off of the GSM side. South Korea has some CDMA towers but the GSM is much better coverage wise.

Thanks for the responses.

But according to another forum member, Japan doesn't have GSM:

http://androidforums.com/android-lounge/91767-android-phone-japan.html#post3208409

And that's what I hear from people in Japan as well. I think the blackberry falls back to CDMA/EV-DO or something when operating in Japan.

Fab, I think you are right about the HSDPA compatibility. The spec for Docomo's version of GN shows GSM capability (for international use, not Japan domestic), so that's probably the international version of GN that Docomo will be selling early next year.

docomo NEXT series GALAXY NEXUS SC-04D

I will look around and probably get the international version of GN.

Thanks for the help!