Help Will Telus Desire work in Australia????

[happyhaggis]

Hi there,

Purchased a HTC desire form Telus with the hopes of unlocking it and using in Australia.

Now it's unlocked and I'm here, so I purchased a Vodaphone pre paid sim card with data included.

I can make and receive calls (so unlocking worked) but can't use internet. Tried calling both Vodaphone and HTC who were helpful and gave me various APN's to try, but still no go.

They said the phone may not be 3G compatible.

Am I on the wrong network with Vodaphone? I heard Telstra may work but not keen to spend another $50 on a sim card.

Anyone know how to get this phone working in OZ?

Thanks

 

[Deleted User]

Purchased a HTC desire form Telus with the hopes of unlocking it and using in Australia.
Now it's unlocked and I'm here, so I purchased a Vodaphone pre paid sim card with data included.
I can make and receive calls (so unlocking worked) but can't use internet. Tried calling both Vodaphone and HTC who were helpful and gave me various APN's to try, but still no go.
They said the phone may not be 3G compatible.

Sorry, but you really should have researched it a little bit before buying the phone.

The Canadian Telus Desire uses 850/1900 for 3G while Australia uses 2100 for 3G. I don't think the RF unit in the Desire covers all bands, meaning each regional area has its own RF unit and there's no way to get it to work on different bands. But try googling for info on the RF unit and see if flashing an Australian ROM would work...it might, but I doubt it.

Part of what makes the iPhone 4 so popular around the world is that it includes 850/1900 and 900/2100 freqs for North America as well as Europe and Australia. Most Android phones are designed for their local markets and work on the bands for their regional areas.

 

[happyhaggis]

Damn.

Where we you three months ago!!??

I did some research (obviously not enough) and was told that it's a three band phone and that it should work.

Crap. I don't want to go to Iphone but I travel back and forth to Vancouver - Sydney and was hoping this would cover both areas.

I'm gutted now. I love the phone and have it customized the way I like....I guess I have to buy a Desire here in OZ and switch between the two but have my work email in both units?

....or swallow my pride and buy an Iphone next time I'm coming to OZ.

So the phone can take calls on the GSM?


Thanks again for the info.

 

[happyhaggis]

Sorry, one last thing.

Would the Desire HD work in both countries?

I "think" so, but we can see what my research usually finds....


Thanks

 

[Deleted User]

Damn.
Where we you three months ago!!??

I was here, but I think I had a cold.

I did some research (obviously not enough) and was told that it's a three band phone and that it should work.

It's actually a 4 band phone for GSM, but only 2 bands for 3G. It would be nice if it covered all 4 3G bands.

Crap. I don't want to go to Iphone but I travel back and forth to Vancouver - Sydney and was hoping this would cover both areas.
I'm gutted now. I love the phone and have it customized the way I like....I guess I have to buy a Desire here in OZ and switch between the two but have my work email in both units?

You can use the same Google account on both phones, and if your work email is set up so it leaves a copy on the server for access via a PC, then yes it should work in both units as both could access and download your email.

....or swallow my pride and buy an Iphone next time I'm coming to OZ.

ACK! After using a Desire, the iPhone is a big step backwards, unless you don't use any of the widgets.

So the phone can take calls on the GSM?

Yes, it's a "world phone" for GSM calls and texting as it covers all 4 of the frequencies for GSM coverage.

Would the Desire HD work in both countries?

No, it has the same type of RF frequencies for the 3G bands 900/2100. So again it's either a European/Australian or North American unit (don't know if there is a NA version yet?).

 

[happyhaggis]

Thanks again.

You lost me a bit on the Google account thing. So your saying I have to use a PC to access me work email? I can do that now by forwarding everything directed to my work email to my telus home account and access it via webmail from a PC. OR access it on my Desire via wifi.

Just to confirm - talk on GSM, data on 3G right?

OK, ok.....no way I'm buying an iphone I'm addicted to my widgets and the way the phone is now setup (sorry - bad lack of jugement there) but dammitt! I want just want a HTC Desire that I can use in both countries!!!!

 

[patpending]

Hey mate, live and work in Australia.

Purchase yourself a Telstra Sim card - Next G network, including 3g, runs off 850MHz. You can pick up a Telstra Sim for $20, and minimum recharge is $5 - just enough to buy a datapack and test the connection

 

[bunnybash]

Can confirm that the phone will indeed work on Telstra, I know cause I have a telstra desire working over here right now

 

[happyhaggis]

No way!! Great news! I'll get the sim and let you dudes know.

Sweet.....

 

[happyhaggis]

Bought the card, bought the recharge - no internet. Any ideas?

Telstra definitely works on 850 gsm and the Desire on the Telus site claims the same so I don't understand.

 

[happyhaggis]

Got it working after speaking with Telstra New Delhi and them giving me an apn number!

Thanks all!!

 

[patpending]

Glad to hear you're online! Just make sure you buy a data pack with your pre-paid balance, otherwise your credit will be chewed up in no time

 

[doogle1980]

was just wondering what were the APN numbers telstra gave you. I am having the same problems. Telsta won't give me any of the information as it is a work phone and I am not the Account holder. Any information will be helpful. Cheers

 

[sookster54]

You'd have to flash the official HTC RUU to enable GSM, you won't get data in Australia but you can get voice. Telus' Desire ROM disables GSM (I really don't know why).

 

[happyhaggis]

Sorry, but I'm back in Canada now and left the Telstra card back there with family to use so I can't access the numbers.