Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

I am surprised this issue hasn't attracted more attention. I've seen several reports now that the phone does not accept 3 mobile SIMS.

Surely, this is a crucial question - 3 mobile has some of the best coverage and PAYG data rates in the UK. I'm posting this in a separate thread as the other UK networks one seems primarily occupied with t-mobile questions.

There is apparently a bug report filed, https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=5315. Although this is marked as "critical", priority is given as "low", and I'm not sure how much credence these fields have in terms of a fix being delivered.

Anyone out there with a unit, or official knowledge, know whether the phone works successfully on 3? Sadly if I can't get a reasonably convincing answer to this question, then I will have to cancel my pre-order pretty quickly as I do not wish to run it on the other networks. Never mind, I still have my trusty N800!

Many thanks for any info,
spann

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

Strange, never heard of problem like this before. I thought that SIM was pretty much universal standard.

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

i was in the local 3 shop last week asking if the n900 was coming to 3 and they also said there sims would not work only for voice and text no data connection did not think much about it as he was trying to get me to upgrade to n97 as my contract ends soon but preordered on t mobile now anyway.

By the way hi to everyone:)

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

I couldn't get a 3 PAYG SIM Card to work on data with my LG phone. I think they actively try to lock out data connections to phones that aren't on contract with 3.

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

Thanks for the replies thus far.

However, the last post absolutely is not true. I have run various 3 PAYG SIMs on my unlocked, contract-free N79 and other nokia phones for the last couple of years, with full data access available.

I am surprised that so many people have been seduced by the t mobile offer. IMO 3 offer better data coverage, and on PAYG at least, better rates.

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

T mobile coverage is good at home and work for me but i seem to remember reading somewhere about an agreement between T mobile and 3 about using 3 masts to extend 3g coverage do not know how true that is.

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

i am using 3 on my n95 when in europe... 3 definately has amazing and flexible payg data tarifs. thanks @spann for pointing out that 3 will not work on the n900 this might be a deal breaker for me :(

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

THAT is a deal breaker for me, as 3 is my personal and company chosen operator.

hmmmm...had my N900 on pre-order since way back...but W/O data access what is the use for an N900

cannot really understand why this issue is a LOW priority bug.

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

As per the bug 3 SIMs are rejected and you cannot make any
connection either voice or data. Of course this is with the
pre-production n900 and can only assume that it will be fixed
for production.

My personal theory is that it is rejecting the SIM because it
is 3G-only whereas all other networks support mixed 2G/3G
operation. But then it's only a theory.

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

I also have 3 but am subscribed in Sweden. I received a N900 on loan at the summit. My 3 SIM card does not work. I spoke with people at the summit and they said this was a known issue.

Hopefully it will be fixed, but in the meantime I think one has to switch away from 3 or use another device.

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

The N900 is too good for those tatty 3 SIMs...they belong in lesser phones....do not sully the N900 with them

Buy a plan from a company worthy of the N900s stature, or return to the unwashed rabble from whence you came.

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

I'm not a 3 customer, but I thought that 3 peered with another operator for GSM stuff?

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

3 (in the UK) use[d] USIMs. That might be it.

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

I found this in the 3 PAYG SIM Only Terms and Conditions:

Perhaps there is a setting in the N900 which disables 3G but leaves 2G enabled? If so, that would cause 3 to invalidate the SIM.

The reason 3 does this is that they have to pay another network (Orange?) for 2G roaming, so they lose money if someone uses a handset that's only capable of 2G operation.

Roger

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

Hogwash, I know that 3 used to be crappy... However they have cought up and have a really awesome 3.5G network in the UK and in Austria and they are very flexible with their PAYG add ons. I used to buy 1 GB add on for 5GBP and was able to tether it to my laptop with joikuspot - when your not in the country you don't pay - no contract - no obligations

Now I use a Austrian 3 sim when i am in Europe and do not pay roaming in denmark, sweden, italy, england and ireland :)

@Maemo Team Please change the priority of this bug report

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

Absolutely, IMO 3 have a great data network in the UK. Particularly good rates on PAYG, as pointed out.

In the absence of any reasonable confirmation that 3 SIMS are supported, I've had to take the only prudent course of action and cancel my pre-order :-(.

Which makes me kind of sad!

Hopefully I'll be able to pick one up in the future once I am certain the network is supported.

Thanks again for the replies,
Spann

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

I can confirm that 3 Mobile in Sweden do not work either !

had a chat with Nokia support and the guy tested a 3 SIM and got the same result SIM-Card Rejected.
He then sent a BUG report as well into NOKIA development about the issue.
BUT....you all have to be aware that THIS mean of course that Nokia will NOT RELEASE ANY PHONES especially where 3-Mobile operates.
Before this issue is solved.

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

at least in manual is mentioned that one could change from settings between 3g&2g and plain 2g

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

Show some education, please.

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

I think Hogwash have proven himself to act as a "funny guy"

THE PROBLEM....only he think he is.
my advice...just ignore him

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

I see that the priority field on the bug report has now been updated to "high". Also, a quote confirms that the problem is known about internally and has high priority.

So, some good news there.

Once I get confirmation that the problem is resolved, I will definitely be re-ordering. Would be great if that happened before the nokia online shop discount code expires on the 21st of October!

Spann

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

yeah lets hope that get fixed soon, since it's a dealbreaker for me as well ...

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

Hi there, I am new to this community. I am really excited about the N900 but i just thought about researching about network support before buying it and ended up here.

Im on 3 contract with my N96. I had this issue with 3g coverage, whenever im inside the house the network bar becomes empty, so I thought about changing it to 2g but I could'nt.(since it was a branded phone- just showed DUAL MODE in the network option-Reason i want to buy unlocked phone:rolleyes:).So then i De- Branded my phone and flashed it with nokia's firmware.So now I have these options under network mode:
1) Dual mode -(3g & 2g mix)
2) UMTS - (3g)
3) GSM -(2g)

So now i am on GSM and network bar is totally full.You can access planet 3, check your usage and all the other minor bits.:D The only downside about this is that , whenever I access Planet 3 it says " you cant access the full version of the store".But this is no big issue because you can switch between GSM to UMTS if you want to access full version of planet 3 (TV on Demand etc).

Quoting their terms and conditions, they have said that the sim will be disabled if used in 2g, well i have been using in GSM mode for 8 months now and it never disabled my sim :eek:. Do you get what i mean?

http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3...&idPhone1=2917
Secondly i have compared these two phones (N96 & N900) and the 3g and 2g sections show the same figures. So i don't get whats the problem in using 3 sim in N900. The N96 can handle it:p

Please correct me if I am wrong:D

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

Apparently the issue is for particular types of sim cards.

http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p...&postcount=186

I guess it might not affect all 3 customers.

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

Thanks buddy!!! im ordering it straight away..I mean now

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

Hi there

Since this thread was started back in october, the N900 shipping date has slipped to November.

Does anyone know/or have anything new to add whether during this time Nokia has solved the issue of Hutchinson 3G mobile SIM cards not being recognised by the N900 handset?

As I'm currently with the 3 mobile network & have been informed by Nokia that my device will (most probably) ship on 9th November, things are a little late in the day now for me to start cancelling orders.

I really can't believe that such an important issue like this could be overlooked in development....I'm really hoping that Nokia have fixed this issue in the final shipping product, or I will have to send the handset back :(

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

When I saw this, I switched carrier. It will cost me slightly more, but the N900 is worth it.

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

Here's what Peter said:

Regards,
Roger

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

A software update for the Nokia N900, estimated to be available by the end of this year, will fix this issue.

The end of the year is a long time to wait... It would be nice if they had any progress updates on the bug report.

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

Oh, yes! My goodness, barring having to miss their self-imposed deadline, this means--worst case--the fix for compatibility with a solitary operator might not be available for a month and a half after the time the N900 appears for sale in stores. As they say on that other, squirrel-based site, EVERYBODY PANIC!

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

****, what about Hong Kong 3 Sims Cards?!

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

Watch this N900 unboxing video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo2wHy2kTE4

This unboxing video is excellent.
You can see the N900 rejects the 3 (UK) simcard here.

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

first I did not want to say ....I told you ( guys) so...but after some "friends" here pissed on me and told me that I was just stupid saying that a little 3 SIM card bug would delay shipping....

now a month later...ekido get above info from Nokia....
sad to say...who is stupid now ?

I am one of those who will not get my long awaited N900...it sucks but I can understand Nokia, the N900 have to work with all operators...period

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

It's just 3 mobile wanting to use a unique simcard, not entirely Nokia fault.
3 instead should be using universal simcards like other network operators.

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

What's different about 3's SIM card? Does it have an extra backdoor or something?

Re: Important issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

If Nokia saw it that way then there would not be any delay in Sweden.
But Nokia do understad how the Press and iPhone Fans would love to have this N900 Bashing to throw around.

NOKIAS FLAGSHIP PHONE CANNOT CALL !

but I do think it is strange that Nokia have not tested it with a 3 Mobile SIM card....it is not THAT odd, when I talked to the Nokia N900 Tech support guys they were surprised. that is the reason there will always be bugs, nobody can cover all.

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

If it really is only a problem with newer 3 USIM cards I'd imagine they've changed supplier. There are lots of fancy things that can go on there these days (Java SIMs, etc) and tools to allow better over the air management, I'd guess Three are using something new. I believe it's not every countries version of three either -- I think I read three Italia cards work fine.

Since I've a 3 USIM which is a few years old I'm hoping it'll work, but I'm holding of any N900 purchase until I'm sure.

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

Yeah, except that self imposed deadline means anyone in Sweden won't get an N900 at the earliest possible date. That's a bit harsher than just a single carrier not working and people being able to buy them anyway.

Not that I'm saying this is a huge issue or anything, but it isn't exactly as small as you're making out, especially as 3 aren't all *that* small. So yes, some information on what is going on, or how you could know whether your SIM would be affected wouldn't be all that amiss.

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

Get it from Amazon mate.
Amazon gives you 30 days moneyback no questions asked.

Re: Important UK issue - N900 doesn't work on 3 mobile?
 

I was on the phone today to 3 after reading that the n900 wouldn't be available on their network. Asked to give my 28 days notice to end my contract. They told me the n900 would be available on three UK shortly after nokia release it in the UK. He said it would be a couple of weeks as three would have to develop software for the n900.

Any1 else been on the phone to three?