This has been very amusing read, ty guys.

I can for the very least confirm that Euro 2100 Nokias work perfectly well in Asian network - if you can get a local SIM. In japan, for example, they apparently do not sell phones without contracts at all et vice versa.

What confuses me however is, why some models, even in the more expensive price segment, have more frequencies than others. What's the point? And why is it always either/or with 850/900? Too close to each other? Seems weird....

I just want to interject a huge THANK YOU to both Texaslabrat and SD69 for taking the effort and a lot of time to conduct this discussion. It is very informative and I'm sure that many of the NIT fanatics here appreciate this kind of knowledge. Also, big kudos for retaining composure and replying in a civil manner.....civil engineers??
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On a side note, (just call me stupid), how do you get the quoted sections of a reply to break up into pieces so you can address a post piece by piece? Examples would be posts #47 and 49.

Second that notion.

I just do it manually. When you post a reply with a quote, notice the quote starts with 'quote' in brackets, and ends with '/quote' again in brackets.

Note I can't put the brackets there or part of that line shows up as a quote. Just look at a quoted reply you're writing to see what I mean. Anyway, I just add those where I need 'em. Works for most (but not all) forum software.

Seems to be a purely business-driven decision rather than a technical one. There are quad-band UMTS modem cards available. For instance:
http://www.option.com/en/products/pr...cations/#start

Yeah, to further this point, the problem with large manufacturers like Nokia is that it seriously takes a while for them to steer their ship. Their massive size, while a great strength, is also their greatest weakness. Because of their size, they have great reach, can realize economies of scale, and can produce handsets for just about any segment of the market. However, because of their size, they aren't all that nimble.

Look at how long it's taken Nokia to adopt the OMAP3430 platform. Samples of that came out in the middle of 2006 and went into volume production next year. And now we're finally seeing products using this (the Pre, iPhone 3GS, N900).

So aside from samples being available so that you can actually design your products around them, the other main issue is volume. Nokia isn't interested in manufacturering products in the tens of thousands (unless we're talking about the Vertu but that's a different story). They're usually looking at least in the millions if not tens or even hundreds of millions in order to get the best possible pricing. And that's from one manufacturer! Imagine that you're a foundry and you had to fulfill orders with such magnitudes. Clearly, in order for you to be able to adequately supply such parts to your customers, there needs to be time to ramp up production.

So yes, it sucks that we have to wait a while but those are the realities of product development and supply chains. I've been dreaming of a quad-band 3G since 2006 but we'll just have to wait a little while longer.

Gentlemen,

Based on the followings:

Mobile City Online: http://www.mobilecityonline.com/wire...900&Submit=Go; the specs for the N900 are; “Nokia N900 Mobile Computer Unlocked Import: Optimized for WCDMA 900//2100” AND “Nokia N900 Mobile Computer Unlocked US: Optimized for WCDMA 900/1700/2100”

Reply from: importgsm.com: “Unfortunately the N900 US version is not out yet. The only difference will be the 3G frequency and warranty region. GSM will work worldwide on both versions.
The US version will work internationally, and on T-mobile 3G in the US. The import version will work on international 3G only.”

Forgive my ignorance, put simply please..; regarding 3G, does this mean that the US version would be useable/cover the Europe and ”import” areas but the Europe ”import” version can only cover/ be used in Europe?

I assume quad band GSM would cover either market but I travel to both areas and was wondering which version to purchase to achieve the maximum on 3G?

Has Nokia said anything about releasing a 3G 850/1900 band version (a US ATT customer here obviously, and can not switch for a year or so).

I realize that I can use the N900 via EDGE/GSM, but 3G would be nice.

Have been awaiting this device ever since I used my N770 back in the dark ages.

(Sorry if this has been discussed, but I have searched for an hour or so on this before posting).

well with al lthe stuff we change and improve on around here @ maemo.org why cant some one change the frequency receiver in the n900 to work on both tmo and at&t or od it to use sprints network also or any variation u could imagine?> how hard would that be and is it possible?

In Venezuela and others countries, thousands Nokia N900 users can get 3G cause providers use 1900MHz UMTS (N900 can’t use). Adding the 1900 antenna could solve this limitation, hard? But possible: http://ceta.mit.edu/pierc/pier.php?paper=09070704
Any idea or suggestion?
Tks, Hector Pons

Nope. And considering the N900 is pretty much old hardware now I think your best hope is the N8 (Symbian 3) or N9 (first one with Meego).