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General discussion

Tri-Band GSM Vs. Quad-Band GSM

May 26, 2004 1:35PM PDT

I'm starting to travel for work all over the world, so I wanted to get a mobile phone that can be used anywhere. Given this, I've narrowed the phones I want down to either a tri-band GSM (Sony Ericsson z600) or a quad-band GSM (Motorola v600 or v400).

The confusion I'm having is trying to determine the difference between the tri-band and quad-band. A tri-band has a frequency of 1900, 1800, and 900 Mhz. A quad-band is 1900, 1800, 900, and 850.

One sales associate has told me that the triband will work any where in the world and that the quadband's extra frequency coverage is just to get a more clearer reception. Another sales associate told me that I would need the quad-band, because it offers the most extensive GSM world coverage. When I questioned the guy where does the quad-band cover that a tri-band doesn't, he couldn't say. (Sounds like to me he was just quoting a sales brochure!)

Can anyone clear up the confusion?

Discussion is locked

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Re:Tri-Band GSM Vs. Quad-Band GSM
May 28, 2004 3:33AM PDT

it is my understanding that the 850 band is used by some gsm providers in the United States, the other bands are used in Europe amd Asia

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Re:Tri-Band GSM Vs. Quad-Band GSM
May 31, 2004 10:35AM PDT

Sounds like the sales person you talked to was grossly misinformed. Tri-band and quad-band phones are different. A lot of the older systems in the U.S. operate on 850 Mhz, the newer ones are 1800 Mhz, 900 and 1800 Mhz are used in other parts of the world.

The fact that the sales person told you that the extra frequency coverage is to get a more clearer reception proves he doesn't know what he's talking about. A phone can only operate on one frequency at a time, and if that frequency doesn't match the frequency of the system you're on, then your phone won't work.

I found this out because I just recently got a Motorola MPX 200 which is a tri-band phone and the system that I'm on most of the time operates at 850 Mhz. So the phone has NO SERVICE anywhere on that system (which covers a pretty large area).

So I have to go through the hassle of returning a very cool phone, and settling for something "less cool" that will work everywhere.

Bottom line: If you want the best guarantee of coverage everywhere go with a quad-band phone, it will ensure that you will be able to use your phone on older systems that haven't yet been upgraded to 1800 Mhz

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Re:Re:Tri-Band GSM Vs. Quad-Band GSM
Jun 3, 2004 2:48AM PDT

I am looking for a cell/pda with GSM 850/1900 and pocketpc (windows mobile or whatever). Is that the one you use in the 850 area? I have not found a nice phone/pda with those criteria yet.
TIA

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quad band phones
Jun 12, 2005 10:23PM PDT

The TREO 650 is a great Quad band phone

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Global Cell Phones
Jan 15, 2005 2:56AM PST

I too have been investigating Global phones--did so while still in the U.S. and here in Europe. What I've discovered is that if you opt for a tri-band phone rather than quad-band, your coverage in the U.S. will likely be limited to major cities only. Also--be aware that some major providers, such as Verizon, do not work with most global phones since these do not utilize CDMA frequencies.

Another thing I found out is that different manufacturers have different 'strengths' in terms of reception, in various parts of the world. I was told by one expert that while Nokia and SonyEricsson get good reception in major European cities, they do very poorly in other places such as Africa (relevant for me.) Thus, I was advised to select a phone that had an antenna of some sort (if only an extended tower at the top of phone such as with the Motorola MPx220).

In conclusion: if you want a phone that truly has global coverage, you'll have to go quad-band. If you're only traveling in major Western cities, Tri-band will do.