G1 in Germany Italy and France

bbailey · 10-12-2009, 06:15 PM

I have an unlocked T-mobile HTC G1 phone and will be traveling in Germany, Italy and France for a couple of weeks, Can I get a sim card from T-Mobile over there and save money and get good coverage?

nicknrm · 10-12-2009, 06:31 PM

The T-Mobile here and over there are two companies independent of each other.

**BigJames523** · 10-12-2009, 07:54 PM

bbailey, you need to check the operators your planning to use the phone with first. Make sure they are GSM operators, and you will be able to buy a Sim-Card from the companies. As far as coverage, look at what Mhz they use to see if you will get 3G or 2G/EDGE service while there, then look at their coverage maps as that is going to tell if you will get good or bad service.

Nick, I think his question was an Unlocked G1 with any carrier in those countries, not Deutsche Telekom (T-Mobile)

bbailey · 10-12-2009, 08:30 PM

I thank you and will check the rates and services out when I get there.

nicknrm · 10-12-2009, 08:33 PM

I didn't notice the "unlocked" part.

I can almost guarantee that if you verify that they use the same frequency as your G-1, it will work almost EVERYWHERE you go...with almost any carrier.

In Europe, they don't have all of these minor companies (for example, Metro PCS in the US). They have a few...VERY large companies (like Verizon or AT&T). Rather having split carriers and huge choices, they have more limited options...but those limited options are usually the BEST. According to one study by CNET, 95% of people they interviewed in Europe hadn't even heard of a dropped call. The average city with a population of 15,000 has 30 cell phone towers from just one provider. They are very thorough with their coverage. Why is this? They aren't regulated like we are here in the United States and Canada. Basically, if the provider wants another tower, they go out and build it...here we send an email to the head office of the wireless provider, then they contact the FCC, then the FCC approves or denies, then the wireless provider speaks with the city, then the city says that it can or cannot happen (after about 2 months of negotiating) and then they inspect the site and then they build the tower...but after they build the tower, the city inspects it on three more occasions and then the FCC inspects it. Finally, the cell site is turned on. It takes about 1 year to build and activate a new cell site in the United States (about 6 months in Canada). It takes European countries about 2 months to build and activate the tower.

Here's a coverage Map of Vodafone Italy:

I couldn't find coverage for Germany or France, I'm positive it's available.

**BigJames523** · 10-12-2009, 08:53 PM

Wow, interesting info Nick... never knew about that over there. I don't know if I will ever travel there either, but good to know if I do.. Thanks bro

G1 in Germany Italy and France

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