Upgrading to 3G?

[dogwomble]

Hey guys,

I'm thinking of upgrading my mobile to 3G. The reson is that I am hoping I can use the additional data features to be able to do things like access email and the like while on the run. I just wanted to be sure of what I'm doing.

Firstly, I'm thinking of going over to Vodafone because I've been with them for a while and I've always had really good coverage and call quality. I've also been on their $49 call cap co I use the phone a lot. Is 3G capable of giving me the same sort of coverage and call quality as standard GSM? And given the fact that I'm on a $49 cap, would there be any other 3G provider that would give me a better deal?

Secondly, I'm looking at getting the Nokia 6234 (http://www.nokia.com.au/nokia/0,,90457,00.html). It supports mobile email and by the looks of it it can do video as well - am I correct in assuming that it may be possible to do DivX, so I can transfer movies that I've got onto the mobile and watch it at work?

Any info would be good.

[BtrFly]

i just bought the 6233 - i am in love with it. i am sorry... its just so much more reliable than my last phone.

i did have a couple of initial dramas, but i think that was simcard related.

as to the 3g wave, anything you feel comfortable would really be appropriate - but it has to be within your price range.

also the new micro sd cards are so hot right now.

[dogwomble]

So by 'more reliable' do you mean 'better coverage'?

[~vjay~]

Would Vodafone cover 3G in their $49 cap?
You are referring to that one that gives you $249 or whatever worth of calls right?

If so I wouldn't depend on 3G being covered, they don't even let you use your own $49 to call international or sms competition entries in.

[Spingo]

In terms of coverage, 3G is practically identical to GSM. When there is no 3G signal, your phone will switch back to GSM.

To be honest, I keep my phone on GSM 99.9% of the time anyway. Call handover from 3G to GSM rarely ever works, GSM is much more reliable and conserves battery life. I only ever (manunally) switch to 3G when connecting the laptop up to the Internet via mobile to take advantage of the extra speeds (wish that they could do something about the latencies though...)

[jmoore]

dont go with 3.

they suck balls.

[BtrFly]

by more reliable i actually mean the phone works occasionally....

[Bussie]

dont go with 3.

they suck balls.

Maybe a couple of years ago, but looking at a 3G network vs another 3G network, the one Telstra and "3" colaborate on is far superior it terms of coverage(roughly twice as many sites give or take) and drop call rates(including handover to roaming) as most of the bugs have been ironed out over the last 5 years. "3" and Telstra currently roam onto Telstra's CDMA network, and negotiations are underway for roaming onto Telstra's new 850. The Optus and Vodafone 3G network has been active for less than a year, and although they use a nice technology which is supposed to automatically counter the effect of "cell breathing"(the more calls the smaller the cell becomes) by electrically tilting the antenna thus giving more range for each site. In my experience after a couple of remote tilts the tilt device becomes worn out. As well as from what I last seen Vodafone was using this as an excuse to spread their sites further apart.

The best judge of what you need is you. Get the coverage maps, work out how often you need to roam per network, and if the network meets your needs first of all not wants.

[jasebert]

Maybe a couple of years ago, but looking at a 3G network vs another 3G network, the one Telstra and "3" colaborate on is far superior it terms of coverage(roughly twice as many sites give or take) and drop call rates(including handover to roaming) as most of the bugs have been ironed out over the last 5 years. "3" and Telstra currently roam onto Telstra's CDMA network, and negotiations are underway for roaming onto Telstra's new 850. The Optus and Vodafone 3G network has been active for less than a year, and although they use a nice technology which is supposed to automatically counter the effect of "cell breathing"(the more calls the smaller the cell becomes) by electrically tilting the antenna thus giving more range for each site. In my experience after a couple of remote tilts the tilt device becomes worn out. As well as from what I last seen Vodafone was using this as an excuse to spread their sites further apart.

The best judge of what you need is you. Get the coverage maps, work out how often you need to roam per network, and if the network meets your needs first of all not wants.

I agree with you on this one. The Telstra/3 G network is superior by far.

3G is a data network and if you make calls using video there is a data charge on top, it does not natively do DIVX via 3g (it is 3GP) and if you want remote e-mail and that is really all you need, stick with GSM using GPRS.

[Plough]

Is nextG and 3G two different services?

[kré]

also the new micro sd cards are so hot right now.

new?

[Ins0mniac]

No 3G service anywhere in my state yet. :(

[stinky]

I just got me an Imate JasJam and is connected to 3. is brilliant. I love the Exchange sync over 3G. only problem is now I spend all my time answer emails as I get them rather than let them build up and deal with them later.

[Mr Bigglesworth]

Ditched 3 back in March. Best thing I did.

[hymartin]

I think 1G is the biggest right now...I dont know...

[timace]

3G is awesome
Available with $49 cap - even on prepay :D
6234 is awesome

If you have the money, you're probably better buying the phone outright & going on prepaid, so if you move to the middle of nowhere - you can go to Telstra prepaid (unfortunately not 3G afaik :( )

Haven't tried divx on my mobile yet, too lazy to do so :)