Phone Suggestion for Unlimited Data in Germany
 

I was just in Munich and had a not so great experience using an unlocked LG Cookie with a Blau.de SIM card. Voice was great. Internet was terrible-- very slow and couldn't get or send e-mail. If I tried to send, I'd get waiting, waiting, waiting...failed.

I have a feeling it was a combination of phone and provider. I'm going back to Germany in September and need a better system.

I'm thinking of switching to Fonic. If anyone has a better idea, I'd love to hear it I would also appreciate a suggestion of a low to medium end smartphone that would be more effective. Would I be better off waiting and buying a phone in Germany? I don't care if it can't be used in the US; however, I would like to be able to use it throughout Europe and the UK.

I have an iPhone with AT&T but the international data plan is expensive and limited.



Thanks

As I mentioned earlier, the eplus network, which blau uses, is total crap. Fonic or any other provider on the O2 network (e.g. Fonic) will provide data rates comparable to your broadband connection at home.
Which iPhone do you own? The first one or an iPhone 3G?

I have the iPhone 3GS with the upgrade to OS4 and it is locked to AT&T.

Since there is already an unlocking method for the iPhone OS4 (Sn0wbreeze), why don't you get your iPhone unlocked and use it in Germany?
Except for the first iPhone, which didn't support 3G at all, all following iPhones support the 3G band used in Germany (2100 MHz), so your iPhone would be perfect.

If you prefer getting a separate phone for Europe, I would recommend the T-Mobile Pulse (aka Huawei 8220), which will get an update to Android 2.1 (the almost latest version of Google's operating system) and which is currently sold for just € 150 (in mint condition).

For the same price you could also get a used Nokia E71 from eBay (don't buy the US-version, which doesn't support the European 3G frequency!), which is great for eMailing due to it's QWERTY-keyboard. However web browsing is a pain on this handset.

Thank you so much!

There's a guy on eBay selling the "T-Mobile Pulse" (brandnew with warranty) for € 150 again: ex-824-lp Angebote - attraktive Preise für Handy Organizer Artikel bei eBay.de (he is permanently offering just one piece, but keeps relisting new offers after each sale)
After easily updating this phone to Android 2.1 it's great value for money, I think.

I saw that. Thank you. I've found lots of great phones on ebay.de and ebay.uk. The problem is people don't want to ship to the United States.

I've also been looking at the Nokia e72. Unless I'm reading it wrong even the US version will get decent coverage in Europe-- HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - American version vs 900 / 1900 / 2100 for the European version.

That's right. Even the US version of the E72 will work on European 3G networks, as it supports the 2100 MHz-frequency band.
The E72 is quite interesting, as it comes with a free copy of Ovi Maps, Nokia's navigation software. With Ovi Suite on your PC you can even download and store all the map data to the E72 and so you won't need internet connectivity for navigation afterwards, which is great to avoid high roaming charges when travelling abroad.

Yes, I am making use of this quite a bit at the moment even on my E71. It's a very nice application indeed, which even has a useful 'pedestrian mode'. Loading the maps of a country that you intend to visit onto the device is very easy and uses surprisingly little memory.

Thanks everyone! I finally got a phone. I was able to get an Nokia E71 from an eBay seller in the UK who was willing to ship to the US.

Is 2100 MHz-frequency band all you need?
 

From reading this thread, it looks to me as though all I need is a device that will tether and that has the 2100 MHz-frequency band for 3G data in Germany. Is that correct? Most of my devices/old phones, etc., have that frequency. I may just get one unlocked and use that with my computer. I'm also thinking of getting one of the unlocked Novatel MiFi 2372 units so that both my husband and I can use it. That has 3 frequencies for 3G - 850, 1900 and 2100. Do you think that would work?

Well you dont have to buy another cell phone to have data in germany with your iPhone. You can use SIP to have 3g,wifi and calling access. It will work even if your iPhone does not have a sim or even if it is locked with at&t. I have heard that at&t has unlimited data plan come 2011 im not sure though if germany is included with the plan. Happy New Year everyone!

Thanks, but I don't know what [those] are. Can you please explain a little. Thanks.

PS - ATT used to have a required unlimited data plan for the iphone (domestic only), but they have just done away with it when they started to allow tethering on the iphone 4. The unlimited was for domestic data only - not for roaming internationally. The new data rates are horrendous. A more reasonable plan would be much appreciated.

yes, you are right, you can use any phone with 2100 MHz 3G, all you need is to buy a suitable SIM card (there were some threads here already covering this topic)

Chris

You obivously have never been outside the US, neither have you heard of roaming fees. Your advice to use data on roaming can actually ruin people!

[It] is just an app to place phone calls through VoIP (internet-based telephony). It's good to make cheap phone calls, but it still requires 3G- or WiFi-connectivity to establish an internet connection, which in fact it does NOT replace.

Also AT&T data plans do NOT include data usage abroad. Actually data usage on roaming is astronomically expensive.

So artbytes is on the right track when looking for a German prepaid SIM, that she can use in her MiFi device.
Btw dg7feq is right - in Germany 3G is operated by all four operators (T-Mobile, Vodafone, O2 and eplus and all the MVNOs on these networks) exclusively at 2100MHz, so this is the only frequency band your device needs to support for 3G. Outside of 3G coverage German GSM (2G) networks use GSM at 900 and 1800 MHz, which nearly every device supports (the iPhone and the MiFi definitely do).

Frequency Bands in Germany and Austria
 

Thanks so much for your answer. That helps a lot. It looks like I'll be fine with the devices that I've got now that are already unlocked. That's good news. Now, I'll just need to get the SIM cards - and it sounds like they are readily available.

I am sorry for my ignorance and thank you for giving out a detailed explanation. You have enlightened the situation. Thanks

Actually, that person is in the Philippines

I see. And this person happens to be the developer of the suggested app or why have you removed the brand?

@inquisitor

Speaking of a phone suggestion, or rather a phone offer, I sent you a PM. I hope it reaches you on time