Sony Ericsson Z600
warning on z600
Do not get the unlocked Z600 if you plan to use AT&T. It doesn't work on GSM 850 and AT&T is moving there now. In fact, they are sending to customers free phones to replace phones they sold such as the T68i with new phones that work on 850. GSM 850 is simply GSM technology operating in the Cellular (800 MHz / 850 MHz) frequency band. Both the technology and frequency band have been around for a long time, but only in 2002 were they combined.
In the U.S. prior to 2002, GSM technology only operated in the PCS (1900 MHz) frequency band. AT&T is making heavy use of 850 for GSM.
GSM 850 addresses the needs of carriers with Cellular licenses switching from other technologies to GSM.
Before the existence of GSM 850, the Cellular band was commonly referred to as the "800 MHz" band. "850 MHz" implies a different frequency band, but this is not the case. "800 MHz" and "850 MHz" refer to the exact same frequency band. 850 is technically a more accurate description of the frequency range, but 800 is the original, and more common term.
In the U.S. prior to 2002, GSM technology only operated in the PCS (1900 MHz) frequency band. AT&T is making heavy use of 850 for GSM.
GSM 850 addresses the needs of carriers with Cellular licenses switching from other technologies to GSM.
Before the existence of GSM 850, the Cellular band was commonly referred to as the "800 MHz" band. "850 MHz" implies a different frequency band, but this is not the case. "800 MHz" and "850 MHz" refer to the exact same frequency band. 850 is technically a more accurate description of the frequency range, but 800 is the original, and more common term.
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ATT will not be discontinuing use of this band for one and a half to two years (we will ALL most likely have new and better phones by then). They would isolate almost 65% of the country if they shut this band down anytime soon.
The "alarmist" message is exciting, but the sky isn't falling (quite yet).
The "alarmist" message is exciting, but the sky isn't falling (quite yet).
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Might be a bit alarmist, but flat out saying it's wrong isn't correct either. They aren't phasing out the 1800 band, but at least in virtually all of Oregon, most of Washington (except the hotbed of 3G Seattle), San Diego, Chicago, New York and Houston, the 850 band gets far better coverage area and penetration through buildings. It's lower frequency so it travels further and penetrates better. I would agree that it would be stupid to get this phone for AT&T, but I've had terrible RF performance with every other SE phone I've ever tried with AT&T, so I'm not about to try this one. I live on the fringe and the only phones that reliably work are Nokias.
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