2g and 3g mobile phone service
 

Hi, I have had a pre paid phone account with Savvytel here in Australia and recently found out that the old 2g Vodafone system is to be phased out in july 23rd, it then changes to 3g with Optus, people with accounts newer than 31st July 2009 have been sent a replacement sim but old customers get squat, i found this out as my daughter got he new sim recently, I emailed Savvytel for advice on what happens to my credit and my existing phone number, I haven't had one reply since the 7th with 4 emails sent, very poor!:down: I later found this statement from a Savvytel rep in another forum:
My question is will my old Nokia 3315 accept new 3g sim cards, don't know what the difference between 2g and 3g is!:hmmm:

The only difference between 2g and 3g at least to my knowledge is the data transfer rate or what people understand as the internet speed. 2G is using EDGE network whatever that means while 3G allows for a broadband experience of the internet making possible video streaming and video calling.

In my phone setting the 2G is referred to as GSM while 3G referred to as UMTS. My phone allows for dual usage of both GSM and UMTS. Selecting UMTS allows for 3G data transfer rate.

And I'm rather poor in knowledge on this myself. And I know though I just mumbled my explanation I failed to explain whether your GSM phone would still work in UMTS only network. As far as I know all carriers in my country provide both GSM and UMTS services. It happened once that the GSM service was down but the UMTS was still available.

Are you saying that your cell phone carrier is now dumping GSM service altogether and exclusively providing UMTS or 3G service)?
If that's the case you may even need to get a 3G capable mobile phone which most new phones are. As for the sim cards is it necessary to change it? If not I don't see a reason to do that unless you're planning to get a 3G capable phone. Imo the new sim card only allows for quick(automatic) setup of the data transfer setting and that's about it. I may be wrong though.

Reece,

The main difference between 2g and 3g networks is the speed at which data can be sent. TBH there is no appreciable difference when it comes to the voice side of things unless you are looking at using a VOIP service which will mean 3g does have an advantage.

With that model phone VOIP is not something you will need to worry about. I'm not sure whether you need to do swap out your SIM unless they are dropping support for GSM. Sorry I've never heard of the Savvynet mob so wouldn't know what they plan to do. If you go with one of the bigger players like Optus or Telstra you'll get better coverage than Voda anyway. I know both of the big two provide GSM support on the 3g network but you shouldn't need a new SIM card unless you are using data services which your phone won't support AFAIK.

I don't use the mobile only very rarely due to expense & living in the country where service is poor anyway, it's mainly for emergencies etc, the reason I changed to Savvytel way back is that there is no credit expiry, unlike most others, I finally got a reply to the 5th email, seems that those with 3g network via Vodafone (after july 31 2009) have been sent a new sim card because this service will change to Optus, customers prior to that date are on Vodafone 2g network and are uneffected!
Pity they just couldn't explain this some 4 emails earlier dating back to the 7th!!:nope:

Well I have just been informed that the 2G Vodafone service is now being dropped and are sending me a new 3g sim that uses the Optus network, I suppose I will just have to see if my old Nokia 3315 will accept it, if not will have to buy a new one, I like this old one it is easy to operate with relatively large buttons, the new ones are so small I have problems dialing with my large hands!:oops::yep: plus they are a lot more complicated!:-?:doh:

Reece does that mean they're dropping GSM service altogether? and now focusing on UMTS alone(3G)?

I must say if that's the case then it's weird.

Do tell us whether your old phone would still work.

No I believe the 2g network will remain for some time, I think it is a case that our provider is switching to Optus 3g (better deal I suppose), and the new 3g sim chip will not run in an old 2g phone, this is my understanding, 3g phones will drop to slower data rates (2g) in poor reception area's but I think this is done internally by the newer phones, whether this card will still work in my old phone seems unlikely, but I am going to try it!:yep:
Definitely!:yep:

I wonder if this is going to be a global trend . . . .

Reece as far as I know 3G is 3G it won't become GSM(2G) network with 3G incapable phone. For example you could have the GSM(2G) network shut down while UMTS(3G) would remain thus disabling non 3G capable phone from calling or receiving call but would not affect 3G capable phone set to run on UMTS(3G) network.

That's what I figure I can only try, I love my old easy to use phone and I don't need a pilots license to operate it!:yep: Just waiting for the card to arrive in the post!:yep:

Well I just got my new 3G sim card so I placed it in my old 2G phone and works like a charm!:up:

Congratulations for a New upgrade
 

:yep:

Good to hear that if not I would go ballistic here :D because they would not be making much sense and I was afraid they would set global trend with that because most of the world aren't making much sense already :P.

Didn't think it would be a problem. As I said in post #3 it will be doen to whether the GSM spectrum support get dropped, not the 2g or 3g support. :03: It also means when you get a new 3g supportive phone (when your old one breaks or you flush it down the loo), then the new card will also work like a charm.