Need desperate help understanding HSPA

[Willy0275]

Hello folks,

I have been burning my brain in the past few days trying to decide what phone I can buy to my wife in Vietnam, and I just can't figure it out. I'm a very technical guy usually but this overwhelms me.

I am Canadian and live in Canada. My wife is Vietnamese and I was in Vietnam last January and brought my smartphone, a Google Nexus S. I tried 3G for fun (my phone is unlocked) and miracle, 3G worked! I then found out that my phone supports HSPA 900/1700/2100. I think I understand that part. Asia and Europe is HSPA 2100. My provider here is HSPA 1700. So it worked because my phone supports both these bands.

Now, I would like to buy my wife a phone that she can use with 3G in Vietnam, and can use HERE in Canada with most carriers. I seem to understand that in Canada most carriers use HSPA 1900. I don't care about my own provider, Videotron, because they don't offer prepaid services, so I'd like her to use prepaid when she's here. Anyhow.

I've been looking at many different models, and it's very, very confusing. The same models will sometime show up as HSPA 1900, sometimes HSPA 2100... I think it has to do that each same model is adapted to where it's sold, America or the rest of the world...

So far, I've been mainly looking at the Samsung Galaxy S Fascinate (SGH-T959P). On most specs, I see HSPA 1900 and 2100. Should this work in Asia and in Canada? Should any phone that says HSPA 1900 and 2100 on the box or manual work worldwide? I know the US is something else, with the so called "4G" thingy, but that's not an issue for me.

Thanks a lot for your help.

[hal]

Willy0275, welcome to Brighthand!

Sadly, the carriers do not always clarify what OTA (Over-The-Air connection for Internet services) technologies do they support. But it could be found out googling the subject. However, if I were you I'd stick to this recent experience where you have figured two HSPA bands that can be found in recent mobile devices, and take into account with which carriers did you successfully connect in both countries. I'd say you're looking for yet another GSM unlocked device, that states at least the HSPA standard and best if it enlists those two that were successful in your experience.

Be advised that not all carriers sustain the same policies regarding OTA connection and unlocked devices. According to country and carrier, there are those who force you into a given data plan for the sole attempt of getting online with your mobile device. So please check these aspects before going any further.

Why not getting another Google Nexus S? I think it's a no-brainer, as long as your wife agrees with it.

[Adama D. Brown]

Hi Willy. Welcome to Brighthand. Yes, the GSM version of the Fascinate should meet your needs in terms of having bands for both Canada and Asia. There's a variety of others too, in fact most phones made for NA GSM networks like AT&T and Telus should do the trick. Some other examples would be the Samsung Infuse, the Motorola Bionic (Not to be confused with the Droid Bionic), and Samsung Captivate.

[Willy0275]

Thanks guys! I settled on a Samsung Galaxy S Captivate, found one used upgraded to Android 4, unlocked, for $220. I think my wife will love the gift. She will be upgrading from an HTC Desire (which I bought her in 2010) but she'll be able to give her Desire to her sister, and everyone will be happy.

I tried to get a Google Nexus S like mine, used, but I heard the Samsung S Captivate was a little better.

[Adama D. Brown]

Thanks guys! I settled on a Samsung Galaxy S Captivate, found one used upgraded to Android 4, unlocked, for $220. I think my wife will love the gift. She will be upgrading from an HTC Desire (which I bought her in 2010) but she'll be able to give her Desire to her sister, and everyone will be happy.

I tried to get a Google Nexus S like mine, used, but I heard the Samsung S Captivate was a little better.

They're pretty close to being the same, actually. Same amount of memory, same screen, same processor. The biggest difference is that the Captivate has a memory card slot, while the Nexus S doesn't, so the Captivate's storage can be upgraded. And the Captivate has a slightly different profile of HSPA bands, but then that's exactly what you were looking for. Hope your wife enjoys her new device.