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Question
i just purchased an unlocked gsm mini touchscreen cell phone from china on ebay. it can be used with at%26t t-mobile services. i have an at%26t 3g sim card will i still be able to use my phone even if its not a 3g phone?
A 3G SIM card is backwards compatible, which means that it will work in a phone that is 3G capable, but also in any phone that is not (but that has the proper bands for AT&T service, which is GSM bands 850 and 1900). All AT&T SIM cards that are provided today are 3G, but not all of the phones have 3G capability. Just know that you may have issues with the device as it is going to have to be programmed for WAP and MMS and is not tested or certified to work on the AT&T network. You may have no trouble at all, but you may have issues. I'm not a fan of these Chinese devices and would recommend an iPhone for an AT&T user who wants a touchscreen. Just my opinion, of course. I hope this helps. Thanks. DebiN
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DebiN
Expertise
I can answer questions on cellular phones, the physical device, the network, contracts, billing, ordering, porting and what to look for when purchasing cell phones. I am located in the United States. I am an expert on BlackBerrys, Treos, HTC devices and iPhones as well as cellphones and aircards. I have over 15 years of experience in both the wireless and wireline world with the carriers. I have a lot of knowledge regarding the wireless providers - their services, prices and policies, both GSM AT&T and T-Mobile) and CDMA (Verizon, Sprint/Nextel). I am very familiar with the individual devices and their specifications. I can also answer questions regarding BlackBerrys, iPhones and other PDAs, both Palm-based and Windows-based. I can troubleshoot most any problem someone is having with their cellular device or with the provider.
Experience
Over 20 years in the Telecom industry working for the carriers with individuals, small business, medium business and large corporations(Fortune 500). Also worked as a professor in Maryland for 10 years teaching telecommunications.
Organizations
I belong to several organizations
Education/Credentials
Master's in Telecommunications
Awards and Honors
Received several awards for papers that I have published over the years
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