HTC Hero

[Poseyanne]

I live in Alaska and a friend gave me 2 HTC Hero's bought from a local provider called ACS.

Since my daughter had Sprint...I sent her the phones in Maryland. Sprint says since they are not Sprint HTC Heros so she can't use them.

My question is.....does this mean these phones can only be used at our local provider? That doesn't make sense.........:thumbsdown:

 

[AstroManLuca]

There are two versions of the HTC Hero.

The CDMA Sprint version:

And the European version that uses GSM and won't work on Sprint:

I think the European version will work with T-Mobile and AT&T, but only in 2G (i.e., slow) mode. Not sure on that.

 

[Poseyanne]

Thanks..............AT&T only uses a sim card......I asked. I checked T-Mobile on-line page and didn't see a Hero but I'll ask.

 

[Strk]

According to their site, ACS uses CDMA

 

[AstroManLuca]

Thanks..............AT&T only uses a sim card......I asked. I checked T-Mobile on-line page and didn't see a Hero but I'll ask.

AT&T and T-Mobile both use sim cards. They both operate on the GSM technology. But neither one actually carries the European HTC Hero. Because it's exactly that - a European phone. European carriers use different frequencies than American ones, so the only frequencies most European phones have in common with the two American GSM carriers are the ones used for 2G.

CDMA, though, is completely separate from GSM and isn't compatible at all. It seems more common in rural areas of the US, possibly because of better range, although I don't know if that's true or just a commonly believed myth. Either way, no GSM phone is going to work with a CDMA carrier.

 

[notposting]

Check over at howardforums.com, if anyone is going to know, those folks will. Look in the Sprint forums over there.

 

[benzylic]

Even if it is a CDMA Hero, Sprint wont activate phones that dont say Sprint on them.

 

[boomhower]

Even if it is a CDMA Hero, Sprint wont activate phones that dont say Sprint on them.

This. The phone is perfectly compatible Sprint just won't activate it, just like they won't activate a Verizon phone and vice versa.

 

[Poseyanne]

Thanks for all who responded. Yes....I guess the Hero would work for Sprint but they won't accept it without the Sprint logo. I guess Digitel in ALaska (GCI) partnered with verizon.....also uses the Hero and "might" let me use them....but now I've changed my mind. Forget the darn things......cell phone games are getting to me. I guess when I think I don't mind paying the big bucks....I'll stick with AT&T and get Iphones..............dunno.