|
Home »
VietNam » Communications » GSM
» Hand/Cell Phones » Acquisition |
 |
An international frequency plan allocates the use of frequencies around the world, and for all practical
purposes there are two frequency plans - North America and the rest of the world.
Unfortunately, Canada has
to follow the USA so Canadians and Americans both generally find themselves without cell access, outside North America, using their own hand or cell
phone handset.
GSM Rules
As Travellers quickly discover, the world loves GSM - the
acronym for General System for Mobile, formerly Groupe Special Mobile, a Franco-German endeavor - Communications. They
have a trade association - GSM World.
Spectrum allocations
GSM uses essentially 6 frequency bands in 3 regions of the spectrum. They are:
|
Frequency |
Range (pairs in MHz) |
GSM400
|
|
450.4 -
457.6
or
478.8 - 486 |
460.4-467.6
488.8-496 |
GSM850
GSM900
GSM1800
GSM1900 |
|
824 - 849
880 - 915
1710 - 1785
1850 - 1910 |
869 - 894 (N America)
925 - 960
1805 - 1880
1930 - 1990(N America) |
In the above bands mobile stations transmit in the lower frequency sub-band and base stations transmit in the higher
frequency sub-band.
VietNam communications
GSM is
deployed throughout Indochina and, in VietNam, used by both Vietel, VinaFone and MobiFone networks - the
latter two are
linked corporately in a joint venture. There is also some technical facilities sharing between them, too.
|
Vietel - GSM 900 |
Operator Name:
Network Name:
Technology:
Handset Code:
Network Code:
Network Status:
Web Site: |
Vietel Corporation
Viettel Mobile
GSM 900
VIETTEL
452 04
Live 1998 JAN
www.vietel.com.vn |
VietNam Posts & Telecommunications Corp - GSM 900 |
Operator Name:
Network Name:
Technology:
Handset Code:
Network Code:
Network Status:
Web Site: |
VietNam Posts & Telecommunications Corp
VINAPHONE
GSM 900
GPC
452 02
Live 1996 JUN
www.vnpt.com.vn |
VietNam Posts & Telecommunications Corp - GSM 900 |
Operator Name:
Network Name:
Technology:
Handset Code:
Network Code:
Network Status:
Web Site: |
Vietnam Posts & Telecommunications Corp
Mobifone
GSM 900
VMS
452 01
Live 1994 APR
www.vnpt.com.vn |
Hand/cell phone features
There are several features
available on GSM handsets priced at under USD$100 including SMS/text, EMS/text, WAP browsing, colour screens,
handsfree, etc.
Locked/unlocked
One feature unique to the world of GSM is the ability to lock
and unlock a hand set. Basically the handset supplier can limit the number of systems a handset can work on - usually
that of the network supplying the handset.
It is easy to unlock a handset. Use
Google.com to search for the information <unlock gsm (model number) >. You might
need the IMEI number which is easily obtained by keyboard code entries.
To unlock a GSM telephone you
need the IMEI
What is the IMEI?
IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity,
and it is a unique reference number that is assigned to every GSM handset at the time of manufacture.
How Can
I find it?
To view your mobile's IMEI number, simply key *#06# into your phone handset and it
will be displayed. You DO NOT get charged for viewing your handset's IMEI number and it does absolutely no harm to your
handset!
The IMEI number can also be found printed in your phone's battery compartment.
Do I need
this number for all unlock codes?
Yes, there are very few handsets that can be unlocked without
knowing the IMEI, some require you to know which network the phone is locked to, as well.
Acquiring the handset
unlock code is as easy as typing a URL into your browser - so we put a
lynk to make it even easier.
Where to purchase
One US company with extremely sharp pricing, great service and serving both the US and Canadian markets with unlocked
GSM handsets is Overseas Electronics of Chicago.,
Tel: +1-773-274-3764.
They accept all types of payment, ship on receipt of payment - anywhere using
recorded/registered delivery.
Use in VietNam (and Indochina)
On arrival in VietNam simply
attend at any VinaFone dealer and subscribe to PrePaid Service - a Dong300,000 is good for about a
month including overseas calls.
Have them plug in the SIMM card and initialise the telephone and you are in
business.
Why VinaFone? Simple, they have the best coverage in VietNam - followed by MobiFone.
Vietel has, as of 2005, very limited coverage. All have English speaking operators to assist. |
|
|
|
