The Windows Phone 7.5-upgradeable Quantum C700 supports AT&T UMTS 850/1900 MHz frequencies, as well as quad-band GSM. As an unlocked phone, it can be used with Simple Mobile and TracFone’s new unlocked SIMs that grant access to both AT&T 3G/4G, as well as T-Mobile GSM networks for superior coverage.
The phone is one of the few Windows Phone 7.5 first-generation devices to feature a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. While it is unlikely to receive future firmware updates, it is considered as being compatible with all Windows Phone 7.5 “Mango” apps, and also is viewed by many in the hacking community to be a capable tethering phone with sideloading capability.
We only suggest this phone however for people that will primarily be using AT&T’s 3G or travel to countries with compatible 3G frequencies like Australia. The phone will only function at GSM/EDGE 2G speeds on T-Mobile, and is not compatible with any other US networks.
LG Quantum C900 Unlocked Phone with Windows 7, QWERTY Keyboard and 5 MP Camera – Amazon.com
Well that’s alright if it can only operate in the two only providers than offer the globally dominant gsm network. Between AT&T, and T-mobile – they are the only gsm providers in the US. And seeing that AT&T already have coverage over most of T-mobile’s network, you really would have great coverage. Tracfone, and Simple Mobile are certainly the hot cross buns at the moment. But if this tethering tool gets abused then restrictions are certainly bound to creep in. As it is I’m amazed at how long tracfone has been able to offer their unlimited everything plan without changing anything about it (maybe improve it by offering beter and better phones), whilst all the other providers, especially the ones they purchase from, incorporate limits, and caps.
@Vesper – the unlocked SIMs are capable of roaming on either network while the antenna in this particular phone (c700) has the limitations. I would imagine if you plopped this SIM into the Galaxy Nexus (with a pentaband world phone antenna) you could take full advantage of both networks. Plus TracFone already has multiple android smartphones and some decent feature phones too. I saw on bloomberg today that HTC made a pretty snazzy android phone with TracFone a likely carrier for the device.
@ Mike; and your honest opinion, how long do you think tracfone can keep on offering unlimited everything options with smarter, and faster, hungrier devices? Surely the spectrum crunch is going to catch up to them soon. It’s only T-mobile with their new found spectrum they got from the merger going bust that’s prompting them to sell so cheaply…and then there’s Sprint with a seemingly limitless amount of spectrum, as they also seem happy to relinquish data at cheap wholesale rates.