6340i roaming problematic behaviour

[Joust]

I have a 6340i and it will not roam onto another GSM providers network even if the other one is the only one available. The provider told me thats just the way it is... sounds like a cop out to me.
If i put in another providers sim, it finds the new network with no problem.

another thing. when i type in #*60# it gives me the IMEI number and an ESN number. what is the ESN number for?

[Thanh]

Hi there

Firtst to your second question, having a IMEI and a ESN. The 6340i, as you probably know, is a quad-band/tri mode phone. It does support the following networks/frequencies:

Digital: GSM - 850 and 1900 MHz, TDMA - 800 and 1900 MHz
Analog: AMPS - 800 MHz

The "IMEI" is only used to identify the phone in GSM networks, so it has to be present if the phone is "GSMable". The TDMA and AMPS use a similar number, yet different - the ESN. CDMA by the way uses a ESN as well. So as the phone supports networks that will ask for either IMEI or ESN, both of them have to be present

About the "roaming", it does NOT depend on your PHONE if you can use roaming - it depends on your network provider! I don't know what country you are, so i use Thailand where i live for the following examples.

Here, a "DPC 1800" user may roam on "GSM Advance" network if his home network is not present - because both networks belong to one company, that is AIS.

A "Suthep Net 1900" user may as well roam on "GSM Advance", because Suthep is only present in greater Bangkok and the company has a contract with AIS to allow the use of that network outside of Bangkok. Of course Suthep-users have to pay more per minute when roaming.

Now, users of "Orange" and "D-TAC" are screwed when losing connection - both these networks have no contract with anyone, hence - no roaming. I am using D-TAC on my secondary phone, and when i'm out of coverage, it won't help me to see Orange, GSM Advance, DPC 1800 and even Suthep available in the networks list - no D-TAC, no calls, as simple as that.

Using your 6340i i would be ablke to roam tough - because D-TAC still maintains an analog AMPS 800 network in Thailand, known as "D-TAC New 800". This network has pretty well countrywide coverage, so not surprisingly many people up-country use phones like the 6340i in order to stay connected.

If your operator sucks in terms of "roaming", just change operators - ask which one has roaming agreements so to offer you a spotless coverage. I remember in my native country germany there was only one provider that ever offered "national roaming", that was then "VIAG Interkom" which allowed it's users to roam on then "T-D1". That was 4 years ago, since i haven't been to that country anymore but i know that "T-D1" has now also in germany changed it's name to "T-Mobile" (yes, THAT one, it's actually a germany-based company!) and "VIAG Interkom" has merged with "D2 Privat" to become "O2", or both of them have been taken over by "O2", or whatever.

Kind regards.....

Thanh