Testing United Mobile in the USA
Aug 18, 2007 | 10:30 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,083
Testing United Mobile in the USA
I just received my Sim card from United Mobile.
I am in far north Michigan [NPI wireless GSM coverage]. The Sim card / phone is not working.
How can I test if this is a Sim card issue or does United Mobile not have an agreement with NPI Wireless.
---
update
Ok, I got it to semi-work in Chicago. But the phone would state it was not authorized for outbound phone calls and a second later I would receive an inbound call that would connect me to the number that I attempted to dial.
Is that the way it is supposed to work?
I am in far north Michigan [NPI wireless GSM coverage]. The Sim card / phone is not working.
How can I test if this is a Sim card issue or does United Mobile not have an agreement with NPI Wireless.
---
update
Ok, I got it to semi-work in Chicago. But the phone would state it was not authorized for outbound phone calls and a second later I would receive an inbound call that would connect me to the number that I attempted to dial.
Is that the way it is supposed to work?
Last edited by AAaLot; Aug 24, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Aug 18, 2007 | 11:04 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: JAX
Programs: DL Silver Medallion
Posts: 2,671
Might be a redundant question, but just checking. Mine fires up fine down here(North Florida) and locks onto Cingular (listing its status as "Roaming").
Craig
Aug 18, 2007 | 11:42 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: CLE
Posts: 9,816
My united mobile sim did not immediate activate, so I dropped a quick email to their support team. It activated before I got a response, so I figured it just took some time to work in to the GSM system.
You also should verify that your phone is set to the right bandwidth for the States. One of my phones requires me to change it manually.
You also should verify that your phone is set to the right bandwidth for the States. One of my phones requires me to change it manually.
Aug 18, 2007 | 11:50 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,083
I entered the code and the phone welcomed me to United Mobile.
I did activate on their web-site
I did send United Mobile an e-mail telling them it is not working (no response from my email 48 hours ago)
Also, I manually selected NPI wireless as a network...the phone stated that the network connection succeeded, but almost immediately the phone went into emergency mode and then to 'searching.'
It is almost like NPI Wireless has no agreement with United Mobile.
Any other ideas?
I did activate on their web-site
I did send United Mobile an e-mail telling them it is not working (no response from my email 48 hours ago)
Also, I manually selected NPI wireless as a network...the phone stated that the network connection succeeded, but almost immediately the phone went into emergency mode and then to 'searching.'
It is almost like NPI Wireless has no agreement with United Mobile.
Any other ideas?
Aug 18, 2007 | 1:15 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 7,566
I don't know where in Northern Michigan you are... but if it's anywhere near Traverse City you may find it's a network issue. When I was in that part of the world a couple of years ago my (UK Orange) phone was able to "see" two networks but was unable to connect with either.
Aug 18, 2007 | 1:24 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,083
I don't know where in Northern Michigan you are... but if it's anywhere near Traverse City you may find it's a network issue. When I was in that part of the world a couple of years ago my (UK Orange) phone was able to "see" two networks but was unable to connect with either.
Aug 20, 2007 | 1:05 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,083
Finally got a reponse.
Our roaming partners in the US are Cingular Wireless, Cingular Wireless, Cincinnati Bell, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA. On the following homepage you are able to check the coverage of specific network providers: http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/index.shtml
Does anyone know of a list of all their roaming partners?
Our roaming partners in the US are Cingular Wireless, Cingular Wireless, Cincinnati Bell, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA. On the following homepage you are able to check the coverage of specific network providers: http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/index.shtml
Does anyone know of a list of all their roaming partners?
Aug 20, 2007 | 5:06 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: A Southern locale that ain't the South.
Programs: Bah, HUMBUG!
Posts: 8,014
Not every GSM carrier roams on every other carrier. Case in point- I could not roam on ACT GSM in Thailand despite them being the ONLY carrier outside the Americas using the US 1900Mhz GSM band! Roamed just fine on everyone else tho. 
NPI wireless is a regional player and I'd be unsurprised to learn they don't have very comprehensive agreements. Haven't seen a list of their partners, no. It's something they should at least be able to fax to you.
Yep, GSM geek. Fun is doing network searches on approach into SIN. The game is to get the most networks possible. Between 3G and GSM, that's a BUNCH of networks.
NPI wireless is a regional player and I'd be unsurprised to learn they don't have very comprehensive agreements. Haven't seen a list of their partners, no. It's something they should at least be able to fax to you.Yep, GSM geek. Fun is doing network searches on approach into SIN. The game is to get the most networks possible.
Between 3G and GSM, that's a BUNCH of networks.
Aug 24, 2007 | 1:46 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,083
Ok, I got it to semi-work in Chicago. But the phone would state it was not authorized for outbound phone calls and a second later I would receive an inbound call that would connect me to the number that I attempted to dial.
Is that the way it is supposed to work?
Is that the way it is supposed to work?
Aug 24, 2007 | 1:49 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: A Southern locale that ain't the South.
Programs: Bah, HUMBUG!
Posts: 8,014
Not sure about United Mobile but when roaming, many carriers do 'inbound only' whereby you send a message or whatever indicating the number you wish to call and you are called to connect you. Swisscom's prepaid roaming card worked that way until they discontinued it.
Aug 24, 2007 | 2:19 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: CLE
Posts: 9,816
Yes, it is a ring back service.