Cosmo Communicator on US phone networks

[Steven_P]

I got an email this morning about the next gen device, the communicator. This will have a front screen and cameras to make it easier to function as a phone. My gemini is wifi only (very happy with it), but I recall reading that certain networks in the US won't let the device function on their networks even with SIM cards, as the device had to be 'approved'. This seems to be a deal breaker for the device as a  phone. has there been any news on this front regarding the device on US networks, such as T Mobile or Verizon?

[pdtpoet]

I got an email this morning about the next gen device, the communicator. This will have a front screen and cameras to make it easier to function as a phone. My gemini is wifi only (very happy with it), but I recall reading that certain networks in the US won't let the device function on their networks even with SIM cards, as the device had to be 'approved'. This seems to be a deal breaker for the device as a  phone. has there been any news on this front regarding the device on US networks, such as T Mobile or Verizon?

I live in New York and have an X27 on the AT&T network.  I had no problem activating the Sim or adding it to my other devices on my AT&T account.

[Steven_P]

I got an email this morning about the next gen device, the communicator. This will have a front screen and cameras to make it easier to function as a phone. My gemini is wifi only (very happy with it), but I recall reading that certain networks in the US won't let the device function on their networks even with SIM cards, as the device had to be 'approved'. This seems to be a deal breaker for the device as a  phone. has there been any news on this front regarding the device on US networks, such as T Mobile or Verizon?

I live in New York and have an X27 on the AT&T network.  I had no problem activating the Sim or adding it to my other devices on my AT&T account.

reading more on this topic it seems as though verizon is the challenging carrier, although T Mobile are having 'frequency' use issues.

[PJS]

Hey guys,

Yes, Verizon is simply as closed environment as they can keep it...   c'est la
vie...  It's a basic attitude problem of theirs.   Ever guess I spent an hour
on the phone with the VZ "tech support" morons this morning, to no avail?    



In any case, TMo's deal is incompatible frequencies, as near as I can tell.
The Gem's SOC just doesn't do a good job with US frequencies... *SHAME* on
MediaTek, IMHO.

I've started searching for what the deal is with the new P70 SOC.  Could it be
that MediaTek woke up to the North American market?

So far I haven't been able to turn up a US phone that uses that SOC.  I'm
trying to check them against FrequencyCheck.com to see how the chip might
play out against the US carriers...

But I did find a review of the P70 chip that said this:

   The integrated modem brings up to 300Mbps downlink and 150Mbps
   uplink with support for Wi-Fi ac and Bluetooth 4.2. It works with
   the latest emphasized network technologies such as 600MHz support
   for T-Mobile and HPUE for Sprint.
   
   https://pocketnow.com/mediatek-helio-p70

Cautiously Encouraging.

I'll post more if I can find any.

Thanks,

PJS

[PJS]

Hello again guys,

So I spent some time trying to find any examples of phones running
the P70 chipset and the frequencies they use.   Nope.   Nada.
Doesn't look like it's out in the wild, in any form yet.

On the other hand, I found a number of reports that said the P70
SOC was just a slightly faster/optimized version of the P60 SOC.

So I then checked what uses the P60 and I found things like this:

-------------------------

 https://www.kimovil.com/en/list-smartphones...elio-p40-mt6671

 Oppo realme 1 Dual SIM TD-LTE IN 32GB International
https://www.frequencycheck.com/compatibilit...b/united-states

 Oppo F9 Dual SIM TD-LTE VN PH 64GB CPH1823 / F9 Pro
https://www.frequencycheck.com/compatibilit...o/united-states

 Oppo R15 TD-LTE PACT00
 https://www.frequencycheck.com/compatibilit...0/united-states
 
 Vivo Y97 Dual SIM TD-LTE CN V1813A
 https://www.frequencycheck.com/compatibilit...a/united-states
 
 Vivo Y97 Dual SIM TD-LTE CN V1813T
 https://www.frequencycheck.com/compatibilit...t/united-states
 
 Vivo Z3i Dual SIM TD-LTE CN 128GB V1813T (BBK
 https://www.frequencycheck.com/compatibilit...3/united-states
 
 Panasonic Eluga X1 Pro
 https://www.frequencycheck.com/compatibilit...p/united-states

-------------------------

They mostly look like mid-low range no-name phones for use
outside the first world.

As you can see, FrequencyCheck's output on how these phones
would work in the US is BEYOND DISMAL.   You'll be lucky if
you can squeeze 2G out of one of these according to these
result - way worse than the Gemini.

If this is accurate and the P70 is just a slight speed
improvement, are North American Cosmo owners going to be
totally screwed?

I think I'll post the first URL to Indigogo to see if Planet
has anything encouraging to add.

Thanks,

PJS

[PJS]

OK, I posted my concerns to IGG and got this quick response from PC:

---
The Cosmo is based on the newly announced Helio P70 processor, The P70 modem is both a CDMA and GSM 4G LTE device and will work on T-Mobile (including new 600 MHz band) , ATT , Sprint and Verizon. The LTE final band list is not finalized and we will publish as soon as we have it
---

So lets hope the confidence in MediaTak is well placed.

Thanks,

PJS

[jakfish]

As a fellow TMo/US user, I very much appreciate your efforts here. And I'm glad to hear that the news may be better than originally feared.

Again, thank you,
Jake

[Ifanafi]

Planet has been made painfully aware of the Gemini's Verizon issues (missing band number 13) by me and other backers.
I changed cell carrier to T-Mobile. Saved $ monthly and have yet to have cell phone issues.

Let's hope and pray they remember to include in the Cosmos that band number and other carriers required bands and frequencies that were missing and problematic in the Gemini.

Fingers crossed....!

Ifanafi

----------------------

OK, I posted my concerns to IGG and got this quick response from PC:

---
The Cosmo is based on the newly announced Helio P70 processor, The P70 modem is both a CDMA and GSM 4G LTE device and will work on T-Mobile (including new 600 MHz band) , ATT , Sprint and Verizon. The LTE final band list is not finalized and we will publish as soon as we have it
---

So lets hope the confidence in MediaTak is well placed.

Thanks,

PJS