Why won't my AT&T SMT5600 work in Europe?

[Guest zan99]

I have an unlocked AT&T Audiovox SMT5600 that I use on the T-Mobile network in the U.S. This is the tri-band (850/1800/1900) U.S. version of the phone. I brought this phone along to Europe with me this summer and it would not work anywhere I tried: Norway, France or Holland. Most of the time it would show the available networks (ie. Boygues, SFR and Orange F in France) when I searched for new networks, but I would always get an error when I selected one. Other times I could not even get a list of networks.

I swapped SIM cards with my wife, whose T-Mobile phone did work, but my Audivox still wouldn't work. I also tried a Norwegian SIM card (from Telenor) and it would not find the carrier.

Shouldn't this tri-band phone work in these countries? Any ideas?

[Guest Driekus]

Maybe a stupid question, but did you check if AT&T has roaming-contracts with the carriers you selected? (I suppose T-mobile should have worked in Holland...).

About the Norwegian sim: does Telenor use the 900- or 1800-band? They might use the 900-band, which is pretty common in Europe (and other parts of the world). 2 out of 5 networks in Holland use this one. Your phone isn't compatible with this frequency.

Edited August 10, 2005 by Driekus

[Guest Confucious]

Most of Europe uses 900 not 850/1800/1900 - this could be your problem!