Using Three USIM card in a HTC Tornado?

[Guest OO7]

I've just recently bought a Qtec 8310 and it won't except my 3 network sim card. After searching on the net I realised it was due to the sim actually being a USIM which is different. So my question, is there any way to use my 3 USIM in my new mobile phone or have I just wasted time and money getting an incompatible phone?

[Guest Swampie]

USIMs are modern SIMs for 3G handsets but networks can configure them (well, get the SIM manufacturers to configure them at manufacturing time) to appear like SIMs as well, thus making them backwards compatible with 2G handsets.

'3' in the UK is a 3G only network - they don't have any non-3G network. They have roaming agreements with Orange I think (used to be O2, I think) for users when they're out of coverage from 3 - however this costs them lots of money compared to their in-house 3G network.

Thus, '3' don't like their customers using 2G - and therefore do not configure their USIMs to be backwards compatible with 2G handsets. Therefore, you can only use '3' USIMs in 3G handsets.

The Qtec 8310 is a 2G handset, therefore there's no way you'll get it working with a '3' USIM. The USIM is only configurable by the network - and I'm not even sure whether they could make these changes after manufacture anyway.

Hope that helps.

[Guest OO7]

Hi Swampie, thanks for that great explanation. It's a real shame as it seems like a great phone. Unfortunately I'm stuck with 3 for a while.