Z30, and the 2100 and 2600MHz bands.
LTE-good.
If some Z30 versions are and others aren't.
How to tell.
How to know.
In Crackberry discussion threads, I've seen that some Z30 versions don't do LTE
on some bands. E.g. Z30 version STA100-5 -- band 17 -- isn't LTE.
This can be important when you move from one carrier to another,
or when you buy a phone independently of a carrier.
I found vendors of unlocked Z30 -- good news, in general!
First: please point me to the terms to search on, or let me know
which things to look for, when purchasing a Z30 independently of a "carrier".
Here's why. My carrier is Fido.
Fido.ca says:
Your device must be compatible with the Fido network, which uses GSM, UMTS, HSPA and HSPA+ at 850 MHz and 1900 MHz and LTE at 2100 MHz and 2600 MHz.
If you are unsure of how to check the frequencies your device supports, try the manufacturer's official website and search for the specifications for your particular phone/smartphone model;
I posted a thread on Blackberry support too.
I can get a locked Z30 from Telus and then unlock it.
I can get unlocked Z30 phones from individuals who have some supply
but I want to know what smart questions to ask them instead of just buying
it simply. When buying from an individual, there may be no possibility of return.
I'll share more, when I get answers to my question about the 2100 and 2600 MHz frequencies.
Q: how to know whether or not it's LTE on 2100 and 2600 MHz.
Unlocked Z30 purchase.
Thank you !
Would you know:
How can one see that it's STA100-5 when one goes to pick it up?
Is it printed on the unopened box?
Is it visible on the phone somewhere without turning the phone on?
Or, does one have to turn the phone on?
It should be on the outside of the box and if you turn it on, go to Settings, and then About, it should be there under Model Number. I'm not sure if it will say it under the battery cover but you can try looking.
For all intents and purposes, it seems that all Canadian Z30 devices are -5 models unless someone couldn't wait and imported from anywhere in the world that got them launched right at the beginning.
I am of the opinion that the -5 seems to be the most widely compatible Z30 model as it covers LTE for all Canadian carriers (including Rogers' 2600 mHz LTE Max) as well as LTE across T-Mobile and portions of AT&T, not to mention HSPA+ and HSPA-DC for virtually every network in existence that uses that standard.
While it would have cost a little bit more, I would have loved to see them pull a Nexus 5 and have just two models. One for virtually every network in North America, and one for virtually every network in the European Union and Asia. That may have increased the number of outright purchases, but also shown carriers that people are willing to buy BlackBerry phones if they are offered.