Z WWAN question

Hi

I live in the UK and prices for a Z are way too expensive, so im currently in the US and wanting to buy one, the only problem is the WWAN. The Z790 is on Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband. In the UK i want to use my 3g tmobile mobile broadband sim in it.

1. Can the verizon wireless be unlocked

2. Is there even a sim card slot

3. Is there anything else i should be aware about

Thanks

 

The Verizon networks works with the CDMA standard. As far as I know, this will not work with Britains GSM standard.
Only if the Z has a SIMcard slot and a qualcomm GOBI chipset this is possible, since this chip can (apparently work) as GSM and CDMA chip...

http://www.gobianywhere.com/gobi2000_overview.pdf
or
http://www.gobianywhere.com/gobi1000_overview.pdf

I do not know which chip is built into the European Z. I do not know about the US hardware options.

 

The US Z models do not come with a sim card slot and they are locked to Verizon. Some people have got their US Vaio P models that use a Gobi wwan card to work with ATT/T-Mobile without replacing the card and they also soldered a sim card holder to the wwan board or motherboard. I don't know if the Z uses the same card.

A Z owner has modded their Sony Z and installed an Option card to get it working with ATT.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4761384&postcount=21

Also, i'm not sure if the Z card has got dip switches on it and if it has you may not know how to change them. There is a slim possiblity that the frequencies that are used in the EU might not be supported. They probably haven't done this but I don't know for sure and am just looking at the possiblites.

This thread might be of interest to you.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=298085

 

Hi,

Rachel is right the US version of Z does not have a sim-card slot in it and will only work with either verizon or Sprint. but not all hope is lost.

if you are willing to pry opened your Z you can get the Novatel Expedite 850D Mini PCI Card which has a built in simcard slot (varia-store in German or mobilx in Hungary sold this). I've done the same with My Z i've replaced my Sprint Novatel card with the Expedite 850D one and it worked flawlessly.

I'm working on a step-by-step guide for to install the expedite, i'll post it within this two week if possible.

cheers

 

agathos, any chance you know where I can get the driver for XP for the 850D?

 

Try here:
http://support.mobilx.hu/index.php?_m=downloads&_a=viewdownload&downloaditemid=60&nav=0,1

 

Woa, that was quick!
thank you sir!