NextG is a marketing name. NextG phones are simply 3G phones that can operate on Telstra’s 850MHz band, which was chosen by the way, because it was compatable with an existing US 3G provider allowing Telstra to launch the network with already existing handsets.

The name of 4G has too much vagueness about it for my comfort (like “broadband” simply being anything faster than 56k dialup…), and the excuse of “global standards” had been tossed about just one too many times for my liking.

I fully expect it to be Telstra compatible 4G like you say, I’m just waiting to see before I get excited. If it IS, as expected, then I’ll get one. Its why i havent gotten a 3G S3 already. A few friends have been burnt lately by dodgy practices (like being sold a iPhone 4S knowing the new one is about 6 weeks away – just outside the 1 month return policy) so at the moment, I’m simply waiting.

Why would Samsung release a 4G phone here, when it doesn’t have 4G that works here?? They saw what happened with Apple. Or why would Telstra for that matter?

There is already a 4G S3 in the States. We’re simply waiting for a global one. That’s what Ben is saying and hopefully it’ll be out soon.

LTE 1800 is fairly common around the world, so there’s there’s a good chance many devices will support it. Let’s worry about other bands when they are deployed here!

The research I’ve done suggests it will be Telstra compatible, but until its shown to work, I’m not holding my breath. I want the S3 by preference, but its lack of Aussie 4G compatibility at the moment is making me wait. If it disappoints, I dont know whether I’ll sign my life away for a One XL, or get an iPhone (presuming its 4G).

I can get my hands on a 3G S3 now for around $500 outright. But can wait to see.

Just the baseband chip and antenna’s. But it requires a new production line system be put in place in the factory- not cheap.

The S3 won’t be 700Mhz. Samsung have been talking with Telstra. Why would they launch a 700Mhz LTE phone knowing it won’t work on Telstra??

I’ll make it simpler. I’m waiting to see if a 4G labelled iPhone will work on either Telstra or Optus’s 4G networks here in Australia.

If the iPad had a version that worked on the Telstra 4G network (the only one available at the time) it would have been released.

If it only runs on our NextG network, its pointless. The One XL still has an advantage.

If the 4G S3 only runs on the 700 band, same thing for it – the lack of OUR 4G will be a negative that puts it behind other phones.

We’d need 1800 at the moment, with other bands not yet confirmed to be used in a few years time (“700AP”, 2300 TDD, 2600, with possibly 900 and 1500 from what I’ve read but some of that might be wishful thinking) – by that time you’ll be wanting a new phone anyway so 1800 is the only LTE to worry about at the moment in Australia.

Model code is Galaxy S3 T999

So it would make sense to me that this upcoming 4G SGS3 is just the US version?

No, me neither. It’s their primary target market, after all.

They *might* have a different model that supports “rest of the world 4G”, but given Apple’s past history, I consider it unlikely, until well after radios are available that support both.

LTE bands are more fragmented and broken than 3G is/was.

Having said all of that, I’m very interested to see what’s on offer once WP8 launches. It’s a great time to be shopping for a new smartphone!