 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeDiscussion Groups General General TopicsGSMBluetoothProviders AlltelATT WirelessCingularFidoNextelSprint PCST-MobileVerizonManufacturers EricssonNokiaMotorolaCountry Specific Australian GroupUK GroupRelated Topics PocketPCPalmMore Topics ... |
Cellular Phone Forum / Providers / ATT Wireless / August 2004Cell phone for Asia/Europe
I am traveling to Asia/Europe for a couple months and would like a GSM cell phone in which I could keep chanigng SIM cards country by country. This doesn't have to be the highest quality phone and a used one will be ok. My US service is TDMA, so the phone will just be for such trips. Basically, is it cheaper to buy one in India, which would be my first overseas stop, or should I try Ebay here, and if so which model? Thanks. > I am traveling to Asia/Europe for a couple months and would like a GSM > cell phone in which I could keep chanigng SIM cards country by country. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Thanks. I like the Nokia 6150, a dual-band 900/1800 MHz model. All the 5100/6100/7100 series accessories and batteries fit (examples: 6180, 5120, 7190). When I was hunting eBay for them, you'd see about four a month for sale. John C. I was told that while GSM would work in most Asian countries, Japan uses something different and a "world" GSM phone wouldn't work there. Was I misled? Ken > I was told that while GSM would work in most Asian countries, Japan > uses something different and a "world" GSM phone wouldn't work there. Japan uses its own mobile telephone system, PDC. GSM works in most Asian countries. "P T Wang" wrote >>I was told that while GSM would work in most Asian countries, Japan >>uses something different and a "world" GSM phone wouldn't work there. >Japan uses its own mobile telephone system, PDC. GSM works in most Asian >countries. Motorola V66 is a small, neat, stylish triband GSM phone which can be bought unlocked at ebay.com. Because it folds shut no unexpected buttons will be pressed while the phone is in a pocket. My favourite. We have two in our household. You can even download the manual if, like mine, an ebay phone does not come with any documentation. This has been a most interesting thread. I just hope the OP has got as much benefit from everybody's experiences as I have... www.gsmworld.com has maps showing GSM coverage of every country and shows signal in parts of Japan and Peru as well as the USA. FWIW I think the OP should get kitted out with an unlocked triband GSM phone before leaving on his travels. The costs are trivial compared with airfare and survival in foreign parts. As for one SIM versus different SIMS - who is he going to call? Individual SIMs are fine for calls within countries, but if he is mainly going to be phoning "home" then international costs have to be faced up to no matter whose SIM is in the phone. > Motorola V66 is a small, neat, stylish triband GSM phone which can > be bought unlocked at ebay.com...My favourite. Thanks > This has been a most interesting thread. I just hope the OP has got > as much benefit from everybody's experiences as I have... Yes, I am learning! > FWIW I think the OP should get kitted out with an unlocked triband > GSM phone before leaving on his travels. The costs are trivial [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > is mainly going to be phoning "home" then international costs have > to be faced up to no matter whose SIM is in the phone. I am going to use it within the country being visited, eg, India. Newbie wrote >semiretired wrote >>As for one SIM versus different SIMS - who is he going to call? >>Individual SIMs are fine for calls within countries, but if he >>is mainly going to be phoning "home" then international costs have >>to be faced up to no matter whose SIM is in the phone. >I am going to use it within the country being visited, eg, India. You make a good case for a SIM for each country! Whether it is worth getting the first one before you leave (just so you are secure in the knowledge that you have a working phone) is a question only you can answer. Have a great trip! > You make a good case for a SIM for each country! Whether it is worth getting > the first one before you leave (just so you are secure in the knowledge that > you have a working phone) is a question only you can answer. Actually I was planning to buy my first SIM in India, but have been wondering if, thanks to Ebay, it might not be possible to pick up a used phone more cheaply here. So far that does not seem to be the case. From what I hear, used phone prices might be cheaper in India. The reason may well be that in India one can find just right "dual band" phones (900, 1800 MHz, the "international" frequencies not used in the US). Naturally there isn't a huge market for them here. To get those frequencies, you pretty much have to get a "triband" phone which adds 1900 MHz, the US frequency, making it more expensive. >>You make a good case for a SIM for each country! Whether it is worth getting >>the first one before you leave (just so you are secure in the knowledge that [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > those frequencies, you pretty much have to get a "triband" phone which > adds 1900 MHz, the US frequency, making it more expensive. Not that expensive. I bought one for $25. > > Actually I was planning to buy my first SIM in India, but have been > > wondering if, thanks to Ebay, it might not be possible to pick up a [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Not that expensive. I bought one for $25. Just out of curiosity, what was the make and model? What keywords did you use in the search, if you remember? I have been scanning ebay but only see $75-200 prices! >> > Actually I was planning to buy my first SIM in India, but have been >> > wondering if, thanks to Ebay, it might not be possible to pick up a [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >you use in the search, if you remember? I have been scanning ebay but >only see $75-200 prices! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5712424942 Ericsson T28 Sold for $22.50  SignatureBest regards, John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/ > http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5712424942 > Ericsson T28 > Sold for $22.50 This is fine for US purposes (1900) but as its "dual band" leaves out 1800, it is not a true international phone. My expereince was, it is difficult to get the truly international 900/1800 dual band on ebay, and 900/1800/1900 tribands are more expensive. However, thanks toyour post I a re-energized into looking some more. >>http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5712424942 >>Ericsson T28 [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > and 900/1800/1900 tribands are more expensive. However, thanks toyour > post I a re-energized into looking some more. I do know that if I lose my Nokia 3100, I can get it replaced with a new one for $35, including tax. Additionally, the unlock code is easy to get using an easy to find application. I just switched my Samsung V205 to use on AT&T. The unlock code took a couple of days to get from T-Mobile (after 14 days of service last Sept), and the GPRS information is easy to find online to switch the web service between providers. Unfortunately, it looks like you can't download new games to the V205 as you can with Nokia. The Nokia 3100 lets you record memos or use it to record your own ring tone. > I do know that if I lose my Nokia 3100, I can get it replaced with a new > one for $35, including tax. Additionally, the unlock code is easy to get > using an easy to find application. Which version of the 3100 do you have? The 850/1800/1900 or the 900/1800/1900? I think my 3100 is a terrific little phone, but I really wish they'd made ONE model, using all four bands! >> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5712424942 >> Ericsson T28 [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >and 900/1800/1900 tribands are more expensive. However, thanks toyour >post I a re-energized into looking some more. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5712557544 Ericsson T39 Tri-band, with a host of high-end features Sold for $40 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5712984024 Sony Ericsson T200 Tri-band Sold for $31.30 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5712628896 Ericsson R520 Tri-band, great RF Sold for $29.95 SignatureBest regards, John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/ > [POSTED TO alt.cellular.attws - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE] > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > Ericsson T28 > Sold for $22.50 I second that. Since basic phone calls are your primary concern (as opposed to web browsing, picture taking, etc.), a great deal can be had simply by seeking out an older, less "advanced" (but perfectly capable) model. Any of the following phones will serve you well for very little out of pocket expense: Ericsson T28 (900/1800/1900 Ericsson T29 (900/1800 only) Ericsson T66 (900/1800/1900)(at 2.08oz it's one of the tiniest phones ever made) Nokia 8210 (900/1800 only) This is merely a sampling of older phones drawn from memory. In order to compile a more complete list of possibilities to search for on Ebay, I suggest you visit the following sites and look at the older offerings of each manufacturer: http://www.phonescoop.com (this site focuses on the American market, so you'll need to focus on triband, 900/1800/1900, "world" phones) http://www.gsmarena.com (this site focuses on the EurAsian markets, so it lists literally hundreds of dual-band, 900/1800, phones) I hope this helps. Have a great trip! Rob -------------------- Proud user of: Motorola V66 (Battery life? What battery life?) Nokia 3595 (Not exactly thin & beautiful, but functionally superb) Nokia N-Gage ("Excuse me while I talk on my GameBoy.") Sony-Ericsson T637 (A balanced package of form & function) Panasonic G51u (My newest and smallest toy) >Ericsson T28 (900/1800/1900 Nope. Ericsson T28 is 900/1900 only. It is dual band and does not have the 1800 band. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply > >Ericsson T28 (900/1800/1900 > > Nope. Ericsson T28 is 900/1900 only. It is dual band and does not > have the 1800 band. Oops. As I said, I was going from memory. So pardon the error... > > >Ericsson T28 (900/1800/1900 > > > > Nope. Ericsson T28 is 900/1900 only. It is dual band and does not > > have the 1800 band. > > Oops. As I said, I was going from memory. So pardon the error... I found, searching through eBay, that there are three Ericsson T28 models: T28w 900/1900 MHz dual-band http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=64355&item=5712427742&rd=1 T28s 900/1800 MHz dual-band http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=22323&item=6313264759&rd=1 T28z 1900 MHz mono-band http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=64355&item=5714516138&rd= 1&ssPageName=WDVW This would explain these contradictory memories. I sure can't find any "factory specs" webpages anymore on these older phones. John C. >> > >Ericsson T28 (900/1800/1900 >> > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >can't find any "factory specs" webpages anymore on these >older phones. Here they are: T28W http://www.sonyericsson.com/spg.jsp?cc=us&lc=en&ver=4000&template=ps1_1&zone=ps& lm=ps1_1&pid=9330 T28z http://www.sonyericsson.com/spg.jsp?cc=us&lc=en&ver=4000&template=ps1_1&zone=ps& lm=ps1_1&pid=9557 SignatureBest regards, John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/ > [POSTED TO alt.cellular.attws - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE] > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > Here they are: > T28W http://www.sonyericsson.com/spg.jsp?cc=us&lc=en&ver=4000&template=ps1_1&zone=ps& lm=ps1_1&pid=9330 > T28z http://www.sonyericsson.com/spg.jsp?cc=us&lc=en&ver=4000&template=ps1_1&zone=ps& lm=ps1_1&pid=9557 Thanks, here's the third one for the T28s. I had last looked for these about a year ago, and hadn't repeated the search. http://www.sonyericsson.com/spg.jsp?cc=global&lc=en&ver=4001&template=pp1_1_1&zo ne=pp&lm=pp1&pid=8899 John C. Any of the following phones will serve you well for very little out > of pocket expense: > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > ever made) > Nokia 8210 (900/1800 only) I would also recommend a Siemens S40, particularly if you dislike the Ericsson "flip phone" style. > Any of the following phones will serve you well for very little out >> of pocket expense: [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > I would also recommend a Siemens S40, particularly if you dislike the > Ericsson "flip phone" style. There's also the Ericsson T68i, which isn't a flip phone. Recent ones on eBay have sold for as little as $51 unlocked complete & working. Not bad, as it also includes bluetooth. It's a 900/1800/1900 phone. http://www.sonyericsson.com/T68i/did_you.htm It also syncs via iSync (only relevant for Mac users). Signature_Deirdre web: http://deirdre.net blog: http://deirdre.org/blog/ "Memes are a hoax! Pass it on!" I am in a similar situation. My USA provider is SprintPCS and I travel to Europe and W. Africa at at least twice a year. I just picked up an unlocked Motorolla P7389 Tri-band phone for $79 at an international store here in chicago. I also picked up a prepaid T-mobile SIM on Ebay just to verify that the phone works. For my trip to London Next month, I picked up a prepaid Virgin Mobile sim card for 6 british pounds(about $12) on Ebay. The CD that came already has my phone number on it, so I can give it out before I actually travel. This already include 5 pounds of free air time to get me going. BTW, a virgin SIM can be bought at London's airports for about 10 pounds. As others have posted, your best bet is to get an unlocked Tri-band phone on ebay, and then get the country specific SIM card on ebay or at each country you visit. Peace! Bossman > [POSTED TO alt.cellular.attws - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE] > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > Ericsson T28 > Sold for $22.50 >>>Actually I was planning to buy my first SIM in India, but have been >>>wondering if, thanks to Ebay, it might not be possible to pick up a [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > you use in the search, if you remember? I have been scanning ebay but > only see $75-200 prices! In your scan, did you tell it to sort by price? > In your scan, did you tell it to sort by price? I tried that but didn't find it useful because auctions with many days left often have misleadingly low prices which all shoot up on the last day. So I sort by "ending soon". > Actually I was planning to buy my first SIM in India, but have been > wondering if, thanks to Ebay, it might not be possible to pick up a > used phone more cheaply here. So far that does not seem to be the > case. From what I hear, used phone prices might be cheaper in India. Well, you might want to check it out. If they are cheaper here, then you could sell it before you leave India. Signature_Deirdre web: http://deirdre.net blog: http://deirdre.org/blog/ "Memes are a hoax! Pass it on!" > I was told that while GSM would work in most Asian countries, Japan > uses something different and a "world" GSM phone wouldn't work there. > Was I misled? "World" used to mean "GSM 900 + 1900". Now it pretty much means "GSM 900/1800/1900 + WCDMA 2100" (Maybe GSM 850, too) Many GSM operators roam with the two WCDMA operators in Japan: Vodafone and/or DoCoMo. You just need the phone that does WCDMA. SignatureDonald Newcomb DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net >I was told that while GSM would work in most Asian countries, Japan >uses something different and a "world" GSM phone wouldn't work there. >Was I misled? Japan is not a GSM country. However, they do use WCDMA I believe. If your phone is WCDMA compatible it may work. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply > I was told that while GSM would work in most Asian countries, Japan > uses something different and a "world" GSM phone wouldn't work there. > Was I misled? Japan uses PDC (a "different" format), CDMAOne, WCDMA, and CDMA2000, depending on carrier. No GSM. You can rent a WCDMA handset at the airport that you can roam with your home GSM SIM if appropriate roam agreements are in place with your carrier. SignatureDavid Van Cleef - Engineering Manager dvc@gol.com - Fusion Network Services, K.K. dvc@aeug.org - Global OnLine Japan -- "We have forgotten at least two things..." -- >I am traveling to Asia/Europe for a couple months and would like a GSM >cell phone in which I could keep chanigng SIM cards country by country. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >Basically, is it cheaper to buy one in India, which would be my first >overseas stop, or should I try Ebay here, and if so which model? The problem is not so much the phone itself. The real issue is signing up with a provider which has roaming agreements with all those countries, otherwise you'll have to get a prepaid card in every country you visit. GSM phones are cheap nowadays. SignatureAlfred Molon http://www.molon.de/Galleries.htm - Photos from Myanmar, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Nepal, Egypt, Austria, Budapest and Portugal > otherwise you'll have to get a prepaid card in every country you > visit. That's what I am thinking. It may be cheaper as well as less hassle than trying to find a card that works everywhere. Besides if I can get a card that doesn't expire for about a year, I could use it again next time. > GSM phones are cheap nowadays. But are they cheaper here or in India? :) My another worry is that the US business practices are so insular I am never sure if a phone bought here will actually work overseas, also not sure if salesmen who say so are knowledgeable let anole trustworthy. OTOH I am reasonably sure that one bought in Asia/Europe will work in all of those countries. But that's just my anxiety, I'd like to hear from someone experienced. > But are they cheaper here or in India? :) My another worry is that the > US business practices are so insular I am never sure if a phone bought > here will actually work overseas, also not sure if salesmen who say so > are knowledgeable let anole trustworthy. OTOH I am reasonably sure that > one bought in Asia/Europe will work in all of those countries. But > that's just my anxiety, I'd like to hear from someone experienced. I don't know anything about prices in India, but I do know that US GSM phones use the 850 and 1900 bands, while most if not all of the areas you'll be travelling in, use GSM 900 and 1800. We have some 900/1800 unlocked GSM phones for use in Europe, as well as some triband phones, which work in the US AND in Europe. Look for at least a dual-dand 900/1800 phone, and make sure that it's either not locked to a particular provider, or that it can be easily unlocked. Most Nokias are easily to unlock. >But are they cheaper here or in India? :) My another worry is that the >US business practices are so insular I am never sure if a phone bought >here will actually work overseas, also not sure if salesmen who say so >are knowledgeable let anole trustworthy. OTOH I am reasonably sure that >one bought in Asia/Europe will work in all of those countries. But >that's just my anxiety, I'd like to hear from someone experienced. I think you can find simple models (GSM 900/1800) here in Germany selling for 100 Euro without contract. There are even shops where they sell used GSM phones. SignatureAlfred Molon ------------------------------ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Olympus_405080/ Olympus 5050 resource - http://www.molon.de/5050.html Olympus 5060 resource - http://www.molon.de/5060.html Olympus 8080 resource - http://www.molon.de/8080.html >But are they cheaper here or in India? :) Probably here even ordering and having someone in the UK ship your phone to you in the US. >My another worry is that the >US business practices are so insular I am never sure if a phone bought >here will actually work overseas, also not sure if salesmen who say so >are knowledgeable let anole trustworthy. As long as you know what you're getting i.e. that the phone you're getting will work on European/Asian frequencies (900/1800) you'll be fine. >OTOH I am reasonably sure that >one bought in Asia/Europe will work in all of those countries. But >that's just my anxiety, I'd like to hear from someone experienced. I've bought phones specifically meant for use in Europe/Asia from ebay and never had a bit of problem. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply > > otherwise you'll have to get a prepaid card in every country you > > visit. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > one bought in Asia/Europe will work in all of those countries. But > that's just my anxiety, I'd like to hear from someone experienced. A friend of mine, who travels to Thailnd a lot, inquired about the phone here at an AT&T store here in US and the suggestion was to buy it oversea which would alos work inside US. I think the idea was to replace the SIM cards in each country. >The problem is not so much the phone itself. The real issue is signing >up with a provider which has roaming agreements with all those >countries, otherwise you'll have to get a prepaid card in every country >you visit. It all depends on how much time is spent in one country or another. It takes not very much talk time to make it worthwhile to use separate accounts in several countries rather than to use the very expensive native carrier roaming rates. You'll have to judge whether you'll be using your phone enough to warrant getting separate cards for each country. Typically you'll get a starter pack for the equivalent of around $20 with some time included in each SIM pack. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply > I am traveling to Asia/Europe for a couple months and would like a GSM > cell phone in which I could keep chanigng SIM cards country by country. An unlocked dual-band (900/1800) or tri-band (900/1800/1900) phone with a multi-voltage charger would be ideal. These can be had on eBay in the $50-$100 range with no problems. > This doesn't have to be the highest quality phone and a used one will > be ok. My US service is TDMA, so the phone will just be for such trips. Who is your US carrier? If it's AT&T, you might want to get their GSM SIM for backup roaming. > Basically, is it cheaper to buy one in India, which would be my first > overseas stop, or should I try Ebay here, and if so which model? eBay is the way I've done it. Also, I'd get a HOP Mobile prepaid international SIM and use it unless I decided that a local prepaid would be more cost effective. Check www.prepaidgsm.net SignatureDonald Newcomb DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net > I am traveling to Asia/Europe for a couple months and would like a GSM > cell phone in which I could keep chanigng SIM cards country by country. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Basically, is it cheaper to buy one in India, which would be my first > overseas stop, or should I try Ebay here, and if so which model? Buy one there. You'd have to buy a tri-band in the US. BTW, this is exactly what I do. I have 6 SIM cards currently for local service whereever I go. >I am traveling to Asia/Europe for a couple months and would like a GSM >cell phone in which I could keep chanigng SIM cards country by country. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >Basically, is it cheaper to buy one in India, which would be my first >overseas stop, or should I try Ebay here, and if so which model? If you're sure you'll only be using it in Europe and Asia get a dual band 900/1800 phone. You should be able to pick one up for the equivalent of $50 or less. For current and past models for Europe for Nokia go to http://nokia.com click on Europe and look at the non-recent models such as 3310/3410 and then go and look at ebay and look for unlocked Nokia XXXX model you should get several hits. I just picked up a Nokia 3410 that I'm going to give to my sister who lives in Israel for the equivalent of USD50 including air post from the UK. You could also get a tri-band phone for use in Europe and in North America, but if you're using TDMA service and don't think you'll be switching to GSM you won't need a phone that will work in North America. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply > I am traveling to Asia/Europe for a couple months and would like a GSM > cell phone in which I could keep chanigng SIM cards country by country. You'll probably need a tri-band phone. Yes try e-Bay for a used one. > This doesn't have to be the highest quality phone and a used one will > be ok. My US service is TDMA, so the phone will just be for such trips. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Thanks. >> I am traveling to Asia/Europe for a couple months and would like a GSM >> cell phone in which I could keep chanigng SIM cards country by country. > >You'll probably need a tri-band phone. Yes try e-Bay for a used one. Why should they waste money on a tri-band phone if they never intend to use it in North America? A dual band Euro/Asian phone should suit their purpose just fine. >> This doesn't have to be the highest quality phone and a used one will >> be ok. My US service is TDMA, so the phone will just be for such trips. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >> >> Thanks. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply My 2c-worth: If you are going to do this regularly, buy a tri-band phone, then you can use it in the US too. Then buy prepaid cards in the countries you are in, every time phoning into your voicemail on your US account and leave voicemail with a forward number. Prepaid is cheaper if you will make lots of calls or there for a while. If you are only doing this for a few days, borrow a triband / Euro GSM phone, and roam. Or, forward your US mobile to www.stanaphone.com, and forward that to your European prepaid. Expensive option, but seamless to the caller. Have fun. Daniel > I am traveling to Asia/Europe for a couple months and would like a GSM > cell phone in which I could keep chanigng SIM cards country by country. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Thanks. >If you are going to do this regularly, buy a tri-band phone, then you can >use it in the US too. Then buy prepaid cards in the countries you are in, >every time phoning into your voicemail on your US account and leave >voicemail with a forward number. Prepaid is cheaper if you will make lots >of calls or there for a while. If you are only doing this for a few days, >borrow a triband / Euro GSM phone, and roam. The poster said that they have no intention of using it in the US so tri-band is overkill since they won't be using it at all in the US. Triband is not the solution for everyone especially if they don't intend on using it in North America at all. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply > Basically, is it cheaper to buy one in India, which would be my first > overseas stop, or should I try Ebay here, and if so which model? Try buying an used or at least cheap Nokia 3210, it's a relatively quite old model that is capable of dual band G.S.M. (G.S.M. 900 and G.S.M. 1800). It should at least cost around U$50 or less. And when you're ready to return home back to the U.S.A. , you could always sell back your dual band G.S.M. phone to the nearest hand phone shop if you don't want to use it anymore. Though as many people here already said it, if you want to bring a G.S.M. phone back home to U.S.A. and use it there, you need a tri band G.S.M. (G.S.M. 900, G.S.M. 1800, and G.S.M. 1900) phone since that only the 1900 frequencies is avaiable, since the 900 frequencies and the 1800 frequencies were already used by the U.S. military. And also you can't used ANY G.S.M. phone in Japan since there's no G.S.M. network in Japan. Unless you got one of those G3 (Third Generation) phones that can be used both in the Japan W.C.D.M.A. network and the global G.S.M. network, like the Nokia 6650. As for buying a local pre-paid S.I.M. card for each country. Well... That would be the cheapest to do it, but it should be noted that pre-paid cards after they're being used usually expired after a month or so unless you regulary top its value each month or so, so it's doubtful that you can use the same card again for the next year. > Thanks. >As for buying a local pre-paid S.I.M. card for each country. > >Well... That would be the cheapest to do it, but it should be noted >that pre-paid cards after they're being used usually expired after a >month or so unless you regulary top its value each month or so, so >it's doubtful that you can use the same card again for the next year. Many European accounts expire with a one year expiry. Others require that you make a charge on your account every six months. Since many of the European accounts will roam internationally you can always at least make a single call before the end of six months to keep the phone alive. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply my advise is to get a GSM modem on your first country of destination. Then just buy prepaid SIM for each country. Usually it should be US$30 - US$50 for prepaid sim for each country. But becasue it is prepaid, the international call or long distance call charge would be quite big. (Not to be too commercial...) This is why we have smscallback service for GSM network around the world. www.speedicc.com/smscallback You can buy a very cheap GSM phones at india (actualy not really a good place). Good place would be Singapore or Malaysia where you can get a phone (Nokia) for about $100, no contract. I think if you spend a bit more, you can get tri-band model and also can use it in US. But please shop around and be careful with the pre-paid call rates. Also it would be good to buy extra top-up cards, just in case.. Even if you do not use all top up value, the whole cost would be cheaper than using hotel or AT&T international call services. > I am traveling to Asia/Europe for a couple months and would like a GSM > cell phone in which I could keep chanigng SIM cards country by country. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Thanks. >my advise is to get a GSM modem on your first country of destination. Buy a GSM modem?????????????? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply Check into a company that has GSM and overseas call availability. T-Mobile, AT&T, or Cingular all have GSM in the US and since AT&T and Cingular are converting to GSM, if your TDMA carrier is one of these, you'll eventually have to change anyway. With T-Mobile, you can ask them to authorize your phone for international use and you can use it without problems. Jeff > I am traveling to Asia/Europe for a couple months and would like a GSM > cell phone in which I could keep chanigng SIM cards country by country. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Thanks. >Check into a company that has GSM and overseas call availability. T-Mobile, >AT&T, or Cingular all have GSM in the US and since AT&T and Cingular are >converting to GSM, if your TDMA carrier is one of these, you'll eventually >have to change anyway. With T-Mobile, you can ask them to authorize your >phone for international use and you can use it without problems. TDMA is not going away any time soon. Most estimates are that it will be at least seven years before TDMA goes away... if then! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply > With T-Mobile, you can ask them to authorize your > phone for international use and you can use it without problems. That will only work with a tri-band or a quad-band. >>With T-Mobile, you can ask them to authorize your >>phone for international use and you can use it without problems. > > That will only work with a tri-band or a quad-band. At least T-Mobile will unlock your phone after 14 days. If you have T-M, you might want to unlock it as foreign chip rates tend to be a bit cheaper than the roaming rates. AT&T refused to. > At least T-Mobile will unlock your phone after 14 days. > If you have T-M, you might want to unlock it as foreign chip rates tend > to be a bit cheaper than the roaming rates. > AT&T refused to. For my ATT Nokia 3100, I waited until the 30 day return period was up, then went to one of the free sites which provide unlock codes for Nokias, plugged in the appropriate numbers, carefully entered one of the resulting codes, and inserted my UK-Orange SIM. It's MY phone - if I want to use it with other SIMs, I will! >>>With T-Mobile, you can ask them to authorize your >>>phone for international use and you can use it without problems. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >to be a bit cheaper than the roaming rates. >AT&T refused to. Unlocking after 14 days is the exception rather than the rule. Usually you have to be a customer in good standing for at least 90 days to get an unlock code. There are exceptions, but for the most part it's *not* 14 days but rather 90. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply >Basically, is it cheaper to buy one in India, which would be my first >overseas stop, or should I try Ebay here, and if so which model? I would recommmend getting a Nokia 6319i which can be used here and in all the GSM countries of the world. It has 1900MHz for the USA and 900/1800MHz for the rest of the world. -- John S. e-mail responses to - john at kiana dot net >I would recommmend getting a Nokia 6319i oops, I meant 6130i - fat fingers I guess. -- John S. e-mail responses to - john at kiana dot net > >I would recommmend getting a Nokia 6319i > > oops, I meant 6130i - fat fingers I guess. > > -- > John S. Isn't that a single band 1800 MHz only model? 6110 - 900 MHz only 6150 - dual band 900/1800 MHz I have the last two. John C. >Isn't that a single band 1800 MHz only model? No, it is 1900 (for the USA) and 900/1800 for the rest of the GSM world. -- John S. e-mail responses to - john at kiana dot net >> >I would recommmend getting a Nokia 6319i >> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >I have the last two. John S. has problems with model numbers. He was insisting for a long time that the 6340i could use GSM 900 and 1800 too! The is *no* Nokia 6130i. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply > >> >I would recommmend getting a Nokia 6319i > >> [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > The is *no* Nokia 6130i. > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Given confessed fat fingering, the 6310i is a tri-band 900/1800/1900 that John S. could have meant. John C. >John S. has problems with model numbers. He was insisting for a long >time that the 6340i could use GSM 900 and 1800 too! I have never said that. -- John S. e-mail responses to - john at kiana dot net >John S. has problems with model numbers. He was insisting for a long >time that the 6340i could use GSM 900 and 1800 too! Not true. In fact he had it correct: <http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=20030323092305.04552.00000547%40mb-fk.aol.com> SignatureBest regards, John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/ |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2010 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.