Travelling from USA to Brazil : Need cell phone

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Frugal Sam - 18 May 2005 07:49 GMT

Hello

I have a Nokia CDMA phone that I currently use with Verizon in USA.

I will be visiting Brazil in the next couple of weeks, and then Thailand in
September and would like to have the use of a cell phone while I am in
those countries.

My understanding is that I need to get hold of an 'unlocked' quad band cell
phone and then, when I am in those countries, buy a SIM card from a local
provider.

Is this correct ?

If it is, how can I get hold of an unlockedquad band cell phone ?

Thanks.

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www.simcard.me.uk - 18 May 2005 11:14 GMT

> Hello
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> Thanks.

Yup you would need a quad or triband unlocked

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Stuart Friedman - 19 May 2005 02:28 GMT

There is CDMA in both Brazil and Thailand, but Verizon does not have roaming
privileges. If your phone is unlocked and has multiple NAMs, it just might
be possible to get it going, but GSM will be WAY easier.

For international CDMA coverage, checkout www.cdg.org

Stu

>> Hello
>>
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> Yup you would need a quad or triband unlocked

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matt weber - 20 May 2005 04:31 GMT

>Hello
>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
>Thanks.

Most tribands will do just fine, but what you need is a GSM phone.
Only in the USA do you need GSM800/850, The rest of the world has GSM
at 900 or 1800Mhz, the USA T-Mobile is mostly 1900, and Cingular has
both 1900 and 850mhz service.

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Donald Newcomb - 21 May 2005 00:52 GMT

> I have a Nokia CDMA phone that I currently use with Verizon in USA.
>
> I will be visiting Brazil in the next couple of weeks, and then Thailand in
> September and would like to have the use of a cell phone while I am in
> those countries.

Here is the major AMPS/TDMA/CDMA roaming database page:
http://irca.illuminet.com/irc/irca.asp
It looks like Verizon is not a memeber of PARC, so you'd have to check with
Verizon if you can roam in Brazil.

> My understanding is that I need to get hold of an 'unlocked' quad band cell
> phone and then, when I am in those countries, buy a SIM card from a local
> provider.
>
> Is this correct ?

You probably only need a tri-band (900/1800/1900) Brazil uses GSM on 1900
and Thailand uses 900 & 1800. Tri-bands are much more common than
quad-banders.

> If it is, how can I get hold of an unlockedquad band cell phone ?

Ebay, TigerDirect. Many places.

Also, check out:
www.prepaidgsm.net
nordicgroup.us/intlrate
www.thetravelinsider.info

Signature

Donald Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net

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