Unbranded Nokia E51 on 3?

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Malcolm Scott - 11 Feb 2008 16:46 GMT

Hi,

I'm considering starting a contract with 3, and would quite like to use a
Nokia E51. Am I likely to face any issues buying a SIM-free one and putting
a 3 SIM in it? One eBay seller states that they think this won't work, for
unspecified reasons...

More generally, how much do 3 tweak the software of phones they supply? Am
I likely to e.g. find issues automatically hopping between GSM (Orange) and
3G?

Thanks.

Malcolm

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Malcolm Scott
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James Lewis - 11 Feb 2008 19:21 GMT

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> Malcolm Scott
> (remove "BLACKHOLE." from email address)

The Sim free one should work fine. Your 3 sim card will tell the phone
to use 3 as the 3G network and orange as the fallback GSM network and
any switchover should happen seamlessly. Nokia phones do this fine.

(The only issue i have seen with it not happening seamlessly with 3
was with a unbranded motorola v3x- The phone would use and display "3
UK" as the 3g network and then "Orange" with a roaming indicator as
the 2g network (not treating them as one and displaying just "3" as
nokia phones do)).

You could purchace a 3 branded E51 and then de-brand it yourself which
will probably be cheaper than buying a sim free phone?

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Malcolm Scott - 11 Feb 2008 22:49 GMT

> The Sim free one should work fine. Your 3 sim card will tell the phone
> to use 3 as the 3G network and orange as the fallback GSM network and
> any switchover should happen seamlessly. Nokia phones do this fine.

Good to know -- thanks.

> You could purchace a 3 branded E51 and then de-brand it yourself which
> will probably be cheaper than buying a sim free phone?

Haven't yet found anywhere selling 3 branded E51s -- it's not in 3's online
store. Do you know of anywhere selling them?

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Malcolm Scott
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Alan - 12 Feb 2008 16:51 GMT

>> The Sim free one should work fine. Your 3 sim card will tell the phone
>> to use 3 as the 3G network and orange as the fallback GSM network and
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Haven't yet found anywhere selling 3 branded E51s -- it's not in 3's
> online store. Do you know of anywhere selling them?

It's not a "3 branded" handset but the Carphone Warehouse website is showing
the E51 on PAYG for £169.95 plus a £10 airtime topup on O2.

Someone posted on the "What Mobile" web forum that their purchase was
\unlocked.

Alan

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