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GSM (World) Cell Phones

scoober78

scoober78

(HCDAW)
pilot
Contributor
Anybody have one? Do you think that this would be something worth doing? I recently lost my cell phone....hated it anyway, and am going to replace it outside of plan. In otherwords, I am going to Ebay etc...a phone and then get it activated. There have recently been quite a few "global" cell phones released and it seems like a good idea to be able to bring the cell with you and use it on any network... especially for a hotel livin', per-diem sponge such as myself.

Thoughts?
 
You talking like a world phone anywhere SIM, or getting an unlocked phone and getting a SIM for a specific country?
 
Sims for specific countries are pretty handy. Just pop one in and presto, local calls.

My brother is deployed over in El Sandbox right now and just bought a world cell phone that I can call him on with his number still being the same as if he was in the US. That's pretty convenient as he's able to talk to everyone back home pretty easily. Next time I talk to him I'll get the brand. That's probably what I'll do too.
 
GSM World Phoen

Yeah I have one which I got to use in Europe and it works fine here with ATT on their prepaid no contract plan. Since it was an older model phone (designed for europe actually) it was more economical ($175) then buying the newer models($400+). Ive had no major issues with it and Ive had it over two years so far. I'm planning on taking it to bahrain with me when I go there which would be the third continent Ive used it on.

First thing you would want to consider is what provider are you with? If your with ATT and Tmobile its very easy to get an unlocked phone and switch in a SIM card Now it you have Sprint, alltel or Verizon you'd have to get a phone off ebay and then rig it somehow. Go take a look at Howard Forums they have a lot of good information and I did a lot of research there. One of my other places I recommend you go take a look at is GSM Arena they have alot of specs on specific phones and manufacturers. If your shopping Amazon actually has a decent selection of Unlocked phones, otherwise just google "unlocked GSM worldphone" and retailers will pop up. I tend to be a little wary of ebay since what you see is what you get and if somethings wrong those guys tend to not care.
 
After June/July it is likely that Apple will release the iPhone in an unlocked version - in which case it will be the perfect "world phone"
 
Another option for cheap global calling is the Belkin or Netgear Skype phone. Get a Skype Pro account (Skype Out and Voicemail), purchase your own Skype number (so folks can call you), and sign up for Boingo Wireless at $7.95 a month (100K+ WiFi locations globally) and you can chat almost anywhere in the world over WiFi. Just got back from Europe and it worked fine.
 
I have a world phone but the key is getting one that is compatible on all the networks. Don't get tripped up on the World Phone! and then it's only compatible in the US and UK. Definitely get one with a sim card. Then you can get like a prepaid deal in other countries.
 
LazersGoPEWPEW said:
I have a world phone but the key is getting one that is compatible on all the networks. Don't get tripped up on the World Phone! and then it's only compatible in the US and UK. Definitely get one with a sim card. Then you can get like a prepaid deal in other countries.
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Good advice. In most cases any unlocked tri-band will do you fine. If you want to make sure it will be usable anywhere, pick up an unlocked quad-band of some variety and go with whatever the local pay as you go sim card is. I have a motorola v600 that fits the bill that isn't the most high tech gadget you'll find, but it's worked well on every continent except Antarctica.
 
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