Cell phone abroad

[Eagle]

BELLE, I believe the Samsung E-105 is a dual-band phone, with 900 & 1900 MHz (as far as I know, it is only "single mode", that is GSM / digital PCS and will not revert to analogue if digital service is unavailable).

The phone uses 1900 MHz to access North American networks, and will operate in many areas of Europe that have 900 MHz service. However, much of Europe uses both 900 & 1800 MHz, so you may find some areas where "no service" is displayed (areas where the cell service provider uses only 1800 MHz). Check www.gsmworld.com for a complete list of all providers worldwide, and which frequencies they use.

If you're only planning on using the phone for occasional use, you may want to just use "roaming" from your home Carrier. Check with your home cell company for complete details on your roaming options.

Using a European SIM card may or may not be an option for you. One of the difficulties is that every time you change SIM cards, you change phone numbers and therefore your friends / family probably wouldn't know which number to call to reach you. Also, more importantly your phone must be unlocked in order to use another SIM card. Many Cellular companies "lock" the handsets so that they will only operate on their network. If your phone is locked, it won't operate with another SIM card.

On a recent trip to the U.K. I used roaming and it worked really well, although I used the phone quite a bit so had a bit of a nasty surprise when the bill arrived. I hope to have my phone unlocked next time I travel, although I will probably stay with roaming for travel in all other countries, as I will use it much less than in the U.K. My phone is a tri-band Motorola V-60 (somewhat of an older model -- 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz), but it worked well. I will probably upgrade to a quad-band phone in the near future just to "cover all the bases", but there's no hurry as my present phone still works great.

I hope this has answered your questions. Cheers!!!

[chippawa]

Hi,

I wonder if you can help. I live in Ontario and am going to Australia, Singapore and Vietnam. I am looking for an unlocked phone so that I can buy a SIM card in each country and then use cards. Or, is there a better way of doing this?

Regards,

Chippawa

[Eagle]

CHIPPAWA, buying an unlocked GSM Phone is probably your best bet for travel. Although I don't know for sure, I suspect it will be fairly easy to buy SIM cards in Australia, but I'm not sure about Vietnam and Singapore. Hopefully, someone on this Board that has travelled in those areas can provide some comments?

BE SURE that the GSM Phone you buy is at least a tri-band model (900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz). If you're going to continue using it in Canada after your trip, a quad-band (also 850 MHz) would be a good idea.

If you need any more info, post another note. Hope this helps.

[Chippawa]

Hi Eagle,

Thanks for your advice. I guess my next question is where can one buy an unlocked phone in Ontario without taking out a mortgage?

[Eagle]

CHIPPAWA, there are lots of unlocked GSM phones available on E-Bay. Be a bit cautious though as some of them although technically "unlocked" still have some of their settings for the networks they were originally assigned to (ie: startup logos, etc.). The basic calling functions willl work fine on any network (with appropriate SIM) but some of the other features (web browsers, etc.) may still be locked.

You might try www.importcell.com -- they are located in Ottawa and I found them quite knowledgeable in dealings so far. They can provide complete unlocking services, and have a number of unlocked phones for sale. They would be able to advise which model would be best for your purposes. I use a Motorola V-60 (a tri-band model with a monochrome display) and but have been really pleased with it so far.

Again, check E-Bay as the listings are changing all the time. Good luck with your Cell Phone purchase!

[defining]

Need some advice...

I have a friend who works at Fido, she said the best thing to do is have a world phone that is unlocked and take it over there, and then sign up with a provider overseas.

Has anyone else done this? does this make the most sense if I'm wondering all around europe?

Here is the phone that I think I'll be taking with me.

www.nokiausa.com/phones/8390/1,1761,,00.html

Jeff

[LHR02]

Hi Jeff,
Eagle will likely be your best source of advice on this......but unless he corrects me I think this is not such an 'easy' option. You would need to be signing up with someone new in virtually every country you visit which perhaps a bit more cost effective would likely be time consuming. I can't claim any great knowledge on this though. Eagle? A good provider from your home country may still be your best option. As I have said before, I am with T-Mobile and had excellent service from them while overseas at 99 cents being the most per minute charge I ever paid...many times much less.

ging

[Eagle]

JEFF, a few comments on your Post (presented in "point form"):

> First of all, the phone described in the link you provided, will NOT work in Europe!!! This appears to be configured for 1900 MHz only (according to the spec's at the bottom), which means it will work only in North America (and possibly some places in Central / South America). It is not a "world phone" (unless I'm missing something here?).

I would suggest choosing a different model - you should be looking for (ideally) a quad-band GSM / GPRS Phone, equipped with 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz (cell networks in Europe use 900 / 1800 MHz). A tri-band Phone (without the 850 MHz band) will also work, however the quad-band will likely be much more useful to you in the long term. I use a Motorola V-60 "flip" phone (similar to the V-66 that Dustoffmom uses), and it has worked well for me both at home and overseas.

> Your friend was correct in a vague sort of way. It is beneficial to travel with an unlocked tri/quad-band "world phone". However, I was unsure about the phrase "then sign up with a provider overseas"? Was she referring to signing up on a Pay-As-You-Go plan or a Contract Plan??? A few comments on both options:

-- Using SIM cards from networks in other countries is one of the big advantages of the GSM format. Keep in mind that whenever you change SIM cards, your number changes so you have to notify family & friends what number you can be reached at.

-- It is VERY expensive to use "roaming" in Europe. In other words, if you are using a SIM card from a U.K. network and travel in Italy, the cost will be high! This is one reason Europeans use texting so much - it's cheaper!

-- Pay-As-You-Go is really the only viable option for travellers, and the one that seems to be used most often. It's quite easy to top-up your phone at ATM's, in Supermarkets, etc. As far as I know, it's difficult to sign onto a Contract plan if you're not a resident of a particular country (and don't have a "local" address). The local address might be an issue for P-A-Y-G also, as I know people that have obtained SIM's in Europe and when they registered for service, a "local" address was requested. Some networks may be more "fussy" about this than others?

-- If you're going to be roaming all over Europe and only using the Phone occasionally for emergencies or checking Hotel reservations, etc., why not use roaming from your home provider? As Dustoffmom mentioned in the previous post, the cost is fairly reasonable (although considerably more than what you pay at home). I can tell you from first-hand experience, that if you use the phone a lot, this is not a real good option, as one can accumulate a rather large bill (which I found out on a recent trip to the U.K.)! If you want to check roaming rates and cellular service details, check www.gsmworld.com as they have a very comprehensive list.

> You didn't mention if you presently have a Cell Phone, and which network it's registered on? I should mention that I'm not a big fan of Fido, as their network coverage is terrible - virtually useless unless you live in one of the large cities and don't ever plan on travelling anywhere else in Canada. Rogers has much better GSM / GPRS coverage, reportedly covering 93% of the Canadian population (which is the network I use).

One interesting point if you're considering a new cell phone -- I frequently have to put up with "snide" comments from users on the CDMA networks (Telus, Bell) who say their coverage is "better", which I concede may be true in some rare cases. However GSM is expanding across North America and elsewhere in the world so quickly that I don't think this will be a concern in future. GSM now has about 1.2 BILLION users worldwide in 208 countries, so it's the ONLY way to go for people that travel.

If you buy a Phone from either Fido or Rogers, it will likely be "locked". They seem to try to discourage customers from getting the phones unlocked. I was quoted a price of $250.00 to get my phone unlocked, which is vastly overpriced as far as I'm concerned! There are lots of sites on the net for phone unlocking, but there's always a charge associated with this. Some Handsets are more difficult to unlock than others (the remote unlock codes for Motorola phones have been difficult to get lately, for some reason. Not sure what the situation is for Nokia?).

If you want further information on unlocked GSM Phones, check with www.importcell.com in Ottawa (no, I don't work for them). I found them very knowledgeable and they should be able to provide all the information you will need to make an informed decision on which phone to buy. Also, check E-Bay as there seems to be lots of unlocked GSM Phones available (however, keep the "buyer beware" philosophy in mind).

Sorry about the long reply. Hope this is some help. Post another note if you need any further details. Cheers!!!

[MuvverRussia]

That 8390 is basically a US clone of a european phone- the 8310 (quite an old model now) and won't work in Europe due to the GSM frequencies it operates on (as eagle said).

Roaming within Europe is quite expensive as well. I normally pay around 80p a minute when I'm roaming, as opposed to 15p a minute normally- it quickly mounts up, as I've found out many a time.

As for opening up a contract in the UK, there's no chance unless you're legally resident in the UK and have UK credit history to match (i.e. at least a UK bank account and a UK credit card). The same applies for all EU countries. Pay as you go phones will be fine though- in fact one UK provider (O2) often give out free sim cards, you may be lucky enough to pick one of those up).

Again, don't bother with CDMA. It's old technology and will eventually be replaced by GSM, whether americans like it or not.

I've just been looking at some US phones though- apart from push to talk (which is questionable in europe due to the popularity of sms) it seems like your phones are about a year behind ours, as well as being extremely expensive. It may actually make financial sense to buy a tri band phone in Europe and to take it back with you to use with a US sim card.

[Eagle]

Interesting post, Muvver. Next time I travel in the U.K. I had thought of using Orange P-A-Y-G as my Son used that and was very pleased with the service. I know someone else that HAD been using Virgin, but found their service levels deplorable -- he's now using O2, I believe. I also have access to Vodaphone SIM's, but if O2 is giving away SIM cards I'll consider that also. Is it likely they will require a U.K. address to register P-A-Y-G service? Apparently the P-A-Y-G accounts become "inactive" if they're not used for six months, so I didn't want to set up the phone until I actually need it.

I chuckled a bit when I read your comments about CDMA. Anyone I speak with here, either sales people or users of CDMA, get VERY indignant when I suggest they're using an "inferior" technology. The sales people insist that CDMA is moving into "3G" and that they'll be around for a long time. Who knows which technology will eventually prevail in North America??? It's interesting but puzzling that Telus (CDMA) recently tried to buy Fido (GSM), which seemed strange given the difference in technologies?

One other interesting point on this topic -- a few Phone manufactureres have started introducing Handsets which combine both CDMA technology for use in N.A., as well as the two European GSM bands (probably aiming at the travelling salesman market). From the reviews I've read so far, the performance of these phones is somewhat mediocre -- they don't work too well in either mode.

There's also the new aspect of combining cell phone and GPS technology, so that someone () will be able to track the location of cellphones and users. This seems to be the new "techno-toy" that the cell phone networks are working on. I can see some useful applications, for example locating lost hikers or whatever, but I'm not sure I want someone to be able to track my every movement. I wonder if the locator function can be disabled by the user???

With regard to the "Push-To-Talk" that's being offered on North American CDMA networks, I've seen a bit of info lately on the net and suspect this might also be coming to a GSM networks in the near future. There were a few names mentioned (similar to "Mike" which is used by Telus), but I can't recall what the GSM versions were going to be called.

Hope all these comments have answered the questions for the OP. Cheers!!!

[defining]

Hey Guys,
thanks for the input.

Here some more info on my situation. All I need is a phone/provider that will work all over europe.

I'm going to be working contract overseas for my current employer. probably 90% of all calls will be from my employer to me in europe.

I just need a cheap option for having a cell phone in and around europe. I live in canada and I have no preference on which provider I use if I use a local provider. Whatever works the best for the best price.

Pay by the minute would seems like a good option so far.

[LHR02]

And is your employer going to reimburse you for the expense of the calls? ;D I'd try and work that benefit into the contract!

I still think with the correct phone and a good provider you will do just as well with a local provider....biggest asset is you keep your own number no matter where you are. If you opt for PAYG type phones or even unlocking and signing up with a provider here, there, everywhere you will run up a substantial bill just letting folks know your 'new' number.

And jujst for the record....I am a devoted fan of the Motorola phones! Others I am sure are just as/nearly as good but I have had such excellent results from the V-60 series I am a fan for a good long time.

Eagle??

[Eagle]

Dustoffmom, Since about 1992 I've used both Nokia phones (TDMA & GSM format) and Motorola phones (analog and GSM format), and both brands have worked well for me. However, I seem to have a slight preference for Motorola, partially because I prefer the "flip" style construction over the "bar" style.

NO phone is immune to problems though. A good example of this is the very mixed reviews I've been seeing on the Motorla V-600. I'm hoping the V-551 will be much better than this, as that's the model I will most likely upgrade to. I was recently tempted to buy the Razr V-3 as it's a spectacular leading edge design, but much too expensive for my limited budget. There are so many new cell phones on the market, it's hard to keep track of them! I'll keep my V-60 for a while longer, as it's still working well.

Defining, The additional information was helpful. I agree with Dustoffmom that since the phone will be used for your Employer 90% of the time, he/they should be paying for at least part of the cost.

Since it appears that you will be travelling in various parts of Europe, I suspect that signing up with a Canadian provider and using "roaming" would perhaps be the best option? That way your Employer can contact you wherever you are simply by dialling your local number. The cost of calls will vary, depending on which country you're in at the time, whether it's an outgoing or incoming call, etc. I checked the Rogers website and the costs seem to be somewhat the same in the larger countries -- $0.99 Cdn./minute for outgoing and $1.98/minute for incoming calls (however this varies by country - some are more expensive). You would have to check with Fido to see what their roaming rates are?

As far as the cost of a phone, in a very quick look on the web this afternoon, Rogers is offering a V-220 Motorola quad-band phone for $74.99 with a three year term! As you're probaby aware, if you sign onto a term you have to stay with it for the full time. The only way you can get out of a term is a "buyout", which is often the same value as the full term would have been.

That particular Motorola phone is relatively new, so I don't know a lot about it at this point. It's also available on a P-A-Y-G plan, but the cost is considerably higher. One other point to make, if you obtain this from Rogers it will almost certainly be "locked", but if you're just roaming this isn't a concern as you won't be using other SIM cards in the phone. It is possible to unlock the phone after you buy it, if you later decide you need this.

You might find it worthwhile to check the Cell phone dealers in your area. Give them a good overview on what you want the phone for. If you plan on using the Phone when you return to Canada, give some thought on the network coverage in the areas you normally live or travel in. Both Fido and Rogers have fairly accurate coverage maps on their websites as far as I know.

Hope this has answered your questions.

[Defining]

Thanks eagle.
So if you want to use a PAYG phone, it doesn't have to be un-locked? What does unlocking a phone do then?

I still have to work out some details on the contract work, I will be getting paid upwards of $60/hour CDN while I'm travelling. So even if I have to spend a couple bucks for some short phone calls, I'm not too worried about picking up the tab.

I'll probably setup a contract so that a x amount of minutes is available, but if it goes over, then I bill them the amount.

As for that Motorola V220 that looks about right. And their roaming charges look pretty good. I'll let you guys know what I end up going with.

thanks

[Eagle]

Defining, there are different types of "unlocking" for GSM phones, but typically this refers to unlocking the phone so that a SIM card from any provider can be used (SIM is an abbreviation for "Subscriber Identity Module", BTW -- this contains your cell number and other account information, and therefore can be used in another phone very easily).

If you insert a SIM from another provider into a locked phone that is attached to a particular network, the phone won't work. It will likely display a message to "insert SIM" or "enter unlock code". If you're going to obtain a phone from a Canadian network and strictly "roam" with this while in Europe, you won't need to worry about unlocking.

One other thing I should mention, you may have to manually change frequency bands when you land in Europe. This will depend on the particular design characteristics of the Phone you select. I had to reset the frequencies on my phone, but it only takes a few seconds so it's not a big deal. Once the frequencies are set, it will search for a network and should be operational within a minute or so.

In choosing a Canadian phone provider and plan, you will have to decide whether P-A-Y-G or Contract is the best option? Keep in mind the initial cost to buy a P-A-Y-G phone is usually quite "steep". Don't forget the caveats of a contract plan that I mentioned in my last post. BTW, I've always used a contract plan and don't mind this at all. I find this somewhat less expensive than P-A-Y-G, and don't have to worry about running out of minutes, and having to top-up the account all the time.

As I mentioned, I don't have a lot of information on the V-220. I'm assuming this will be a reliable phone, as I've always had reliable service from Motorola products. I'll have a look at the Forums on some of the Cell Phone Boards when I get a few minutes, and if I find something interesting, I'll post another note here.

Cheers!!!