Korean Job Discussion Forums

[moosehead]

i've heard about these phones that you just change the "sim" card and they work in a different country; i.e., it will work here in korea and other countries that allow this option - you just have to buy the new sim card for that country.

they are supposed to be available now in korea - does anyone have one or know about them?

i'd like to buy one if possible.

thanks!
moosehead

[yayforme]

If the OP is referring to phones using the GSM standard, which uses the sim cards, they are useless in Korea.

FYI :

there are two digital communication standards for cell phones

GSM (used by the North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Caribbean)
and CDMA (used by South Korea and Japan).

This is why foreign phones are useless in Korea.
CDMA is used by fewer regions worldwide, but it has more networks (uses analog networks and 3G networks) which provides better coverage in rural areas.

CDMA international phones can be found with Sprint, Alltel, Nextel (which is now a part of Verizon), and Verizon, but selection is very limited.

So moosehead, make sure you buy the right cell!
Hope this helps with cellphone decisions!!

[PeteJB]

Remember, you can roam with your homeland phone (but check with your service) before you get yourself a Korean phone.

[brento1138]

[cbclark4]

I thought Sprint was Nextel?


http://www2.sprint.com/mr/aboutsprint.do?id16=nextel

[moosehead]

maybe there was some confusion about my question - these phones were prohibited here for political reasons (?? whatever) for some time. i've heard they are now being sold.

i want to buy the phone and use it here but to be able to also use it when i travel to other countries. i have a phone i can use in the u.s. so that's not a problem, it's everywhere else that is.

maybe these intl phones are not well known about over here yet?

moosehead

[little mixed girl]

there should be international phones in korea.
i'm pretty sure i've seen them.

what you do is look through the phones that the companies offer and look and see if they allow international roaming.
if they do, then you can sign up for the service, which will be expensive if you roam internationally.

if you are looking to use a phone in the US, SK telecom has a deal with verizon wireless that allows you to roam on their network...and ONLY verizon.

[tacon101]

just got a new phone today, samsung anycall. the guy also put a usim in it. the kt (i think) phones advertise world roaming with a sticker on the camera, but this is the same thing i think. i dont think it's any cheaper with kt. roaming is expensive regardless.

[SPINOZA]

I can send a text message from Korea to the UK but the person in the UK cannot reply. What's the explanation for this?