Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cazador83]

So I need a new phone, and I'd rather invest in something nice.

I know there's the Haptic, Ice Cream, Chocolate, etc.

Which phones are the best? I mean like top 10 or so. I'd rather go with Samsung Anycall since I'm used to the placement of hangeul keys. But yeah, as far as features go and all that, what's game? (especially in the 300-500 range)

[cazador83]

bump..

[DCJames]

The one that costs the most money is the best.

[dazzed]

Just FYI... all the wifi functions are disabled in Korean phones so decide what you really want out of the phone

[greasypeanut]

300-500 range wont buy u the best phone. but like someone had already said..the most expensive phone is the best. amoled looks nice.

[EricB]

Just got a new phone myself. There are at least two phones with wifi. The Samsung t*Omnia, and the Sony Ericsson Xperia. I went with the Xperia because I was able to flash the OS with an English version. They still try to block the Skype function by making the web address unavailable through the phone, but it is pretty easy to get around.
The t*Omnia looks really cool, but it is all Korean unfortunately. I'm happy with the Xperia so far, but it occasionally freezes up when I try to do too much with it. With a two year contract, the phone can be had for about 360,000. The t-Omnia is around 500,000 with the two year contract. With no contract, the prices are exhorbitantly high.

[kiboy6]

Are any really nice phones available that will still be useful after I've left Korea? Is the Omnia a non GSM phone in Korea?

And are there really no phones on which you can access wifi available here?

[cazador83]

[EricB]

I mean the OS is entirely in Korean. Its basically like using regular Windows in Korean. Sure, some things are in English, and it is possible to type in English, but all of the settings are in Korean. For a phone as complex as the t*Omnia, I found that to be a significant drawback. Still, I would have gotten the phone had I not preferred the slide-out keyboard Xperia over the touchscreen only Omnia. If you do decide to go with the Omnia, look into SPB Shell. It is a program that installs over Windows Mobile and makes many of the menus more user friendly (and English). It doesn't change everything, but enough to make the phone practical.

[cazador83]

ahh i see. thanks for that info.

Also, can any of these phones (especially the higher-end ones) be used back in the States? I don't mean like roaming..i mean actually using it with a plan through AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, etc.

It'd difficult trying to justify spending 500,000 on a phone that i couldn't ever use again outside of korea!

[kiboy6]

[EricB]

Both the t*omnia and Xperia will work in the USA from what I've read. The t*Omnia cannot be flashed with an English OS because there is no equivalent phone in an English speaking (or any other) country. The t*omnia is only available in Korea, therefore there is no English version of the OS. The regular Omnia has a different screen resolution than the t*Omnia. Who knows if the Omnia 2 OS will be/is compatible, but I doubt it.
As for price, all I know is that it was around 500,000 for a 2-year contract.

[greasypeanut]

u must not be on an e-2 visa if u were able to get a 2 year contract, am i right? im pretty sure those two phones u are talking about will cost an exorbitant amount of money if u were to buy it upfront which most e-2 visa people have to do. my yuna haptic cost me 560k and if i remember correctly, my korean coteacher was able to get the same phone for only 60k with a contract....dummmbbbbbbb

[itaewonguy]

so there are no phones in korea with an English OS??

man , Koreans want to make phones with English text to tap into the foreign markets, chinese and japanese language on phones now..
but they wont make an ENGLISH OS?? go figure...

[Tundra_Creature]