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tideout
Joined: 12 Dec 2010
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 Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 9:36 pm Post subject: cell that accepts sim cards from many countries? |
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For a variety of reasons, I�ve been in 4 countries in the last two years with a need for a cell phone option in all of them (US, Thailand, Mexico & Korea).
Maybe a stupid question but is there an unlocked typed phone that would take a SIM card from most countries? I guess it goes without saying that I don�t want a formal plan at this point from a specific place but I�d like to be able to switch off w/o a new phone.
I don�t really care about a lot of bells and whistles � just basic phone service.
Ideas? |
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kain243
Joined: 19 Feb 2012
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| Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 10:37 pm Post subject: Re: cell that accepts sim cards from many countries? |
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| tideout wrote: |
For a variety of reasons, I�ve been in 4 countries in the last two years with a need for a cell phone option in all of them (US, Thailand, Mexico & Korea).
Maybe a stupid question but is there an unlocked typed phone that would take a SIM card from most countries? I guess it goes without saying that I don�t want a formal plan at this point from a specific place but I�d like to be able to switch off w/o a new phone.
I don�t really care about a lot of bells and whistles � just basic phone service.
Ideas? |
AFAIK your basic unlocked GSM phone (take your pick) will work almost anywhere in the world EXCEPT Korea and Japan (CDMA instead of GSM problem). In korea it is possible to register an unlocked smartphone like an Iphone 3g or another unlocked smartphone from outside of korea and be able to use it elsewhere as well (reverse won't work tho)
Up till this year I had a Motorola K1 which I've used in the US, UK, China, and Caribbean no problem...I'd wager it would work fine in Mexico and Thailand as well...I picked mine up off of Ebay for around 30$. Mobilekarma has a good selection of cheaper unlocked phones (not great condition mind you). Hope that helped  |
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tideout
Joined: 12 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2012 2:44 am Post subject: Re: cell that accepts sim cards from many countries? |
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| kain243 wrote: |
| tideout wrote: |
For a variety of reasons, I�ve been in 4 countries in the last two years with a need for a cell phone option in all of them (US, Thailand, Mexico & Korea).
Maybe a stupid question but is there an unlocked typed phone that would take a SIM card from most countries? I guess it goes without saying that I don�t want a formal plan at this point from a specific place but I�d like to be able to switch off w/o a new phone.
I don�t really care about a lot of bells and whistles � just basic phone service.
Ideas? |
AFAIK your basic unlocked GSM phone (take your pick) will work almost anywhere in the world EXCEPT Korea and Japan (CDMA instead of GSM problem). In korea it is possible to register an unlocked smartphone like an Iphone 3g or another unlocked smartphone from outside of korea and be able to use it elsewhere as well (reverse won't work tho)
Up till this year I had a Motorola K1 which I've used in the US, UK, China, and Caribbean no problem...I'd wager it would work fine in Mexico and Thailand as well...I picked mine up off of Ebay for around 30$. Mobilekarma has a good selection of cheaper unlocked phones (not great condition mind you). Hope that helped |
Kain, thanks (again) on the response for the cell options. I wasn't sure what the "specs" were on a phone for multiple locations. I'll also check out the Mobilekarma site as well.
Take care,
tideout |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:51 am Post subject: Re: cell that accepts sim cards from many countries? |
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| tideout wrote: |
For a variety of reasons, I�ve been in 4 countries in the last two years with a need for a cell phone option in all of them (US, Thailand, Mexico & Korea).
Maybe a stupid question but is there an unlocked typed phone that would take a SIM card from most countries? I guess it goes without saying that I don�t want a formal plan at this point from a specific place but I�d like to be able to switch off w/o a new phone.
I don�t really care about a lot of bells and whistles � just basic phone service.
Ideas? |
Your unlocked phone from Thailand will work in any country that uses a GSM system - simply buy a new SIM when you land in the country and load it as a prepay service phone (like you did in Thailand).
Most (all?) of SE Asia works on them along with China and a lot of Europe.
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Drew10
Joined: 31 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:59 am Post subject: Re: cell that accepts sim cards from many countries? |
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| kain243 wrote: |
| tideout wrote: |
For a variety of reasons, I�ve been in 4 countries in the last two years with a need for a cell phone option in all of them (US, Thailand, Mexico & Korea).
Maybe a stupid question but is there an unlocked typed phone that would take a SIM card from most countries? I guess it goes without saying that I don�t want a formal plan at this point from a specific place but I�d like to be able to switch off w/o a new phone.
I don�t really care about a lot of bells and whistles � just basic phone service.
Ideas? |
AFAIK your basic unlocked GSM phone (take your pick) will work almost anywhere in the world EXCEPT Korea and Japan (CDMA instead of GSM problem). In korea it is possible to register an unlocked smartphone like an Iphone 3g or another unlocked smartphone from outside of korea and be able to use it elsewhere as well (reverse won't work tho)
Up till this year I had a Motorola K1 which I've used in the US, UK, China, and Caribbean no problem...I'd wager it would work fine in Mexico and Thailand as well...I picked mine up off of Ebay for around 30$. Mobilekarma has a good selection of cheaper unlocked phones (not great condition mind you). Hope that helped |
Wrong.
Not all networks in Korea are CDMA. In fact, only LG's network is CDMA. KT and SK utilize a WCDMA network which will accept unlocked GSM phones.
Knowing is half the battle! |
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tideout
Joined: 12 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 2:34 am Post subject: Thanks |
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Thanks Drew and Tpatz. Your comments are much appreciated. It would be nice to get the cell phones in my life down to one!!!
tideout |
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Kimchifart
Joined: 15 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 7:08 pm Post subject: Re: cell that accepts sim cards from many countries? |
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| Drew10 wrote: |
| kain243 wrote: |
| tideout wrote: |
For a variety of reasons, I�ve been in 4 countries in the last two years with a need for a cell phone option in all of them (US, Thailand, Mexico & Korea).
Maybe a stupid question but is there an unlocked typed phone that would take a SIM card from most countries? I guess it goes without saying that I don�t want a formal plan at this point from a specific place but I�d like to be able to switch off w/o a new phone.
I don�t really care about a lot of bells and whistles � just basic phone service.
Ideas? |
AFAIK your basic unlocked GSM phone (take your pick) will work almost anywhere in the world EXCEPT Korea and Japan (CDMA instead of GSM problem). In korea it is possible to register an unlocked smartphone like an Iphone 3g or another unlocked smartphone from outside of korea and be able to use it elsewhere as well (reverse won't work tho)
Up till this year I had a Motorola K1 which I've used in the US, UK, China, and Caribbean no problem...I'd wager it would work fine in Mexico and Thailand as well...I picked mine up off of Ebay for around 30$. Mobilekarma has a good selection of cheaper unlocked phones (not great condition mind you). Hope that helped |
Wrong.
Not all networks in Korea are CDMA. In fact, only LG's network is CDMA. KT and SK utilize a WCDMA network which will accept unlocked GSM phones.
Knowing is half the battle! |
Yup, KT is definitely WCDMA and they accept phones from the UK. |
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