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shostahoosier
Joined: 14 Apr 2009
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 Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 9:29 am Post subject: Where can I buy a cheap or used flip phone |
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I'm looking for a slider or flip phone.
Where can I find a cheap me that I can pop my sim into from my contract phone? |
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Jake_Kim
Joined: 27 Aug 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 4:58 am Post subject: |
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Then you're talking second-hand (may or may not be refurbished, depending on the vendor) handsets for which I'd rather find a vendor on online marketplaces such as Auction.co.kr or Gmarket.
Also note that it's more likely than not that the flip phone you're getting would be a good ol' 2G CDMA phone which does not use a SIM card at all, is carrier-locked at circuit board level, and has to come with a new account and re-activation process at the hands of respective carrier's employee, and probably a new phone number as well. |
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Lazio
Joined: 15 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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You can see them every once in a while on craigslist.
You could also buy a pre-paid card and in some cases with the purchase you will get a free phone. Either that or very cheap. You can do this online.
Or you can just simply by the phone itself online.
All the above options will be second-hand. |
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shostahoosier
Joined: 14 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 3:23 am Post subject: |
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Thanks.
It can be a "touch" phone, I'm just looking for anything that is not a smart phone.
The phone that I currently have is broken, and I don't have a need for a smart phone right now.
My SIM card is with SK and I'm currently out of contract (have had the same number for years).
Do I just search for SK phones on gmarket?
Also, if I use Craigslist, do I need to have the phone cleared with the carrier? |
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Mr Crowley
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Location: Suwon
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| Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 1:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Will a slide phone work in the US ? |
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schmoove
Joined: 31 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:33 am Post subject: |
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| Jake_Kim wrote: |
Also note that it's more likely than not that the flip phone you're getting would be a good ol' 2G CDMA phone which does not use a SIM card at all, is carrier-locked at circuit board level, and has to come with a new account and re-activation process at the hands of respective carrier's employee, and probably a new phone number as well. |
This is true, be careful with this.
For example I have my old slide phone from 2007.
Brilliant phone - best ever!
Only stopped using it because it is 2g, so it couldn't receive long text messages around 2009/10 I think. Suddenly they just started bouncing back to sender.
Man I loved that phone...
Also PM sent,
as I have my old 3g touch phone for sale on these very forums! |
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Swampfox10mm
Joined: 24 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2013 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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There are pushcart vendors selling them in front of and inside of the traditional market between Sinseldong station and the chunggyechon e-mart. I almost bought a few just for nostalgia and not activation. I know the inside vendors can activate them.
The 3g models usually say so on the outside of the phone. |
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Jake_Kim
Joined: 27 Aug 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 1:50 am Post subject: |
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| Mr Crowley wrote: |
| Will a slide phone work in the US ? |
Your question is too vague. You need to track down its mode and frequencies it supports, say, from user manual, and see if it matches to those used by a U.S. carrier.
If the 'slide phone' in question uses a SIM card, then it means it's of 3G WCDMA for which there's a good chance it'll be compatible with U.S. infrastructures of AT&T or T-Mobile, for example.
However, most 'slide phones' being ancient models, there's a possibility that it was released before 2010 and is still under carrier-lock and/or country-lock. If so, frequency compatibility means nothing unless you take care of this first with your Korean carrier.
As far as frequency compatibility goes, someone with good command of Korean can in fact see if it's gonna work by checking 'roaming service availability' in the U.S. but it might require that you already have a log-in ID with your Korean carrier. |
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Jake_Kim
Joined: 27 Aug 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 2:00 am Post subject: |
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| shostahoosier wrote: |
Thanks.
It can be a "touch" phone, I'm just looking for anything that is not a smart phone.
The phone that I currently have is broken, and I don't have a need for a smart phone right now.
My SIM card is with SK and I'm currently out of contract (have had the same number for years).
Do I just search for SK phones on gmarket?
Also, if I use Craigslist, do I need to have the phone cleared with the carrier? |
If you've opted out of contract by properly terminating it with the carrier, then your number must have been pulled by the carrier to be re-assigned to future clients. It may or may not have been taken by now, but in any case your retaining your old SIM doesn't really mean you still have your old number nor does it guarantee that you can get it back. |
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shostahoosier
Joined: 14 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="Jake_Kim"]
| shostahoosier wrote: |
If you've opted out of contract by properly terminating it with the carrier, then your number must have been pulled by the carrier to be re-assigned to future clients. It may or may not have been taken by now, but in any case your retaining your old SIM doesn't really mean you still have your old number nor does it guarantee that you can get it back. |
I didn't terminate the service, I'm just paying month to month (I just assumed that meant I was out of contract). |
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Jake_Kim
Joined: 27 Aug 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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| shostahoosier wrote: |
| I didn't terminate the service, I'm just paying month to month (I just assumed that meant I was out of contract). |
Sounds like you were rolling over a prepaid scheme, then.
Commonly, T&C of prepaid service that Korean carriers present is that you can't make calls once you hit expiration date without 'recharging' (adding more credit), and they block incoming calls from D+15. They reserve the right to terminate your prepaid account and pull your number from D+90.
That said, however, it's hard to tell if you still have your number beyond D+90 unless you check directly with your (former) carrier. I once had a prepaid account with SKT, on a 3G handset with a SIM card, and I left it unused without adding any more credit for a while. Voicecall and text were naturally suspended within said time frame, but I didn't officially terminate my account for over 6 months. Afterwards, I found out my prepaid number was 'dormant' but still not cancelled or pulled by the carrier.
So the bottom line is, find whether you still have your old number first, and only then find a decent, compatible handset to reactivate your account. |
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