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Can Korean phones work in the States?

 
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Masta_Don



Joined: 17 Aug 2006
Location: Hyehwa-dong, Seoul

PostPosted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 8:12 am    Post subject: Can Korean phones work in the States? Reply with quote

My boss claims that Korean phones, for a fee and a tweak, will work in North America. I've heard something about tri-band in the past but I always tuned it out. So will they work or do only certain ones?

I ask becuz there has come a time where I could exchange my phone for a new one but I'll only be here another month. Doesn't make much sense to go thru the hassle unless I'll be able to take it with me.
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SuperFly



Joined: 09 Jul 2003
Location: In the doghouse

PostPosted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 1:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you get that info on the fee and the tweak, post it here. I'd like to keep my moto razor coz I paid 450K won for it 12 months ago.
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Masta_Don



Joined: 17 Aug 2006
Location: Hyehwa-dong, Seoul

PostPosted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 1:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

So far all I've been able to find out is that in order to use a Korean phone in America, I need a dual-mode phone. There are two types 3G/900/1800/1900MHz and 3G/850/1800/1900MHz. Tri-band works everywhere except Korea and Japan, so that's out. Now to figure out what my phone is or, at least, the one I would pick up.

Also, I read that it is free to unlock these phones to use on other networks. All that providers in the US require is for the account to have been active for 90 days before they'll unlock the phone. I would imagine there have to restrictions of some kind since I know the iPhone was causing all sorts of issues about unlocking.

I got all this information from a hostel website. Hopefully there's someone who might know a bit better.
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Masta_Don



Joined: 17 Aug 2006
Location: Hyehwa-dong, Seoul

PostPosted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 2:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Actually, upon further introspection, I think I've come up with the answer.

If tri-bands don't work here, they wouldn't (hopefully) sell them here. Same deal with a quad-band.

The 3G in 3G/900/1800/1900MHz stands for 3rd generation. These are the most modern phones (4G is in development). I would assume that a new phone in Korea would be a part of this 3G. Which 3G phone you have, either 3G/900/1800/1900MHz or 3G/850/1800/1900MHz, will work in America (not necessarily Europe), but the quality differs.

In summary, I guess I'll bite the bullet and get a new phone and take it with me. I'm sure it'll be out of date by the time I get back.
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mehmeh



Joined: 23 May 2007
Location: South, South Korea

PostPosted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 4:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My SK phone has an option for roaming in the USA. I read on another thread dedicated to this topic that such roaming is through Verizon who is the only carrier in the states using remotely similar technology to the Koreans.

If you're talking about keeping your Korean cell phone plan while you visit the states, this is a viable option but probably expensive. However, if you're talking about signing up for an american plan and using your Korean phone instead of a phone they'd give you for free it might be trickier. I assume it's possible to do this if you went with Verizon service but you'd still have to unlock the phone, pay Verizon's outrageous fee's, blah, blah, blah...

Long story short, it's a lot of work to go through just to be the guy using a Korean phone instead of an american one. Use the money you'd save to buy an iphone or something, it'll work just as well.
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djsmnc



Joined: 20 Jan 2003
Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

PostPosted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 5:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's a shame that cell phone companies in the US are trollish gatekeepers. They set phone technology back by about 3-4 years. And the sheep buy it.
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djsmnc



Joined: 20 Jan 2003
Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

PostPosted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 5:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

In fact, if you have the money, I say do it, because it's an affront to that corporate scum, and people will think you are cool. I remember pulling out my Korean phone in the US to play a game whie sitting in the airport. It had a swivel top. People around me were more than curious. There were so many people staring that I felt like I was back on the Seoul subway with my Korean girlfriend.

That was in 2004. They still don't have swivel tops in the US.
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