Cell Phone - SIMs and Phones
Jan 25th, 2007, 04:59 AM
#1
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Cell Phone - SIMs and Phones
This is a very naive question, related to an upcoming trip (I've never used a GSM phone, so this is probably a dumb question)....
Does the SIM card you purchase upon arriving in country have anything to do with the frequency your phone operates on?
(In other words, if I arrive with a tri-band phone in South Africa...do all phones operate at 900 or 1800? Or does the SIM card have any bearing on that?)
Thanks for any info.
Does the SIM card you purchase upon arriving in country have anything to do with the frequency your phone operates on?
(In other words, if I arrive with a tri-band phone in South Africa...do all phones operate at 900 or 1800? Or does the SIM card have any bearing on that?)
Thanks for any info.
Jan 25th, 2007, 05:39 AM
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The GSM technology works on 2 frequencies, 900 and 1800 Mhz.
The SIM card can be described as a unique identifier that carries your phone number and associates the number with the unique identifier.
When inserted in a GSM phone, the SIM card emits a unique signature to the network along with the phone number and all call made from or to your phone will be routed by the network based on this SIM identity.
As along as you have a phone that works on both GSM freqiuency, it shouldnt matter to you what frequency the network operates on.
I;ve tried to keep this as non-technical as possible.
The SIM card can be described as a unique identifier that carries your phone number and associates the number with the unique identifier.
When inserted in a GSM phone, the SIM card emits a unique signature to the network along with the phone number and all call made from or to your phone will be routed by the network based on this SIM identity.
As along as you have a phone that works on both GSM freqiuency, it shouldnt matter to you what frequency the network operates on.
I;ve tried to keep this as non-technical as possible.
Jan 25th, 2007, 07:06 AM
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If you're from the US, we use GSM 850 and 1900 here, so you need to check which specific bands your triband phone operates on. Some triband phones sold in the US have 850, 1900 + one other band (either 900 or 1800).
Jan 25th, 2007, 07:11 AM
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For the record, GSM works at 850/1900 in the US, 450-500 in Scandinavia (though I believe this has been replaced now) and 900-1800 everywhere else in the world.
In European terms, a dual band phone is one that workd on 900/1800, a tri band is one that works on 900/1800 and 850 or 1900 and a quad band is one that works on 850/900/1800/1900.
Perhaps its best you check the handsdet before setting off.
In European terms, a dual band phone is one that workd on 900/1800, a tri band is one that works on 900/1800 and 850 or 1900 and a quad band is one that works on 850/900/1800/1900.
Perhaps its best you check the handsdet before setting off.
Jan 25th, 2007, 07:25 AM
#5
If you're buying a phone for travel (ebay is your friend) then opt for a quad-band phone and you won't have to worry. Pop in the SIM chip and power up, and your phone will handle the rest.
If your travels take you to several countries, rather than having a bunch of SIMs that turn into pumpkins when you leave the country where they were acquired, have a look at domestic plans (assuming N. America) that offer discounted global roaming rates. We did a comparo last year before setting off to the UK, Czech Republic, Belgium, Spain and S. Africa, and decided that rather than buying several chips that came with airtime that would not be fully used, we'd sign up for (in our case Cingular/ATT Wireless) global roaming and use our domestic chip. For US$5 or so extra per month (only the months we're traveling) on top of our regular contract, we got global roaming rates that were quite comparable with the net rates being charged by the service providers in most of those countries. The big plus was that our US phone number followed us around the world, making it easy to get ahold of us in case of emergencies or important business calls.
Of course if you don't use a GSM system domestically, that option may be moot, but it's worth considering.
If your travels take you to several countries, rather than having a bunch of SIMs that turn into pumpkins when you leave the country where they were acquired, have a look at domestic plans (assuming N. America) that offer discounted global roaming rates. We did a comparo last year before setting off to the UK, Czech Republic, Belgium, Spain and S. Africa, and decided that rather than buying several chips that came with airtime that would not be fully used, we'd sign up for (in our case Cingular/ATT Wireless) global roaming and use our domestic chip. For US$5 or so extra per month (only the months we're traveling) on top of our regular contract, we got global roaming rates that were quite comparable with the net rates being charged by the service providers in most of those countries. The big plus was that our US phone number followed us around the world, making it easy to get ahold of us in case of emergencies or important business calls.
Of course if you don't use a GSM system domestically, that option may be moot, but it's worth considering.
Jan 25th, 2007, 08:40 AM
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It's always a good idea to do a cost comparison between rates using a local SIM vs international roaming through your current provider (if that's an option for you) to find out what's most cost effective for you. In Europe, I generally use my home provider's international roaming whereas in Kenya, I use a local SIM as the rates back to the US are much lower ($0.33 vs $4/min) and the SIM is dirt cheap.
Jan 25th, 2007, 11:23 AM
#7
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Thanks to all for your input. We don't have a GSM phone (we use Verizon in NYC). This is a last minute decision (for someone going to study abroard in South Africa), so I'm leaning towards hitting the stores in Manhattan tomorrow to get a cheap tri-band phone and have the student get a SIM card in Cape Town.
PS I'm aware the phone needs to be unlocked, I'm not as technically challenged as I came off in my first post!
PS I'm aware the phone needs to be unlocked, I'm not as technically challenged as I came off in my first post!
Jan 25th, 2007, 04:37 PM
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I suggest student wait until arrival and buy a cheap phone there with a SIM card. Make sure it is an "unlocked" phone. That way you can make sure will work in S. Africa.
Kevin from California
Kevin from California
Jan 25th, 2007, 07:41 PM
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kevmag
i also knew nothing about the cell phone issue, but learned alot from this forum.........I knew that i needed an unlocked GSM phone ( i also use Verizon here in New york City) i called many places and went into many stores in manhattan and nobody carried an unlocked phone to sell me......i finally went to e-bay and have just ordered a motorola, triband unlocked Gsm phone which has been shipped out ( haven't received it yet) i asked the seller if it would take a SIM card and he responed "yes" If you want the info and the name of the seller ( they were prompt in answering my question) let me know.....I paid about $50 .. plus shipping and handling.
i also knew nothing about the cell phone issue, but learned alot from this forum.........I knew that i needed an unlocked GSM phone ( i also use Verizon here in New york City) i called many places and went into many stores in manhattan and nobody carried an unlocked phone to sell me......i finally went to e-bay and have just ordered a motorola, triband unlocked Gsm phone which has been shipped out ( haven't received it yet) i asked the seller if it would take a SIM card and he responed "yes" If you want the info and the name of the seller ( they were prompt in answering my question) let me know.....I paid about $50 .. plus shipping and handling.
Jan 25th, 2007, 07:58 PM
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I have no personal experience, but a friend subscribed to Skype to keep in touch with someone overseas.
You talk through your computer connection and the rates are low.
Alternatively i would second the recommendation to buy a phone when in SA.
CW
You talk through your computer connection and the rates are low.
Alternatively i would second the recommendation to buy a phone when in SA.
CW
Jan 26th, 2007, 04:42 AM
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Phones can be locked by a network so that they can't be used on any other network, irrespective of country. I can remember that being the case with one of my daughters early UK-based phones, it couldn't work with a South African SIM card. It depends on what kind of contract you had or have.
Jan 26th, 2007, 07:16 AM
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Correction -
I've just been told that SIM locks can be applied at various levels.
Locking a phone to a specific network
Locking a phone to a specific or a group of countries or networks
Locking a phone to work with a specific SIM...
In the UK, contract phones are restricted to work with a specific network within the UK, but derestricted for use outside the country.
I've just been told that SIM locks can be applied at various levels.
Locking a phone to a specific network
Locking a phone to a specific or a group of countries or networks
Locking a phone to work with a specific SIM...
In the UK, contract phones are restricted to work with a specific network within the UK, but derestricted for use outside the country.
Jan 26th, 2007, 07:27 AM
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With locked phones issued by Cingular in the US, I cannot simply insert any other SIM while in another country and have it work. It must be unlocked in order to do so.
However, I can still use my Cingular SIM and it will roam on networks they have agreements with in other countries.
T-Mobile in the US will give you the unlock code if you have had service for 90 days. Cingular used to not give out the unlock code but have been more cooperative lately and I just got them to send me unlock codes for 2 devices last week.
However, I can still use my Cingular SIM and it will roam on networks they have agreements with in other countries.
T-Mobile in the US will give you the unlock code if you have had service for 90 days. Cingular used to not give out the unlock code but have been more cooperative lately and I just got them to send me unlock codes for 2 devices last week.
Jan 26th, 2007, 10:24 AM
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According to the specs from Motorola http://tinyurl.com/2a95sq the V180 works on 850/900/1900. You should be fine in Kenya with 900 and as long as it's unlocked, it'll accept a Kenyan SIM. Make sure you have a dual voltage charger as I've seen Motorolas come with 110 only chargers 
If it turns out to be 110 only, you should be able to get a V180 compatible dual voltage charger for less than $10.
If it turns out to be 110 only, you should be able to get a V180 compatible dual voltage charger for less than $10.
Jan 27th, 2007, 03:55 AM
#19
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Hello all, I'm the original OP, my saga gets a little more 'techy' now. I bought a Motorola quad-band V195 phone yesterday in Manhattan (from a Tmobile outlet). I got a good deal on the phone (I only had to commit to 60 days with them).
Thinking that I'm a smart guy (after reading about unlocking phones), I tried to get the unlocking codes and/or software on the Internet, and I am getting nowhere. (Everything I see when I google this indicates that the phone is too 'new' to be able to do this remotely).
So, my 2 questions are:
1) I can find a local place to unlock the phone (in fact, the Tmobile guy gave a local guy they steer business to). Is this reliable (from what I could see on the google searches, it seems like they hardwire something on the phone, almost 'shorting' something out)?
2) If I go that route, is there a way to check that it is truly unlocked? (I don't know anyone else with a GSM phone, everyone I know has Verizon, so I can't swap SIM chips.
Thanks as always for any info!
Thinking that I'm a smart guy (after reading about unlocking phones), I tried to get the unlocking codes and/or software on the Internet, and I am getting nowhere. (Everything I see when I google this indicates that the phone is too 'new' to be able to do this remotely).
So, my 2 questions are:
1) I can find a local place to unlock the phone (in fact, the Tmobile guy gave a local guy they steer business to). Is this reliable (from what I could see on the google searches, it seems like they hardwire something on the phone, almost 'shorting' something out)?
2) If I go that route, is there a way to check that it is truly unlocked? (I don't know anyone else with a GSM phone, everyone I know has Verizon, so I can't swap SIM chips.
Thanks as always for any info!
Jan 27th, 2007, 08:39 AM
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spsand,
Just google "Motorola V180 dual voltage charger" and you'll find vendors that sell it. I've never used a converter.
kevmag,
Has the local place confirmed they can unlock it? If the phone is too new, there's a very good chance they wouldn't be able to either. See if T-Mobile will waive the 90 day service requirement and give you the unlock code now. Tell them you need to travel outside of the country soon.
Just google "Motorola V180 dual voltage charger" and you'll find vendors that sell it. I've never used a converter.
kevmag,
Has the local place confirmed they can unlock it? If the phone is too new, there's a very good chance they wouldn't be able to either. See if T-Mobile will waive the 90 day service requirement and give you the unlock code now. Tell them you need to travel outside of the country soon.
