Carol

It looks like I am going to have to buy a phone. (I had planned to rent one from Travelcell, but they have let me down! I leave Saturday and tonight I came home to phone programed for Isreal)I am thinking that I might as well see about getting a phone I could use next year on a trip to the UK and Paris.<BR><BR>I know that to use the phone in other countires is has to be "unlocked". So here is my question. Can anyone tell me where to get an unlocked phone in Rome or is there a provider that cover all of Europe I could buy from?<BR><BR>Thanks!

Alec

Unlocked phones.<BR>Most dealers sell unlocked (sometimes called SIM-free) phones, at varying prices. You are looking at a minimum of around $150 for a basic one, $2-300 for a nice one like a basic Nokia. Most locked handsets can also be unlocked with the use of a datacable and software tool. I can't tell you where in Italy, but your are more likely to find one in small, privately-owned dealership. You can usually get unlocked handsets on e-Bay, though not practical for travellers.

xxx

Carol:<BR><BR>Go to yahoo and do a search titled GSM mobile phones. You will come up with 2 or 3 places in the US that sell unlocked GSM phones at prices cheaper than those advertised at British dealers for example. One of them has the Nokia 3310 listed at $114; not too bad especially if you have a Nokia 3360 or 3390 as all the accessories will work perfectly.<BR><BR>One of them, Bombay Electronics, had some phones listed for about $85....but when I tried to order one I was told temporarily out of stock.<BR><BR>I do wonder if there are hackers who can provide the codes to unlock phones on the internet for free?

Alec

Some very cheap phones could have been stolen or shipped out of a country in bulk. You get no warranty cover, and stolen phones can be electronically barred, rendering them useless. I'd buy from a reputable source.<BR>No, you can't get an unlock code on the net, as code is unique to each phone. Unlockers use, as I've said, data cable and software tool (often different one for each make), though unlocking software can sometimes be downloaded from the net (for Nokias for example).

Carol

Thanks everyone.<BR><BR>I guess I will just have to buy a locked phone. I certainly don't have time to go to a dealer who is not located in my backyard or deal with Ebay.<BR><BR>I was really hoping that there was Eurpoean provider who covered the whole contintent (even if it was more expensive!)