Mobal Cell Phone - Great!
 

I'd like to thank the people who recommended I buy a Mobal cell phone for $49 before leaving for Germany, since I needed to have a phone number before I left the U.S.

My Nokia (a great little phone) was $49 with no shipping charges, arrived in 48 hours, and less than an hour after arriving in Germany, I received the call I'd been waiting for. After a couple of days of using the phone for only one or two minutes per day (at $1.49 per minute), I bought a 30 euro SIM card from a local T-Mobile store and my price per minute went down considerably. My son in Germany is keeping the phone, so it was definitely a great buy!

Glad it worked out, Postal.

Postal,

Did you have to unlock the phone before putting in the new SIM card, or was it good to go?

We got a Mobal for our last trip to italy, and it was great for emergency use, but I was wondering about the possibility of putting in another card if I should want to use it more than just occasionally.

Apparently the phones they are sending at this time are unlocked...you can find out easily enough by borrowing somebody else's sim card and putting it in the phone. If you don't get a message to the effect the phone is locked to another carrier, even if the phone doesn't register on any network, then it is unlocked. If it is locked you will get a message and this is the first thing a mobile phone checks when it is turned on!

Note that Mobal is currently issuing SIM cards free of charge. If you are visiting only one country and not planning to make a lot of calls, using Mobal may be more economical than a local SIM. And, your phone number is e-mailed to you once your order has been processed.

Just to amend the previous post slightly...it should say if you are not planning to make or receive many calls outside the UK as Mobal charges an arm and a leg to receive calls outside the UK...

Do remember that local sim's and Riiing sim's include free reception of calls in Europe. Have to do the math to see if it makes a difference.

Yes, the phone WAS unlocked. And I was glad to get rid of the U.K. phone number since I was in Germany. The SIM card from the T-Mobile store was a local German number and had free incoming calls.

xyz123 - Thank you for the amendment.

Your many posts have been invaluable in sorting out how to acquire and use cell phones for travel in Europe.

Since my husband and I need phones only for occasionally keeping in touch while out and about and the odd restaurant reservation, the Mobal SIM will be much more economical for the two of us than a French SIM.

On our first trip to London, we rented one phone through our Verizon service at home. Made maybe three short calls. Next time, we had two phones we'd purchased and bought Virgin SIM's. I don't think we used up 15 minutes total between the two of us in 12 days.

The nifty thing about a free SIM, is that you can hit the ground running, then buy a local SIM if you find you'll be using your phone(s) more often.

People here on the forum have been saying that they purchased a Mobal cell phone and replaced the sim card with one purchased in Europe. I'm a bit confused because when I went to the Mobal website it said their cell phones were locked and couldn't be replaced by any other sim card. You had to use their sim card. Is this true or do you think they want you to believe that so that you only purchase/use their sim cards? I need to purchase a cell phone for my upcoming trip to Italy and don't want to pay a lot for calls. The Mobal deals seems sweet for only $49.00 but if I have to pay 1.25/minute for outgoing/incoming calls it will get expensive. But if I can replace it with a cheaper sim card once I get to Italy, it would be worth it....Any info much appreciated...thanks, Pat

Yes the site says the phone is locked but...

oh about 2 or 3 months ago, somebody posted about Mobal. I said to him the problem might be the phones are locked. He said the phone he got was not locked. So I figured, what the hell, my son needed a phone for a trip to Europe and since it was a Nokia I knew I could unlock it anyway so I ordered one and guess what, the phone arrived unlocked. Another clue is this. They basically use O2 sim cards a UK carrier who for years sold phones in the UK that were not locked.

So I can't buarantee you the phone will be unlocked but my guess is that it will be (unless Mobal is spying on this forum and begins to make an effort to lock the phones).

However, since it is a Nokia, you can either download the nokia unlocking calculator which is freely available all over the web or go to the web site www.unlockme.co.uk where there is a forum where you can enter your imei # (the serial number) and the company to which it is locked and they will for free furnish you with the unlocking code.

My best guess is that it will be unlocked and if so, is probably the best deal. I wouldn't use the O2 service either outside the UK.

Thanks xyz123! I was wondering if you know a website where I can find info regarding unlocking my other phone. It's a Motorola V180. I found a forum where someone posted how to unlock it but apparently I need a flash driver. I can't seem to find a downloadable version of the driver. Apparently Motorola phones have no remote unlocking codes....so I would have to send my phone away to have it unlocked. I really don't want to do that. It only costs $25.00 but what if my phone gets lost? Thought I may be able to do it with a little bit more info...anyone have any ideas? Thanks, Pat

Hi W,

Have you tried www.google.com?

Enter "Unlock Motorola"

There is at least one online.

>...I need a flash driver.<

Didn't the site give you a link to download the driver?

((I))

Mobal phone is now down to $29 which includes free SIM, adaptor plugs, charger and free shipping. We're going on a med cruise and will visit many countries, so this seems perfect for us - for emergencies only

FLJudi

Hi FLJudi
> Mobal phone is now down to $29...<

What's the link?

I went to the website and it's still $49.

((I))

I just received my $49 Nokia 3410 from Mobal, thanks to everyone here who recommended it.

After reading all these posts, I wanted to see if the phone was locked. The Mobal website says the phone is locked. I tried putting in the SIM card from my Cingular phone that I use here in the US. The message displayed on this Mobal phone was "SIM card not valid"

So, I am interpreting this message to mean the phone is locked. Am I correct?

(Thanks again for all the advice from the cell phone experts.)

suntravler: if you got the $49 phone, it is a dual band that will work in many countries, but not in the U.S. If your Cingular SIM card is for the U.S., then that would explain why it won't work. I am trying to decide whether to buy one of the Mobal cell phones (either dual or tri-band) or go the eBay route, so I will be anxious to hear more replies from Fodorites who have experience with using these phones with other SIM cards.

Me, too!
I checked my recently-received Mobal Nokia 3410 - I inserted my local T-Mobile SIM and got this message: Insert SIM, which I assume means the phone arrived "locked" to Mobal's SIM.

Carmen...Thanks for your reply. I am aware of the difference between the bands used in US vs. Europe.

However, if I understood xyz123 correctly, there is a way to tell if the phone is locked or unlocked by inserting another SIM card and seeing what message you get. So I was just doing this little test. I'm not sure what the results mean!

Suntravlr, yes, our phones are locked.
If they were unlocked, and a different sim was installed, then the phone would boot up and show the main screen, ie. 'menu' or 'welcome' or something.

Travelnut, I just ordered the $49 mobal phone. How are you going to unlock your phone? I have read every thread on here but I still am not sure what to do next when I get my phone in the mail. I am going to be in Paris and do most of my Europe traveling in France. I would like to have the phone to contact my apartment rental folks on arrival, then would like to buy a carte at a tabac to use it to call home.

I am sorry to ask the same questions as others but don't get it yet.

www.unlockme.co.uk...there is a forum there. Enter the phone's imei# and the carrier to which it is locked and within an hour you will have the unlocking code.

First I'm going to try an alternate SIM one more time, just in case I put it in upside down or something.

Then I'm going to look at the 'free' service for unlocking (above post). If that leaves me feeling flummoxed, then I will resort to the $4 website for the unlock code (www.mobileliberation.com)

Try this URL for the Mobal site - it shows only $29 for the phone - as of a few minutes ago.

http://www.mobalrental.com/gsm/hands...im&cc=3410

FLJudi

I brought the phone to a T-Mobile store in Germany and they said, "Oh, it's a T-Mobile SIM, I'm sure ours will work." They inserted the new card, turned it on, and it was fine. Later I was also able to add "time" to the phone with scratch off PINS much like prepaid phone cards, in euro increments starting at something like 15 euros.

As I said, I was VERY pleased with the phone, and when I call my son in Germany on it, it's as clear as a bell!

FLJudi:

WOW.

I wish you hadn't posted this!! (it makes me feel bad.)

I just checked the Mobal website and this is the same exact phone I ordered last Wednesday for $49. It's quite a deal. I just hope the phone really works when I get to Europe.

I just got one too! Even if I can't unlock it easily, it's just too good a deal :)

Travelnut. Did you try your mobile phone again with another SIM?

I was curious to the results.

Yes, it is 'locked' - the message was "Invalid Sim".

I bought a code from mobileliberation.com but haven't tried entering it yet.

Please keep me posted. My brother gave me a phone to use on my upcoming trip, but I thought it might be a good idea to get the $29 Nokia from Mobal for future use.
Thank you.

OK- flummoxed once again.
I got an unlock code from Mobileliberation.com for the Mobal Nokia 3410.
I took the SIM card out, then powered on the phone.
I entered the code as instructed, #pw+11111111111+1# (fake number).
Supposedly, the second I hit the last # the phone was supposed to respond with a message, either "code error" or "restriction off".
However, NOTHING happened. No response, good or bad, just an open screen.
I keyed in the code one more time (so 2x so far), and again, no response.
So then I put in my T-Mobile SIM, and the screen said "SIM not valid". AARGH.

I am a very literal person - was I to press any other key following the last # ?
Is it possible the T-Mobile SIM is not usable in this phone, but I'll be able to use a France SIM later on?

I'm asking you guys all my questions before I try talking to Mobileliberation. Let me know what you think. Thank you!

Did you enter the p, w correctly...not the p, w on the key board but rather they come up after hitting the * key several times....did you enter all the digits...should get some kind of message...

I hit the # sign, then used * for the pw+ (I was able to see the letters/characters pw+ on the screen as I pushed the *).
Then I pushed each number of the code, ending with the **1# (+1#)

So what I keyed would be:
#*** **** ** 1111111111 **1#
(without the spaces)

The display does not retain all the numbers/characters - as I key each one in, it briefly displays then disappears, so there's no opportunity to check what was keyed. My reading says that the # is the last thing to key or push and a response should immediately follow (so no need to press "Send" or anything like that).

I think I did it!! I got my phone yesterday. Took the big leap today. I entered the code and a message popped up so quickly saying something like phone was not restricted. It was so fast I couldn't really take it all in.

However when I put in my nextel chip it says sim not valid, but isn't it because this phone cannot be used here since it is only those 2 bands. Nextel, mu carrier has no international stuff.

Next question, the battery charger that came with this phone will not work in US because of diferent current??? 240V
or not???

Then, can I put my 02 sim back in and use the phone with that sim as soon as I get to Paris to contact apt. owner, then buy a French SIM for further use.
If I keep the phone turned off until I get there will it still have power for me to make one phone call before I charge the battery. I am sorry if these are completely dumb questions.

I am so thankful and amazed that I got this far with your excellent help.

ttt

Hi, ggnga:

I got the phone last week. I am no techno-expert. Just the opposite. But I did charge the battery. When the phone is delivered the battery has no charge at all. The phone comes with a converter and plug adaptor for both US plugs and European plugs. Look in the box. It should be there.

If you are not familiar with convertors and/or adaptors, maybe you can find someone to help. It's sort of like putting together a puzzle. One adaptor says "for use in the US". The other says "for use in Europe". (Or words to that effect.) The pieces don't slide in easily. Once you find the right configuration, you sort of have to push hard to get them to fit.

After you figure out how to configure the converter, adaptor, and charger, you can charge the battery...even in the US. On the right side of the screen, you will see a dotted line that indicates the phone is charging.

I charged mine last Friday and have left the phone on since then because I WANT to run the battery down. If you run it down a couple of times it will eventually hold the charge better...at least that's what I've been told and what the user directions say.

So I charged it last Friday and have left it on ever since. Today is Thursday and it is just running down.

So, you CAN charge the phone in the US and you will be able to make a phone call as soon as you get to Paris. Although my personal recommendation would be to buy some chocolate croissants first. THEN make your phone call.

Nextel, to the best of my knowledge, is not a GSM carrier so their chip will probably not work in a gsm only phone. If you got the message restriction lifted or something to that effect, the phone is now unlocked.

If you only have a 240 converter, go out and buy a nokia auto adapter in Target and also an AC/auto adapter. This later gizmo plugs into US electrical outlets (also works on 240 but comes with US plugs), insert the auto charger and you can charge the phone. With simply an adapter plug, you won't need a current converter, the same set up will work in Europe. Or if you intend only to use the phone in Europe, take the auto adapter and charge the phone in your car. Or go to www.cellphoneshop.net and you can buy Nokia US chargers for about $3....lots of ways to deal with this since the phone is a nokia.

Travelnut. I am keeping my fingers crossed. How are you doing with the phone?

I've written above a few posts that I tried entering my unlock code, but I got <u><i>no response</i></u> - neither a &quot;code error&quot; nor a &quot;SIM unlocked&quot; or whatever. I tried 2x - you can't try but 5 times or so, don't want to keep entering it.

<b>Question</b> - could it be that the phone is unlocked or did unlock w/code, and it's my T-mobile SIM that is the reason it still says &quot;SIM not valid&quot;. I bought the dual-band, no US band on it. If no one knows or has experienced this, then I guess I'll try calling Mobileliberation for their ideas...(I'll be offline for a week or so, will have to continue this in May).

ggnga - maybe you can help me.

1. When you entered the unlock code for your Mobal Nokia, did you have a SIM in the phone during that process?

2. after you keyed in the code and pressed #, did you press any other button, ie. 'ok' or 'enter' or 'send' ?
Or did you press # and the response was immediately displayed?

OK, after reading this thread AGAIN, and surfing the net for 2 hours, I am thinking that I won't know if the phone is unlocked until I get a non-US SIM card.

1. This message implies that:
Author: Carmen
Date: 04/17/2005, 10:27 pm
suntravler: if you got the $49 phone, it is a dual band that will work in many countries, but not in the U.S. If your Cingular SIM card is for the U.S., then that would explain why it won't work. I am trying to decide whether to buy one of the Mobal cell phones (either dual or tri-band) or go the eBay route, so I will be anxious to hear more replies from Fodorites who have experience with using these phones with other SIM cards.

2. Those of us who have inserted a US-based SIM are getting &quot;SIM not valid&quot; or similar, not &quot;phone restricted&quot; or such. T-Mobile, Nextel and Cingular were all mentioned above with same results.

3. Those who said their phone arrived unlocked had taken the phone ot Europe and switched to a European SIM, ie. &quot;Postal&quot; in Germany.

So I'll just wait until our Paris visit in September and check it out there.