Will four year old Nokia 6150 still work?
 

I bought a used Nokia 6150 cell phone in 2005 prior to my trip to the U.K. I'd like to use it this summer when I go back, but I'd like to know that it will work and not be obsolete. I emailed the Nokia company but have not heard back from them yet. I'm assuming the phone will still work but it would be nice to know for sure before I get over there and find out the system has changed.....

who is your carrier...why not call them or call Nokia instead of emailing?

Of course, it will work, if it's unlocked and/or has a working sim card in it and has batteries in an o.k. condition.

This phone is still in demand, because Daimler-Benz used it widely in their cars. Maybe you can even sell it for an o.k. price at ebay

twina49 - We still have either a 5210 or 6210 Nokia in working order - keep it as a spare phone when any of the family have a problem with their newest aquisitions - like dropping the phone in a deep puddle of water?!!

It sells for about 20€ on ebay. :-(

Thanks for the replies! As I said, I assumed it worked but since I hadn't heard back from the company I thought I'd check with the experts on the Fodors board!

Sandi - there is no "carrier" per se. It's a cell phone I bought from Ebay and used successfully with a SIM card before, but since it was three years ago I just wanted to be sure about the phone. I know that analogs are no longer supported in the U.S., but this isn't one of those.

Tod - I get the impression the puddle of water event really happened and wasn't used only as an example! ;)

Your cell phone, Nokia 6150, is a Europe phone with GSM 900/1800. It will only work in Europe. The U.S. is GSM 850/1900. Europe now has a third GSM, 2100. If you need a sim card, the best I have found are from Carphone Warehouse, they have stores all over London. Check out their web site at: Carphonewarehouse.com. I would buy the Mobile World sim if only visiting in Uk,or the Sim4travel if into the rest of Europe. Incoming calls in most countries are free, cheap calling out.
Again, remember the folks who are calling you, what calling plan are they on in the U.S.? I use a company called Airnex, to call a landline in UK is $.04 and to a cell is $.269.
But a cell is used only when you need it, most hotels do not charge for using room phone with a prepaid phone card. Hopes this helps.

egailc: Yes, I was aware of the different bands used for the U.K. and the U.S., and as I mentioned, I've already used this phone when I was in the U.K. in 2005.

Thanks for the information on the SIM card. I used Telestial before, but I'll check out the Carphone Warehouse.

>has a third GSM, 2100.
Nope, the standard is 1900/2100 WCDMA, NOT GSM.

999
Actually it is GSM 850/900/1800/1900 / UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System)850/1900/2100
Note that being UMTS / HSDPA / HSUPA tri band doesn't mean that phone is a GSM / GPRS / EDGE tri band. An HSUPA tri band might not be a GSM at all. However nearly all HSDPA or HSUPA tri band are EDGE quad band too.
Also, 2100 (downlink) / 1900 (uplink) for Europe and Asia (usually referred simply as W-CDMA 2100)
The 1900 / 850 (independently, for both the uplink and downlink) for America (e.g. Cingular Wireless)
and 2100 (downlink) / 1700 (uplink) for America (e.g. T-Mobile) Does that make it clearer?

Incorrect info doesn't make it clearer, it's that simple.

Actually 850 isn't used for UMTS in Europe. GPRS, EDGE and HSDPA are technologies for data transmission implemented in those phones and not mobile phone standards.

Telling about a new GSM that actually isn't GSM is incorrect.