vB Easy Archive - Might this be a good idea?

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Might this be a good idea?
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Posted by: char777

I'm going to Japan and South Korea in about two weeks. I've lent my E61 to my brother, whom I will meet there, so I'm planning on trading in my Sidekick 3, which has been in the drawer for almost a year, for a UMTS 2100 phone to use in Asia.

Would it be a good idea to buy a phone from at&t? According to their website, they sell Nokia 6555's with UMTS 2100, as well as SE z750a. I haven't been a customer for quite a year (joined August 2007), so would I have to pay full retail?

Might it be best to just buy an unlocked & unbranded phone from a website online? I'm not sure if I have enough time for that.

Thanks.

Posted by: char777

anyone????

Posted by: fractured

Quote:

Originally Posted by char777

I haven't been a customer for quite a year (joined August 2007), so would I have to pay full retail?

Yes, and it will be locked to AT&T.

Quote:

Originally Posted by char777

Might it be best to just buy an unlocked & unbranded phone from a website online? I'm not sure if I have enough time for that.

This is the route I would suggest, but depending on where you live you might find a store that sells unbranded devices, so you won't have to wait. You will might get better prices online, though.

Posted by: efparri

The Nokia 6555 sold for use in Europe and Asia has the UMTS 2100 MHz band instead of the UMTS 1900 MHz band. The 6555 sold by AT&T has UTMS 850 MHz and UTMS 1900 MHz bands as well as the four regular GSM bands.

The Sony Ericsson Z750a has the 2100 MHz band as well as the two United States WCDMA bands.

Posted by: jacka$$1

I bought the SE Z750a for exactly this reason. It's got all 4 GSM bands (850, 900, 1800, 1900) and all 3 3G bands (UMTS 850, 1900, & 2100). You will need to activate International Roaming (just call AT&T) this will let your phone roam overseas, and add AT&T World Traveler for $5.99 per month. This plan will give you cheaper per-minute rates. The link below lists the discounted intl rates from AT&T:

http://www.wireless.att.com/travelguide/coverage/product_rates_compare.jsp?PIDL=IRSD|IRWT

But if you don't want to pay the intl roaming rates from AT&T, you CAN get cheaper rates by renting international sim cards from the following websites (see below):

http://www.telestial.com/view_produ...CT_ID=MSIM-PP01

http://www.softbank-rental.jp/en/phones/sim3g.php

However! You will need to unlock your phone to use these sim cards by entering a 16-digit code specific to your phone. You can call AT&T and just straight up tell them that you are planning on travelling overseas and need the unlock codes. They were nice enough to give me mine.

After they give you the codes, they'll tell you instructions on how to enter it, but they'll say that you'll need the sim card from a foreign company when entering the unlock codes. Not true! Here's the instructions on how to enter the code:

1. turn off phone and remove AT&T SIM card
2. turn on phone
3. at idle screen press < once (meaning left on the directional pad)
4. then press * twice
5. then press < once
6. the message option "PERSONALIZE WITH MNC3" will appear
7. click on this option and enter the 16 digit code to unlock

To confirm if the unlock process was successful, enter the service menu by clicking the following at the idle screen:
1. > * < < * < *
2. Go to "Service Info"
3. Go to "SmartChip lock"
2. You should see all 5 locking features unlocked

You can then use the Sim card from Softbank or Telestial for MUCH lower rates than what AT&T offers.

Hope this helps!

Posted by: jacka$$1

By the way, Telestial is actually selling the SIM card. Unlike Softbank which only rents out SIM cards. They're pretty anal about that.

Posted by: char777

I ended up getting a Nokia 6288 from FotoConnection. I hope it comes before I leave, which is Monday.

Posted by: jacka$$1

Have fun then! It's starting to get hot in Japan. My Japanese wife is actually flying over here this Friday for 10 days. Her Softbank phone actually works in the U.S. I think it's compatible with the GSM network here.

Posted by: chatter_box

I'm in Canada and was thinking of getting this phone and then unlocking it so I can use it in Canada and overseas since I travel quite a bit. Could I just purchase the lock code online? I guess what i'm getting at is, are the lock codes specific to the phone or the model? I'd like to know before I go and decide to purchase one. Thanks.