vB Easy Archive - Newbie post. How do I set up an "unlocked" phone?

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Newbie post. How do I set up an "unlocked" phone?
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Posted by: exander

I'm thinking of buying an unlocked phone like the dopod s300 that we can't get in the US yet. If I get it, what do I have to do to set it up? Do I go to Cingular and they do it for me? Or is it something I can do myself? Are there any disadvantages to have an unlocked phone?

Posted by: SHoTTa35

alll you need to do is go to Cingular, activate your line (if you don't have one already) and then put the chip in your phone and walk away. You'll need the data settings (which are online) so your phone can get online and receive MMS (those are the only disadvantages of having an "unlocked" phone. I put it in quotes because even Cingular phones can be unlocked. I'm guessing you mean OEM or just non-cingular phone). If you buy a phone that has the right frequencies there's no disadvantage.

Posted by: jhardin1

Quote:

Originally Posted by exander

I'm thinking of buying an unlocked phone like the dopod s300 that we can't get in the US yet. If I get it, what do I have to do to set it up? Do I go to Cingular and they do it for me? Or is it something I can do myself? Are there any disadvantages to have an unlocked phone?

Since the phone is a windows moble 5 device, it should be easy to configure. Be sure to check your account on cingular.com to insure you have active text, mms, and data features prior to configuring the phone.

Posted by: exander

I'm thinking about the Dopod S300/Star Trek or the Samsung i320. I should be cool, right?

Posted by: vorpalwombat

Quote:

Originally Posted by exander

I'm thinking about the Dopod S300/Star Trek or the Samsung i320. I should be cool, right?

you won't be cool with the i320: it lacks the 850Mhz band, which makes it generally unusable on Cingular. See the Cingular FAQ for reasons why this is a very bad idea.

Posted by: exander

Really?!! Oh that so stinks!

Looks like I'll just have to settle for the Dopod. That makes my decision easier.

Posted by: exander

My contract is up with Cingular. What if I jumped to a different network? Would I be able to use it on Verizon? I'm not much of a fan of t-mobile and sprint.

EDIT: I checked my area and it uses 800mhz and 1900mhz. So, I should be able to use the i320, no?

Posted by: jhardin1

Quote:

Originally Posted by exander

My contract is up with Cingular. What if I jumped to a different network? Would I be able to use it on Verizon? I'm not much of a fan of t-mobile and sprint.

Verizon and Sprint-Nextel, MetroPCS, Cricket, AllTel and a few others are CDMA based carriers which is different techology. Cingular and T-Moble are the 2 largest GSM based carriers. You can only use a GSM based phone on a GSM network.

Posted by: exander

If I have 800 and 1900 in my area I should be ok, correct?

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhardin1

Posted by: vorpalwombat

Quote:

Originally Posted by exander

EDIT: I checked my area and it uses 800mhz and 1900mhz. So, I should be able to use the i320, no?

First: GSM 800 = GSM 850. You wouldn't think so, but this is true.

Whereas yes, the i320 has 1900 *and* your area has 1900, so you might *think* you'll get coverage, you run the very legitimate risk of shelling out your hard-earned cash and getting no signal.

check http://howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=660124 for reasons why this is generally a very bad idea.

Posted by: exander

Ok, I read the thread. That's a big bummer!

Dumb questions, if it gets released in the states would they "add" (if possible) 850 to it? Or this phone basically out of the question for good?

Thanks for the help.

Posted by: vorpalwombat

Quote:

Originally Posted by exander

Ok, I read the thread. That's a big bummer!

Dumb questions, if it gets released in the states would they "add" (if possible) 850 to it? Or this phone basically out of the question for good?

Thanks for the help.

it's not unreasonable to think that Samsung *might* produce a quad band/US triband version. you may want to poke around the samsung forum, here, since i have no idea if that is on their list. Wouldn't hold my breath, though.

Posted by: jhardin1

Quote:

Originally Posted by exander

If I have 800 and 1900 in my area I should be ok, correct?

Make sure the phone you buy is 'quad band' 'world phone' , that is it has all four GSM bands 850 (sometimes called 800), 900, 1800, and 1900. Many phones from Asia or Europe are 'tri-band', 900,1800, and 1900 - they leave out GSM 850. To give you a very rough idea, look at the coverage maps for Cingulars Go-phone pay as you go, Cingular's Go-Phone, Pick Your Plan, and Cingular's National GSM coverage maps.The basic pick your plan map is native Cingular and mostly 850/some 1900. The second go-phone map adds more Cingular coverage, and the last,GSM map adds Cingular's roaming coverage, which is mostly 850. - my point is that if you purchase a phone without 850 you will be missing out on a lot coverage and even in meto areas, face dead spots, gaps in coverage.

Posted by: exander

Thanks for the help guys. That really clarified it for me.
That was such a sweet phone. . . .

Posted by: jhardin1

Quote:

Originally Posted by exander

probably every GSM phone released in the US in the last few years - with the exception of a few T-moble specific phones, has been quad-band 850/900/1800/1900 mhz. Keep in mind that when companies release phones in the US, they often add, delete, change features for example, the Nokia E61 has wi fi and 16.7M color screen, the cingular version E62 with have no wi-fi, no HSDPA ( high speed), and probably not a 16.7 million color screen

Posted by: jhardin1

Quote:

Originally Posted by exander

Thanks for the help guys. That really clarified it for me.
That was such a sweet phone. . . .

The main thing to consider is what is most important to you - coverage ? features ? style ? - I always try to buy unlocked phones, or buy a phone and unlock it

, More and more manufactures are making phones that work both in the US and overseas, as this happens, you will see less and less differences in the phones. There a lot of good non-us phones out there which will work fine here.