Anyone use an unlocked cell phone? | FerrariChat
Buy

Anyone use an unlocked cell phone?

Discussion in 'Technology' started by Gran Drewismo, Jul 8, 2009.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. Gran Drewismo

    Gran Drewismo F1 Rookie

    Jan 24, 2005
    3,778
    Idaho
    Full Name:
    Andrew
    #1 Gran Drewismo, Jul 8, 2009
    Do any of you guys have an unlocked cell phone? If so, what has your experience been like? Any trouble finding batteries, warranty issues, etc with them?

    Also, where did you purchase them? Puremobile and Cellhut are the only two I have found that have decent prices and selection.
     
  2. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    Dec 7, 2003
    16,459
    Winston Salem, NC
    #2 Ricambi America, Jul 8, 2009
    Yes. No problems. Expansys (although expensive) is where I've gotten mine.

    Permits me to run a AT&T chip here in the USA, and a TIM chip overseas.
     
  3. Schatten

    Schatten F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Apr 3, 2001
    11,238
    Austin, TX
    Full Name:
    Randy
    #3 Schatten, Jul 8, 2009
    I don't use one, but my old 2G iPhone will be on the market in the next few days, which is unlocked and jailbroken. In need of one?
     
  4. Seth

    Seth Formula 3

    Feb 8, 2004
    1,551
    Texas
    #4 Seth, Jul 8, 2009
    I have an unlocked BB bold, although I got it in the states with AT&T and got them to unlock it for me, and use it in the UK with O2. No problems at all.
     
  5. AustinMartin

    AustinMartin F1 Veteran

    Mar 1, 2008
    5,445
    Los Angeles/Idaho
    #5 AustinMartin, Jul 8, 2009
    I use a Unlocked RAZR. Best place to find unlocked phones is ebay, buy from a seller with good feedback.
     
  6. brownsgolf

    brownsgolf Formula Junior

    Dec 18, 2007
    931
    Western PA
    Full Name:
    Dan
    #6 brownsgolf, Jul 8, 2009
    First Question, Will it work on the Verizon Network?

    If that answer is yes, how much for the phone?
     
  7. 8 SNAKE

    8 SNAKE F1 Veteran

    Jan 5, 2006
    6,948
    Springfield, MO
    Full Name:
    Mike
    #7 8 SNAKE, Jul 8, 2009
    I don't think that any unlocked iPhone can operate on Verizon's network?
     
  8. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    Dec 7, 2003
    16,459
    Winston Salem, NC
    #8 Ricambi America, Jul 8, 2009
    IIRK,

    AT&T/iPhone = GSM
    Verizon = CDMA


    No compatibility
     
  9. Schatten

    Schatten F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Apr 3, 2001
    11,238
    Austin, TX
    Full Name:
    Randy
    #9 Schatten, Jul 8, 2009
    Unfortunately, this is correct. My gf has verizon and I'd give it to her. =/ But you need a SIM card, which Verizon does not utilize, and they are also on CDMA as noted.
     
  10. Gran Drewismo

    Gran Drewismo F1 Rookie

    Jan 24, 2005
    3,778
    Idaho
    Full Name:
    Andrew
    #10 Gran Drewismo, Jul 9, 2009
    Anyone want to take a gander at what the phrase "Unlocked - USA Version" might mean versus the basic description of "Unlocked"?

    I see this description on a few phones on Cellhut, I emailed them but no response yet.

    I'm thinking maybe it's the wall charger? Or maybe the manual is in UK English not US (?)
     
  11. Pcar928fan

    Pcar928fan Formula 3

    Jan 21, 2008
    1,702
    Austin, TX
    #11 Pcar928fan, Jul 9, 2009
    Yup. 1st Gen iPhone 8 gig model. Had a Razr that used a SIM card and was on an ATT plan and so I unlocked my iPhone and put in the Razr SIM card and thus didn't have to get an expensive data plan. I don't normally surf the web w/ the phone and if I need to I just find a wi-fi hot spot and off we go!
     
  12. ZonderF

    ZonderF Formula Junior

    Jun 1, 2008
    776
    Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Andrew
    #12 ZonderF, Jul 13, 2009
    When it says USA Version, they are referring to the bands that the phone uses. Here in the states, AT&T uses 850/1900 MHz for their 3g network and the phones that are labeled as US versions will work on AT&T's 3g network.
     
  13. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    Dec 7, 2003
    16,459
    Winston Salem, NC
    #13 Ricambi America, Jul 14, 2009
    Correct. If you're going to get an unlocked phone, find a model is the truly quad-band. Then, it'll be usable in just about every GSM country on earth.
     
  14. Gran Drewismo

    Gran Drewismo F1 Rookie

    Jan 24, 2005
    3,778
    Idaho
    Full Name:
    Andrew
    #14 Gran Drewismo, Jul 14, 2009
    Thank you! Just the information I needed. Look like I will be ordering very soon.

    Thanks again fellas!
     
  15. MaxPower

    MaxPower Two Time F1 World Champ

    Mar 28, 2006
    20,786
    At sea ... aahhh ...
    Full Name:
    MP
    #15 MaxPower, Sep 6, 2010
    fortunately we don't have these issues in the east ... all phones sold are unlocked ...

    note: "east" is not east usa ... but a bit further ... like east asia ...
     
  16. AlexO91

    AlexO91 F1 Rookie

    Sep 26, 2008
    2,909
    NW England
    Full Name:
    Alex
    #16 AlexO91, Sep 6, 2010
    Amazon sell a lot of unlocked mobiles. I got mine from Amazon UK, I don't see why it should be different for Amazon US.
     
  17. becker

    becker Formula Junior

    Feb 20, 2001
    340
    Arlington VA
    Full Name:
    Becker Cuéllar
    #17 becker, Sep 6, 2010
    If u travel a bit that is the way to go, it is not so hard to unlock a US phone and these days most of them are quad-band so it can be used in other countries. Roaming is cool but the charges are not so ... unlocked and a local chip and good you go there are some phones that even have a 2-sim slots.

    Inside the US you can swap between the big ones T-Mobile and ATT ... a CDMA phone(as in no chip from Verizon/Sprint) is another story.

    Becker
     

Share This Page