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1:22 pm
March 10, 2013
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First time posting: We are travelling to the Netherlands and Belgium for 2 weeks. Want to have a cell phone for emergencies and to make a few local calls to hotels etc.
Can we remove our speakout SIM and purchase a Mobal.com world SIM and use it in our present phones?
We have a Nokia C3 2G network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
and an Alcatel 356. Supported frequency: GSM 850 / 1900
Frequencies for Netherlands: GSM900, GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1800, GSM1900, 3G
Frequencies for Belgium: GSM900, GSM1800, 3G
What I don't understand is if the phone has to match all the frequency data, or just one of them? Nokia C3 does GSM900 & 1800 but is 2G not 3G (for Belgium & Netherlands)
Also the phone was purchased from seven eleven store, would it be unlocked? How can I tell?
New to cell phones and especially using one internationally. Any help is appreciated.
Thank You!
2:35 pm
December 30, 2010
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no.
C3 if it is from speakout is locked to rogers network. so it is quad band gsm but cannot take other SIM.
356 is unlocked dual band GSM 850/1900 which is only used in NA and a few very small countries, the rest of the worl use 900/1800 GSM. So you can put in their sim but no network to join due to frequency difference.
Get a cheap smart phone that is tri-band like the sony xperia ray(if it still can find it). And given the low data cost over there, you will be glad you take a smart phone with you.
enjoy the trip
2:50 pm
March 10, 2013
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Sorry to hear our phones won't work. Will look for used, unlocked quad band GSM phone then.
Thank You for your help.
Cheers!
6:13 am
March 12, 2009
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Another solution is to get the C3 unlocked. Many of the hole-in-the-wall cell shops can do it cheaply.
As for Mobal, I've used them for about 10 years. But my my, their rates are so high. I recently switched to Piranha Mobile (which I believe I read about in this forum somewhere.) Their rates are amazingly low. Calls in Belgium and the Netherlands are only 17 cents/minute. And, like Mobal, there is no annual fee, so you pay nothing when you aren't using it.
6:43 am
December 30, 2010
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not for SO locked
for europe, just get one when touch down, my friend recently has been to france/italy and just get a sim in each country. about 10 euro for a month of unlimited data(well SO style).
10:23 am
March 10, 2013
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I emailed speakout on their customer service form and asked for unlock code. Not thinking I'll have much luck, but we'll see.
Have been looking at unlocked GSM phones to buy used and they are quite expensive. Wonder if I would be better to look for a cheap phone once we land and go from there.
Does anyone know of US retailers who will ship to Canada? They seem to have the cheapest unlocked phones. Not really into doing much with the phone other than emergency calls or making reservations. the Nokia C3 is the first phone we've owned with a keyboard and internet potential. But we only use it for emergency calls and something to carry while travelling. Some of these unlocked phones are way too pricey for what our usage will be.
11:41 am
December 30, 2010
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for cheap GSM, they are usually 850/1900 which is of little use anywhere else unfortunately.
the C3 is rare to have quad band that can be used almost anywhere (except japan/korea) but SO no longer offer unlock service AFAIK.
It may be cheaper if you find a local used low end samsung galaxy if you want world band GSM.
4:45 pm
January 18, 2009
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I have not dealt with jr.com but they will ship to Canada for about $8(probably ground ship due to new usps regs.).
Example 4 band which others can comment here if suitable??
http://www.jr.com/lg/pe/LG_GT5.....TabDetails
I have no interest in them. Just a for instance!??
5:31 am
March 10, 2013
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Thanks for the info! It looks like a good phone for our purposes and the price is right.
Any feedback from others about this phone would be appreciated.
9:02 pm
November 15, 2008
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I'm also looking for a phone to be used during a 8 day trip to UK and France. I'll only use it for contacting hotels or making emergency calls.
All I have are a few GSM 850 / 1900 dumb phones got during the $100-air-time-free-phone promotion.
I have a T-Mobile SIM (regular size) which allows roaming in Europe.
Any suggestion to get a cheap quad band phone?
The LG phone mentioned above is "microSD", will it be able to take my regular size SIM card?
Also, a dumb question: are all smart phones quad band (can be used worldwide)?
9:49 pm
December 30, 2010
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quad band GSM, yes.
a smart phone can be used world wide except korea/japan which has only 3G band which not all smart phone covers.
7:26 am
March 12, 2009
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I've mentioned this in several posts. A good source for inexpensive phones is Factory Direct. I don't know where you live, but they have many locations in southern Ontario, or you can order on-line.
http://www.factorydirect.ca/Ca.....RZHoDEIg==
Although not mentioned in the specs, the Motorola RAZR V3 is a quad-band phone.
6:00 pm
November 15, 2008
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Bought "Pack Lite" from http://www.telestial.com/.
US$19+$8shipping for a Europe dual band dumb phone with a SIM $5 initial balance.
"Like"d it on Facebook and wrote a review, each gives $5 credit.
So, for $27US, I got a phone with SIM and $15 to spend.
Free incoming text. Some free income calls...no bad.
1:17 am
January 18, 2009
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Don't use data, if available. The balance will disappear in a hurry. The plan I have with them is 100mb or any part therof…minimum charge!!!
7:58 am
December 30, 2010
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for europe, just buy a SIM there. About 10EURO that gives some kind of UMB equivalent for a month.
The only issue is it is per country rather than EU wise. So if you stay in a country for only a few days, it may sound a bit expensive(though still cheap IMO).
