If I have one, can i just take it to europe and buy or rent a new prepaid sim card so I can use it there? What are some companies in europe (england and ireland) that sell or rent prepaid sim card? Thanks
2007-01-11 03:18:25 · 8 answers · asked by finzup77 2 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Cell Phones & Plans
GSM Cell phone companies (like Cingular, Tmobile) lock your phone so that only the SIM card provided by that carrier can be used on their cellphones. So, for example, a phone bought with Cingular service cannot be used with the Tmobile SIM card. However, if the phone is unlocked, it will allow you to use a SIM card from another carrier to be used with the phone.
Unlocked phones are usually more expensive to buy as they don't come with the discounts that the carriers give you when you sign contracts with them.
If you have a locked GSM phone and would like to use another carriers SIM card and use the phone on another network, the phone can be unlocked for a small fee (anywhere from FREE to $35 on ebay) depending on the model number.
Other networks like Sprint, Verizon and Nextel use phones that work only on their network and they really cannot be used on each other's network.
If you have an unlocked GSM phone that will work on 900 Mhz band, then you can use it in Europe. Even though Cingular and Tmobile here in the US run on GSM, they run on 1900 Mhz band. So, you need a multi-band unlocked GSM phone. There are plenty out there.
http://www.brightroam.com/ actually sells pre-paid SIM cards for most countries.
2007-01-11 04:20:35 · answer #1 · answered by Chandra 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2016-08-11 04:24:02 · answer #2 · answered by Steve 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a phone thatcan be used on any network. All the major u.k networks offer "pay as you go" simcards most of which you can buy for around £5, you will need a different sim card if you travel to southern ireland to avoid "roaming costs" on a u.k sim the main u.k operators are vodafone,02,t-mobile,orange,along with 3 and virgin.
2007-01-11 03:31:11 · answer #3 · answered by joe t 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An "Unlocked" phone is one that does not have to be used with one certain carrier. For example, a Cingular phone must be used with a Cingular Sim card, etc. An "unlocked" phone can be used with ANY carrier.
2007-01-11 03:22:59 · answer #4 · answered by Lori M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes. an unlocked cell phone means that you can put in any sim card.
2007-01-11 03:25:23 · answer #5 · answered by xkaybbzx 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means you can use any SIM card with it. Locked means that the phone can only support one kind, eg O2.
2007-01-11 03:21:57 · answer #6 · answered by kattipus 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
T mobile,virgin on the mobile
2007-01-11 03:22:37 · answer #7 · answered by mock sake 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
virgin mobile
2007-01-11 03:20:48 · answer #8 · answered by White Shooting Star of HK 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋