Craig wrote:
> Also please keep in mind that the US uses a different set of protocols and
> radio frequencies then most of the world. Here you will find GSM (as in
> Europe), TDMA and CDMA networks. Additionally, phones purchased in this
> country are usually "locked" via software to your service provider. After
> your initial contract runs out, you can contact the company and they will
> instruct you on how to unlock the phone so that you can use it with other
> providers (provided they use a compatable network). My wife and I subscribe
> to T-Mobile (owned by Deutsch Telecom). They use a GSM network and both of
> our phones are multifrequency (dual band and tri band to use their marketing
> language) which allows us to roam internationally. When we upgraded her old
> phone, we had it unlocked and gave it to her sister in the Philippines, who
> was then able to use it by purchasing a SIM card (her old phone was a dual
> band). The GSM digital phone bands used in the US is 1900Mhz...the rest of
> the world seems to use 900 and 1800Mhz (except Japan...they've been
> switching to what I believe is a 2400 Mhz band).
A lot of incorrect information in that post.
First of all, TDMA is no longer being sold in the U.S., though there are
a few subscribers that haven't yet switched to something else. The
prepaid companies that were selling TDMA have all stopped selling it as
well.
Second, if you want a GSM phone that roams internationally, you need to
get a quad band phone, 800/900/1800/1900.
Third, the largest GSM network in the U.S., Cingular, uses GSM 800 (also
sometimes called GSM 850). T-Mobile uses GSM 1900, but it can roam onto
Cingular's network in areas where T-Mobile has no network (which is a
LOT of areas). Unfortunately, T-Mobile's prepaid service does NOT allow
roaming onto 800 MHz networks.
Fourth, the FRS radios aren't really usable in the theme parks, as they
work best over open terrain (they are line-of-sight). If you do get
them, get the new type that are GMRS/FRS, though technically the GMRS
radios require an FCC license, I doubt if many people bother to obtain one.
I saw that Wal-Mart sells Tracfones for about $15 in their stores. While
Tracfone isn't the cheapest service in terms of airtime costs, it's the
easiest to obtain for tourists visiting the U.S.. Just avoid Boost
mobile, which is also sold in some discount stores. |
