UPDATE: On May 10, 2008. Added some new stuff and changed some wording.

If you any questions you want to ask me personally, send me a PM.

If you have a problem with something, then this is not the place to post it. Simply because this is a FAQ about common questions, not common tech issues(although this could be made, but I don't have the time right now). Even so, only questions about the FAQ please. If you have other questions, then you can make a thread about it or feel free to PM me. Remember, I'm not the only one with good knowledge on cell phones. There are others out there. I don't know all of them, but you often see them posting.

PLEASE read this before posting a thread about this or that phone. These are common questions I've seen on this forum, so by reading this FAQ. You'll have some of the basic knowledge you need and could reduce the research that some people do when helping you out.

GSM & CDMA
What is GSM?GSM is a type of radio frequency used in cell phones. There are a lot of different bands used in different countries. For example, in the USA, T-mobile uses GSM 1900 band while AT&T uses both 850 and 1900 bands. Then there are Canadian carriers and European carriers that use GSM, but in Europe, they use GSM 900 and 1800. This could go on forever, but this is a FAQ, so if you want to learn more. Visit wikipedia.

UPDATE: T-mobile has launched their 3G data network which uses the 1700/2100 band. No unlocked phones as of yet have these bands.

What is CDMA?
CDMA is also a type of radio frequency used in cell phones, but are different than GSM. They don't have different bands like GSM does, but they do have different types like WCDMA, which is used in Asia, and regular CDMA in America. Visit wikipedia for more.

Unlocked Phones
Which carrier can I use with an unlocked phone?
- In America, T-Mobile and AT&T.
- In Canada, Rogers and Fido.
- In Europe, T-mobile and Vodafone, and O2. I actually think all carriers in Europe use GSM, but I'm not 100% sure.

What is an unlocked phone?
It's a phone that can be used on any carrier that use GSM bands and SIM cards.

What are SIM cards?
SIM cards are the little cards that are in the back of your phone. Take the battery cover off then the battery off and you should see a white card, or different color depending on carrier. Here's a picture for visual purposes.

Will "this" unlocked phone work with my carrier?
It depends on the carrier. Each carrier uses different bands, in America anyways. I'm sure carriers in other countries use the same band. If you don't know which band your carrier uses. Simply ask them or google.

Who makes unlocked phones?
Popular and known companies are Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorala, Samsung, and LG. Then occasionally Softbank, Sharp, and Panasonic make some.

Will "this" phone ever be unlocked?
The answer would usually be no. Why? Because hackers are the one's that make some of these phones unlocked. For example, one of the Sharp phones was unlocked this way, hence the rarity, but it doesn't mean all the functions will work in your country.

Can I unlock my phone I got from "this" carrier?
Yes, you can, but you have to call your carrier to get the unlock code, in America. As for other countries, I don't know, but I'm sure you can just by calling them.

How do I know if it's unlocked?
First of all, the seller should state it's unlocked. Second, there are no carrier brand logos on the phone; some will have it though, but it's rare.

Where can I buy an unlocked phone?
For retail stores, there are none that I know of since there's none near me. You can definitely find them at China Town though. Sorry, can't really help much in this department. These online stores are legit, no scams. Experience will vary depending on people.
Plemix
MobileCityOnline
Hi-Mobile
Pure Mobile
GEO Communciations (Canada)
SN Traders (Canada)
Ebay

NOTE: Make sure to do extensive review on the seller on ebay before buying from that seller. If you need help, you can always ask the people here on soompi.

If I buy an unlocked phone at "this" store, do I have to sign a contract?
That depends on the store. Ask the employees there.

Do I need to configure my unlocked phone to have it work with my carrier?
This depends. Sometimes you don't have to configure anything and sometimes do. With my Sony Ericsson K550i, I had to configure it so that SMS, MMS, and T-zones would work. I did this simply by visiting the SE website searched around. This just depends. Sometimes you don't have to do anything.

CDMA Phones
What are some of the CDMA carriers in America and Canada? (For other countries I'm not too sure, ask me if you can't find it online)
- For America, the known carriers are Verizon, Sprint, and Alltel. Then there's the occasionally new MVNO carriers like Helio that works off of Sprint's network.
- For Canada, there's Bell and Telus.

Can my CDMA phone be unlocked?
No. CDMA phones are made to be locked to that specific carrier. It cannot be used with other carriers.

UPDATE: Now, Verizon and Sprint said they have "opened" their network. This is simply not 100% true like the GSM technology because Verizon/Sprint would have to test the phone first and it has to go through a process for it to be approved. There are chances for the phone to be rejected.

Korean/Japanese Phones
Will Korean/Japanese phones work in America or a different country?
Ah, the most common question. The answer is NO. Korean phones were made to be locked onto the network in Korea/Japan. Although, you can get a Korean phone to work on Verizon's network, but you would have to visit the retail store in order for that to happen, and I don't know if it can work on Japanese phones. You can find them in K-town. I don't know any websites, so don't ask me.

Are there any Korean/Japanese phones that I can use?
There are occasionally unlocked GSM phones. Softbank and Sharp are the popular ones. They are very rare though, so don't expect to see a lot.

DATA Network
What are the type of data speeds?
There are 3 types on the GSM network, from slow to fast: GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA. On the CDMA network: 1x and EVDO.

Some CDMA carriers have an upgraded data network, there is a specific name like Rev. 1 and etc, but it's just commonly called EVDO.

LTE Network:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3GPP_Long_Term_Evolution

NOTE: 3G and EVDO are the same thing.

ONE MORE THING
If you need help to decide which phone to get and haven't selected some phones already, then please follow this little guide because it'll help people much better in helping you to find the phone you are looking for.

1) Flip, slider, or candy bar.
2) If you prefer a specific brand, like Nokia or Sony Ericsson, then please state that.
3) List of features that are MOST important to you.
4) Your carrier/provider.
5) Please state if you want an unlocked phone or a phone provided from the carrier.
6) BUDGET. Please state your budget because this is the main thing that'll help us narrow it down while searching.

DO NOT ASK FOR SUGGESTIONS HERE. THIS IS JUST A GUIDELINE IF YOU WANT HELP FINDING PHONES. YOUR POST WILL BE IGNORED BY ME.

So, these are all the questions I can think of right now that are frequently asked. If you got more, feel free to post them, both the Question and Answer. I hope this helps many and reduces the amount of threads made because of these questions.

REMEMBER: This is all about FAQs, if you have difficulties or tech related problems, please create a thread about them and not posting here.

^Nice faq DK Yang! Hopefully no more question about korean phones and etc. This should be a sticky~

How does Helio offer 3G speeds when it works on sprint's network?
we can ask questions here instead of making a new topic?

So one wouldn't need any service if they had both an SIM card and unlocke phone, and basically use thier phone for free?

Thank you for making this thread.
It's so annoying when people ask "will this phone work in the states?"

1. Did I put that up in the FAQ? (serious question) Answer: It doesn't, it uses EVDO.
2. Well......try not to flood the thread. Unless it's being stickied, some questions will probably be posted up that I don't have down already.

When I mean questions, like simple questions. If you have like 5 different questions and this FAQ doesn't answer it, then make a thread.


In order to get a SIM card you NEED service. Plus, if what you are saying was possible, it would be all over the internet and website. Some tech related sites sometimes have dummy SIM cards to use in there reviews. It will work with the phone, but you can't use the service. You'll only be able to go through the features on the phone.

Oh, I thought Helio offered 3G because it said so on the pamphlet

link

3G/EVDO is basically the same thing. The term 3G is used for GSM networks while EVDO is used for CDMA network. If you want to learn more for it, you can wiki it.

cool, thanks
20 characters

Thank you

Thanks for making such a helpful thread, now I at least know some more stuff about cellphones.

CLICK Im thinking of getting this phone and is it unlocked? It doesnt say anywhere but it does however say:
Supported Network(s)
GSM 850/900/1800/1900, EDGE
So I think so..am I right?

thanks for the FAQ. I plan to buy a SoftBank cell phone.

That phone is definitely unlocked. Here are the reasons why.

1) The phone has just been recently released and no carrier in the U.S. carries that phone right now, or anytime sooner.
2) Most of the time, phones from Sony Style will be unlocked.

But just in case, call them up and ask so you will be more confident on that it was a unlocked phone. I would do the same just to be 100% sure.

question; i have a samsung e250.. i assume i need a microsd right ? so whats a good brand u would recommend to get a nice and affordable 1GB ? and all microsd fit all phones right ? lol. in addition, do they fit to all PCs?

Thanks for telling me, I just went into the store and bought it, but actually I didnt buy that slider phone just something else cause...I figured I wont be lucky with it. But yeah, I think all thier phones are unlocked as long as you have GSM like you said or whatever on the SIM card.

Yes, all mircoSD are the same. There are a lot of brands that are good enough. Sandisks, Kingston, Lexar, PNY, and etc. They will work with your computer if you have the card reader because it uses an adapter when doing so.

hi. i have a question.
i can ask in here right?

for my new phone i bought i'm trying to download the software so i can upload music, etc. to my phone.
but when i install the thing loads and then this pops up:


can you help me?
i have Windows Vista.

Sorry, I can't do much here. I don't have Vista, so I wouldn't know. I would suggest that you go ask the people in the SE forum at howardforums.com or call up SE and ask them.

i wasn't sure if i was supposed to post here, or make a new thread. oh well..

looking for a new phone~
1) i'm not that big a fan of flips, but i'm pretty much ok with any type.
2) needs a decent quality camera, able to play mp3 sounds (ie. make mp3 clip a ringtone)
3) T-mobile
4) unlocked phone preferred
6) $250 is the max i want to go, but if higher no higher than $300 or my mom will have my head --''

recommendations? ^^

Please create a thread for that question, so others can chip in and help you. Also, so other people with similar specifications as you can look into the suggestions also.

I would recommend the Sony Ericsson W600 or K550 depending on if you want Cybershot or Walkman brand on your phone, but still, please make a thread for this. People don't always look here, so you'll get more suggestions if you make the thread.

for nostalgia's sake, here's the legacy cellphone FAQ from the old soompi tech section: http://www.soompi.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20084
it's fairly similar to this one, but the info is older.

Hi guys I have a question.

I have a family plan with Tmobiles. It's about to expire soon so I want to switch to prepaid since it's cheaper ^^

I'm just wondering if I have to buy their prepaid phones or not?
cuz I'd rather use my old phone lol. Do they have any card that we can buy and put it in?
And should I buy the prepaid plan at a retail place or at tmobiles store?
Thanks!

1) No, you don't have to buy their prepaid phones.
2) If you mean for minutes, then ya. You can check their site for how much and minutes there are.
3) I don't think you have to buy it. I don't know since I'm going to do the same thing later this year. Try calling customer service and ask them if you can change that line from postpaid to prepaid without buying anything else like the prepaid package. I'm pretty sure they can do that. Although I know for a fact that it can't be done from prepaid to postpaid.

What is:
Pop-Port™ connector
Bluetooth
Local / remote synchronization with PC using PC Suite ?
I have a Nokia 7373
I want to upload some pictures from my phone to my computer & add a few mp3s to my phone, but I have no clue how to.

For those terms you can just simply google/wikipedia it. Come on, it's not that hard to do.

For the sync terms: http://europe.nokia.com/A4153277

You can transfer via card reader, bluetooth(by using a bluetooth dongle), or data cable.


This is the last time I'm answering any questions not based on the FAQ, READ THE BLUE PARAGRAPH IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH!! There's a reason why it's blue. If you post questions not based on the FAQ, I'm not going to answer it.

erm...not sure this is the right place to ask this, but how risky is buying a phone from eBay? Has anyone here had any experience w/this? thanks~ :sweatingbullets:erm...not sure this is the right place to ask this, but how risky is buying a phone from eBay? Has anyone here had any experience w/this? thanks~

hey ive been staring at this page for like 2 hours wondering if i should post coz i dun ask silly questions >.<

im looking to buy a softbank 707sc and from all the site you provided, most of them says "sim free" what does that mean? does it mean that the phone does not take sim card? and with the whole gsm and cdma thing, with the australian vodafone site, it says band: TRI, what does that mean? or am i totally off >.<

i really like that phone but it is not available in australia so i want to make sure that it can be used here b4 i purchase it

thanks heapz in advance

I'm guessing sim free means no sim card inside. The phone does take SIM cards.

Tri-band means it uses 3 different types of bands. Usually it's GSM 900/1800/1900. The only bands that work in the U.S. is 850/1900. You can use the 707sc with the 1900 band.

Buying anything on ebay is risky. Whether it is a phone, car, book, games, you can get rip off by the seller. Look up on more about ebay frauds and what not and you'll find out more.

i need a phone!

1) slide OR candy bar.
2) no specific brand.
3) no specific features
4) at&t
5) i need an unlocked phone!
6) hmm.. under $200.

Thanks so much for your help!! I just have a few more questions.
I called cust service today and they said I could change it at the end of my plan (plan ends on Oct 23.) They told me I'd need to buy minutes and get a card. But I don't quite get it.
So do I get the card from them on that day or will they send it to me or? how am I going to use the phone without the card?

And I got my contract/ phone from a dealer before. It's not one of those tmobile phones. The thing is I don't know if it's unlocked or not?
Any help will be greatly appreciated! Thanks ^^

READ THE FAQ THOROUGHLY, make a new thread for this. This thread is only about the FAQ!!!!!!!!


If they mean a SIM card, then you can buy the prepaid kit that comes with a card and some minutes. They're all over the place from Walmart to Target to Best Buy.

I have question. I'm not sure if it belongs here, but here goes. My cellphone has Wi-Fi, and I was wondering if I need to pay to use it to use the internet? Sorry for this stupid question, but I need to know just incase.

Nope. You don't have to pay for wi-fi at all. It's just like wi-fi on a laptop.

QUESTIONS FOR THE ALL MIGHTLY CELL PHONE KING OF SOOMPI, DKYang!!!:
(btw, can i call you that?)

1) Flip, slider, or candy bar
I WANT THE LG PRADA!! I believe that i read somewhere that you said it's a great multimedia phone, not sure?
Anyway, I am debating over the PRADA or some SONY ERICSON phone i saw at sonystyle.

2) If you prefer a specific brand, like Nokia or Sony Ericsson, then please state that.
- I prefer SONY ERICSON over LG, just because the overall qualities..
but in this certain case, the PRADA definitely outweighs the SONY ERICSON (aka SE)
in looks and name. I loooooved the LG PRADA wayy before, but just never really kept up
with the news of it.. and i just watched Coffee Prince, and all i could think of was..
GOSH he has a SUPER SEXY/SLICK phone that reminds me of the LG PRADA!! and
well.. it is! and gosh.. it's exactly the type of phone i want... i want Iphone capabilities
but if a different container (i hate the look of the Iphone).. ANd the PRADA was the only
other alternative efor me... and goooodness i reallllly want that PRADA, but i think i might
be paying way too much for it. Am i?

3) List of features that are MOST important to you.
I have a long list:
i. Music - MOST IMPORTANT
ii. Pretty good quality camera - quite important
iii. Video - Important
iv. alarm - VERY IMPORTANT
v. Clear voices when talkign on the phone.

4) Your carrier/provider.
AT&T

5) Please state if you want an unlocked phone or a phone provided from the carrier.
I think i made a fool out of myself already.. but i want an unlocked phone.

6) BUDGET. Please state your budget because this is the main thing that'll help us narrow it down while searching.
$600 is fine with me. max is $750.

^
Well.....it would have been better if you made a thread about it or PM me about it, since you are specifically asking me. I'll answer this once through PM, so check your PM after reading this post.

When i look at some phone info, I see for the camera section it says VGA. What does that mean? is it lower than 2MP? =T

Camera-wise, yes. It's the lowest quality.

hi not sure if this is okay to ask here but i didnt want to start a whole new thing for this..lol

i have a LG Trax and ive been trying and trying to get an mp3 clip (appropriate size) from my computer to my phone by downloading the file from my phone's internet & email. i also have converted the mp3 to dm to try. however it is always "unacceptable content"
can someone PLEASE help me? why is it "unacceptable" and how can i make it acceptable? what format is needed?
also, does anyone know any site where i can download korean music ringtones?

thanks so much!

..........................................*sigh*

Check out howardforums.com for your first question and go through the first 5 pages of this forum, your second question has already been answered multiple times.


Now, please people. STOP asking questions that are not related to the FAQ!!!! I will not answer any questions that are not related to the FAQ, and if you are looking for other people to answer it besides me, make a thread. If you want to ask me, PM me. This is not a thread where you can bunch up all of your questions.

^i apologize
but thanks for answering.

waiit...
so if i bought an att phone...
i can call tmobile and they'll give me an unlocking code to unlock my phone???
I'm confused about that part..

No. You would have to call AT&T for the unlock code because it's their phone, not T-mobile's.

i want to put in other language like Korean into my phone. can i do it without going to the shop? do i need a software to do so?

would there be a charge???
liike they wouldn't ask funny questions like why you're trying to unlock it and stuff???

I am planning to get a new cell phone (Under $300)
Is there any out there (carrier is T-moblie) where it is within my pricing range that has Wi-Fi?
If yes, please tell me the brand/name of that cell phone.


++ Other than Ebay? Where else can I buy an iPhone Unlock?

does anyone know if the vibration on the lg voyager be lowered or something?
cus it buzzes so loudly and heavily @_@
and is there anyway to change the wallpaper from stretched to whatever desire for both screens? cus i know there used to be an option for other lg phones

please pm me!

Just to confirm what I'm reading.

If I go on Ebay and find a listing for a Rogers cellphone:


RIM Blackberry Pearl 8100 GSM UNLOCK 4 ROGERS AT&T + BT

Does that mean I can use it for a Fido Plan?

Like you had said above, I would have to call Rogers (since I'm in Canada) and ask them for the unlock code. And with that unlock code I would give it to Fido so I can work on a plan?

Is it bad if you charge your phone all the time? or do you let it run out of batteries first before charging it?

Okay so I want this phone from Verizon. What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of getting it?