[xohprecious]

Sorry if this seems like a "stupid" question.
If I buy a Korean cell phone (or one from any other country for that matter), will I be able to use here in America? Like, currently I have Cingular, so would I be able to use a phone that is not from this country or am I limited to just the phones that they sell? Can I insert my sim card into it or no?

[lovejoo]

^
you have to get your phone unlocked.
and yea u just put your sim card in.
lol.

[xohprecious]

Haha just making sure. I've had problems where my sim card wasn't able to work in my new phone because it didn't fit. I didn't want to buy an expensive phone and then go through that again. Thanks

[ehytee7]

yea.. just be sure that the phone that you're buying is open lined..i'm currently using my old phone overseas with t-mobile..even though they gave me a free phone when we applied for a plan.. the only weird thing is that i can't send outgoing text messages.. people wouldn't receive my messages but i can receive incoming ones.. but when i tried putting my sim in my brother's phone w/c is from overseas too..i could send outgoing messages on it.. so that's the only odd thing that i'm encountering, the rest is fine.

[erure]

You can do that with phones from China but you can't do that with a Korean cell phone because they're not GSM.

[lido0l_zen]

Whats about vietnam phones?
Im planning tooh buy one in vietnam and bring it backk to australia.
I wanna buy a vietnamese phones coz i heard they had better phones then australia and becuase vietnam closer tooh south korea and japan.

[DKYang]

There is no such thing as a stupid question.

You CANNOT use Korean phones in America. You can use GSM Samsung or LG phones. You can use, for example SKY or Anycall phones, in America, but that's only if you get the phones from the Korean stores (usually in K-town) and can use them on Verizon's network. Although some functions on the phone might be limited.

REMEMBER, only unlocked GSM phones can be used. It doesn't matter where you buy them as long as they have GSM 850 and 1900. Since you have Cingular, make sure it has GSM 850.

[tOasty]

So if I get a GSM Samsung (with 850 because I have Cingular as well) or LG phone, and have the phone I'm using now unlocked, I can just pop my SIM card into the new phone and use it here? :X

[lil_jojo]

You can do that with phones from China but you can't do that with a Korean cell phone because they're not GSM.

what does GSM mean? XD

[DKYang]

So if I get a GSM Samsung (with 850 because I have Cingular as well) or LG phone, and have the phone I'm using now unlocked, I can just pop my SIM card into the new phone and use it here? :X

Yes, but you will have to configure it so it is able to send text messages and etc. You'll be able to make calls with no problems.

what does GSM mean? XD

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_System..._Communications

[xmkaex]

at first i thought you couldn't get phones from other countries and use it over here, but some weeks ago i found out my sister's boyfriend had an anycall phone.

"O_O"« me

i guess i was wrong because anycall is a korean cellphone company. and what surprised me more was when i asked him where he bought it and he said from a store here in the u.s... i was thinking that he bought it online...

i guess i was wrong again

-.-"

[ilo7ese7en91]

If you buy a korean cell than you have to have verizon..

[suki_*]

If you want a korean phone is better to buy it in the states, that way, it probably unlocked for you.

Korea uses CDMA and not GSM so i wouldn't risk going through trouble buying it there and paying to get them to unlock it here. that's why in korea you can talk on the phone in the subway and here you can't

If you go to China or Hong Kong to buy GSM phone those are fine, prices are cheaper too, so just pop in your sim card and you're ready to use! all functions working too.

[jeahh]

so all GSM cellphones from China/HK are unlocked already?? will it work for canadian carriers + sim card or is it specifically only for carriers in the states?

[DKYang]

so all GSM cellphones from China/HK are unlocked already?? will it work for canadian carriers + sim card or is it specifically only for carriers in the states?

It'll work for any GSM carrier (around the world) as long as the phone use the same frequencies as your carrier. Although you might need to do some configuration, for example, in order for me to use T-zones on my SE I had to go to there site and do some stuff.

[keirasketch]

I've been using Sky phone for few months now.
It's great, nice camera blahblah
but the bad thing is
You can't see who texted you unless their carrier is Verizon also.
No names or phone numbers.
You have to tell your friends beforehand so they identify themselves in the text or guess who texted you;;
ALSO You need a special CD to upload pictures and you can't put MP3s in your phone unless you go to your dealer;

[lil_jojo]

but there aren`t any verizon here... so do u no if we can buy korean fone somewhere else..? XD

[DKYang]

but there aren`t any verizon here... so do u no if we can buy korean fone somewhere else..? XD

Then it won't work for you. I don't know which country you live in, but if they don't even have a CDMA provider, then there's no chance of getting a Korean phone and being able to use it.

[xh3ar7x]

haha, wowwww, this thread has been dead for a while. :x

well, anyways, personally i'm thinking of getting a korean phone from like ktown. does t-mobile support it?

[jN x3 sK]

yeah I also have t-mobile, I was wondering if anyone had some trustworthy where they sell foreign cell phones