Cell phone questions... Cingular, LG, GSM

[Ikonomi]

Edit: After reading my post, it seems kind of incoherent. Let me break it down:

1. I am a Cingular customer and want a new phone.
2. My friend has a really cool LG phone, but I don't know what it is.
3. Is my friend's phone model compatible with Cingular's GSM, or is it CDMA?
4. Regarding unlocked phones, can I just buy the phone I want and have it activated with Cingular?

Or... an unlocked phone, or whatever? Sorry, I don't know a lot about buying cell phones.

I want to buy a new phone, but I don't think the one I want is offered by Cingular. It's an LG something; my friend and his brother have them. They're the kind with the blue-on-black display on the back of the clamshell. Very sleek.

Unfortunately, I don't know what model it is, and the LG website won't work properly for me, so I don't even know if it's a GSM phone. Does anyone know what model these are?

And if they are GSM, and if Cingular does not offer them, would it be a matter of just getting the phone and the proper SIM card? Again, sorry if that's a dumb question, but I guess that's what the cards are called. And I just read that some phones don't use that technology, so... I guess I just need guidance.

 

[deejayshakur]

you got the idea. after you activate your line and they give you whatever phone and sim card, you just take your sim out and swap it into the new phone.

not sure about the phone tho. try www.phonescoop.com

edit: i can link!

 

[isekii]

go GSM
there are so many phones on the market

Get an unlocked phone and you can use it with any service provider pending they use the same frequencies.

 

[Ikonomi]

Thanks for the link, Shakur. That site is cool.

I found the phone I was thinking of. It's an LG VX-6000, and it's CDMA. Too bad for me! Just skimming through the LG phones, though, I found the L1200, and at first glance it looks nice. I'll have to look into it, though -- since my first choice phone is unavailable, I pretty much have to start shopping from scratch again. The site says it's not released yet, but I wasn't ready to buy just yet anyway.

Can either of you guys give me pointers on where to buy an unlocked phone?

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: Ikonomi
Thanks for the link, Shakur. That site is cool.

I found the phone I was thinking of. It's an LG VX-6000, and it's CDMA. Too bad for me! Just skimming through the LG phones, though, I found the L1200, and at first glance it looks nice. I'll have to look into it, though -- since my first choice phone is unavailable, I pretty much have to start shopping from scratch again. The site says it's not released yet, but I wasn't ready to buy just yet anyway.

Can either of you guys give me pointers on where to buy an unlocked phone?

Best place to purchase an unlocked phone at a great price is Ebay.
Some list prices way below others, so it doesn't hurt to check it out every once inawhile.
I just purchased a Sony Z600 Z600

I paid 340 shipped A bit more than I expected but it's all good I guess.
It features both Bluetooth and irDa Swichable covers, Sweet camera, and sweet battery life.
I'm hoping the reception is as good as they say it is.


OH YEA.. JUST KNOW~!
that you have much more flexibility on which phone you can use if you're on the GSM market.
Frequencies are 850/900/1800/1900

Cingular/ATT triband phones are 850/1800/1900
T-Mobile triband phones are 900/1800/1900

There are quadband phones over seas which you can use.
Most if not all phones can be unlocked ot be used on different networks.
Just check out the phones on Just-Talk.com and you can look up those phones on ebay and see what they go for.

Have fun seaching

 

[Ikonomi]

Originally posted by: isekii

Originally posted by: Ikonomi
Thanks for the link, Shakur. That site is cool.

I found the phone I was thinking of. It's an LG VX-6000, and it's CDMA. Too bad for me! Just skimming through the LG phones, though, I found the L1200, and at first glance it looks nice. I'll have to look into it, though -- since my first choice phone is unavailable, I pretty much have to start shopping from scratch again. The site says it's not released yet, but I wasn't ready to buy just yet anyway.

Can either of you guys give me pointers on where to buy an unlocked phone?

Best place to purchase an unlocked phone at a great price is Ebay.
Some list prices way below others, so it doesn't hurt to check it out every once inawhile.
I just purchased a Sony Z600 Z600

I paid 340 shipped A bit more than I expected but it's all good I guess.
It features both Bluetooth and irDa Swichable covers, Sweet camera, and sweet battery life.
I'm hoping the reception is as good as they say it is.

Wow, that thing is hot! The Bluetooth is a nice feature. I'd love to have a wireless earpiece, so I can look like a psycho while talking to myself.

OH YEA.. JUST KNOW~!
that you have much more flexibility on which phone you can use if you're on the GSM market.
Frequencies are 850/900/1800/1900

Cingular/ATT triband phones are 850/1800/1900
T-Mobile triband phones are 900/1800/1900

There are quadband phones over seas which you can use.
Most if not all phones can be unlocked ot be used on different networks.
Just check out the phones on Just-Talk.com and you can look up those phones on ebay and see what they go for.

Have fun seaching

Thanks! I had no idea that Cingular and ATT triband used different frequencies than T-Mobile. I'd really love a quadband phone... I was going to buy one on my trip to Japan this summer, but that had to be postponed.

Thanks for the site... browsing that too. :Q

 

[deejayshakur]

Text who are uk based

i like Text for all my cell phone needs and questions. they have ppl there who sell phones directly too i think.

ebay...eh. for a big ticket item like a phone, i prefer to get it at a shop or dealer.

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: deejayshakur
Text who are uk based

i like Text for all my cell phone needs and questions. they have ppl there who sell phones directly too i think.

ebay...eh. for a big ticket item like a phone, i prefer to get it at a shop or dealer.

I buy the items from US based sellers with good feedback, so I'm not worried about getting scammed.

 

[deejayshakur]

Originally posted by: Ikonomi

Thanks! I had no idea that Cingular and ATT triband used different frequencies than T-Mobile. I'd really love a quadband phone... I was going to buy one on my trip to Japan this summer, but that had to be postponed.

Thanks for the site... browsing that too. :Q

yea it's fun

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: Ikonomi

Originally posted by: isekii

Originally posted by: Ikonomi
Thanks for the link, Shakur. That site is cool.

I found the phone I was thinking of. It's an LG VX-6000, and it's CDMA. Too bad for me! Just skimming through the LG phones, though, I found the L1200, and at first glance it looks nice. I'll have to look into it, though -- since my first choice phone is unavailable, I pretty much have to start shopping from scratch again. The site says it's not released yet, but I wasn't ready to buy just yet anyway.

Can either of you guys give me pointers on where to buy an unlocked phone?

Best place to purchase an unlocked phone at a great price is Ebay.
Some list prices way below others, so it doesn't hurt to check it out every once inawhile.
I just purchased a Sony Z600 Z600

I paid 340 shipped A bit more than I expected but it's all good I guess.
It features both Bluetooth and irDa Swichable covers, Sweet camera, and sweet battery life.
I'm hoping the reception is as good as they say it is.

Wow, that thing is hot! The Bluetooth is a nice feature. I'd love to have a wireless earpiece, so I can look like a psycho while talking to myself.

OH YEA.. JUST KNOW~!
that you have much more flexibility on which phone you can use if you're on the GSM market.
Frequencies are 850/900/1800/1900

Cingular/ATT triband phones are 850/1800/1900
T-Mobile triband phones are 900/1800/1900

There are quadband phones over seas which you can use.
Most if not all phones can be unlocked ot be used on different networks.
Just check out the phones on Just-Talk.com and you can look up those phones on ebay and see what they go for.

Have fun seaching

Thanks! I had no idea that Cingular and ATT triband used different frequencies than T-Mobile. I'd really love a quadband phone... I was going to buy one on my trip to Japan this summer, but that had to be postponed.

Thanks for the site... browsing that too. :Q

Ohh yea, when you consider a phone I think one of the things you should really consider is whether the Antenna is internal or external.
Meaning the antenna sticks out, or the Antenna isn't seen in the internal models.

Check out models like the Z600 and the Samsung E715. They have built in antennas. I currently have the Samsung E715 and the reception on it is awesome even with the internal antenna.

Problem with the external antenna is that those are broken off pretty easily ( atleast on the motorolas )

I had the biggest dilemma choosing a phone going from (Sharp most feature rich) (Panasonic GX70) similar features as Sony but external antenna and the Sony. And I decided to go with Sony

 

[littlezipp]

Originally posted by: deejayshakur

Originally posted by: Ikonomi

Thanks! I had no idea that Cingular and ATT triband used different frequencies than T-Mobile. I'd really love a quadband phone... I was going to buy one on my trip to Japan this summer, but that had to be postponed.

Thanks for the site... browsing that too. :Q

yea it's fun

Just to let you know, T-mobile (USA), At&t GSM and Cingular all use the same bands in the US for GSM.
These are 850mhz and 1900mhz. In Europe and Asia they use 900mhz and 1800mhz.
If you are looking for a quadband phone, you can get one of the newer Motorola flip phones, V300, V400, V500, V525 or V600. As far as a LG GSM phone, Cingular currently offers the 4050 and the 4010, stay away from these.
As far as your unlocked question, as long as you buy a GSM 850/1900mhz phone that is unlocked it will work for Cingular. There is no need to contact Cingular, just switch the chips.

 

[Ikonomi]

Originally posted by: littlezipp

Originally posted by: deejayshakur

Originally posted by: Ikonomi

Thanks! I had no idea that Cingular and ATT triband used different frequencies than T-Mobile. I'd really love a quadband phone... I was going to buy one on my trip to Japan this summer, but that had to be postponed.

Thanks for the site... browsing that too. :Q

yea it's fun

Just to let you know, T-mobile (USA), At&t GSM and Cingular all use the same bands in the US for GSM.
These are 850mhz and 1900mhz. In Europe and Asia they use 900mhz and 1800mhz.
If you are looking for a quadband phone, you can get one of the newer Motorola flip phones, V300, V400, V500, V525 or V600. As far as a LG GSM phone, Cingular currently offers the 4050 and the 4010, stay away from these.
As far as your unlocked question, as long as you buy a GSM 850/1900mhz phone that is unlocked it will work for Cingular. There is no need to contact Cingular, just switch the chips.

Hey, thanks for the tip. I'll check out the Motorolas. What exactly is bad with the LG 40x0s?

 

[littlezipp]

The LG4010 is pretty hit or miss as far as quality. Some are lemons, some are good.
The LG4050 is fine, but for the price there or better phones out there.
If you are looking for a small light phone, get something like a Sony T616/T610 or Siemens S56
If you want a world phone, get a Motorola V60i/V400.
Bluetooth, T616/T610, S56, V600.
Just decide what you need then go from there.

 

[Nocturnal]

Check if your friend's phone is capable of putting a SIM card in the back of the phone under the battery (usually). If it is, and it is NOT a Cingular based phone, you'll have to have it unlocked.

 

[littlezipp]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
Check if your friend's phone is capable of putting a SIM card in the back of the phone under the battery (usually). If it is, and it is NOT a Cingular based phone, you'll have to have it unlocked.

If it is the LG VX-6000 CDMA phone then there is no way that it will work on the Cingular network. No sim, no gsm, no workie.

 

[sparkyclarky]

I have the LG VX-6000. Just bought it on Monday. It's a swank little device. Needs some games though...and not one's that I have to download....

 

[UNCjigga]

I just joined Cingular...bought a Sony Ericsson T616 (over a year old now but loving it!) I'd say the best phone out for Cingular now is the Moto Z400, but if you want bluetooth I'd wait a few weeks for the T637 (its the replacement for my phone, MUCH better screen and keys, and its gotta cool carbon fiber look!)

This summer Sony Ericsson has some AWESOME phones coming out...I'm totally diggin the Z500a and the new K and S series.

 

[UNCjigga]

Originally posted by: deejayshakur

Originally posted by: Ikonomi

Thanks! I had no idea that Cingular and ATT triband used different frequencies than T-Mobile. I'd really love a quadband phone... I was going to buy one on my trip to Japan this summer, but that had to be postponed.

Thanks for the site... browsing that too. :Q

yea it's fun

LOL, got Bluetooth?

 

[geckojohn]

Go with Verizon and get the vx6000. Verizon pwns j00.

 

[deejayshakur]

Originally posted by: Jigga

Originally posted by: deejayshakur

Originally posted by: Ikonomi

Thanks! I had no idea that Cingular and ATT triband used different frequencies than T-Mobile. I'd really love a quadband phone... I was going to buy one on my trip to Japan this summer, but that had to be postponed.

Thanks for the site... browsing that too. :Q

yea it's fun

LOL, got Bluetooth?

still like mine better

 

[deejayshakur]

oops...

 

[Ikonomi]

Originally posted by: geckojohn
Go with Verizon and get the vx6000. Verizon pwns j00.

Well, we have a pretty nice Cingular family plan, so I'm going to stick with it.

 

[isekii]

sweet my Sony Z600 is here
it's a fatty of a phone, much bigger than the E715 but I think the features overall balance themselves out.

 

[Ikonomi]

Originally posted by: isekii
sweet my Sony Z600 is here
it's a fatty of a phone, much bigger than the E715 but I think the features overall balance themselves out.

Any pics of your new phone? What's your favorite feature?