Could someone be so kind as to explain cell phones to me?

[shilala]

I have a nasty old Verizon vx3100 that is just about at the end of it's rope.
I was shopping a new phone and realized that I still don't know shyt about how they work.

My service is through Verizon Wireless in Pennsylvania.
My hope was to get a Razr V3 or something else comparable (little, decent pics, etc.).

What is a sim card?
What's it for?
What's the signifigance of an unlocked phone?

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: shilala
What is a sim card?
What's it for?
What's the signifigance of an unlocked phone?

If you're sure you're going with verizon, none of those questions matter.

 

[gigapet]

hmmmphhhh thats wierd google seems to be working fine for me.....

 

[Sphexi]

Originally posted by: shilala
I have a nasty old Verizon vx3100 that is just about at the end of it's rope.
I was shopping a new phone and realized that I still don't know shyt about how they work.

My service is through Verizon Wireless in Pennsylvania.
My hope was to get a Razr V3 or something else comparable (little, decent pics, etc.).

What is a sim card?
What's it for?
What's the signifigance of an unlocked phone?

Verizon uses what's called CDMA technology, which is totally different from what the Razr runs on (GSM). Cingular/T-Mobile/ATT use GSM, you'd have to be signed up with one of them to buy it. SIM cards are basically little memory cards that have your subscription information on them, put it into a phone and the phone works, switch it to another phone and suddenly that phone has your number and all that. Very handy for switching phones. Unlocked phones can work on any compatible network, while most companies lock them to their own network, so you couldn't take a Cingular phone to T-Mobile, it'd have to be "unlocked" first (hacked kind of).

If you plan on sticking with Verizon, simply look at the phones on their site. The Razr is a decent phone, nothing I'd be overly excited about though. Definitely go with an EVDO compatible phone, possibly the Motorola E815. Excellent phone, kind of an upgrade from the V710 from earlier this year, but with EVDO support and all the bugs worked out. Also check out the LG 8100, or the Samsung a950, both excellent phones, both also support EVDO and all the new features.

 

[CVSiN]

Originally posted by: loup garou

Originally posted by: shilala
What is a sim card?
What's it for?
What's the signifigance of an unlocked phone?

If you're sure you're going with verizon, none of those questions matter.

exactly

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: CVSiN

Originally posted by: loup garou

Originally posted by: shilala
What is a sim card?
What's it for?
What's the signifigance of an unlocked phone?

If you're sure you're going with verizon, none of those questions matter.

exactly

yup, that only applies to GSM services, of which verizon is not.

 

[shilala]

Originally posted by: Sphexi

Originally posted by: shilala
I have a nasty old Verizon vx3100 that is just about at the end of it's rope.
I was shopping a new phone and realized that I still don't know shyt about how they work.

My service is through Verizon Wireless in Pennsylvania.
My hope was to get a Razr V3 or something else comparable (little, decent pics, etc.).

What is a sim card?
What's it for?
What's the signifigance of an unlocked phone?

Verizon uses what's called CDMA technology, which is totally different from what the Razr runs on (GSM). Cingular/T-Mobile/ATT use GSM, you'd have to be signed up with one of them to buy it. SIM cards are basically little memory cards that have your subscription information on them, put it into a phone and the phone works, switch it to another phone and suddenly that phone has your number and all that. Very handy for switching phones. Unlocked phones can work on any compatible network, while most companies lock them to their own network, so you couldn't take a Cingular phone to T-Mobile, it'd have to be "unlocked" first (hacked kind of).

If you plan on sticking with Verizon, simply look at the phones on their site. The Razr is a decent phone, nothing I'd be overly excited about though. Definitely go with an EVDO compatible phone, possibly the Motorola E815. Excellent phone, kind of an upgrade from the V710 from earlier this year, but with EVDO support and all the bugs worked out. Also check out the LG 8100, or the Samsung a950, both excellent phones, both also support EVDO and all the new features.

That's good stuff, Sphexi. Thanks!!!
I don't know what's available in my area aside from Verizon and CellOne. CellOne's coverage is awful, Verizon is expensive but decent.
The sim card feature would be nice for switching from a "work phone" to a "normal human" phone.
I get filthy at work and my phone really suffers. Having two phones would be awesome.
I don't believe I have a provider that has sim/gsm available to use, so it's a non-issue unless I buy a plan somewhere else. (I used to have at&t when I bought a plan in Johnstown while I was working away from home).

I'm going to take a look at the phones you mentioned.
The only reason I liked the razr was because it was small and cool.

Thanks again for all the help!!!

EDIT:
It just occurred to me that I didn't have enough information to assume that sim cards aren't available with cdma network phones.
Is that so?

One more question, what's evdo support?

 

[Wonderful Pork]

Originally posted by: shilala

Originally posted by: Sphexi

Originally posted by: shilala
I have a nasty old Verizon vx3100 that is just about at the end of it's rope.
I was shopping a new phone and realized that I still don't know shyt about how they work.

My service is through Verizon Wireless in Pennsylvania.
My hope was to get a Razr V3 or something else comparable (little, decent pics, etc.).

What is a sim card?
What's it for?
What's the signifigance of an unlocked phone?

Verizon uses what's called CDMA technology, which is totally different from what the Razr runs on (GSM). Cingular/T-Mobile/ATT use GSM, you'd have to be signed up with one of them to buy it. SIM cards are basically little memory cards that have your subscription information on them, put it into a phone and the phone works, switch it to another phone and suddenly that phone has your number and all that. Very handy for switching phones. Unlocked phones can work on any compatible network, while most companies lock them to their own network, so you couldn't take a Cingular phone to T-Mobile, it'd have to be "unlocked" first (hacked kind of).

If you plan on sticking with Verizon, simply look at the phones on their site. The Razr is a decent phone, nothing I'd be overly excited about though. Definitely go with an EVDO compatible phone, possibly the Motorola E815. Excellent phone, kind of an upgrade from the V710 from earlier this year, but with EVDO support and all the bugs worked out. Also check out the LG 8100, or the Samsung a950, both excellent phones, both also support EVDO and all the new features.

That's good stuff, Sphexi. Thanks!!!
I don't know what's available in my area aside from Verizon and CellOne. CellOne's coverage is awful, Verizon is expensive but decent.
The sim card feature would be nice for switching from a "work phone" to a "normal human" phone.
I get filthy at work and my phone really suffers. Having two phones would be awesome.
I don't believe I have a provider that has sim/gsm available to use, so it's a non-issue unless I buy a plan somewhere else. (I used to have at&t when I bought a plan in Johnstown while I was working away from home).

I'm going to take a look at the phones you mentioned.
The only reason I liked the razr was because it was small and cool.

Thanks again for all the help!!!

EDIT:
It just occurred to me that I didn't have enough information to assume that sim cards aren't available with cdma network phones.
Is that so?

One more question, what's evdo support?

No, CDMA phones do not use SIM cards. It is possible to switch between them, but it would be a total PITA and not really worth it to do daily/weekly.

EVDO is Evolution Data Only, basically WiFi on your phone without being in a hotspot.