Need an unlocked / world phone recommendation.

[ponyo]

Another geek option but harder to find is the original 7" 3g AT&T Galaxy Tab. It has the universal 3g bands you need and can be easily hacked to use as a phone. I bought one back in March/April for $200 and I unlocked it and hacked it to enable the phone functionality. International Galaxy Tab all could be used as a phone but US carriers had Samsung locked down the option. It's simple to remove the restriction and get full phone functionality back.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ9RNhJAgjE

You can use bluetooth headset with the tablet if you want or use the tablet by itself. People will definitely look at you funny if they see you making a call with the tablet.

Actually I recommend Tab over Captivate for you since you can use the Tab as a tablet when you're not traveling outside the country. I use mine as a tablet and car computer/GPS.

 

[ponyo]

Oooo ooooo, Samsung Captivate Glide???

I don't know if the unlock app program will work with that phone. Locked phone does you no good.

If you're willing to pay $500+, you have more options. But why pay that much for something you'll use couple times.

 

[zinfamous]

Here you go

and it is fully functional on US ATT. I actually use this on T-Mobile, which limits it to 2G, but I don't give a fuck. (yes yes, I'll move on to some ATT carrier eventually)

 

[zinfamous]

From all my iPhone friends, AT&T is by far the worst in the Bay Area. I don't even like calling my AT&T friends because their call quality is always shitty and drops.

T-Mobile is spotty in this area, too...but it kinda depends on where you are in the bay area.

I know you like to get out a bit and take photos, no? ATT will actually work pretty well for you if you want to head to, say, Pt Reyes, but no dice for T-Mobile.

Here's what I do--I grabbed this exact phone that I linked (the international SGS2), though I paid about half that listed price (random credit card deal).

I slapped in my T-Mo SIM card and moved to a non-contract cheap monthly, no data service. WiFi is abundant wherever I am. The times when I have no wifi, and would actually need data and to use my phone--I wouldn't have T Mo service, anyway. so whatever.

ATT isn't great, but I will see the coverage is still more dependable than TMo.

 

[ImDonly1]

If you really want pentaband, then Nokia's are mostly your only choice except for the galaxy nexus. The Nokia's are running outdated symbian OS though (except for the N9 which is Meego, but $$$ and not supported really).

Try here and pick what bands you want
http://www.gsmarena.com/search.php3

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Seriously just get an SGS2 and be done with. Learn to migrate to non hardware keyboards. Trust me, the flagship phones will be touchscreen forever. Everyone's leaving keyboard phones. Even if there are some keyboard phones, if you continue to buy the US carrier versions, you will have less and less support.

Look at the Vibrant as someone pointed out. Development is DEAD. The Captivate could be the next to go. However the regular SGS1 is not gonna die before any of those other US-carrier-only phones go. If you get that Captivate Glide, I guarantee you the modding community will be tiny.

So while I could get the AT&T SGS2, I would rather get the regular SGS2.

Also, I've had AT&T for years. I lived in Berkeley, San Jose, and my gf lives in SF. I've been around to know AT&T sucks, but trust me we're not dropping calls left and right. I haven't dropped calls in months. Plus, dropped calls only usually happen when I'm driving on the road and you're passing tower to tower. I don't just drop calls randomly at home.

 

[poofyhairguy]

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-i9100-.../dp/B004QTBQ2C

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16875176186

 

[zinfamous]

Seriously just get an SGS2 and be done with. Learn to migrate to non hardware keyboards. Trust me, the flagship phones will be touchscreen forever. Everyone's leaving keyboard phones. Even if there are some keyboard phones, if you continue to buy the US carrier versions, you will have less and less support.

Look at the Vibrant as someone pointed out. Development is DEAD. The Captivate could be the next to go. However the regular SGS1 is not gonna die before any of those other US-carrier-only phones go. If you get that Captivate Glide, I guarantee you the modding community will be tiny.

So while I could get the AT&T SGS2, I would rather get the regular SGS2.

Also, I've had AT&T for years. I lived in Berkeley, San Jose, and my gf lives in SF. I've been around to know AT&T sucks, but trust me we're not dropping calls left and right. I haven't dropped calls in months. Plus, dropped calls only usually happen when I'm driving on the road and you're passing tower to tower. I don't just drop calls randomly at home.

I was one of the staunch physical keyboard people, but Swype has totally changed everything for me.

It not only makes typing on a screen useful, but also a bit quicker than a physical keyboard, with practice.

and auto-correct with Swype is uncannily good.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Another quick question: I don't have any experience with SIM cards. Where would I even go to buy a SIM card to be used in Mexico? Are there any brick and mortar stores that sell Mexico or Taiwan SIM cards? I'm in Silicon Valley.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Seriously just get an SGS2 and be done with. Learn to migrate to non hardware keyboards. Trust me, the flagship phones will be touchscreen forever. Everyone's leaving keyboard phones. Even if there are some keyboard phones, if you continue to buy the US carrier versions, you will have less and less support.

Look at the Vibrant as someone pointed out. Development is DEAD. The Captivate could be the next to go. However the regular SGS1 is not gonna die before any of those other US-carrier-only phones go. If you get that Captivate Glide, I guarantee you the modding community will be tiny.

So while I could get the AT&T SGS2, I would rather get the regular SGS2.

Also, I've had AT&T for years. I lived in Berkeley, San Jose, and my gf lives in SF. I've been around to know AT&T sucks, but trust me we're not dropping calls left and right. I haven't dropped calls in months. Plus, dropped calls only usually happen when I'm driving on the road and you're passing tower to tower. I don't just drop calls randomly at home.

It's just too expensive for a phone that I'll be using maybe a month out of the year. If it was a world phone, using both CDMA and GSM and I could use it on Sprint, then I would reconsider.

 

[Necrolezbeast]

Not sure about Mexico and Taiwan, but here in China (mainland) EVERY small store one the street will sell some disposable SIM cards and #'s that come preloaded with whatever you pay initially and can be recharged anywhere that recharges the specific carrier you choose. It's rather simple.. walk up buy a SIM card for 65 RMB which gets you 50 on the account and 15 for the SIM (can be had for more or less) then ya recharge it via the net, carrier stores, or small shops that ya can anywhere around town.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Plan B would be to buy a dumb phone unlocked and just use it for voice & text.

For the $ you're talking about, get a dumb phone unlocked, and score a kindle Fire or nook tablet to jump on WiFi with, and you'll have the tablet for use when you come back. Or use your current phone to jump on WiFi with.

 

[ImDonly1]

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-i9100-.../dp/B004QTBQ2C

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16875176186

LOL at Galaxy S for $389. I bought my Fascinate on craigslist for $100.

 

[ElFenix]

LOL at Galaxy S for $389. I bought my Fascinate on craigslist for $100.

unsubsidized phone prices are ridiculous. the patents on the radio don't cost the $200 difference between that and a galaxy play.


anyway, i bought a captivate for use in europe and it worked great. rooted and unlocked without much effort. the veri, er, vodafone sales guy wasn't sure it'd work but it did.

 

[zinfamous]

It's just too expensive for a phone that I'll be using maybe a month out of the year. If it was a world phone, using both CDMA and GSM and I could use it on Sprint, then I would reconsider.

but why Sprint? the network sucks.

SGS2 can be used here and overseas. that's exactly why we're recommending it to you.

plus, off contract, you get access to much cheaper pre-pay or pay-as-you-go options.

 

[ImDonly1]

The buy phone used and resell it for as much as you bought it for. Shouldn't be hard selling it on xda-devs or craigslist.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Seriously. Sprint + world phone just does not exist. Even Verizon + World phone isn't true world phone. The 850/1900 bands are locked out.

CDMA + GSM world phone is just not truly world.

Either the GSM bands are all there, in which case Verizon and Sprint will never let you activate that phone, or you get a US Carrier CDMA phone in which they neuter the bands. It's not THAT bad in that 2100 is used in Euro/Asia so you can still get most of the world. You just can't use it in Canada or Latin America, Australia, and Thailand. Those are the 850/1900 countries I'm aware of.