Question about cell phones and sim cards...

[Xpred]

I just bought a new sim card, and my old cell phone was lost. I was wondering, will any cell phone work? I plan to see if there are any good deals on cell phones online because they seem to be less expensive, but I was told that some carriers require you to have the carrier + brand name cell phone... Like ones designed for T-Mobile, Verizon, Cingular, etc... I, myself, have T-Mobile service. Can you pretty much use any phone and put in a sim card, and it should work?

 

[EvilYoda]

As long as the phone isn't sim-locked to a particular carrier, then it'll work.

 

[Xpred]

How do you know if phones are sim-locked?

 

[InlineFour]

You'll need a GSM phone. T-Mobile and Cingular are the only GSM networks in the US as far as I know. You'll need a T-Mobile branded GSM phone or an unlocked phone. An unlocked phone means you can use on any GSM network.

 

[MazerRackham]

Sprint and Verizon phones are CDMA, and DO NOT use SIM cards.

SIM cards are for use with GSM phones, but not all GSM phones operate on the same frequencies. You'd be safest going for a T-Mobile phone for your T-MObile account and SIM card, etc.

Also, you shouldn't have to buy any SIM cards, they should come free with your account. How much did you pay for a SIM card?

 

[InlineFour]

Originally posted by: Xpred
How do you know if phones are sim-locked?

They're branded with T-Mobile or Cingular logos, unless the user already unlocked the phone. The seller will usually tell you if the phone is locked or unlocked.

 

[InlineFour]

Originally posted by: Xpred
How do you know if phones are sim-locked?

They're branded with T-Mobile or Cingular logos, unless the user already unlocked the phone. The seller will usually tell you if the phone is locked or unlocked.

 

[Xpred]

I had to pay $20 to get a NEW sim card because I lost my cell phone with the old sim card travelling overseas... so the old one will no longer work, which is exactly what I want.