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Buying unlocked cell phone: have any advice?

Madmic23

Madmic23

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 21, 2004
909
1,052
Hi all, I was wondering if anyone here has any experience with unlocked cell phones. I'm looking for a new phones since mine is crapping out on me. I'd like something with Bluetooth and mp3 functionality that will actually sync properly with my iMac. I also need the phone to work the Bell Mobility in Canada, since that's who I'm with.
I found this website below that sells unlocked phones, and they have a new version of the RAZR with iTunes support that doesn't seem to be aviable through any North American cell carriers. Think I could get this thing to work with Bell? With my iMac?
Thanks for the help guys, check out the link below for the phone details.

http://cellspeed.ca/PhoneDetails.aspx?prdid=103
 
it looks like you are doing the right thing going through a reseller and not ebay (I am assuming the place in the link is on the level, i am not familiar with it specifically).

Look on Amazon; they have phones for slightly cheaper unlocked. And you know they'll definitely give you what you need as far as support and exchanging if necessary.

Does your provider offer any upgrade paths? I know with Cingular in the states, if you go in, explain you have old technology and your contract is in X month but you've had the account for X years, you can pretty much get a new phone for cheaper without much hassle.
 
no contract

That's one of the other things, I don't have contract. I'm on prepaid. I thought about jumping over to a different carrier to get a different phone, but we don't have number portability in Canada yet, so I'd lose my number. Plus, I'd have to sign up for three years on the other carrier, and that's just something I don't want to do.
Does anyone have a bluetooth phone that works great with their Mac here? Any recomendations?
 
I recommend any recent Sony Ericsson model. It's a great GSM phone that has excellent integration on the Mac. I personally have a K700i (which randomly lost support with the 10.4.6 update, but was able to be hacked back in).

I'd recommend the K750i which gives you a 2MP camera and a memory slot or the W800i which I believe is the walkman model.

The unlocked models also have support to set MP3s as ringtones, as well.

Sony Ericssons generally have a great battery life and I have a great reception. The great thing about an unlocked phone is when you switch carriers, you can take your phone with you!
 
Hm...I just noticed that Bell Mobility in Canada does not utilize a GSM network, so no Sony Ericsson phone will work.

As long as the unlocked cell phone works with their network, which includes AMPS, CDMA, PTT, 1xRTT and, as of November 2005, EV-DO technology.

Look here for more info!

The RAZR you were talking about is a GSM phone, and so I do not think it will work with your carrier.
 
Well, that pretty much sums that up then. Thanks for the information, I may look at switching over to Rogers Wireless and pick up one of the Sony Ericson phones.
I hate how complicated all of this cell phone stuff can be. It's too bad you can't just walk into a store, buy and phone, and pair it with any network you like, but I guess the cell phone companies would hate that since they couldn't control the whole thing. On the flip side, I can see how them having more control can allow them to offer better service. Oh well, I'll keep looking around.
Thanks for the help everyone.
 
Madmic23 said:
I hate how complicated all of this cell phone stuff can be. It's too bad you can't just walk into a store, buy and phone, and pair it with any network you like, but I guess the cell phone companies would hate that since they couldn't control the whole thing. On the flip side, I can see how them having more control can allow them to offer better service. Oh well, I'll keep looking around.
Thanks for the help everyone.
Click to expand...

Yea, the cell stuff is annoying. On the upside, you'll have more luck with a gsm network. Anything with a SIM card you can slap into a different gsm phone and have all your #s, etc right away. Makes it way easier to jump phones when you get bored.
 
Yes the cell networks can be complicated, but you can do what you just said, walk in with any phone and move to any company as long as its a GSM phone and an GSM carrier. So, I would not even consider any carrier that is not GSM and any provider that is not GSM. That way you will have more freedom in choosing a phone and a plan.

Over here in the states I just bought a GSM phone and had T-moblie get me service for it. I bought the phone on eBay new and got it for half the price T-mobile was going to charge me. I also have a prepaid phone becuase I don't really want to be a slave to any cell phone carrier company. If I want to throw my phone out the window next week, T-mobile isn't going to try to keep charging me for the next one or two years.
 
myworldphone.com


Buy a Sony Ericsson. I have had the K750i, W800i, and T610 and loved all of them dearly. Best news is they work flawlessly with BluePhoneElite, iSync, Bluetooth File Exchange, and Salling Clicker.

The bluetooth implementation in Sony Ericsson phones is amazing. Everything about these phones is top notch. I would never trade ANY Sony Ericsson for a Motorola or LG. The navigation is so nice.

My one complaint is that the joystick gets flakey after a long time. Solution? W810i
 
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