Is there a GSM/World-Capable ANDROID phone?

[blackdognorth]

After a bunch of research I am close to getting a Droid Eris on V.
However, the potential for me to be abroad in the next year is increasing. Wanting an Android phone, is there ANY phone on Verizon which will run on the CDMA network in US but allow GSM 900/1800 abroad?

Alternately, is there anything Android which would provide the World/ GSM on AT&T?

 

[Mykpfsu]

They have Quad band phones which I believe are world phones. But neither of their Android phones are world phones. But both Storms, Touch pro 2, and the HTC Ozone are world phones (plus a couple others) I believe.

 

[blackdognorth]

Thanks. I had been looking at TP2 a while ago. Was at my V store last week and they didn't even have the TP2 on the shelf. Said that they had a few out back somewhere- completely non-interested in pushing that device.

 

[kyler13]

Thanks. I had been looking at TP2 a while ago. Was at my V store last week and they didn't even have the TP2 on the shelf. Said that they had a few out back somewhere- completely non-interested in pushing that device.

Someone commented in Oct/Nov that the TP2's life-cycle on Verizon would be short with limited quantities dwindling by the end of Q1 2010. I don't know if there was some implication that something new would be available early in Q2? TP3? Something else? Wish I could remember where I heard this. That might explain the low key interest in selling that particular phone.

 

[colnago]

After a bunch of research I am close to getting a Droid Eris on V.
However, the potential for me to be abroad in the next year is increasing. Wanting an Android phone, is there ANY phone on Verizon which will run on the CDMA network in US but allow GSM 900/1800 abroad?

Alternately, is there anything Android which would provide the World/ GSM on AT&T?

When I had the Droid, I asked about "international roaming", and the store rep mentioned something about getting me a "loaner phone"...something possibly with a SIM card (e.g. BBerry, TP2, etc).

FWIW, you could get a Milestone:

Buy a Motorola Milestone Android Smartphone (Unlocked, QWERTY), #MILESTONE - eXpansys Inc

However if you want 3G on AT&T, you may want to wait for the "Canadian" version. Current "Euro" versions will work on AT&T's Edge.

AT&T is supposed to have (5) Android phones coming by mid-year.

 

[JoeC]

Alternately, is there anything Android which would provide the World/ GSM on AT&T?

Sure. Any of the unlocked GSM phones, Nexus One, HTC Hero, HTC Magic (MyTouch), etc. will work as a world phone. Everything is quadband GSM these days.

Of course, 3G and data connections will vary by country, but voice + SMS will work just fine.

 

[blackdognorth]

Sure. Any of the unlocked GSM phones, Nexus One, HTC Hero, HTC Magic (MyTouch), etc. will work as a world phone. Everything is quadband GSM these days.

When you say "unlocked"- you mean "Purchased as an unlocked unit", correct?

Obviously I'd rather avoid a +- $600 cost purchasing unlocked.
What I WOULD like is contract with ability to go international with a sep SIM card. As far as V is concerned, they still have the monthly payment coming in regardless of whether I'm in US or Europe, and if I'm gone, on another SIM card, I'm not drawing any bandwidth.

So then, could I purchase, for instance, a Nexus One/HTC Passion when it hits Verizon, have Verizon unlock me, and drop in another SIM card for international?

Thanks

 

[traveler_]

G1 Android Phone unlocked $149 after $250 rebate & t-mobile tier-1 provider
Network HSPA/WCDMA: Europe - 2100 MHz US - 1700/2100 MHz

Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz


Magic "My Touch" Android Phone unlocked $149 after $250 rebate & t-mobile tier-1 provider
Network HSPA/WCDMA: Europe - 2100 MHz US - 1700/2100 MHz

Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz

Motorola Cliq Phone unlocked $149 after $250 rebate & t-mobile tier-1 provider
Network HSPA/WCDMA: Europe - 2100 MHz US - 1700/2100 MHz

Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz

T-MOBILE service featuring the exclusive WoW Mobile android applications!



Buy prepaid SIM cards when you arrive at your destination and change out as you move about from country to country in your travels.

 

[Philosopherott]

UI think that what was asked is the same thing i am wondering. is ther ea quadbandGSM/CDMA Android phone out there in teh wild. I too have verizon but would like to travel with it and no i don't want a BB. I don't know an incredible amount about phone programming so maybe it is just really hard to make a phone that has android and CDMA/GSM capabilities but that seem like it wou be nice to see. maybe a nexus one pro or the super-incredible?

 

[AirPirate]

I travel abroad about six months every year. I have an Eris, which does not work as a cell phone while traveling, but I take it with me and I would NOT buy a "world phone". Why? Because I love the Eris on Verizon (I'll love it mo better with 2.1!), and most countries have cheap GSM cell phones available for purchase. I use a cheap cell phone and a cheap sim card when I absolutely must have a cell phone with me. The rest of the time, I use Skype on my laptop to video chat with the family or the office back in the U.S.

Google voice lets me know when I have a voicemail from the US through the Eris wi-fi. I have found wi-fi availability is pretty common in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Another option I have not tried yet, would be Fring as a Skype client on the Eris. I'll try that on the next trip.

Bottom line: I wouldn't give up Verizon service or Android for the few times that I need a cell phone abroad.