International Android Phone?

[JoshuaB86]

Hi There, I recently terminated my monthly payment plan with verizon because I would be travelling for an extented period of time around the world.

I'm looking to get a phone that will run android but could simply use pre-paid sim cards from whichever country I travel to at the time. (I'm planning a LOT of travel in the near future). Is this even possible? Would I need to unlock a phone? Or is there one already that I can install Android on to do this?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

-Josh

 

[justjimjpc]

Hi There, I recently terminated my monthly payment plan with verizon because I would be travelling for an extented period of time around the world.

I'm looking to get a phone that will run android but could simply use pre-paid sim cards from whichever country I travel to at the time. (I'm planning a LOT of travel in the near future). Is this even possible? Would I need to unlock a phone? Or is there one already that I can install Android on to do this?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

-Josh

The G1 is pretty much a world-wide phone .... provided you get it Unlocked...

Here are the specs:

Network HSPA/WCDMA:

• Europe: 2100 MHz
• US:1700/2100 MHz
• Up to 7.2 Mbps down-link (HSDPA) and 2 Mbps up-link (HSUPA) speeds

Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE:

• 850/900/1800/1900 MHz

(Band frequency, HSUPA availability, and data speed are operator dependent.)

 

[JoshuaB86]

Will it even work in Countries like China, Burma, etc. Not just european countries? And is there a fairly good community for unlocking it. Are there disadvantages to unlocking it?

Thanks for the reply. Also, I'm sure I could just look it up, but since your here: It's got wi-fi, and a SD card slot correct?

-Josh

 

[justjimjpc]

Will it even work in Countries like China, Burma, etc. Not just european countries? And is there a fairly good community for unlocking it. Are there disadvantages to unlocking it?

Thanks for the reply. Also, I'm sure I could just look it up, but since your here: It's got wi-fi, and a SD card slot correct?

-Josh

Wifi yes, and SD Micro card ... comes with 1 GB, but can use upto 16 GB, possibly even 32 GB but I have not found one yet...

 

[Black93300ZX]

I don't think you'll get 3G in Asia, but you'll surely get voice and data capabilities on GPRS/EDGE, whichever they have. You could buy an unlocked G1 for $400, or consider something like the Agora Pro that I preordered:

http://www.kogan.com.au/shop/android-powered-kogan-agora-pro-mobile-phone/

As of today's currency conversion rates, that comes unlocked for $321.38 USD, including international shipping from Australia to anywhere in the world. Cheaper than the G1, but it's just up to your personal preference of which one you like more. IMO, if the 3G frequencies for AT&T aren't a priority, the G1 is the better phone.

 

[justjimjpc]

And you can Buy the G1 at Walmart for $149 and have it Unlocked ... the source for Unlock is on this forum somewhere ...

 

[justjimjpc]

Here is the Info on Unlock service ..:

if you have tmobile more than 90 days they will unlock it for you for free no questions asked or you can always go the iphone way and void warrenty for those that dont care http://www.intomobile.com/2008/12/0...-t-mobile-g1-into-an-android-dev-phone-1.html

 

[Black93300ZX]

And you can Buy the G1 at Walmart for $149 and have it Unlocked ... the source for Unlock is on this forum somewhere ...

You can buy it for $149 with a 2 year contract, if he only plans on buying pay-as-you-go SIM cards, he doesn't want that. You can buy the G1 locked from T-Mobile without contract for $368, or buy the dev phone for $400 unlocked. Who said he wants T-Mobile?

 

[justjimjpc]

You can buy it for $149 with a 2 year contract, if he only plans on buying pay-as-you-go SIM cards, he doesn't want that. You can buy the G1 locked from T-Mobile without contract for $368, or buy the dev phone for $400 unlocked. Who said he wants T-Mobile?

Point well taken ... you are correct ...