Live in UK,wanting cheap phone for USA trip

[MrMister]

Hi I live in UK and am going to Disneyland in the summer. However I don't want to take my current phone, and want a cheap android phone that I can buy in UK, eBay probably, but work in USA.

I want it to have WiFi and GPS and be able to download apps. Is there any android apps that are for Disneyland, eg queue beater, maps guides for Disneyland parks etc?

Also what version can the recommended phones go up to? Officially or unofficially. I need it to be reliable as I'll be away from my computer for a few weeks too.

Can anyone recommend a phone please, and also is there anyway to buy a USA sim to work in it that has 3G data as roaming will be too expensive with my UK sim, and from where please.

Cheers

 

[MyNamesTooLong]

The LG optimus line(runs android 2.2), the moto charm(runs 2.1), the original moto cliq(easily updated to 2.1) Can all be had cheap if you go used

 

[MrMister]

The LG optimus line(runs android 2.2), the moto charm(runs 2.1), the original moto cliq(easily updated to 2.1) Can all be had cheap if you go used

Never heard of the Moto's you mention, are they different names in UK? Remember I'm from UK so will be buying here in UK to use in USA.

I thought Android 2.1 didn't have the android marketplace on though?

Thanks so far though

 

[lordofthereef]

just curious, why don't you want to take your current phone?

 

[MrMister]

just curious, why don't you want to take your current phone?

Shhh it's an iPhone 4

I don't want to be in the disney parks with it in case I drop it or get it wet etc, so would rather get a 2nd hand phone but one that is useful so fancy an android phone.

As I say I want to use it for maps, navigation and apps so android seems best and I wouldn't mind a try of android to. I probably pass the phone onto my daughter afterwards to

 

[coos lick]

Don't know about US phones, but for apps, you can browse and search what is available on the Market - https://market.android.com/

You don't need any itunes equivalent - just go and have a look.

 

[MrMister]

Don't know about US phones, but for apps, you can browse and search what is available on the Market - https://market.android.com/

You don't need any itunes equivalent - just go and have a look.

Brilliant thanks for that link, had a quick browse and there is Disneyland apps there for free to, just what I'm after.

Now just need to know about a phone! Loads on eBay but want with my post above details - oh and good battery life for an all day trip to Disneyland using GPS, apps etc

Cheers

 

[mrsbelpit]

If you want 3g speeds, you need to buy a phone with 850/1900mhz bands and get an AT&T Simcard. There must be some cheap options on Ebay uk that you could find. Plus, you can use the phone when you get home if you end up preferring Android to Iphone.

 

[lordofthereef]

If you have an iPhone 4 I actually recommend an iPhonr 3G or GS. They can be had for quite cheap and you can sync all of your current settings with your current phone.

All that said, I'd just as soon buy a dumb phone to have while at the parks and then just bring the iPhone with you everywhere else. That is what I tend to do. I got a dumb phone for $20 that I use whenever I go places I fear I may damage my smartphone.

 

[MrMister]

If you want 3g speeds, you need to buy a phone with 850/1900mhz bands and get an AT&T Simcard. There must be some cheap options on Ebay uk that you could find. Plus, you can use the phone when you get home if you end up preferring Android to Iphone.

Cheers, you think I can buy an AT&T sim only off eBay UK then? What about topping it up with credit? Won't using data cost a lot if it us a PAYG sim?

If you have an iPhone 4 I actually recommend an iPhonr 3G or GS. They can be had for quite cheap and you can sync all of your current settings with your current phone.

All that said, I'd just as soon buy a dumb phone to have while at the parks and then just bring the iPhone with you everywhere else. That is what I tend to do. I got a dumb phone for $20 that I use whenever I go places I fear I may damage my smartphone.

If I get a dumb phone though I won't be able to use the Disney apps, and then tbh I wont need a dumb phone at all, as I'd just leave my iPhone in the safe, and use that when back.

 

[mrsbelpit]

Cheers, you think I can buy an AT&T sim only off eBay UK then? What about topping it up with credit? Won't using data cost a lot if it us a PAYG sim?

sorry, what I meant is getting a phone from ebay uk that works on those bands. An AT&T sim card is 5.95 US from AT&T, and you could get an AT&T prepaid phone, text and data card at the airport when you get in. It may be worth it to call/email them or check their website to see the prices. Their prepaid cards are called AT&T Go Phone.

Cell Phones and Cell Phone Plans - Wireless from AT&T

 

[MrMister]

Ok so I won a Samsung Apollo i5801 phone, currently it's locked to Orange, can I unlock this myself with a PC, or do I need a code that I have to buy? Also once unlocked will it not only then work with other UK networks, but also with an AT&T aim card.

I think it comes with v2.1, can you get v2.2 on and have everything work, GPS, WiFi, BT etc? What benefits U's v2.2 over v1.1 anyway please?

Cheers

 

[qwer]

sorry, what I meant is getting a phone from ebay uk that works on those bands. An AT&T sim card is 5.95 US from AT&T, and you could get an AT&T prepaid phone, text and data card at the airport when you get in. It may be worth it to call/email them or check their website to see the prices. Their prepaid cards are called AT&T Go Phone.

Cell Phones and Cell Phone Plans - Wireless from AT&T

This interests me, too, because I might need something like this soon. Those plans are awfully expensive, at least the prepaid ones. Can't you get unlimited data plans on AT&T? 500mb seems to be the biggest they offer and even it is pretty expensive. 500mb won't take you too far. If I'm not mistaken, AT&T is the only carrier which works with European phones, right?

Edit:

Ok so I won a Samsung Apollo i5801 phone, currently it's locked to Orange, can I unlock this myself with a PC, or do I need a code that I have to buy? Also once unlocked will it not only then work with other UK networks, but also with an AT&T aim card.

I think it comes with v2.1, can you get v2.2 on and have everything work, GPS, WiFi, BT etc? What benefits U's v2.2 over v1.1 anyway please?

Cheers

2.2 brings a few improvements, but 2.1 is pretty good, too. With 2.2 you can use Flash (doesn't work on all phones, don't know about yours) and move certain apps to sd card. I don't think unrooted phones with 2.1 can be used for tethering, either. 2.2 is a bit smoother, too. I'm sure you'll do just fine with 2.1 if your phone can't be updated to the newer version of the OS, especially since it won't be your primary phone.

 

[MrMister]

Yeh I think v2.1 will be fine tbh, don't want to mess too much in case break it.

Still need to network unlock it though, preferably for free! Also can this i5801 be flashed to remove all orange branding?

 

[lordofthereef]

If I get a dumb phone though I won't be able to use the Disney apps, and then tbh I wont need a dumb phone at all, as I'd just leave my iPhone in the safe, and use that when back.

If you are getitng this just for the Disney apps, you are going to be sorely disappointed. All it is is maps and schedules, all of which are provided for you for free on a paper map. If you think it's worth it, by all means move forward, but I think you are going to be bummed that you dropped a couple hundred bucks to use the Disney apps.

 

[MrMister]

If you are getitng this just for the Disney apps, you are going to be sorely disappointed. All it is is maps and schedules, all of which are provided for you for free on a paper map. If you think it's worth it, by all means move forward, but I think you are going to be bummed that you dropped a couple hundred bucks to use the Disney apps.

I thought they were dynamic, updating apps though the Disney ones. eg for queue times I thought it was updated all the time?

The phone cost me

 

[MrMister]

Is the above not the case?

 

[MrMister]

Well still waiting for it to arrive but looks like there's an official update to v2.2 for UK orange i5801s to! Bonus I'll do the update before I network unlock.

Can someone confirm about the apps thoughnand help me some more on getting an AT&T sim with data for my travel please

Cheers

 

[coos lick]

If the phone is coming in a few days, just wait and try them yourself. This should give you a reasonable impression on how good they are. Seems to be a few free ones.
If you are really desperate - you can download and run a virtual Android phone on your PC

howtogeek.com/howto/21831/how-to-test-drive-google-android-on-your-pc-without-buying-a-phone/

I've not done it and it is probably a bit extreme!

One thing I would be really careful of though is battery life. If you are using it a lot, including the gps it can run down pretty fast. Not heard of that phone so don't know what is it like.
Think about an external battery pack - they can come with adapters which work with most phones - including the iPhone so it is something you can use afterwards. I've got one off Amazon which can charge my HTC from flat twice.

 

[MrMister]

It's arrived! Haven't had chance to plug it into Kies for the update yet though. Hopefully over the w/end will and then try to network unlock it myself.

 

[MrMister]

Ok updated to v2.2 ok, still attempting network unlock. So can anyone in US help me with a PAYG AT&T sim with data for my trip please.

Can someone in US confirm you can buy and from where, or even better get one from US to UK or buy in UK now.

Can someone in US tell me the tariffs for a sim only /PAYG with data please

Cheers

 

[mrsbelpit]

Well, the good news is that the phone you bought has the bands that TMobile USA's 2g network use, so if you don't mind slower data speeds you can probably buy a sim from TMo in the UK for use in the US. I would imagine that they get these requests often, you should give them a call.

 

[Roze]

Not sure if you looked at this site or something similar. It gives you information for paid/free wifi. http://www.mousesavers.com/otherwdw.html#internet

 

[Joe Dirt]

Simple moble here at wal-mart is a prepaid service get the sim and buy minutes. Or you can go to a tmo store here and get on their prepaid. I'm not sure what prepaid uses at&t networks.

 

[shawn1224]

Who goes to Disneyland anymore. That's like going to Six Flags.

Why not Disney World?