buying a phone from USA.

[waynegohl]

if you want to buy a phone from america to use in south africa what do you need to know about the phone. i assume it must be an unlocked phone but i have heard the cellphone shops talk about the number that is inside the phone under the battery and that only a certain number can be used in south africa.

 

[Just_Ice]

I think so long as it is quad/tri band and unlocked it should be ok.
But you would probably have to buy another charger in SA for it because of the different voltages and plug shapes.

 

[waynegohl]

ok thanks man.

 

[broken1]

Ye,

It has to be a quad band phone. Bascially, SA uses 900 and 1800 mhz frequencies for GSM. America uses 1900.

Basically, if it's the same as a phone you can get here (Make and Model number), then it should be fine.

Be carefull if you are looking at a 6280, and they are selling a 6281 (as an example).

 

[waynegohl]

i was looking at the second hand touch screen phones from over there but i am not sure if they will work here.

 

[bwana]

Make sure it's not network locked either.

 

[broken1]

What phone? Perhaps we can give more info if we have more detail?

 

[waynegohl]

there is nothing in particular i am just browsing but thanks anyway.

 

[Arthur]

Be careful.
A great majority of high-end smartphones in the USA are network locked.
Also, check the specific US model for quadband support.

 

[defcomk]

GSM ONLY

Just Remember S.A Uses GSM not Cdma
CDMA will be most likely be from sprint and cdma phone dont use simcards and some at&T.

Also if you dont get that specific Model in Europe it Definitly CDMA and Will not work and search it on www.gsmarena.com

 

[waynegohl]

thanks guys for the feedback.

 

[JustGadgets]

Quad band is best !

Make sure it has 900, 1800, 1900 and 800mhz frequencies !

 

[waynegohl]

what does the number on the phone under the battery mean? we had an american phone here and wanted to unlock it but we were unable too because of that number.

 

[bwana]

what does the number on the phone under the battery mean? we had an american phone here and wanted to unlock it but we were unable too because of that number.

My phone has an IMEI number under the battery.

 

[JustGadgets]

I was thinking the same, bwana, but not all phones have the IMEI number on the phone

 

[waynegohl]

the american phones start with a 1 so i think they network locked.

 

[JustGadgets]

What phone is it and what frequency does it support ?

 

[waynegohl]

we gave it back to our daughter when she went back to the states after a quick visit but i think it might also have been the frequency thing so maybe that number is based on the frequency and networks or something.

 

[JustGadgets]

Yeah could be.

 

[Velenoso]

Make sure it's not network locked either.

+1

I'm still unable to use my BlackBerry in South Africa due to this problem.