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Hi,
I don't know where to obtain this information, so maybe you can help me
I just arrive in Canada (ottawa) for at least one year. I would like to take a smartphone but the price here is expensive ! My old HTC magic is not compatible with most provider (i try some providers : some ask for a canadian ID and i just have a visa, and other told me the frequency will not work on my phone...)
Well, maybe i could take a 3-years contract with telus for exemple as they don't ask for canadian ID card. And if i return to france after one year, just close my bank account in canada and don't pay for breaking the contract ... ? Do i risk something ? i want to be able to return to canada in the futur lol
Thank you
frygost said:
Hi,
I don't know where to obtain this information, so maybe you can help me
I just arrive in Canada (ottawa) for at least one year. I would like to take a smartphone but the price here is expensive ! My old HTC magic is not compatible with most provider (i try some providers : some ask for a canadian ID and i just have a visa, and other told me the frequency will not work on my phone...)
Well, maybe i could take a 3-years contract with telus for exemple as they don't ask for canadian ID card. And if i return to france after one year, just close my bank account in canada and don't pay for breaking the contract ... ? Do i risk something ? i want to be able to return to canada in the futur lol
Thank you
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Without credit history, who on earth is going to give you a phone up-front? I reckon they would want ID, or a large deposit... And if you break the contract, you may find that if you return to Canada, no cellphone provider would serve you, as they might make a credit report against you...
Not worth it, and I reckon you will find nobody will give a 3 year contract without full Canadian ID, or a large deposit to cover phone, and much of the contract payments...
Very dangerous. If they sue you, you burn in hell and can not enter the land again.
Same for US parking tickets, unfortunately
TAMHAN said:
Same for US parking tickets, unfortunately
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Lol speaking of experience?
Anyway, have you checked out prepaid? Might not be the ideal option, but might be your only one if you can't get a contract. Given that any of the carriers have matching frequencies with your Magic of course.
Sent from my HTC Legend using XDA Premium App
Mr recommendation is to buy a phone you want to use for a long time. Get the contract and when you return home cancel the contract pay the ETF and unlock the phone for use at home
Go to a wind store or mobilicity. You pay more upfront for the phone but there is no contracts involved and you can cancel whenever you want.
Sent from my LG-C900 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
What about just buying a phone outright and not signing a contract. Is that allowed by the Canadian carriers? If so that would be the best route I would imagine.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App
Just think for a minute, you'd rather put yourself in a position where the law is after you over a fricking phone? Am I the only person to see how stupid this is?
In france, you can break a contract freely if you give a proof that you leave the country. I have friends who move to england, and SFR just ask for a working proof and cancel the contract.
Thank everybody for your answer, wind mobile could be nice, but the coverage zone is very small and i would like to use internet during my travel all around the canada. I will check for mobilicity ...
Either go to the provider and explain your situation to them, or just buy a second hand device.
They will either find you in France or they will not allow you to go back to Canada in future, or you'll get a really bad credit history, or something nasty I can't think of at the moment. Not worth it.
They won't give you a phone on a 3 year contract anyway in your situation.
Hey I live in Canada as well, and yes I know the plans/contracts are not the best. You could try Kijiji.ca to find a phone, that you would like. Prices vary.
Hey I am new here
I am flying to the UK (London) in the end of May, and I wanted to ask if someone who lives in London knows any store there that sells Sim-Free HTC Phones? Basically I am asking that because I want to buy the HTC Sensation and I have only 4 days in London so I want to be prepared.
If there are several stores, I would like to hear all of them if you can or the cheapest+most reliable one (as much as possible ofcourse).
You'll have to buy if from vodophone unlocked
Sure it is possible?
And thanks for the comment.
I am not sure Vodafone sell unlocked phones. Your best bet will be any Carphone Warehouse store. All their phones are unlocked. If you ask to buy PAYG, you will save about £50 on the sim-free price but the good thing is you get the same phone you would have got if you bought it sim-free + you get a number and £10 or £20 credit to use while you are in London.
First, Thanks!
Second, I searched for the store near my Hotel and I found one really nearby so now I want to ask another question, if you have experience buying phones from them or heard something, Do they overprice? I mean here where I live I can go to the store and the price will be 800 pound and in Amazon it will be 600 pound for example.. not that huge differences but I hope you got my point.
Third, Do they get the last phones usually after they come out? because if it's said that the Sensation will come out on mid May, and I am coming on end May, I hope they'll have it by then.
Carphone Warehouse!
As far as I'm aware, Vodafone have it exclusively for May then other retailers will start selling in June, so you may be out of luck I'm afraid
Omicron90 said:
As far as I'm aware, Vodafone have it exclusively for May then other retailers will start selling in June, so you may be out of luck I'm afraid
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oh me I hope not ><
But thanks for the info!
Hey all, sorry this is a noob question, but I am a U.S. soldier who is to be stationed in Germany for 3 years on Thursday. Originally I was going to wait until I got over there to get a phone, but after seeing the prices compared to what I can get here I decided against it, and my buddy told me about buying phones here in the U.S. and unlocking them to put on German networks.
Well my question is if I buy the HTC Inspire 4G from AT&T without a plan, how would I go about getting the Unlock code (cheapest way possible) and would it be 100% certain to work over there as it's quadband and takes SIM cards?
yes it will work in germany. just call ATT and tell them you are going overseas for a while, and you need the unlock code. if you have been with ATT longer than 3 months, and dont have late payments, they will provide the unlock code to you.
when you get over there, just pop in your local sim card. the phone will only work with GSM 2G for voice and data, no 3G, but do you really care either way?
Being a soldier on a deployment will make them much more receptive to giving the unlock code, too. But yes, as the previous poster said, EDGE only. It will be worth the difference IMHO to get a local european phone so you can have 3G access. The good thing is any country will work, find one with lower taxes (especially VAT) and that could very much help, if it is within reason to go to one.
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App
Hello there, I'm from Indonesia. This summer holiday (Jun-Jul mid) I'll have a trip to the US for the first time and beside that I want to buy a new smart phone.
1. I'm 15 yo and I won't occupied by my parents when in the trip, but I'm given a additional visa credit card by my parent which is issued in my country. Question is, can I use that CC to buy the phone without any additional info needed or what do i need to have/give any additional info/sth like that?
2. What retail stores are recommended there? The price, the service, the easiness for me? As I know there are so many retail stores in US. I'll be in major cities though, like LA, LV, Boston, NYC
3. Any recommended Android phone to buy? Actually I'm aiming for the SGS2 but looks like it won't have come to US when I'm there.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Flyer888 said:
Hello there, I'm from Indonesia. This summer holiday (Jun-Jul mid) I'll have a trip to the US for the first time and beside that I want to buy a new smart phone.
1. I'm 15 yo and I won't occupied by my parents when in the trip, but I'm given a additional visa credit card by my parent which is issued in my country. Question is, can I use that CC to buy the phone without any additional info needed or what do i need to have/give any additional info/sth like that?
2. What retail stores are recommended there? The price, the service, the easiness for me? As I know there are so many retail stores in US. I'll be in major cities though, like LA, LV, Boston, NYC
3. Any recommended Android phone to buy? Actually I'm aiming for the SGS2 but looks like it won't have come to US when I'm there.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
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Here are some quick thoughts. In the USA, it is often cheaper to buy over the web. They will want to ship to the billing address of the cc to prevent fraud. This will prevent you from using your credit card with most mail order vendors. Is the CC in your parents name or yours? If it is in your name, you should have no problem buying at a retail store as long as you have your passport for identification. Will you be staying with relatives? Could they run the purchase through their CC (reimburse in cash via ATM)?
Most of the carriers in the USA use a different technology than the rest of the world. You need a GSM phone. AT&T and T-Mobile both use GSM but use different frequencies for voice and data than most/all of Asia. So you are looking for a quad band phone that supports the frequency used in Indonesia. 2100? If you bought a prepaid T-mobile phone they would unlock it after 60 days and $10 in your account. (Or pay someone on ebay for the unlock code $10) T-mobile has some good prices but they only have a few prepaid android phones. LG Optimus T/Optimus One ($120) and the Samsung Galaxy S ($350) https://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/prepaid.aspx
You can also buy an unlocked phone that has been imported into the USA. If you buy a quad band phone, you could use it in the usa and in Indonesia. One of the major problems is that the vendors are almost all mail-order firms. If you are dealing with family, you could have them order it before you arrived so that you could have it right away. The Samsung Galaxy S2 looks like it is available via mail order for around $700-$800 USD with NO Warranty.
Explore3 said:
Here are some quick thoughts. In the USA, it is often cheaper to buy over the web. They will want to ship to the billing address of the cc to prevent fraud. This will prevent you from using your credit card with most mail order vendors. Is the CC in your parents name or yours? If it is in your name, you should have no problem buying at a retail store as long as you have your passport for identification. Will you be staying with relatives? Could they run the purchase through their CC (reimburse in cash via ATM)?
Most of the carriers in the USA use a different technology than the rest of the world. You need a GSM phone. AT&T and T-Mobile both use GSM but use different frequencies for voice and data than most/all of Asia. So you are looking for a quad band phone that supports the frequency used in Indonesia. 2100? If you bought a prepaid T-mobile phone they would unlock it after 60 days and $10 in your account. (Or pay someone on ebay for the unlock code $10) T-mobile has some good prices but they only have a few prepaid android phones. LG Optimus T/Optimus One ($120) and the Samsung Galaxy S ($350)
You can also buy an unlocked phone that has been imported into the USA. If you buy a quad band phone, you could use it in the usa and in Indonesia. One of the major problems is that the vendors are almost all mail-order firms. If you are dealing with family, you could have them order it before you arrived so that you could have it right away. The Samsung Galaxy S2 looks like it is available via mail order for around $700-$800 USD with NO Warranty.
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Unfortunately I don't have any relative there. The cc is in my name, so no problem right?
Because of that I'm looking for concrete stores maybe such as BestBuy, Walmart or anything else but I don't know which one of them gives me the best one?
Oh, so altough I buy in stores like I said before, instead of in the carrier's itself store am I still forced to buy the "post-paid system?"
As I know they're able to give it away off-contract but with higher price and locked, right?
I think most of the new smartphones are using quad band so that's not a problem... Because I have a friend here using a Captivate and it is fully functional after he unlocked it to be able to use the SIM cards issued here.
Thanks.
Flyer888 said:
I think most of the new smartphones are using quad band so that's not a problem... Because I have a friend here using a Captivate and it is fully functional after he unlocked it to be able to use the SIM cards issued here.
Thanks.
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I will agree that most of the new smartphones sold outside the USA are quadband. Probably most smartphones sold by T-mobile and AT&T or are unlocked will be quadband and most likely support 3g frequency in your country. If the phone is associated with ANY other carrier, 90% of the time it will not support GSM.
PS I never bought from them but if you are in Chicago you could check out http://welectronics.com/gsm/Samsung/SAMSUNG_I9100-GALAXY-S-II-16GB.HTML In NYC - http://www.jr.com/category/office/cellular-phones/n/4294528936-4294605649/sort-by-salePrice-1/ One of the few places that you might be able to haggle on the price (Source: web posting).
I live in Lebanon, Middle East. My friend is currently in NY for few days, so can't have to wait for the phone to arrive in few weeks from Google. How can I basically purchase the phone unlocked from a retailer on the go? Can I buy it from Sprint or T-Mobil being unlocked and Sim Free? If not, what are the other ways? Please anyone? Only few days left for his arrival LOL !
its not in any other retailer at this time
Ensifolk said:
I live in Lebanon, Middle East. My friend is currently in NY for few days, so can't have to wait for the phone to arrive in few weeks from Google. How can I basically purchase the phone unlocked from a retailer on the go? Can I buy it from Sprint or T-Mobil being unlocked and Sim Free? If not, what are the other ways? Please anyone? Only few days left for his arrival LOL !
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The ones sold in the US are North America version, especially the LTE bands and isn't 100% compatible with the ones sold in other regions - like Asia & Europe as those bands (radios) are tuned differently.
My suggestions is that you find and ask ANOTHER friend going somewhere else in the Euro zone to buy one for you, assuming that it is not available or for sale at your location or home country.
As for trying to buy it in retail store, Sprint is supposed to have them in their local USA stores tomorrow (or later) but there could be a waiting list and you will be paying an extra surcharge for it + taxes - there's another thread about the higher prices (around $450 USD is what I recalled vs. $350 in Google Play Store) - that is if they will sell it without contract or activation.
No news yet as to whether T-Mobile USA will be selling them directly, most likely - later on, it will for a premium surcharge, similar to Sprint prices - without contract.
Nexus 5 are shipped from the LG unlocked - carriers do NOT lockup the Sim functions for their network only.
Letitride said:
The ones sold in the US are North America version, especially the LTE bands and isn't 100% compatible with the ones sold in other regions - like Asia & Europe as those bands (radios) are tuned differently.
My suggestions is that you find and ask ANOTHER friend going somewhere else in the Euro zone to buy one for you, assuming that it is not available or for sale at your location or home country.
As for trying to buy it in retail store, Sprint is supposed to have them in their local USA stores tomorrow (or later) but there could be a waiting list and you will be paying an extra surcharge for it + taxes - there's another thread about the higher prices (around $450 USD is what I recalled vs. $350 in Google Play Store) - that is if they will sell it without contract or activation.
No news yet as to whether T-Mobile USA will be selling them directly, most likely - later on, it will for a premium surcharge, similar to Sprint prices - without contract.
Nexus 5 are shipped from the LG unlocked - carriers do NOT lockup the Sim functions for their network only.
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Thanks for your valuable reply, really saves a ton of asking and research. To be honest I am willing to pay the extra charge to get my Nexus 5, since later on, when the phone arrives to my Country, it's going to match this exact price if not even more, which is like 600 USD for the 16 gb.
The only gamble is, if it's gonna work in my Country or not. My friend is going to buy two unlocked iPhones from NY already, is it almost the same gamble case? of it working in Asian/Middle East region or not ? ( Btw he works at one of the two carriers in Lebanon )
Ensifolk said:
Thanks for your valuable reply, really saves a ton of asking and research. To be honest I am willing to pay the extra charge to get my Nexus 5, since later on, when the phone arrives to my Country, it's going to match this exact price if not even more, which is like 600 USD for the 16 gb.
The only gamble is, if it's gonna work in my Country or not. My friend is going to buy two unlocked iPhones from NY already, is it almost the same gamble case? of it working in Asian/Middle East region or not ? ( Btw he works at one of the two carriers in Lebanon )
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It is possible that they will have it at retailers tomorrow. Sprint, Best Buy and RadioShack would be good places for your friend to check. The phone will work, aside from possibly LTE. It is also available for preorder on the Best Buy website and it ships tomorrow.
lowandbehold said:
It is possible that they will have it at retailers tomorrow. Sprint, Best Buy and RadioShack would be good places for your friend to check. The phone will work, aside from possibly LTE. It is also available for preorder on the Best Buy website and it ships tomorrow.
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Alright, high hopes - Too bad his plane leaves at noon. Maybe he can snatch one for me ! Thank you
Ensifolk said:
Thanks for your valuable reply, really saves a ton of asking and research. To be honest I am willing to pay the extra charge to get my Nexus 5, since later on, when the phone arrives to my Country, it's going to match this exact price if not even more, which is like 600 USD for the 16 gb.
The only gamble is, if it's gonna work in my Country or not. My friend is going to buy two unlocked iPhones from NY already, is it almost the same gamble case? of it working in Asian/Middle East region or not ? ( Btw he works at one of the two carriers in Lebanon )
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Basically, the Nexus 5 has 2 verisons as far as the radio/band or country compatability are concerned - the Americas and the Euro-Asia models, two different SKU's - the other is whether it is a 16GB or 32 GB model, color in black or white - simple.
Both model are unlocked from the factory for quadbands (GPRS/2G/Edge Speed) including the 2100 Mhz band popularly used in Asia, so the US ones will work in your country at the "slower" data speed - but most likely not the so called 4G/LTE. For the average users, the 3G and HSPA+ compatability is more complex but depending on your cellular provider's network towers, speed can be just as fast.
In "third-world" or undeveloped countries with basic mobile networks, speed isn't your major concern - just basic coverage & a good signal.
As for the iPhone 5c and 5s, we don't use them but some of the nieces & nephews have them and use them - if your friend is buying them from the Apple store, they should be able to help him/her select the best model to bring overseas to use at your home country. There are different models and you want to match it as closely as possible. Here's a link to Apple's ITE coverage on different models sold, and the ITE bands used - you should reference it and perhaps alert your friend via email, look up a compatible carrier that you match yours. http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/
I know that the last time I was shopping & looking around for an unlocked GSM phone in Asia, the store sales people were helpful & making sure that I understood what they have & support are aimed at the local market with the proper radio bands, and that they cannot guarantee that it will work in the U.S. once I bring it back - returning it and exchanging it are out of the questions or very expensive to do. It will work but mobile data speed could & would likely be lowered.
Of course, if you are using WiFi or broadband signal at home or at work or in the universities with ultra fast connections most of the time - then you might find it acceptable given the cost savings. We have super fast fiber optics (Fios) connections and are reliable and having 4G LTE and/or HSPA+ enabled and working are just extra bonuses at our local price point - $350 USD for 16GB - with taxes & shipping, came to less than $400 still.
Good luck !