Different types of service

Some countries drive on the other side of the road. Some countries use different tv systems (remember this when buying videos and DVDs internationally). And, unfortunately, most countries use a different type of cell phone service, too.

Just so you know the names, in the US our cell phone service is most likely to be the CDMA type, or perhaps TDMA or even iDEN or AMPS (you don't want to know what these acronyms stand for, do you!).

Internationally, most countries – more than 205 at last count - use GSM type service. If you want to go outside of North America, you're going to need a GSM phone. The other types of phone will not work with GSM and can not be modified to make them work.

Different types of GSM

Cell phone service has evolved over the years. For example, think of the changes in the size and capabilities of phone hand sets! Just as there have been obvious changes to the phones we use, there have been less obvious changes to the way the phones communicate, too.

Bottom line : There are now four different frequency bands used by GSM phones. Most countries outside of the US use a combination of the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency bands. But, unfortunately, here in the US, we use a combination of the 850 MHz and 1900 MHz frequency bands.

What does this mean? Think of an FM radio that only has two presets for radio stations, and no manual tuning. If your presets are for 850 MHz and 1900 MHz, then you're totally stuck if your favorite stations are at 900 MHz and 1800 MHz.

Ideally, all phones would support all four bands. But life is not that simple. It is rare (and expensive) to find a quad band phone. Most support two or three bands only.

Which frequency bands do you need in your phone?

If you're traveling internationally, for most flexibility you should have a phone with both the international frequency bands – 900 MHz and 1800 MHz. If you plan on using it in the US, too, then you'll also want a phone that supports the 850 MHz and/or 1900 MHz. When locating a SIM card on our website, we display the required frequency bands in red text on the upper right corner of the page. If you are unsure about the exact requirements, please concult one of our friendly respresentatives by calling 1 (858) 274-2686. Respresentatives are available 7am - 7pm PST everyday.

Other considerations when choosing a phone

When you're traveling internationally, a cell phone changes from being a convenience to instead being an essential safety/comfort item.

We suggest you never let your battery get down to less than half charged. In our own experiences, when a problem occurs, you might end up spending a lot of time on your phone solving the problem, and you don't want your battery to die halfway through.

If your phone's battery life is short, perhaps you should think about replacing the battery (or the phone – newer phones use much less power).

Make sure your charger will operate on foreign voltage – the charger should be a multi-voltage charger and say something like 100-240V, 50-60Hz. If the charger only says 100-125V 60Hz or something like that, you'll need to get an international charger.

You might also like to consider an emergency battery charger. This small device can be kept in your pocket or purse or carry-bag and, if you suddenly find your phone's battery dead, will transfer enough charge from replaceable cheap AAA batteries into the phone's battery to get you through the rest of your day or crisis.

If you're looking at a new phone, maybe you might want to tempt yourself and get one with a built in camera. Although none of these phones yet offer high quality pictures, they are ideal for taking some casual (and not very high quality!) pictures while traveling, and you can probably then immediately send them by phone message service (SMS/MMS/email) to friends and family.

One accessory that might be necessary is a headset. Some foreign countries (for example Britain) now make it illegal to use a cell phone while driving unless you are using a hands-free headset.

Buying a Used Phone

Okay –we obviously sell new phones, and at fair prices. But it is an open secret you can also buy phones second hand, particularly on eBay.

We don't mind if you do that – indeed, we get a lot of business from people who bought phones on eBay only to discover that they wouldn't work as promised! If you're thinking about this, learn from other people's mistakes and consider the following before buying a probably second hand phone over the internet :

• Is it a GSM Phone?
  Most importantly, the first thing to confirm is that you truly are buying a GSM phone. Be careful – some phones have the same model number for both GSM and non-GSM variants, with the only difference being a little letter after the model number to indicate which type of phone service it works on. If it isn't a GSM phone, it is no use to you.
• Which frequency bands does the phone support?
  We recommend you only get phones that include both the 900 and 1800 MHz bands. Check by going to the phone manufacturer website and look up the model of the phone to see exactly which frequency bands the phone supports. Don't just trust vague statements in the eBay ad that say 'works internationally'.
• Is the phone truly unlocked?
  If the phone is not unlocked, you'll need to get it unlocked. See our section on unlocking phones to explain more about how this service works.
• Is the battery in good condition?
  Batteries lose some life each time you recharge them – if you're getting a phone that has been well used, you probably should figure on buying a new battery, too.
• Is the charger multi-voltage?
  If it isn't multi-voltage, it will be no use to you when traveling, and you'll need to buy a new charger. Even if it is multi-voltage, you might need to buy adapter plugs so you can plug it into foreign power outlets.

Be sure to allow yourself enough time, if buying a second hand phone, to get delivery of the phone and then to test its battery and its accessories, and to check if it is locked or not, and then, after doing this, enough time to buy anything you might need in the way of replacement or additional components.

Many times you'll end up finding that 'you get what you pay for' and the cheap used phone on eBay ends up costing you more than a new phone direct from us, and does not have any of the new convenience features built in to it.

With the rapid developments in cell phone technology, getting an older phone is not always a good idea.